Okay, well, I just stumbled across something amazing; which I can honestly say has never happened before. Normally if I stumble, I just break a toe. But if you just love Shrek The Third, for whatever reason you may have, you will know that Prince Arthur attends public school and is known as a giant loser. And his rival is Lancelot.
I don't know if they planned this...but...according to the copy of 20,001 Names For Baby I have in my lap, written by Carol McD. Wallace, the name Lancelot means "servant". And, according to the little sentence describing the history; Lancelot was a knight who - get this - seduced the wife of King Arthur.
This is so, so incredibly perfect; because I wrote a long, long time ago that [Shrek The Third's] Lancelot was a servant to King Arthur. And yes, [Shrek The Third's] Lancelot is a knight at Worcestershire. (Perhaps not a real knight, but he does joust while wearing armor; so it's very assumable he dreams of one day being knighted.)
I would think they based their movie on history itself. Your take?
I don't know if they planned this...but...according to the copy of 20,001 Names For Baby I have in my lap, written by Carol McD. Wallace, the name Lancelot means "servant". And, according to the little sentence describing the history; Lancelot was a knight who - get this - seduced the wife of King Arthur.
This is so, so incredibly perfect; because I wrote a long, long time ago that [Shrek The Third's] Lancelot was a servant to King Arthur. And yes, [Shrek The Third's] Lancelot is a knight at Worcestershire. (Perhaps not a real knight, but he does joust while wearing armor; so it's very assumable he dreams of one day being knighted.)
I would think they based their movie on history itself. Your take?
I've always believed that the Shrek movies were based — loosely — on history. I doubt the medieval period had dragons and ogres (if it did, totally my first stop when time machines are invented), and I really doubt that it had horse-driven school buses, but some of the things the series has seems realistic — the castles, the royals, the names . . . I know King Arthur was a real king, and I'm pretty sure Lancelot was involved in stories about said king . . . whether those stories had any truth to them, I don't know.
ReplyDeleteI like that Fiona's story was technically told twice — first as a stereotypical woman of the medieval age, faithfully awaiting rescue, and again in Shrek 4, when Fiona toughens up and decides to rescue herself. And that both times, Shrek falls for her. It kind of gives out the message that you should be who you are, and people worth liking will like you :)
haha, I remember that book . . . used it a lot to find good names for my book characters . . . nowadays I'm stuck relying on the Internet ^_^
I don't really rely on anything to name my character. Just my own noggin. I'm not really into names like - let me just open to a random page here without looking - Castor, which means beaver.
DeleteBrock and Castor. Beaver and badger. Huh. That would make one heck of a story...
Oops, forgot to add . . .
DeleteWhat I liked about the fact that Fiona's story was told twice, two different ways, was that it was told fairly realistically from a medieval perspective; women didn't rescue themselves. Or, maybe they did, and stories of such things were written off as something a woman came up with while doing housework, hoping to make her dull life sound a lot more interesting.
But I can't help liking that her story was told again, from a modern lady's perspective. Shrek 4 is, I think, my favourite of all the Shreks. 1 was pretty good, and 2 was also pretty good...I liked 3, but it didn't have the same power the others had, if that makes sense. It felt a bit like a lot of filler, necessary but not all that interesting...
Well, I never quite understood how Fiona could rescue herself if she hadn't slain Dragon. Way back when Shrek 2 was new, I tried to write a story where a princess I designed frees herself from her tower; and I didn't understand it even then. It just didn't make sense.
DeleteBut when DreamWorks told the story, it was still great; I guess because I'd already fallen in love with the characters and the plot was better than anything I could ever write myself. Shrek 1 and Shrek 2 are perfect...but Shrek 4 is my ultimate favorite. Shrek The Third I don't care for at all. I'm glad Fiona had Fergus, Farkle and Felicia; and it's great Artie became king...but those two factors were the only two fillers that are necessary. Frankly the concept of a powerful prince, who inherited his mother's company and magic wand, trying to do a little play while sleeping in the alleyway is just...unimportant.
I would assume that Dragon knew Fiona's schedule, and Fiona knew Dragon's. They spent years together — ten or more, I'd guess. So Fiona might know whether Dragon is nocturnal or diurnal and even have an idea of where she sleeps . . . she had tons of time to come up with an escape plan (what else could she do, locked into one room in a tower with no company?). It's possible that Fiona and Dragon were actually friends — they were alone together for a very long time, and some captives actually become sympathetic towards their captors — it's called Stockholm Syndrome. It's possible that Dragon actually felt protective of Fiona, too, and only "attacked" her along with the others to make it look more realistic. *Shrugs*
DeleteWell . . . I don't know how Fiona rescued herself in Shrek 4, but I'm glad she did. I really loved the fact that she "saved herself". I'm going to have to watch that one again soon . . . maybe tonight, as I'm alone and feeling kind of restless.
I wanted to add this to my last post, and forgot...doing a lot of that today! :(
DeleteHaving spent years alone together, Dragon might've known how stubborn and independent Fiona was, and figured she would ditch Shrek the first chance she got. Figuring the ogre would tell the story, Dragon attacked Fiona (and the others) so that Shrek wouldn't think Fiona and Dragon ever got along. I'd assume that whoever stationed Dragon as Fiona's guard wouldn't want Dragon to feel anything but hunger / hate when looking at the princess; love / protectiveness / fondness would be out of the question...
I'm glad Shrek 4 was written the way it was, too. Especially the part where Shrek is trying to figure out who rescued Fiona, if not him, and he pulls the blanket off the wall and sees all those marks. (I'm not sure what they're called...apparently "array of five in lines" is too vague for Google. However I do remember using them when we were kids, playing games like Find The Pinwheel.)
DeleteYes, I suppose Fiona must have just crept out while Dragon was sleeping. I couldn't even imagine what it would be like, being cursed, having your heart set on marrying someone who never comes for you. It sounds like a sad way to spend your years; especially if all those years finally convince you love is not real. Maybe the Shrek film has more depth than people think.
I think it does - I think the series is brilliant!
DeleteFind the Pinwheel? I don't remember that one, but I do remember Find the Clothespin...if I remember right, pinwheels are those shiny spinning things they give to kids as prizes at carnivals and stuff :)
The scene where Shrek pulls the tapestry down and reveals those counting marks (you're right, Google doesn't know what they're called, and neither did Geoff) really got to me, too. How horrible it must've been to be outcasted like that, and then to give up hope...those marks low on the wall were probably Fiona's from when she was a child... :(
It may not have been a pinwheel, but it was one of those things in the atlases. Every time we found one, we'd draw a line on the chalkboard. Four vertical lines and then a diagonal one going through the vertical lines. I remember I drew five vertical lines when I was first learning and you taught me how to do it properly. I miss learning things from you in person. :)
DeleteI always thought she drew those marks every time a knight was killed by Dragon. :P
I forgot to ask if I gave you the collector coins Lorne gave me. I can't find them anywhere...I know I had them in this house at one point, but if you don't have them I need to look harder. Oh joy, looking forward to that...
DeleteBy the way, Mom suggested I look up "math symbol for five" and it turns out they're called tally marks.
Deletehahahaha! I never thought that those marks were for all the knights Fiona had seen killed! The scene was so sad altogether that I immediately thought the marks were to count the days, or maybe weeks, that Fiona was locked up. But you could be right! Thanks for telling me about tally marks - I know that I've heard that before, and just forgot...I miss being there, too!
DeleteI don't think I have your coins - I know Lorne said once that you spent some on candy of some kind, but whether you really did or not, I don't know...I'm pretty sure you spent your silver dollar...
I actually wish I was there so much, I'd be happy to help you look! Long story... :P
Well, if those marks were meant to depict Fiona's life in the tower, I think there would be many, many more; because she was in there during her childhood, or at least her teen years. I remember the voice narrating her journal in Shrek 2, and she sounds about fourteen during that part.
DeleteI was foolish enough to spend some coins on pop, but I don't think I spent them all. And no. I still have my silver dollar. :D It was removed from the plastic, but I put it into an envelope and haven't touched it for years. I don't really know why it was out of the plastic, though.
I'd love it if you were here! I had some money saved up and I was intending to buy tickets for either you and Geoff or us; but of course other things got in the way. I don't think thirty-something dollars will buy some tickets, would it?
I only asked about the coins because tomorrow, these evaluator-buyer-seller people are going to be in town, and some coins could sell for a grand, separately. Or more. I thought maybe I'd have a chance. Maybe I'll ask Mom to help me look - it's still early enough.
Hmm...y'know, I can't remember now how much it cost - I think it was $180 from Abbotsford to Cranbrook (Geoff wanted to meet me in Cranbrook because it would get me off the bus a few hours sooner - there's a Greyhound station in Sparwood, though, so you could bus much closer to Elkford if you wanted, and we could pick you up and bring you the rest of the way). But it might cost a bit more than that...I don't know.
DeleteI'd love it if you visited...or if I could visit you. Now that I'm done with school, it'd be a much more stress-free trip! I can't stop thinking about you guys, and Mission, and Abbotsford, and how much I miss it all...but you could come see Elkford too, get away from your life for a while :D
(It's nicer in the summer, so if you save now...it could be a summer vacation!)
'Course, I miss Lorne, too. But I doubt he'll ever come visit...still hates vehicles, I bet... -_-
I hate vehicles, too. I get carsick really easily, especially in taxis. But it'd be worth it. Lorne would probably sooner walk there than take a bus.
DeleteOh, man, I wish we could see each other again soon. At the rate I'm going it'll take me seven more months just to acquire enough money to go, and that's only if it doesn't get spent on food. As it is I'm the one who has to buy the beer today.
...Why are you buying beer? You don't even drink that nasty crap...and Lorne doesn't much like accepting help . . . I'm guessing it's Mom's?
DeleteActually, it's all of ours. Not to worry; I eat my beer. Lorne uses it to make beer-battered foods, like chicken or onions. I think the word is fritter.
DeleteOh! Is it good that way?
DeleteI tried a sip once - just one sip, just one time. That was more than enough for me to know I didn't like the taste. Geoff teases me about it a little, calls me a "tea-totaller' . . . I guess it means I'm totally into tea and other non-alcoholic drinks or something like that. Although, he drinks tea and I don't, haha!
It is VERY good that way. :D
DeleteI have never tried anything alcoholic. The only alcoholic thing I let myself touch is rubbing alcohol, and I am not going to put that into my mouth.
Really? That seems a little backward, haha. :D
I've tried a few drinks - a sip of maybe five types. Geoff wanted me to taste them, and I can say, most alcohol is nasty. I can't believe how much people pay for it.
DeleteThe only good one is spiced rum - about a teaspoon of it in a glass of pop, and it just adds a tiny bit of flavour. I don't want to get drunk, or nauseous, so I've never used more than a teaspoon in the drink...
It's not even strong; Geoff puts an inch of rum in his glass, and he can drink like ten cups of rum and pop in a night. Sometimes it makes him dizzy the next day, but not always. Even so, I don't want to do that...
To this day I haven't touched, or have any intention of touching; rum, beer, cigarettes, wine, or...well, anything. Well, I've eaten beer, but you can't get drunk off of beer-battered foods so it really doesn't count, does it?
DeleteGood for you! I'm proud of ya :)
DeleteI'll never try cigarettes. Gross.
Isn't it amazing that two kids that grew up surrounded by smoking adults never felt tempted to try it? Mom and Dad used to smoke in the car, at the dinner table . . . and our brothers smoked, too.
I say the brains skipped a generation or two...
Yes, it is amazing. I would think there would be pressure; that the children would feel obligated to follow their parents' and brothers' habits.
ReplyDeleteFor sure - Dad offered me a cigarette once, when I was sixteen or so...I don't think he was serious, just trying to see what I'd do. (Refused, of course.)
DeleteGeoff always offers me coffee. Blech!
I honestly don't know what about it they find so appealing. It's just bean juice and cancer sticks.
Delete