The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane: Chapter 22–Coda

by Kate DiCamillo
The title character of this novel is a china rabbit that travels through many hands. Learn the words that award-winning author Kate DiCamillo used to bring Edward Tulane to life.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–7, Chapters 8–14, Chapters 15–21, Chapter 22–Coda

Here are links to our lists for other works by Kate DiCamillo: Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, Flora & Ulysses, Raymie Nightingale, Louisiana's Way Home
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. assistance
    the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need
    He was walking on his own, putting one foot in front of the other without any assistance from anybody.
  2. pang
    a mental pain or distress
    Edward felt a pang of sorrow, deep and sweet and familiar.
  3. sorrow
    an emotion of great sadness associated with loss
    Edward felt a pang of sorrow, deep and sweet and familiar.
  4. magnificent
    characterized by grandeur
    Edward looked over his shoulder and there they were, the most magnificent wings he had ever seen, orange and red and blue and yellow.
  5. exceeding
    far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree
    “Exceedingly well made,” said the man who was running a warm cloth over Edward’s face, “a work of art, I would say—a surpassingly, unbelievably dirty work of art, but art nonetheless."
  6. pun
    a humorous play on words
    Well, I always say the truth must be met head-on, no pun intended. Your head, young sir, was in twenty-one pieces.
  7. modesty
    freedom from vanity or conceit
    All modesty aside, I must admit that a lesser doll mender, a doll mender without my skills, might not have been able to rescue you.
  8. oblivion
    the state of being disregarded or forgotten
    You have been pulled back from the brink of oblivion by your humble servant, Lucius Clarke.
  9. humble
    marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
    You have been pulled back from the brink of oblivion by your humble servant, Lucius Clarke.
  10. continual
    occurring without interruption
    “You are wondering, perhaps, about your young friend,” said Lucius, “the one with the continually running nose. Yes. He brought you here, weeping, begging for my assistance."
  11. option
    one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
    I told him then that he had two options. Only two. The first option being that he seek assistance elsewhere.
  12. considerable
    large in number, amount, extent, or degree
    Option two was that I would fix you to the very best of my considerable abilities and then you would become mine—his no longer, but mine.
  13. restore
    bring back into original existence, function, or position
    I will restore you to what I perceive to be your former glory.
  14. stunning
    strikingly beautiful or attractive
    Your whiskers will be repaired and replaced, your eyes repainted to a bright and stunning blue.
  15. reap
    get or derive
    And then, someday, I will reap the return on my investment in you.
  16. investment
    the commitment of something other than money to a project
    And then, someday, I will reap the return on my investment in you.
  17. customer
    someone who pays for goods or services
    From this shelf, Edward could see the whole shop: Lucius Clarke’s workbench and the windows to the outside world and the door that the customers used to enter and leave.
  18. threshold
    the entrance for passing through a room or building
    From this shelf, Edward saw Bryce open the door one day and stand in the threshold, the silver harmonica in his left hand flashing brilliantly in the sunlight flooding in through the windows.
  19. brilliant
    full of light; shining intensely
    From this shelf, Edward saw Bryce open the door one day and stand in the threshold, the silver harmonica in his left hand flashing brilliantly in the sunlight flooding in through the windows.
  20. gesture
    motion of hands or body to emphasize a thought or feeling
    He wiped his hand across his nose and the gesture filled Edward with a terrible feeling of love and loss.
  21. technically
    according to the exact meaning; according to the facts
    Technically, of course, he was not alone. Lucius Clarke’s shop was filled with dolls—lady dolls and baby dolls, dolls with eyes that opened and closed and dolls with painted-on eyes, dolls dressed as queens and dolls wearing sailor suits.
  22. vain
    having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
    Edward had never cared for dolls. He found them annoying and self-centered, twittery and vain.
  23. reinforced
    given added strength or support
    This opinion was immediately reinforced by his first shelf-mate, a china doll with green glass eyes and red lips and dark brown hair.
  24. obvious
    easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
    “I would love to shoo,” said Edward, “but it is obvious that I cannot.”
  25. purchase
    acquire by means of a financial transaction
    “I have no interest in being purchased,” said Edward.
  26. impassioned
    characterized by intense emotion
    This impassioned speech shut up Edward’s shelf-mate for a considerable amount of time.
  27. vacant
    not containing anyone or anything; unfilled or unoccupied
    The spot next to the rabbit stayed vacant for some time.
  28. immobile
    securely fixed in place
    He prided himself on keeping his heart silent, immobile, closed tight.
  29. acquaintance
    a relationship less intimate than friendship
    “How do you do?” she said in a high, thin voice. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”
  30. horrid
    grossly offensive to decency or morality
    “I have lived one hundred years. And in that time, I have been in places that were heavenly and others that were horrid. After a time, you learn that each place is different. And you become a different doll in each place, too. Quite different.”
  31. dreadful
    exceptionally bad or displeasing
    “But that’s dreadful,” said the old doll. “There’s no point in going on if you feel that way. No point at all. You must be filled with expectancy. You must be awash in hope. You must wonder who will love you, whom you will love next.”
  32. intention
    an anticipated outcome that guides your planned actions
    If you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless.
  33. shatter
    break into many pieces
    You might as well leap from this shelf right now and let yourself shatter into a million pieces.
  34. antique
    an old object valuable because of its beauty or rarity
    “Oh,” said Lucius Clarke, “you know that she is very old. She is an antique.”
  35. outrageous
    greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation
    Leaves blew in through the open door of Lucius Clarke’s shop, and rain, and the green outrageous hopeful light of spring.
  36. solemnly
    in a serious and dignified manner
    She was a small girl, maybe five years old, and while her mother struggled to close a blue umbrella, the little girl walked around the store, stopping and staring solemnly at each doll and then moving on.
  37. tender
    given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
    She held him in the same ferocious, tender way Sarah Ruth had held him.
  38. fragile
    easily broken or damaged or destroyed
    “Madam,” said Lucius Clarke, “could you please attend to your daughter. She is holding a very fragile, very precious, quite expensive doll.”
  39. precious
    of high worth or cost
    “Madam,” said Lucius Clarke, “could you please attend to your daughter. She is holding a very fragile, very precious, quite expensive doll.”
  40. marvelous
    extraordinarily good or great
    Once, oh marvelous once, there was a rabbit who found his way home.
Created on Tue Aug 22 16:51:31 EDT 2017 (updated Wed Mar 06 09:24:40 EST 2019)

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