The Phantom Tollbooth is a fantasy novel about a young boy named Milo who was always unsettled and unable to find purpose in life. One day, a mysterious tollbooth appears and transports him to a life of magic, adventure, and wonder.
The Phantom Tollbooth summary & plot diagram storyboard
Storyboard Text
EXPOSITION
RISING ACTION
This is as tall as I'm going to be. I grow down, of course.
CONFLICT
Milo is uninterested and bored with life until a mysterious tollbooth appears in his bedroom and takes him to The Lands Beyond.
CLIMAX
Milo quickly begins to realize that this land is very peculiar as he meets new characters including Tock and Alec Bings.
FALLING ACTION
Milo is put in prison and meets Faintly Macabre. She describes the conflict between the king brothers who have locked princesses, Rhyme and Reason, in the Castle in the Air.
RESOLUTION
Milo, Tock, and Humbug escape the demons and rescue Rhyme and Reason from the Castle in the Air.
King Azaz and the Mathemagician welcome and congratulate Milo, Tock, and Humbug on rescuing Rhyme and Reason.
Milo finally realizes that he doesn't need to travel to The Lands Beyond to feel fulfilled; life is full of interesting things to see and do.