"Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat" Characters Analysis

List of Characters

Role Identification

In the book "Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat" by Lynne Jonell, Emmy Addison is the main protagonist. She is a young girl who embarks on an extraordinary adventure after discovering that her pet rat, Emma, can talk. Dr. Augustus, an antagonist, is a devious scientist who experiments on animals and seeks to capture Emma for his own gain. Other significant characters include Joe, Emmy's best friend, Granny Grabowski, Emmy's loving grandmother, Miss Barmy, Emmy's eccentric teacher, Mrs. Zweibel, Emmy's neighbor, and Mr. Ratbone, the school principal.

Character Descriptions

• Emmy Addison: Emmy is a curious and intelligent young girl with a strong sense of justice. She is described as having a mop of unruly brown hair, freckles, and a mischievous grin. She is resourceful and determined, always willing to stand up for what she believes in.
• Dr. Augustus: Dr. Augustus is a tall and slim man with a sinister expression. He wears a white lab coat and carries a small notebook with him at all times. His eyes are sharp and calculating, and he has a reputation for conducting unethical experiments on animals.
• Joe: Joe is Emmy's best friend and a loyal companion throughout her adventures. He has messy black hair, glasses, and a knack for technology. Joe is the voice of reason in their friendship and often helps Emmy come up with clever solutions to their problems.
• Emma: Emma is Emmy's pet rat who unexpectedly gains the ability to talk. She is a small white rat with intelligent eyes and a charming personality. Emma becomes Emmy's confidante and partner in their quest to defeat Dr. Augustus.
• Granny Grabowski: Granny Grabowski is Emmy's loving and supportive grandmother. She has silver hair, wears colorful clothing, and always has a twinkle in her eye. Granny Grabowski is a source of wisdom and guidance for Emmy, providing her with valuable advice throughout the story.
• Miss Barmy: Miss Barmy is Emmy's eccentric teacher who believes in the power of imagination. She has wild, curly hair and wears mismatched clothing. Miss Barmy encourages Emmy's creative thinking and often inspires her to explore new ideas.
• Mrs. Zweibel: Mrs. Zweibel is Emmy's neighbor who lives next door. She is an elderly woman with a stern expression and a habit of spying on her neighbors. Mrs. Zweibel is initially suspicious of Emmy and Emma but later becomes an unexpected ally in their battle against Dr. Augustus.
• Mr. Ratbone: Mr. Ratbone is the strict and rule-abiding school principal. He is a tall man with thinning gray hair and a stern demeanor. Mr. Ratbone is often at odds with Emmy's imaginative nature and tries to keep her in line.

Character Traits

• Emmy Addison: Emmy is intelligent, curious, and courageous. She possesses a strong sense of justice and is willing to go to great lengths to protect her loved ones and stand up against injustice.
• Dr. Augustus: Dr. Augustus is manipulative, selfish, and driven by his desire for power and recognition. He lacks empathy and is willing to harm innocent animals to further his experiments.
• Joe: Joe is loyal, tech-savvy, and supportive. He is always there for Emmy and uses his technological skills to assist her in her adventures.
• Emma: Emma is clever, resourceful, and quick-witted. She provides comedic relief and a unique perspective on the events unfolding around her.
• Granny Grabowski: Granny Grabowski is wise, loving, and full of life. She is a source of guidance and encouragement for Emmy, always believing in her granddaughter's capabilities.
• Miss Barmy: Miss Barmy is imaginative, quirky, and unconventional. She encourages creativity and individuality in her students, inspiring Emmy to think outside the box.
• Mrs. Zweibel: Mrs. Zweibel is initially suspicious and judgmental but later proves to be kind-hearted and helpful. She undergoes a transformation and becomes a valuable ally to Emmy and Emma.
• Mr. Ratbone: Mr. Ratbone is strict, rule-abiding, and focused on maintaining order. He often clashes with Emmy due to her imaginative nature.

Character Background

• Emmy Addison: Emmy comes from a loving family and has a close bond with her grandmother, Granny Grabowski. She is an imaginative and independent thinker who often finds solace in her own world of books and daydreams.
• Dr. Augustus: Dr. Augustus is a brilliant yet morally compromised scientist. He has a reputation for conducting controversial experiments and has a particular interest in animals. His background and motivations are not fully revealed in the book.
• Joe: Joe is Emmy's best friend and neighbor. He shares Emmy's love for adventure and technology. Joe's background is not extensively explored in the story.
• Emma: Emma is a pet rat who becomes an extraordinary companion to Emmy. Her origins are unknown, but she gains the ability to talk through a mysterious transformation.
• Granny Grabowski: Granny Grabowski is Emmy's wise and caring grandmother. She provides emotional support and guidance to Emmy throughout her adventures.
• Miss Barmy: Miss Barmy is Emmy's eccentric teacher who fosters creativity and imagination in her students. Her background is not extensively explored in the story.
• Mrs. Zweibel: Mrs. Zweibel is Emmy's neighbor who initially keeps to herself but later becomes an unexpected ally. Her background is not extensively explored in the story.
• Mr. Ratbone: Mr. Ratbone is the strict principal of Emmy's school. His background and motivations are not extensively explored in the story.

Character Arcs

• Emmy Addison: Throughout the story, Emmy undergoes a significant character arc. Initially, she is portrayed as a quiet and imaginative girl who lacks confidence. However, as she embarks on her adventure with Emma, she gains courage, resourcefulness, and a stronger sense of self. Emmy learns to trust her instincts and stand up for what she believes in.
• Dr. Augustus: Dr. Augustus remains a consistent antagonist throughout the story. His character does not undergo significant changes or growth.
• Joe: Joe provides unwavering support to Emmy throughout her journey. While his character does not undergo a substantial arc, he serves as a constant companion and source of encouragement for Emmy.
• Emma: Emma, the talking rat, experiences a transformation when she gains the ability to communicate with Emmy. This newfound ability allows her to form a strong bond with Emmy and become an active participant in their adventure.
• Granny Grabowski: Granny Grabowski serves as a consistent source of wisdom and guidance for Emmy. Her character remains steadfast and supportive throughout the story.
• Miss Barmy: Miss Barmy's character remains consistent, providing eccentricity and encouragement to Emmy. She plays a minor but significant role in inspiring Emmy's imagination.
• Mrs. Zweibel: Mrs. Zweibel undergoes a character transformation, initially being suspicious of Emmy and Emma but later becoming an ally in their fight against Dr. Augustus.
• Mr. Ratbone: Mr. Ratbone's character remains consistent throughout the story, serving as a foil to Emmy's imaginative nature.

Relationships

• Emmy and Emma: Emmy and Emma share a unique bond as they embark on their adventure together. They develop a deep friendship and rely on each other for support and guidance.
• Emmy and Joe: Emmy and Joe have a strong friendship based on trust, shared interests, and support. Joe serves as Emmy's ally and provides technological assistance throughout their journey.
• Emmy and Granny Grabowski: Emmy and Granny Grabowski share a loving and close relationship. Granny Grabowski provides emotional support, guidance, and wisdom to Emmy.
• Emmy and Dr. Augustus: Emmy and Dr. Augustus have an adversarial relationship. Emmy is determined to thwart Dr. Augustus's plans and protect Emma from his malicious intentions.
• Emmy and Miss Barmy: Emmy and Miss Barmy have a teacher-student relationship. Miss Barmy encourages Emmy's imagination and inspires her to embrace her creativity.
• Emmy and Mrs. Zweibel: Emmy and Mrs. Zweibel's relationship evolves from suspicion to friendship. Mrs. Zweibel becomes an unexpected ally in Emmy's battle against Dr. Augustus.
• Emmy and Mr. Ratbone: Emmy and Mr. Ratbone have a contentious relationship due to their contrasting personalities. Mr. Ratbone often clashes with Emmy's imaginative nature and attempts to keep her in line.