Characters
A number of people referenced in the novel were members of the Inklings, a literary discussion group at the University of Oxford, England that produced a number of fantasy and science-fiction writers.
- John (J.R.R. Tolkien) is the series protagonist. An ex-soldier, he becomes the Caretaker Principia of the Imaginarium Geographica after his tutor Stellan, the former Caretaker Principa, is killed. He makes up his own words sometimes, of which there is the word "eucatastrophe". At first, he does not know how to read the many languages in the Imaginarium Geographica, having not paid attention to Stellan's teachings, thinking the languages were not important, but slowly gains knowledge.
- Jack (C.S. Lewis) is one of the three Caretakers. He is the youngest, having not yet attended university (Oxford). He is attracted to Aven. Early on he demonstrates the most imagination of the three, getting the companions out of sticky situations through inventive means. He loses his soul but regains it, though Captain Nemo loses his life because of Jack's recklessness. His nickname, Jack, was gained when Peter Pan whispered it into his ear when Jack was a child, during his sleep.
- Charles (Charles Williams) is the third Caretaker. The eldest of them, he is an editor of the Oxford Press and more groundly rooted in reality. He takes a strong disliking to Magwich and on several occasions beats him and threatens to kill him. Charles calls Magwich "Maggot" to show his dislike for him. However, he is shown to have a soft spot for the badger Tummeler.
- Bert (H.G. Wells) is an old Caretaker of the Imaginarium Geographica along Stellan and J.M. Barrie. He is also the father of Aven. He delivers the Geographica to the three men and knows a great deal about Archipelago.
- Aven is Bert's daughter, the captain of the Indigo Dragon. Both Jack and Artus are attracted to her, though she appears to be more affectionate towards Artus (notably after he is revealed to be more than just a potboy). She is a strong fighter and is good friends with Captain Nemo.
- Bug/Artus is a boy (then called Bug) who stows away on the Indigo Dragon after being released from the service of three witches. He dreams of being a knight and becomes John's eager assistant. Later they learn he is a descendant of King Arthur, and is thus the true heir to the Silver Throne of Archipelago, and that his real name is Artus. He is attracted to Aven, a feeling that appears to be mutual as the story goes on. He asked Aven to marry him, and she agreed, but backed down after realizing she was not happy away from sea.
- The Winter King/Mordred is the main antagonist of the story. His goal is to rule the Archipelago and stops at nothing to reach it. He is also an heir to the throne but loses out on it to Artus. At the end of the novel he is thrown over an endless waterfall, that in The Shadow Dragons is shown to have an end, and Mordred is rescued from the Deep and escapes into past England.
- Magwich is Mordred's spy and assistant. He steals the High King's Ring and the Imaginarium Geographica, though these prove to be of little help to Mordred. He was formerly an apprentice to Charles Dickens. He is constantly threatened and beaten by the companions, especially Charles. In the end of Here There Be Dragons, he became a Green Knight, to serve the Morgaine on Avalon.
- Tummeler is a talking badger who assists the companions. He is given by Samaranth the dragon a shield which turns out to be the lid to Pandora's Box. He is the basis for Jack's later The Chronicles of Narnia character Trufflehunter. Tummeler has produced a recipe book and published five editions of the Imaginarium Geographica to the Archipelago, but his Imaginarium Geographica only contains the major lands in the Archipelago and is written mostly in English.
- Ordo Maas is a wise sage who fuses the ancient mythological characters of Thoth and Deucalion. He is considered one of the oldest human beings. He created the seven dragon boats, the Indigo Dragon, the Violet Dragon, the Blue Dragon, the Orange Dragon, the Yellow Dragon, the White Dragon and the Red Dragon (which is the modified Argo). He offers advice to the companions and is the person to reveal Artus' true identity. He sends seven of his sons, changed permanently into cranes, to watch over the companions.
- Samaranth is the first dragon, and possibly the oldest living creature. Like Ordo Maas, he gives the companions advice and, in the end, aids them in the final battle. He is the one to give Tummeler the lid to Pandora's Box, the shield of Perseus.
Read more about this topic: Here, There Be Dragons
Famous quotes containing the word characters:
“The first glance at History convinces us that the actions of men proceed from their needs, their passions, their characters and talents; and impresses us with the belief that such needs, passions and interests are the sole spring of actions.”
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831)
“There are as many characters in men
As there are shapes in nature.”
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)
“Of all the characters I have known, perhaps Walden wears best, and best preserves its purity. Many men have been likened to it, but few deserve that honor. Though the woodchoppers have laid bare first this shore and then that, and the Irish have built their sties by it, and the railroad has infringed on its border, and the ice-men have skimmed it once, it is itself unchanged, the same water which my youthful eyes fell on; all the change is in me.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)