The Mohican Board! [Bumppo's Redux!] - Translation of character names

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Translation of character names

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Kay
Colonial Settler

USA

Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
January 06 2009

Status: offline

Posted - February 10 2009 : 1:57:51 PM

One thing that has constantly nagged at me since I read LOTM is the translation of the characters French names. Frequently used throughout the book, they are only used once or twice in the movie. Hawkeye/The Scout is La Longue Carabine meaning The Long Rifle. Chingachook is Le Gros Serpent meaning The Great Snake. Uncas(sorry Obi!) is Le Cerf Agile meaning The Nimble Deer or The Bounding Elk. All of these translations are found right in Cooper's text. But, the most used French name, Magua's Le Renard Subtil does not have a translation in Cooper's text-unless I overlooked it. After digging around on Cliff's notes I found a translation of Le Renard Subtil as The Subtle Fox. I have always wondered why there was no translation of Magua's name in the novel and always wanted to know what it meant since it was one of the only French names used in the movie's dialogue. Does Le Renard Subtil indeed translate to the Subtle Fox? I wonder why Cooper never mentioned it? Any ideas would be welcome!

Kay

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Obediah
Mohicanland Statesman

USA

Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
August 16 2006

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Donating Member

Posted - February 10 2009 : 3:36:19 PM

Gee, and all this time I thought "Le Cerf Agile" meant The Falling Deer! My bad...

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Little Lady of Fire
Colonial Militia

USA

Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
March 31 2007

Status: offline

Posted - February 10 2009 : 9:19:13 PM

Gee, and all this time I thought "Le Cerf Agile" meant The Falling Deer! My bad...

*hugs my dear Obi* What would these boards be without you.

There are easier things in life then trying to find a good guy..... Nailing jelly to a tree for example.

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Obediah
Mohicanland Statesman

USA

Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
August 16 2006

Status: offline

Donating Member

Posted - February 11 2009 : 11:40:20 AM

Well, since we are on the subject of my favorite "bashee," I've discovered that Uncas was actually mentioned in the movie "The Alamo." I'm sure young master Dillon can back me up on this...

This first time the Mexican drummers and buglers play that evil no prisoners tune, Crockett and Travis are on the wall discussing it:

TRAVIS: Its called Deguello.

CROCKETT: Its kinda purty.

TRAVIS: It means slit throat.

CROCKETT: It aint that purty.

(You can find all sort of versions of this little tune on YouTube.)

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Kay
Colonial Settler

USA

Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
January 06 2009

Status: offline

Posted - February 11 2009 : 11:50:26 AM