Sylvie and Bruno: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox book |
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| title = Sylvie and Bruno |
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| original title = |
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| image = Sylvie and Bruno illustration scan 40.png |
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| caption = |
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| author = Lewis Carroll |
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| central theme = |
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| elevator pitch = |
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| genre = Fantasy |
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| publication date = 1889 and 1893 |
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| source page exists = |
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| wiki URL = |
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| wiki name = |
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}} |
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{{quote|He thought he saw an Elephant |
{{quote|He thought he saw an Elephant |
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That practised on a fife: |
That practised on a fife: |
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A letter from his wife. |
A letter from his wife. |
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'At length I realize,' he said, |
'At length I realize,' he said, |
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'The bitterness of Life!' |
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|'''First stanza of "The Mad Gardener's Song", about the only part of ''Sylvie and Bruno'' that is widely known.}} |
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One of the lesser-known works of [[Lewis Carroll]], this novel runs two parallel plots, one in [[Like Reality Unless Noted|something like the real world]] and one in Elf-land, [[Two Lines, No Waiting|both]] accessed by the not-particularly-interesting-in-himself [[The Ishmael|narrator]]. The Elf-land plot involves the King standing down, for obscure reasons, in favour of his [[Most Definitely Not a Villain]] [[Evil Uncle|brother]] and "Sub-Warden", and [[Evil Chancellor|his]] [[The Dragon|chancellor]], leaving his two kids, the titular Sylvie and Bruno, as [[Heartwarming Orphan]]s. The sort-of-real world plot involves a romance slightly complicated by a [[Romantic False Lead|third party]] and oddly unaffected by the presence of a visitor from another planet/plane called Mein Herr, who is for some reason German-accented. |
One of the lesser-known works of [[Lewis Carroll]], this novel runs two parallel plots, one in [[Like Reality Unless Noted|something like the real world]] and one in Elf-land, [[Two Lines, No Waiting|both]] accessed by the not-particularly-interesting-in-himself [[The Ishmael|narrator]]. The Elf-land plot involves the King standing down, for obscure reasons, in favour of his [[Most Definitely Not a Villain]] [[Evil Uncle|brother]] and "Sub-Warden", and [[Evil Chancellor|his]] [[The Dragon|chancellor]], leaving his two kids, the titular Sylvie and Bruno, as [[Heartwarming Orphan]]s. The sort-of-real world plot involves a romance slightly complicated by a [[Romantic False Lead|third party]] and oddly unaffected by the presence of a visitor from another planet/plane called Mein Herr, who is for some reason German-accented. |
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{{tropelist}} |
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* [[Dream Land]]: "Outland" |
* [[Dream Land]]: "Outland" |
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* [[Evil Chancellor]]: Somewhat unusually, he is only [[The Dragon]] to Sibimet. |
* [[Evil Chancellor]]: Somewhat unusually, he is only [[The Dragon]] to Sibimet. |
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* [[Evil Is Petty]]: Tabikat is most gratified to find that Sibimet has [[Kick the Dog|entirely removed]] "Item: We shall be kind to the poor" from the text of the agreement he made with the King. |
* [[Evil Is Petty]]: Tabikat is most gratified to find that Sibimet has [[Kick the Dog|entirely removed]] "Item: We shall be kind to the poor" from the text of the agreement he made with the King. |
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{{quote|Why, of course, my dear! We shan't bother with those wretches!}} |
{{quote|Why, of course, my dear! We shan't bother with those wretches!}} |
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* [[Evil Uncle]]: Sibimet |
* [[Evil Uncle]]: Sibimet |
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"Oh, certainly! And communicated in the strictest confidence! Whatever defects Elveston society suffers from, want of information isn't one of them!" }} |
"Oh, certainly! And communicated in the strictest confidence! Whatever defects Elveston society suffers from, want of information isn't one of them!" }} |
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* [[How Do You Like Them Apples?]] |
* [[How Do You Like Them Apples?]] |
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* [[Humans Are Morons]]: Mein Herr and the fairies both tend to agree on this. |
* [[Humans Are Morons]]: Mein Herr and the fairies both tend to agree on this. |
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* [[Inelegant Blubbering]] |
* [[Inelegant Blubbering]] |
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* [[In Harm's Way]] |
* [[In Harm's Way]] |
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* [[Royal Brat]] |
* [[Royal Brat]] |
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* [[Sand in My Eyes]] |
* [[Sand in My Eyes]] |
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* [[ |
* [[Schrödinger's Butterfly]]: |
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{{quote|"So, either I've been dreaming about Sylvie," I said to myself, "and this is the reality. Or else I've really been with Sylvie, and this is a dream! Is Life itself a dream, I wonder?"}} |
{{quote|"So, either I've been dreaming about Sylvie," I said to myself, "and this is the reality. Or else I've really been with Sylvie, and this is a dream! Is Life itself a dream, I wonder?"}} |
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* [[Significant Name]]: Sibimet is Latin for "to them themselves", fittingly for a character who is concerned only for himself and his [[Unholy Matrimony]] partner - he doesn't even seem to like his own child much. |
* [[Significant Name]]: Sibimet is Latin for "to them themselves", fittingly for a character who is concerned only for himself and his [[Unholy Matrimony]] partner - he doesn't even seem to like his own child much. |
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* [[Spoiled Brat]] and [[Royal Brat]]: Uggug, who also serves as a [[Spear Counterpart]] of an ugly step-sister. |
* [[Spoiled Brat]] and [[Royal Brat]]: Uggug, who also serves as a [[Spear Counterpart]] of an ugly step-sister. |
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* [[Take That]]: Sibimet the Sub-Warden is believed to be based on Dean Liddell, father of [[Alice in Wonderland|Alice]], whom he had by this point effectively cut Carroll off from seeing. |
* [[Take That]]: Sibimet the Sub-Warden is believed to be based on Dean Liddell, father of [[Alice in Wonderland|Alice]], whom he had by this point effectively cut Carroll off from seeing. |
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* [[They Call Me Mister Tibbs]] |
* [[They Call Me Mister Tibbs]] |
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* [[Torches and Pitchforks]]: Memorably parodied by the fake demonstrators organized by Sibimet and the Chancellor, who can't remember whether their slogan is "More Bread, Less Taxes", or vice versa. |
* [[Torches and Pitchforks]]: Memorably parodied by the fake demonstrators organized by Sibimet and the Chancellor, who can't remember whether their slogan is "More Bread, Less Taxes", or vice versa. |
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* [[Unholy Matrimony]]: Villain couple [[Evil Uncle|Sibimet]] and Tabikat, complete with cutesy couple names for each other (Sibby and Tabby), and a [[Spoiled Brat]] child (Uggug). Albeit Tabby is significantly less bright than Sibby, who is also not deluded about Uggug's unpleasantness. |
* [[Unholy Matrimony]]: Villain couple [[Evil Uncle|Sibimet]] and Tabikat, complete with cutesy couple names for each other (Sibby and Tabby), and a [[Spoiled Brat]] child (Uggug). Albeit Tabby is significantly less bright than Sibby, who is also not deluded about Uggug's unpleasantness. |
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* [[Vile Villain Saccharine Show]] |
* [[Vile Villain Saccharine Show]] |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]] |
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[[Category:Fairy Tale]] |
[[Category:Fairy Tale]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:British Literature]] |
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[[Category:Literature of the 19th century]] |
Latest revision as of 00:28, 1 May 2021
Written by: | Lewis Carroll |
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Central Theme: | |
Synopsis: | |
Genre(s): | Fantasy |
First published: | 1889 and 1893 |
He thought he saw an Elephant —First stanza of "The Mad Gardener's Song", about the only part of Sylvie and Bruno that is widely known.
|
One of the lesser-known works of Lewis Carroll, this novel runs two parallel plots, one in something like the real world and one in Elf-land, both accessed by the not-particularly-interesting-in-himself narrator. The Elf-land plot involves the King standing down, for obscure reasons, in favour of his Most Definitely Not a Villain brother and "Sub-Warden", and his chancellor, leaving his two kids, the titular Sylvie and Bruno, as Heartwarming Orphans. The sort-of-real world plot involves a romance slightly complicated by a third party and oddly unaffected by the presence of a visitor from another planet/plane called Mein Herr, who is for some reason German-accented.
- Aliens Speaking English: Played with for Mein Herr.
- Blue Blood
- Children Are Innocent
- Closer to Earth: Sylvie and Lady Muriel.
- Crusty Caretaker
- Disney Fairies
- Doting Parent
- Dream Land: "Outland"
- Evil Chancellor: Somewhat unusually, he is only The Dragon to Sibimet.
- Evil Is Petty: Tabikat is most gratified to find that Sibimet has entirely removed "Item: We shall be kind to the poor" from the text of the agreement he made with the King.
Why, of course, my dear! We shan't bother with those wretches! |
- Evil Uncle: Sibimet
- Good Is Boring: Unfortunately tends to apply to both plots. The memorable characters tend to be either evil or completely bonkers.
- Gossip Evolution:
"And what reasons have you heard of for breaking off the engagement?" |
- How Do You Like Them Apples?
- Humans Are Morons: Mein Herr and the fairies both tend to agree on this.
- Inelegant Blubbering
- In Harm's Way
- It Was a Gift
- Karmic Transformation: Uggug becoming a porcupine.
- King Incognito
- Ludicrous Precision
- The Malaproper: Bruno, e.g. "disadvantages" becomes "lizard bandages".
- Nice to the Waiter
- Non-Idle Rich
- Offered the Crown
- Our Ghosts Are Different
- Powder Keg Crowd
- The Professor: Actually called the Professor. Also has a friend who is The Professor.
- The Promise
- Promotion to Parent: Sylvie is in charge of Bruno -- particularly his lessons.
- Punny Name: Tabikat.
- Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated: The Vice-Warden arranges for a false report of his brother's death.
- Royal Blood
- Royal Brat
- Sand in My Eyes
- Schrödinger's Butterfly:
"So, either I've been dreaming about Sylvie," I said to myself, "and this is the reality. Or else I've really been with Sylvie, and this is a dream! Is Life itself a dream, I wonder?" |
- Significant Name: Sibimet is Latin for "to them themselves", fittingly for a character who is concerned only for himself and his Unholy Matrimony partner - he doesn't even seem to like his own child much.
- Spoiled Brat and Royal Brat: Uggug, who also serves as a Spear Counterpart of an ugly step-sister.
- Take That: Sibimet the Sub-Warden is believed to be based on Dean Liddell, father of Alice, whom he had by this point effectively cut Carroll off from seeing.
- They Call Me Mister Tibbs
- Torches and Pitchforks: Memorably parodied by the fake demonstrators organized by Sibimet and the Chancellor, who can't remember whether their slogan is "More Bread, Less Taxes", or vice versa.
- Unholy Matrimony: Villain couple Sibimet and Tabikat, complete with cutesy couple names for each other (Sibby and Tabby), and a Spoiled Brat child (Uggug). Albeit Tabby is significantly less bright than Sibby, who is also not deluded about Uggug's unpleasantness.
- Vile Villain Saccharine Show