Quote:
Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc
Note the incredible amount of different characters appearing in a couple of sentences: Snow Elves, the Great Seal (or whatever it is called in the original - and whatever it might be??? I find it probably the most interesting creature in the whole story. Some predecessor to the Watcher in the Water, perhaps?  ), and some random Olaf (what purpose does it have there??? It is just so incredibly random remark! I don't have PB's letter there, so maybe something more about those is explained in there; could you satisfy my curiosity?). |
I observe that in all the works of Tolkien there are marginal figures that are not essential to the plot, but often have names, even if they make just a short appearance. In my opinion this adds to the sensation of reality of these imaginary worlds! Seals can swim under the ice, but must of course return to some "breathing hole" from time to time. So it's not really logical that the "Great Seal" could be "waked up". But I don't think of him as an evil creature.
Here is the content of the Polar Bear's letter for you:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Polar Bear
Dear boys,
my paw is better. I was cutting Christmas trees when I hurt it. Don't you think my writing is much better too? Father Christmas is very bisy already. So am I. We have had hevy snow and sum of our messengers got buerried and sum lost: that is whi you have not herd lately.
Love to John for his birthday. Father Christmas says my English spelling is not good. I kan't help it. We don't speak English here, only arktik (which you dont know. We also make our letters different - I have made mine like Arktik letters for you to see. We always rite * for T and V for U . this is sum Arktik langwidge wich means "Goodby till I see you next and I hope it will be soon."- Mára mesta an ni véla tye ento, ya rato nea.
P.B.
My real name is Karhu but I dont tell most peeple.
P.S. I like letters and think Cristofers are nice
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* is a rune like an upright arrow that I cannot type. All the "Arctic" letters are rune-like.
It is interesting to see how Tolkien's love for creating languages and writings appears here too! (the Arctic sentence and PB's secret name sound kind of Finnish to me, or what do you think?)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc
But if you look at the map, it is interesting: what do you think does it represent? Is it simply a geographical map representing the northern part of Europe - simply a sort of random map of the part of the world close to FC's home, or is it supposed to show some places where FC is carrying his presents to, i.e. some of his "radius"?
Two things are interesting about the map: first, why just Europe? No relation to Santa Claus? No North America? Not even Greenland, for that matter? (Maybe it all comes just from Tolkien's uncertainity about drawing the typical stereographic map with the pole in the center and other things around it.)
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Well, I don't know about the map,(and I can't see it very clearly in my edition, it's too small) but in the letter Father Christmas names the countries he specially looks after: Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Germany. (And of course North America and Canada)
I love the drawing for Christopher with F.C. and the reindeer on the upper North Wind.
Btw, Christopher was just 5 years old by then - and already writing a letter to FC! (John was 12 and Michael 9 years old then) I guess "One more stocking to fill this year" refers to Baby Priscilla, born in 1929.