Treasure Island references - "GLIM"


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Previous # Next ] [ Start New Thread ] [ TarBoard ]

Posted by Ed Kiser on May 20, 2004 at 05:25:58 from 152.163.252.98 user Kisered.

Use of the word, "GLIM", meaning, a light, or a flaming torch.

In Treasure Island we find:

CH5

"There were no time ago--they had the door bolted when
I tried it. Scatter, lads, and find 'em."

"Sure enough, they left their glim here," said the
fellow from the window.

"Scatter and find 'em! Rout the house out!" reiterated
Pew, striking with his stick upon the road.

CH28

"Give me a loan of the link, Dick," said he; and then,
when he had a good light, "That'll do, lad," he added;
"stick the glim in the wood heap; and you, gentlemen,
bring yourselves to! You needn't stand up for Mr.
Hawkins; HE'LL excuse you, you may lay to that.
And so, Jim"--stopping the tobacco--"here you were, and
quite a pleasant surprise for poor old John. I see you
were smart when first I set my eyes on you, but this
here gets away from me clean, it do."

------------------
Swallows and Amazons CH 21

Just then the lights in the big house went out one by one.

"Dowse your glim, Mister Mate," said Captain John. "They
could see the light now if anyone were looking from those
windows."

He pulled Swallow into the river again. She drifted on in the
darkness.

-----------------

The use of the word, "GLIM", is found only this one place in
Ransome's stories.

The word, "GLIMMER", appears many times. I find it interesting
to see that its usage is for the most part in the expression, "To
catch a glimmer" rather than to SEE a glimmer.

It is this usage of GLIM that points back to the origins in
"Treasure Island", where "GLIM" is used there in only two places.
John's usage of that word in his instructions to the Mate reflect
his awareness of the language as used in Treasure Island. This
becomes yet another reference to TREASURE ISLAND in his stories.

There is currently a collection of other Ransome references to
TREASURE ISLAND, in the FAQ section of the ARTHUR RANSOME SOCIETY
web site, where it speaks of "other books useful to read, to understand the S&A series better". Some of these borrowed concepts are listed there.

Roger enjoys hopping about on a Crutch in SD, like Long John Silver had a wooden leg.

The name, "CAPTAIN FLINT", is the name of the parrot that belongs to Long John Silver who named his parrot after a rather infamous pirate captain he had served under.

The "Houseboat Man" was assigned the role of "retired Pirate" by Titty
because of the presence of his parrot.

The Cave in SD, which they called "Peter Duck's Cave", was previously known by Jim Turner, as a young boy, as being, "Ben Gunn's Cave", a name right out of TREASURE ISLAND.

Roger, when hopping about on his crutch, sang "Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum."

The Parrot was taught to say "PIECES OF EIGHT."

Nancy's expression of "SHIVER MY TIMBERS" appears several times in Treasure Island.

In expressing their frustration with how to handle the GA, Nancy in SD suggests that it would be a nice idea to MAROON her, a technique that was used in TREASURE ISLAND, as Ben Gunn was also marooned on the island.

She also referrs to "keel-hauling" in CH 36 of SD, also a procedure described in TREASURE ISLAND in chapter 8.

Uncle Jim is made to "walk the plank."

The whole concept of the PETER DUCK story is very similar to Treasure Island.

Can anyone find any other expressions or concepts borrowed from Treasure Island?

Ed Kiser, South Florida





Follow Ups:



Post a Followup

Name:
Eel-Mail:

Existing subject (please edit appropriately) :

Comments:

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

post direct to TarBoard test post first

Before posting it is necessary to be a registered user.


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TarBoard ]

Courtesy of Environmental Science, Lancaster

space