The Doll’s House
Week of November 11, 2007
Chapter One:
The Doll's House, by Rumer Godden, illustrated by Tasha Tudor--I would like this book just for the author and illustrator! The beginning chapter seems to be mostly introducing Tottie Plantaganet and her dollhouse family. Tottie is quite proud of her wood, and feels strong and proud because of it. Although she is the daughter of the dollhouse family, you already get the sense that she is the strongest member. And she needs to be, because even in this early chapter she hints at how dangerous it can be to be a doll! "Dolls cannot choose; they can only be chosen; they cannot 'do'; they can only be done by..." and it makes one wonder what exactly will be done to Tottie, and the whole Plantaganet family!
They are quite the rag-tag family! Mr. Plantaganet rescued from negligent children of another household; Mrs. Plantaganet (Birdie), who is 'not quite right in the head'; and Apple (only as big as Emily's thumb!). And one must not forget Darner, the dog.
Ah--but when you get to the end of the chapter, the real problem is
revealed--they have no home!
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I like the connection between this book and Hitty about the way they
view being carved of wood. Both Tottie and Hitty talk about the strength of
their wood and call upon it in times of tribulation.
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I caught that too--I like wooden dolls! They are always very strong
both in wood and in character.
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I loved the first chapter! I always thought, as a kid, that my toys had lives that went on when I wasn't around, and this book hints that it is true.
I like how the little girls rescue the dolls and then fix them up.
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I agree. I have always loved the idea that my dolls have a life of
their own. What I like about Godden’s concept of the dolls’ lives
is that it seems rather realistic because their actions are small, as opposed
to dolls that leave the house and have big adventures on their own like we see
in Toy Story. ( Don't get me wrong, I love Toy Story, but it does not have the
nuance and realistic feel of this story.) I also love the way the dolls connect
with the children by wishing/thinking. The idea that children who are sensitive
and caring about their dolls would be able to understand what they want is appealing.
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Rumer Godden is big on the wishing thinking thing. I can think of at
least two other books in which she talked about it. Actually, many of her stories
are about or include dolls. I am a fan.
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I received my book and will get my mannikin to make Tottie next week. I have read the entire book and was thrilled with it. I too, thought of my dolls as alive when I was young and having adventures during the night while I was asleep. Sometimes they told me of their adventures. Wish I had thought to write them down.
As far as the book discussion goes, I was very happy to get all the
major information in the first chapter so the rest of the book was understandable.
Not like some where you have to flip back to the beginning for some clarification.
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It's interesting how we all saw our dolly children. Mine never were
up at night. They were all in bed with me and fast asleep like good little children.
Actually, I was afraid of the dark, and they all kept me company. We hid under
the blankets, even on the hottest nights. Whew..... No air conditioning at my
house.
I had twelve children so the bed was crowded. Anything sneaking around at night
would have a hard time finding me!
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There is also the connection with Miss Hickory. Tottie speaks of the good wood and the strength of the sap that runs through it. Miss Hickory also commented on the strength of her sap.
Although mentioned in Miss Hickory, but more similar to Hitty, the
human characters seem to play a bigger part in The Dolls' House story....at
least in the first chapter. The sisters, Emily and Charlotte Dane, seem to be
thoughtful and kind girls.
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I found it so interesting that the 7 year old Tottie clearly rules
the roost. The father is so timid and uncertain, and the mother is so dithery
and Apple, of course, is so little. Darner almost seems more together than the
parents. Wonder what Charlotte and Emily's mom and dad were like, for their
dolls to be so odd?
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The Plantaganet Family: Interesting choice for Godden to make for the family name. I understood the "royal" aspect of the name and long history associated with Plantagenet, but completely missed the historical/botanical significance. As you read below, I believe it describes our Tottie admirably: "firmly rooted", "upholding what is ready to fall". And the broom idea, 'cause they really did make brooms of broom, to my mind, further deepens our understanding of Tottie's character. She really is the head of the household, by virtue of her great age, wisdom and tree-strength.
Scotch Broom:
As a heraldic device, the Broom was adopted at a very early period as the badge of Brittany. Geoffrey of Anjou thrust it into his helmet at the moment of going into battle, that his troops might see and follow him. As he plucked it from a steep bank which its roots had knit together he is reputed to have said: 'This golden plant, rooted firmly amid rock, yet upholding what is ready to fall, shall be my cognizance. I will maintain it on the field, in the tourney and in the court of justice.' Fulke of Anjou bore it as his personal cognizance, and Henry II of England, his grandson, as a claimant of that province, also adopted it, its mediaeval name Planta genista, giving the family name of Plantagenets to his line. It may be seen on the Great Seal of Richard I, this being its first official, heraldic appearance in England. Another origin is claimed for the heraldic use of the Broom in Brittany. A prince of Anjou assassinated his brother there and seized his kingdom, but being overcome by remorse, he made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, in expiation of his crime. Every night on the journey, he scourged himself with a brush of 'genets,' or genista, and adopted this plant as his badge, in perpetual memory of his repentance. St. Louis of France continued the use of this token, founding a special order on the occasion of his marriage in the year 1234. The Colle de Genet, the collar of the order, was composed alternately of the fleur-de-lys of France and the Broomflower, the Broomflower being worn on the coat of his bodyguard of a hundred nobles, with the motto, 'Exaltat humiles,' 'He exalteth the lowly.' The order was held in great esteem and its bestowal regarded as a high honour. Our Richard II received it, and a Broom plant, with open, empty pods, can be seen ornamenting his tomb in Westminster Abbey. In 1368 Charles V of France bestowed the insignia of the Broom pod on his favourite chamberlain, and in 1389 Charles VI gave the same decoration to his kinsmen. (Interesting info and photo provided by Jane Evans.)
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The plant does not have a common name of Snap Dragon, just 'broom"
or "Scotch broom". It grows all over in Central California. The leaves
are very soft, but it is the dickens to try and yank out of the hillside, being
a tough shrub. If I ponder it, I can even smell it in my mind's "nose".
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What a shame that Scotch Broom is such a nuisance invasive shrub. It is so pretty, and after reading that it is leguminous, I would hope that its one redeeming quality is that it could at least be nitrogen fixing. I don't recall ever seeing it, tho it must be very widespread.