Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
Chapter 18
by Suzanne, Collins,In Chapter 18, Gregor and his companions face a life-and-death struggle against serpents in a tunnel. As a serpent attacks Twitchtip, Gregor leaps into action, driving his sword into the creature’s tongue. The wounded serpent retreats, but the battle leaves the group battered. Howard tends to Mareth, who suffers a severe bite, while Gregor remains on high alert for further attacks. The chaos eventually subsides, but the group is left with injuries and dwindling supplies, setting the stage for a desperate effort to survive and regroup.
The focus shifts to the aftermath of the battle as Howard and Andromeda work to stabilize Mareth and Twitchtip. Gregor learns that Twitchtip’s nose has been crushed, leaving her unable to smell—a critical loss, as her tracking abilities were key to finding his sister, Boots. Ares reassures Gregor that Boots was caught by Luxa and Aurora, but Twitchtip’s vague account of their scent fading underwater casts doubt on their safety. Gregor’s dread grows as the possibility of Boots being dragged under the water becomes horrifyingly plausible.
Gregor’s worst fears are confirmed when Ares returns from searching for Aurora with no response. The prophecy’s chilling words—“DIE THE BABY, DIE HIS HEART”—echo in his mind as he grapples with the realization that Boots may be dead. Overwhelmed by grief and rage, Gregor envisions returning home alone, his heart shattered. The gnawers’ victory feels absolute, and Gregor’s despair hardens into a cold, unshakable resolve to seek vengeance.
In the chapter’s climax, Gregor’s numbness gives way to a chilling determination. He instructs Howard and the others to return home with the wounded while he prepares to confront the Bane alone. With nothing left to lose, Gregor embraces his role as a warrior, vowing to destroy the Bane at any cost. The chapter ends with a stark transition from despair to ruthless purpose, setting the stage for a deadly confrontation.
FAQs
1. How does Gregor demonstrate both courage and self-control during the serpent attack?
Answer:
Gregor shows remarkable courage by vaulting over Twitchtip to stab the serpent’s tongue, risking his own safety to protect her. His quick thinking with the sword saves her from being crushed. Simultaneously, he exhibits self-control by resisting the urge to enter “rager mode,” a state of uncontrolled fury. Despite the adrenaline and danger, Gregor consciously maintains his composure while awaiting further attacks, showing maturity in balancing his warrior instincts with strategic restraint. This duality highlights his growth as a fighter who can harness both bravery and discipline in life-threatening situations.2. What symbolic and practical significance does the “ice” metaphor hold in Gregor’s emotional transformation?
Answer:
The spreading “ice” represents Gregor’s emotional shutdown after learning of Boots’ probable death. Symbolically, it mirrors the prophecy’s “DIE HIS HEART” line, reflecting how grief literally chills him into numbness, extinguishing warmth and fear. Practically, this icy detachment enables his decisive resolve to kill the Bane—emotion is replaced by lethal purpose. The progression from feet to heart to head illustrates total psychological transformation; by the chapter’s end, the ice’s completion signifies Gregor’s transition into a weapon of vengeance, devoid of hesitation or self-preservation instincts.3. Analyze how Howard’s medical interventions reveal Underland’s resource limitations and cultural values.
Answer:
Howard’s makeshift treatments—using catch cloths and duct tape for wounds—highlight the Underland’s scarcity of advanced medical supplies, forcing reliance on ingenuity. His prioritization of Mareth (bandaging wounds, restarting his heart) and Twitchtip (tail stump, broken nose) reflects a societal ethic of communal survival, where even a rat’s injuries are tended despite crisis conditions. The duct tape, originally from Gregor’s surface-world pack, becomes a lifeline, symbolizing cross-world collaboration. Notably, Howard balances urgency with apologies to Twitchtip, showing respect for non-human allies amid chaos—a cultural hallmark of Regalian society.4. How does Twitchtip’s sensory loss create narrative tension beyond her physical injuries?
Answer:
Twitchtip’s crushed nose eliminates her ability to smell, which is catastrophic for two reasons: First, it severs Gregor’s only means of tracking Boots, leaving him reliant on ambiguous clues like “water between us.” Second, it ironically fulfills the earlier prophecy about the Bane—without her senses, she cannot warn Gregor of its approach, making her sacrifice doubly tragic. Her hesitant confession about the scents fading underwater forces Gregor to confront Boots’ likely death, pivoting the plot toward vengeance. The sensory loss thus operates as both practical obstacle and emotional catalyst.5. Evaluate Gregor’s final decision through the lens of the prophecy’s recurring motifs.
Answer:
Gregor’s vow to kill the Bane directly responds to the prophecy’s “DIE THE BABY” stanza, interpreting Boots’ death as the gnawers’ “key to power.” His icy resolve mirrors earlier warrior-role fulfillments but with a critical shift: past battles were defensive or prophecy-driven, whereas this is purely personal retribution. The “peace that rules the hour” has died with Boots, and Gregor now embodies the violence the rats sought to provoke. His choice weaponizes the prophecy against its orchestrators, suggesting that destinies can be reclaimed through agency—even in despair.
Quotes
1. “Gregor could physically feel the serpent’s primeval roar going through him.”
This visceral moment captures the raw, instinctual terror of the battle with the serpents, emphasizing how deeply Gregor is affected by the primal violence of the Underworld.
2. “Twitchtip would not be able to smell the Bane then, but there was a much more pressing matter. ‘Then you can’t tell, where my sister is, I mean?’”
This exchange highlights Gregor’s shifting priorities - from the prophecy’s demands to his personal desperation to find Boots, showing his humanity amidst the chaos.
3. “‘I’m sorry, Overlander.’ She looked up at Gregor. ‘I’m sorry, Overlander.’”
Twitchtip’s repeated apology marks the emotional turning point where Gregor realizes Boots may be lost, delivered with devastating simplicity that underscores the tragedy.
4. “And the ice encircled his heart. DIE THE BABY, DIE HIS HEART, DIE HIS MOST ESSENTIAL PART.”
The prophecy’s chilling words merge with Gregor’s physical sensation of grief, illustrating how the foretold doom has become his personal reality in this pivotal moment.
5. “‘Me?’ he said. ‘I’m going to go kill the Bane.’”
Gregor’s cold, determined declaration represents his complete transformation - from reluctant hero to vengeful warrior, driven by loss rather than prophecy.