Shrek (William Steig)

Summary

Shrek, born into an ugly family, is an extremely repulsive creature who delights in terrifying the world around him. After being kicked out by his parents, he embarks on a journey where he encounters witches, dragons, and knights. Along the way, he meets a donkey who guides him to a princess who is just as hideous as he is. The two are immediately drawn to each other, their mutual ugliness binding them together. They marry and live 'horribly ever after,' scaring anyone who crosses their path. A whimsical tale of beauty, love, and acceptance in its most unconventional form.

Takeaways

• 😀 Shrek's physical appearance is extremely ugly, surpassing that of his parents. He has terrifying abilities like spitting flame and emitting smoke from his ears.
• 😀 Shrek is sent into the world by his parents to cause damage, delighting in his repulsiveness as he moves through the swamp and other environments.
• 😀 A witch prophesies that Shrek will encounter a donkey who will lead him to a princess who is even uglier than him.
• 😀 Shrek encounters a peasant, who sings happily, but is then attacked by Shrek, who takes the pheasant he was carrying.
• 😀 Shrek enjoys terrifying and repelling all living creatures, including lightning and thunder, which fail to harm him.
• 😀 Despite warnings in the woods, Shrek proceeds confidently, and when he encounters a dragon, he defeats it with his own putrid blue flame.
• 😀 Shrek experiences a strange dream where he is embraced by children and overwhelmed by affection, but dismisses it as a bad dream.
• 😀 Shrek meets a donkey who leads him to a castle where he is to find the repulsive princess, fulfilling the witch's prophecy.
• 😀 Shrek confronts a knight who guards the castle, defeats him in a fiery duel, and proceeds to meet the princess.
• 😀 Shrek finds the princess, who is just as hideous as he is, and they bond over their mutual ugliness and unconventional love for each other.
• 😀 Shrek and the princess marry, and they live together in a world where they scare everyone around them, continuing their happily ever after in their own unique way.

Q & A

What made Shrek unique compared to his parents?

Shrek was uglier than both his parents combined, and he also had unique abilities like spitting flame and venting smoke from his ears.

What was Shrek's reaction when lightning struck him?

Shrek was unfazed by the lightning strike. He simply gobbled it up, belched some smoke, and grinned while lightning, thunder, and rain left in high spirits.

How did Shrek interact with the witch he met in the swamp?

Shrek asked the witch to tell his fortune in exchange for some of his rare lice. The witch then predicted that Shrek would meet a donkey, conquer a knight, and marry a princess even uglier than himself.

What was Shrek's encounter with the dragon like?

Shrek was confronted by a dragon in the woods, but he defeated it with a blast of putrid blue flame, knocking the dragon unconscious for the day.

What did Shrek dream about while unconscious in the woods?

Shrek dreamed he was in a field of flowers, where children hugged and kissed him, leaving him helpless to stop them. He woke up horrified, realizing it was just a bad dream.

How did Shrek react when he met the donkey foretold by the witch?

Shrek immediately ordered the donkey to take him to the knight guarding the castle where the princess waited. He was impatient and demanded action, showing his characteristic bluntness.

What happened when Shrek tried to cross the drawbridge?

Shrek encountered a fearless knight guarding the bridge, but after a fiery exchange, Shrek used his flame breath to defeat the knight, sending him into the moat.

What did Shrek discover upon entering the castle?

Shrek was initially appalled to find a hall full of hideous creatures. However, he soon realized they were all reflections of himself in a hall of mirrors, leading to an amusing realization of self-love.

How did Shrek and the princess interact when they met?

Shrek and the princess exchanged compliments on their ugliness, which led to them both falling for each other. They quickly married after discovering their mutual affection for their grotesque features.

What is the central theme of Shrek's story?

The central theme of Shrek's story is the celebration of inner beauty and self-acceptance. Despite both Shrek and the princess being outwardly ugly, they find happiness and love by embracing who they truly are.