King Frank
From NarniaWeb
(Created page with '==Appearances== ===~ The Magician's Nephew ~ (1955)=== leftFrank is just an ordinary cab driver in London, working hard to make a living, when he and his horse …') |
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- | == | + | ==Bio Info== |
- | + | '''Titles:''' Frank the Cabby, King Frank | |
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- | + | '''Age:''' A middle-aged man | |
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+ | '''Species:''' Son of Adam | ||
+ | '''Home:''' London, England; Narnia | ||
+ | '''Physical Description:''' Prior to becoming king of Narnia, Frank is described as a red-faced man in a bowler hat, but after his coronation, he looks courageous and kind with rich flowing robes and a gold crown set with rubies. | ||
+ | '''Tools:''' His horn | ||
+ | '''First Appearance:''' ''The Magician's Nephew'', Ch. 7 (1955) | ||
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- | + | ==About Frank== | |
- | == | + | Frank is a simple man who works hard to make a living as a cab driver in the streets of London. He is honest, fair, and kind to his horse [[Fledge|Strawberry]], though he has picked up some rough mannerisms from living in the city. He and his wife [[Queen Helen|Nellie]] used to live in the country, and underneath their shrewd city ways they are good, wholesome people. Frank has a calm, even temper, which he displays when he speaks soothingly to the enraged [[White Witch|Jadis]] about how she just needs a cup of tea to calm down. Though he is uneducated and speaks rough country English, Frank is sensitive to beauty and how it can affect a man's behavior. Frank's low station in society and limited education have made him humble, and this simple humility equips him well for the Narnian throne. |
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==Inspiration== | ==Inspiration== | ||
- | Though Lewis never discussed the specific inspiration for the character of Frank, parallels can be drawn between his London cabby and Adam, the first man of the Genesis account. Both Frank and Adam are charged by their respective deities to care for the animals on a very personal level, and to rule creation wisely. There is also a great deal of Lewis' gardener Fred Paxford in Frank — the same man who inspired the character Puddleglum. | + | Though Lewis never discussed the specific inspiration for the character of Frank, parallels can be drawn between his London cabby and Adam, the first man of the Genesis account. Both Frank and Adam are charged by their respective deities to care for the animals on a very personal level, and to rule creation wisely. There is also a great deal of Lewis' gardener Fred Paxford in Frank — the same man who inspired the character [[Puddleglum]]. |
- | == | + | ==Appearances== |
- | ' | + | ===~ The Magician's Nephew ~ (1955)=== |
+ | [[File:3785.jpg|left]]Frank is just an ordinary cab driver in London, working hard to make a living, when he and his horse [[Fledge|Strawberry]] are drawn into an extraordinary adventure. One afternoon the witch [[White Witch|Jadis]], accidentally brought to London from the world of Charn, attempts to steal [[Fledge|Strawberry]] for her royal mount. When Frank moves to recover [[Fledge|Strawberry]], he is unwittingly pulled along to Narnia with the others when [[Digory Kirke|Digory]] tries to return [[White Witch|Jadis]] to Charn. Once in Narnia, Frank witnesses the creation of that world by the Great Lion [[Aslan]]. He is fascinated by this and keeps trying to quiet everyone so he can hear the "moosic" [[Aslan]] is singing to create the world. When [[Aslan]] chooses different creatures to become the Talking Animals of Narnia, Frank is surprised but very pleased when his horse [[Fledge|Strawberry]] is chosen. But the real surprise for Frank is when [[Aslan]] asks him if he would like to stay in Narnia. At first, Frank is hesitant because his wife [[Queen Helen|Nellie]] is not there with him, but then [[Aslan]] summons her to Narnia as well. Once they are both there, [[Aslan]] offers the kingship to Frank and Frank humbly refuses on the grounds of his limited education. But as [[Aslan]] quizzes Frank about how he would reign, the former cabby realizes that he might be able to do the job after all. King Frank and his wife [[Queen Helen]] are crowned the first King and Queen of Narnia by [[Aslan]] himself. | ||
- | + | ===~ The Last Battle ~ (1956)=== | |
+ | [[File:3774.jpg|left]]When all the friends of Narnia arrive in Aslan's country and are standing in wonder at their beautiful surroundings and greeting old friends, King Frank blows his horn to summon them all to face [[Aslan]]. | ||
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- | ''' | + | ==Quotes== |
+ | *"Now, Missie, let me get at 'is 'ead, and just you get off. You're a Lidy, and you don't want all these roughs going for you, do you? You want to go 'ome and 'ave a nice cup of tea and a lay down quiet like; then you'll feel ever so much better." (MN, Ch. 7) | ||
+ | *"And if we're dead—which I don't deny it might be—well, you got to—remember that worse things 'appen at sea and a chap's got to die sometime. And there ain't nothing to be afraid of if a chap's led a decent life. And if you ask me, I think the best thing we could do to pass the time would be sing a 'ymn." (MN, Ch. 8) | ||
+ | *"Glory be! I'd ha' been a better man all my life if I'd known there were things like this." (MN, Ch. 8) | ||
+ | *"Oh stow it, Guv'nor, do stow it," said the Cabby. "Watchin' and listenin's the thing at present; not talking." (MN, Ch. 9) | ||
+ | *"That horse 'as more sense than some 'umans as I could mention." (MN, Ch. 9) | ||
+ | *"Begging your pardon, sir, and thanking you very much I'm sure (which my Missus does the same) but I ain't no sort of a chap for a job like that. I never 'ad much eddycation, you see." (MN, Ch. 11) | ||
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+ | ==Portrayals== | ||
*Peter Goodwright: Focus on the Family Radio Theater, 1999 – 2002 | *Peter Goodwright: Focus on the Family Radio Theater, 1999 – 2002 | ||
*John Hollis: BBC Radio Tales of Narnia | *John Hollis: BBC Radio Tales of Narnia |