Gregor and the Marks of Secret
Chapter 24
by Suzanne, Collins,The chapter opens with chaos as the group scrambles to mount their bats amid a second, louder rumble from the volcano. Ripred urges everyone to flee, but confusion ensues as riders struggle to find their designated seats. Gregor retrieves Boots and gathers scattered supplies before Ares organizes the group’s seating arrangement. As they take off, a powerful wind current sweeps them toward the glowing volcano, forcing the bats to navigate treacherous air streams. Despite the danger, the bats manage to stabilize, though the wind’s intensity makes progress difficult.
The group is swiftly carried toward the volcano, which Gregor describes as both majestic and terrifying. Steam and molten lava erupt from its fissures, and the air grows searingly hot. Gregor forces himself to witness the pit of dead mice, knowing he must remember their fate to convey the tragedy to Regalia. The noxious fumes begin to affect him, causing dizziness, while Boots grows drowsy, alarming Gregor. The bats press on, racing against time to escape the poisonous gases enveloping them.
As they near a stone wall, Ripred shouts for the bats to find a tunnel for refuge. The group darts in and out of openings until Howard signals a viable escape route. Just as they enter the tunnel, the volcano erupts violently, unleashing a deafening explosion and a suffocating cloud of ash. Gregor loses consciousness, overwhelmed by the blast. He later wakes alone, buried in ash, coughing and disoriented. After clearing his flashlight, he surveys the desolate tunnel, realizing he has been separated from the others.
Gregor searches frantically for his companions but finds no trace of them in the ash-covered tunnel. The eerie silence and absence of footprints deepen his isolation. Reflecting on his narrow survival—thanks to landing on a rock rather than being buried—he struggles forward, hoping to reunite with the group. The chapter ends with Gregor’s desperate, unanswered question echoing in his mind: “Where are the others?”
FAQs
1. How does the group attempt to escape the volcanic eruption, and what challenges do they face during their flight?
Answer:
The group mounts their bats in a chaotic scramble, with Ares directing the seating arrangements to ensure everyone has a ride. They face multiple challenges: strong air currents initially prevent forward progress, forcing the bats to strategically fly toward the volcano to ride the current over it. The poisonous fumes from the volcano affect Gregor and likely the bats, though the bats show remarkable endurance. The eruption itself creates a deafening explosion, a blast of hot air, and a suffocating cloud of ash that causes Gregor to lose consciousness. The chapter highlights their precarious survival through teamwork and quick thinking amid environmental hazards.2. Analyze Gregor’s role as a protector in this chapter. How does his concern for Boots and others influence his actions?
Answer:
Gregor prioritizes Boots’s safety above all else, shielding her from the volcano’s horrors (like the dead mice) and insisting she stay awake to avoid succumbing to fumes. His protective instincts extend to the group, as he gathers scattered supplies and later searches for missing companions in the ash-filled tunnel. His determination to “tell the story” of the mice’s fate underscores his sense of responsibility as a witness. Gregor’s actions reveal his growth into a leader who balances immediate survival with broader moral obligations, even amid personal distress.3. What significance does the volcano hold in this chapter, both literally and symbolically?
Answer:
Literally, the volcano is a lethal force—spewing lava, toxic fumes, and ash—that threatens the group’s survival. Symbolically, it represents nature’s uncontrollable power and the urgency of their mission. The “queen” metaphor (majestic yet furious) mirrors the destructive potential of unchecked forces, whether natural or political (hinting at the mice’s fate). The eruption’s aftermath—isolation, disorientation, and ash—also symbolizes the obscurity of truth, as Gregor struggles to preserve the memory of the mice amid chaos.4. How does the author create tension during the escape sequence? Cite specific literary techniques.
Answer:
Collins builds tension through sensory details (the volcano’s “roar,” the “stinging cloud of ash”), pacing (short, frantic sentences during the scramble to mount bats), and dramatic irony (Gregor’s realization that flying toward the volcano is their only escape). The abrupt shift to Gregor’s post-eruption disorientation—confusion, ringing ears, and blindness—heightens suspense. Foreshadowing (Boots’s drowsiness hinting at gas poisoning) and cliffhangers (the unanswered “Where are the others?”) further sustain unease, immersing readers in the characters’ peril.5. Why might Gregor’s determination to remember the dead mice be crucial to the story’s larger themes?
Answer:
Gregor’s insistence on remembering the mice underscores themes of accountability and historical memory. His resolve to “tell their story fully” suggests that truth-telling is vital to justice, especially in Regalia’s political landscape. The mice’s fate may symbolize collateral damage in larger conflicts, making Gregor’s witness role a moral imperative. This moment also reflects the series’ recurring theme of survival’s purpose—not just to endure, but to bear witness and inspire change, even when faced with overwhelming destruction.
Quotes
1. “He knew he had to be able to tell their story, and tell it as fully as he could, when he returned to Regalia. He had to be able to impress upon people the magnitude of what had happened. Was happening. So much counted on it.”
This quote captures Gregor’s sense of responsibility as a witness to the tragic fate of the mice. It highlights the chapter’s theme of bearing witness to suffering and the importance of conveying truth, even when painful.
2. “Gregor was awestruck by the ‘queen.’ She was majestic and imposing but most of all furious. Clouds of steam hissed from fissures in her sides. Molten lava oozed out of her top and flowed downward in fiery streams.”
This vivid description of the volcano personifies it as a powerful, wrathful entity. The imagery underscores the chapter’s tension and the overwhelming natural forces the characters face.
3. “Nothing else could account for the deafening explosion, which rattled his teeth, sent flares of color shooting before his eyes, and left him unable to hear anything but a shrill ringing in his ears.”
This visceral description of the volcanic eruption marks the chapter’s climactic moment. The sensory details powerfully convey the overwhelming physical experience of the catastrophe.
4. “He had never felt so alone in his life. Never had been, probably. There was no sign of life anywhere.”
This quote represents Gregor’s isolation after the eruption, a pivotal emotional moment in the chapter. It emphasizes the theme of survival and the psychological toll of their dangerous journey.