Cellar Door

[Dillinger]

In Donnie Darko - Donnie's English teacher, Miss Karen Pomeroy, explains that "this famous linguist once said that of all the phrases in the English language, of all endless combinations of words in our history, that Cellar Door is the most beautiful."

So I have a question for all you literate types here, you writers, anyone. Do you know what linguist this was? Do you know of any other instances in literature relating to the phrase "cellar door."

Let's see what you're made of, people... *grin*

 

[Guest]

I don't know the name of the linguist. But, I do recall hearing such a reference. The musicality of the phrase, that is.

I believe the 1st chapter of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde refers to a cellar door.

 

[Dillinger]

*smile*

There's more.

 

[Guest]

More references???
Can I cheat?

 

[Dillinger]

Since you're the only one playing, why not... *lol*

 

[Guest]

Nah. I've never cheated.
I'd break a leg or something if I did.
But, I will go through my book collection. Maybe it'll give me ideas.

 

[cybergirly]

Ok I'm pretty sure Charles Dickens referred to the cellar door in
A CHRISTMAS CAROL, I also think Mark Twaine may have used it somewhere, of course Poe and I'm sure there more I'm not thinking of.

 

[cutie pie]

Would that be Tolkien?

I'm too inebriated to answer the rest of the question, though.

 

[Dillinger]

Would that be Tolkien?

I'm too inebriated to answer the rest of the question, though.

That's one I was thinking of... *smile*

In his essay "English and Welsh", Tolkien recalls how he once saw the words Adeiladwyd 1887 (It was built 1887) cut on a stone-slab. It was a revelation of beauty. "It pierced my linguistic heart," he recalls. It turned out that Welsh was full of such wonderful words. Tolkien found it difficult to communicate to others what really was so great about them, but in his essay he makes an honest attempt: "Most English-speaking people...will admit that cellar door is 'beautiful', especially if dissociated from its sense (and from its spelling). More beautiful than, say, sky, and far more beautiful than beautiful. Well then, in Welsh for me cellar doors are extraordinarily frequent, and moving to the higher dimension, the words in which there is pleasure in the contemplation of the association of form and sense are abundant."

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

Can anyone come up with a Sci Fi reference?

 

[seXieleXie]

how about "Beyond the Cellar Door" by Jan O'Donnell Klaveness

 

[cybergirly]

Geesh Dilly can't you ask these questions when it's daylight out?


Ok what about Dune?

 

[#1tankcomander]

I remember a long while back reading a story about the discovery of a "cellar door" found intact during an escavation of land in a city for a new high rise. the story went on about if the city should open it or not and became a big deliberation with injunctions. I can't remember the name of the story or the aurthor, but it was a good story never the less. The main theme around the cellar door was the bodies that were piled up in the cellar. The bodies were there because of the plague and meant to stay buried. Once opened, after being sealed for a hundred years or so, the plague was released again. Wished I could remember the name of the author and the story, I'd like to read it again!

So Dillenger can you help with the title and the author?

Back at you.

 

[Dillinger]

Frank Herbert! Yes Indeed. But not Dune - The Santaroga Barrier

And the rest of you are getting ones I hadn't thought of - and for good reason:

"The Cellar Door" parable told in the movie has been around a long time and is quite well a known legend among English writers. Hence its many occurances.

 

[#1tankcomander]

RE RE.....

Come on Dilly no response on mine?

 

[cybergirly]

Frank Herbert! Yes Indeed. But not Dune - The Santaroga Barrier

And the rest of you are getting ones I hadn't thought of - and for good reason:

"The Cellar Door" parable told in the movie has been around a long time and is quite well a known legend among English writers. Hence its many occurances.

Damn I knew it was Herbert. But couldn't think of which book.

And don't even ask about Horror, that would leave every author open.

 

[LukkyKnight]

Would that be Tolkien?

I'm too inebriated to answer the rest of the question, though.

Bah, I'm inebriated enough I didn't know there was a question. Where's the rewind button?

 

[cutie pie]

Bah, I'm inebriated enough I didn't know there was a question. Where's the rewind button?

There's some buttons here. . .keep pushing them. . .you'll find the right one eventually.

 

[LukkyKnight]

That one seems slippery.

 

[Dillinger]

Re: RE RE.....

Come on Dilly no response on mine?

I wish I could help you on that one - I haven't read that story and a quick search on the net didn't turn anything up. Sorry.

 

[#1tankcomander]

Thanks anyway!

 

[cybergirly]

Thanks anyway!

Was this book set in Oxford? With a doctor and a reporter as key charactors? It sounds so familiar to me...
If this fits let me know and I'll go look through my books.

 

[Dillinger]

Any more?

 

[wicked faerie]

Any more?

yes....but i don't care about tolkien

 

[Dillinger]

How about token?

 

[Silverluna]

That's one I was thinking of... *smile*

In his essay "English and Welsh", Tolkien recalls how he once saw the words Adeiladwyd 1887 (It was built 1887) cut on a stone-slab. It was a revelation of beauty. "It pierced my linguistic heart," he recalls. It turned out that Welsh was full of such wonderful words. Tolkien found it difficult to communicate to others what really was so great about them, but in his essay he makes an honest attempt: "Most English-speaking people...will admit that cellar door is 'beautiful', especially if dissociated from its sense (and from its spelling). More beautiful than, say, sky, and far more beautiful than beautiful. Well then, in Welsh for me cellar doors are extraordinarily frequent, and moving to the higher dimension, the words in which there is pleasure in the contemplation of the association of form and sense are abundant."

Thought so...he was a linguist freak....but a brilliant one!

Ever read his essay : On Faerie Stories ? Ahh...classic!