Essay Questions

Why did Lewis Barnavelt raise Selenna Izard from the dead?

Lewis and all his peers considered him an outcast because he was different. He wasn’t only fat and scrawny, he was also not talented in sports, which was what popularity in Lewis’ new school was based on. However, Tardy managed to check all the right boxes. He was tall, skinny, good at sports and liked by everyone. When Lewis caught Tardy’s eye, he would do anything to keep him focused on him. Therefore, he decided to show him several of the magical tricks he knew, including raising a person from the dead on the night of Halloween. It just happened that it was Selenna Izard’s grave he stood in front of as he did the spell.

What made Lewis move to New Zebedee?

Lewis’ parents died in an accidental car crash, which left Lewis an orphan. Consequently, he moved in with his closest relative which was his uncle Jonathan Barnavelt. Jonathan is kind hearted and welcomed Lewis into his house, and he became Lewis’ new father figure.

What is the origin of the ticking of the clock in the house’s walls?

The reason there could be heard a constant ticking in each room of Lewis and Jonathan’s house was because of the previous owners; Selenna and Isaac Izard. They worked with black magic and were trying to find a way to destroy the world. They managed to do this and made a clock to accompany their invention, which would click towards the end of the world. Only one of the Izards would be able to activate and destroy the world, which was made possible when Lewis rose Selenna from the dead.