Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

What does Mrs. Frisby and her family’s struggle to survive and the rats’ capture and being victims of experimentation say about life as a lower species?

Why is adaptation an important strength for the mice and rats in the novel, and why are they so adept at it?

What is the Rat Race, and why does Nicodemus want the rats to stop stealing?

How are loyalty and courage shown through the characters’ actions, and why are these traits so important in the survival of smaller species like mice and rats?

What is Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH suggesting about the downfalls of scientific advancement and the nature of power? Furthermore, why were people in the 1960s and 1970s concerned about scientific advancement?

The novel touches on dark topics like experimentation and death. Is Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH a children’s novel? Why or why not?

How does the author make use of devices, such as foreshadowing, cliff-hangers, and suspense, to entice the reader, evoke philosophical questioning, and challenge common perceptions?

How does luck factor into the escape from the laboratory, the rats’ life after their escape, and the success of moving day? Why did the author choose to make luck such a poignant force in the story?