Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:46, 25 November 2021

Revision as of 23:16, 6 January 2022

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;Ping Pong: A very young and tiny Chinese boy whose head is the size of a [[ping pong]] ball. Hardly more than a year old and no taller than a man's hand, he is already very capable of behaving and thinking like an adult.<ref group=note>This stereotypical depiction of the Chinese is common in the story. The country called China in the first editions of the book was later changed to "Mandala". The 1990 English translation again uses "China", however (Athenea Bell, Overlook Press, Woodstock, NY).</ref> He is one of the numerous descendants of the Emperor's chief cook; after saving Jim and Luke from a treacherous and manipulative minister, he is made Prime Minister of China by the Emperor - a role which he fulfills surprisingly capably.

;Mrs. Grindtooth {{nobold|({{lang|de|Frau Mahlzahn}})}}: A pure-blood dragon and the main antagonist of the first story. Her name comes from the single fang projecting from her long snout. She is very knowledgeable and intelligent, but like all dragons, likes to torment lesser beings with her power. She runs a school for human children in Sorrowland.

;The Wild 13 {{nobold|({{lang|de|Die Wilde Dreizehn}})}}: A band of pirates completely identical in appearance and ability. Fearsome pirates and seamen, they are not particularly bright and are poorly educated, each of them knowing only one particular letter of the alphabet. First portrayed as antagonists, they evolve into important characters and plot carriers in the sequel.:Even though they are named "The Wild 13", they are actually only 12 men. This mistake happens because of a fault in their logic. EverydayEvery day they elect one of their own as a new leader, so they reason they are twelve plus the leader, which results in them thinking they are thirteen.

== Literary references ==