The Beavers

Torongil · 08-19-2012, 11:33 AM

So I have been re-reading the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and I'm a little confused. When the four Pevensies are taken to the Beaver's house, we are given a description of it and we find that:

Quote:

...there were hams and strings of onions hanging from the the roof...

Say whaaaa? First of all aren't Beavers Herbivores? And wherever did that ham come from? The picture of a talking pig generously giving himself up to be made into crispy bacon for others to devour doesn't seem plausible. So where did they get the meat from from? We hear that there are 'dumb' animals in the world. So could one talking pig own a farm of dumb pigs? It wouldn't be cannibalism for him if he ate one would it?

I know I'm probably being a little too picky but I thought it would be interesting to bring this up. So... thoughts anyone?

***Varnafindë*** · 08-19-2012, 12:09 PM

I guess it would have been the humanoids who ran farms with dumb animals to be traded as meat. Dwarfs, perhaps? Possibly Centaurs, but somehow I see it more as a Dwarf thing.

And I think ham is only slightly less plausible than beer or tea as a part of a Beaver's diet ...

GrayMouser · 08-22-2012, 06:27 AM

Yeah, it's a problem for any anthropomorphic animals in stories, and how realistic do we make them- same thing in "The Wind in the Willows" for example.

We know Narnian humans hunt, and the carnivorous Talking Animals do too- they must have a deep-seated knowledge of the differences between dumb beasts and and Talking Animals. Still, I imagine mistakes would happen:

"Who just shot me in the butt with that arrow?!?"

"Oooops, sorry- my bad."

And some Monty Python type scenes.

Farmer:Here's a nice fat porker for you.

Pig: Wait, I'm a Talking Animal!

Butcher: Didn't he just say something?

Farmer: No, no, don't listen to him.

Pig: I don't want to go in the cage...

GrayMouser · 08-23-2012, 01:54 AM

One thing that bothers me from the movies is that Mr. Beaver has a Cockney accent- surely a nice Somerset burr would be more in keeping? Or Shropshire? Someplace more rural, anyway.

***Varnafindë*** · 08-23-2012, 11:51 AM

But perhaps those Beavers were more urban-minded than other Beavers would have been?
Interested in technology and such (sewing-machines especially) ...

08-19-2012, 12:09 PM	#2
*Varnafindë* Princess of the Noldor (and Administrative Empress of the Lone Islands) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Imladris (and sometimes Norway) Posts: 3,304	I guess it would have been the humanoids who ran farms with dumb animals to be traded as meat. Dwarfs, perhaps? Possibly Centaurs, but somehow I see it more as a Dwarf thing. And I think ham is only slightly less plausible than beer or tea as a part of a Beaver's diet ... __________________ Signature picture art - Bard the Bowman - by vigshane Avatar art - Footsteps of Spring (a young Luthien) - by Henning Janssen

08-22-2012, 06:27 AM	#3
GrayMouser Elf Lord Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ilha Formosa Posts: 2,068	Yeah, it's a problem for any anthropomorphic animals in stories, and how realistic do we make them- same thing in "The Wind in the Willows" for example. We know Narnian humans hunt, and the carnivorous Talking Animals do too- they must have a deep-seated knowledge of the differences between dumb beasts and and Talking Animals. Still, I imagine mistakes would happen: "Who just shot me in the butt with that arrow?!?" "Oooops, sorry- my bad." And some Monty Python type scenes. Farmer:Here's a nice fat porker for you. Pig: Wait, I'm a Talking Animal! Butcher: Didn't he just say something? Farmer: No, no, don't listen to him. Pig: I don't want to go in the cage... __________________ Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them? "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us, cats look down on us, but pigs treat us as equals."- Winston Churchill

08-23-2012, 01:54 AM	#4
GrayMouser Elf Lord Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ilha Formosa Posts: 2,068	One thing that bothers me from the movies is that Mr. Beaver has a Cockney accent- surely a nice Somerset burr would be more in keeping? Or Shropshire? Someplace more rural, anyway. __________________ Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them? "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us, cats look down on us, but pigs treat us as equals."- Winston Churchill

08-23-2012, 11:51 AM	#5
*Varnafindë* Princess of the Noldor (and Administrative Empress of the Lone Islands) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Imladris (and sometimes Norway) Posts: 3,304	But perhaps those Beavers were more urban-minded than other Beavers would have been? Interested in technology and such (sewing-machines especially) ... __________________ Signature picture art - Bard the Bowman - by vigshane Avatar art - Footsteps of Spring (a young Luthien) - by Henning Janssen

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