Song of the Gargoyle facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Zilpha Keatley Snyder |
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| Cover artist | Jody Lee |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Border Line Fantasy |
| Publisher | Delacorte Press |
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Publication date
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1991 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 232 |
| ISBN | 0-385-30301-7 |
Song of the Gargoyle is a fantasy novel for young readers. It was written by Zilpha Keatley Snyder and published in 1991. The story takes place in the Middle Ages, a long time ago.
Story Summary
The book follows a young boy named Tymmon. He lives with his father, Komus, who is the court jester for the kingdom of Austerneve. A jester is someone who entertains the king and his court with jokes, music, and tricks.
One day, a mysterious man in a Black Helmet kidnaps Komus. Thirteen-year-old Tymmon manages to escape. He runs away from the castle and finds safety in the Sombrous Forest. This forest is a dangerous place, full of wolves and magical creatures.
In the forest, Tymmon meets a special gargoyle named Troff. Troff becomes Tymmon's loyal friend, like a dog. But Troff also has amazing magical powers.
After living in the forest for a while, Tymmon misses his father. He wants to rescue him and get revenge, just like a knight would. However, Tymmon is a commoner, meaning he is not from a noble family. He feels angry because his father gave up a noble background to become a jester. Tymmon also saw his childhood friend become a squire, training to be a knight, something Tymmon could never be.
Tymmon soon realizes that Troff can pretend to be a normal dog. So, they leave the forest together. As they travel, Tymmon sees how poor and suffering many peasants are. Their lives are hard because of greedy rulers.
In a city, Tymmon discovers he has a talent for music and joking, just like his father. He and Troff can make people happy with their performances. This also helps Tymmon talk to many different kinds of people.
About the Book
Many of Zilpha Keatley Snyder's books are set in modern America. But Song of the Gargoyle is different. It is a stand-alone novel, meaning it's not part of a series, and it has a historical setting.
Zilpha Keatley Snyder shared why she wrote this book. She said that the Middle Ages always inspired her childhood dreams. She imagined a fantasy world with princesses and, especially, noble knights. She liked knights because they rode horses.
However, as she grew older, she looked at knights more closely. She learned that knights were often cruel and sometimes not very smart. So, when she decided to write a story set in that time, she wanted different kinds of heroes. That's how Tymmon and his father, Komus, were created. And Troff, the gargoyle, was inspired by her own amazing animal friends.
