85 pages 2 hours read

Anthony Doerr

Cloud Cuckoo Land

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021

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Chapters 5-9

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 5 Summary: “The Ass”

Folio E

Aethon and Palaestra enter the witch’s room to recreate the spell that turned the witch into an owl. Palaestra gives Aethon an ointment, and they add “three pinches of frankincense” to the lamp, just as the witch did (123). Aethon begins to transform, and the folio leaves off with him hoping that he is becoming a bird. However, he is instead transformed into a donkey.

Zeno and Seymour: Lakeport Public Library, Lakeport, ID; February 20, 2020; 5:08 pm

Seymour shoots Sharif once in the shoulder; the other bullet misses. He then relinquishes the backpack and retreats. Seymour wanted to “make a statement” about Eden’s Gate Realty encroaching on nature with their housing developments (130), and he feels distraught knowing that he has hurt someone. In a panic, Seymour begins to leave the library, but the police arrive, and Seymour realizes that Sharif must have called them. Certain of his imminent demise, Seymour barricades himself into the library with furniture in front of the doors and windows.

Zeno goes downstairs to see what is going on. He sees Sharif huddled at the bottom of the stairs, and Sharif motions for Zeno to go back. The children pause their rehearsal, confused as to why Zeno left the room.

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By Anthony Doerr