On Emphasis and Sweet Buns
January 21, 2012Justin…I’m glad you’re back! I think I can help out with your confusion regarding our lead pirate’s nickname. To answer your question I shall quote that most hilarious of flight attendant movies, View From The Top. Imagine a slightly cross-eyed Mike Myers in the hilarious cameo role of flight attendant instructor, John Witney:
You’ve put the emPHAsis on the wrong sylABBLE.
It is not that there is some aspect of Pirate Silver that is long…rather his shipmates are celebrating his skill at crafting delicious cream-filled treat. Not “Long” John Silver, but rather “Long John” Silver. Mmm…I could go for a long john right now (with sprinkles, but no filling–gross and unnecessary). So this nickname is an a very similar vein to his other nom de mer “Barbecue”. (Because he’s also a hand at toasting up some burgers and bratwurst–one assumes).
See how this blog helps us both gain a deeper understanding of the book! That glossary you provided in your last post sure has been helpful! Everything is some much clearer now!
But speaking of nicknames and confusion…I’m finding myself puzzling as I progress through this book…Are “Treasure Island” and “Skeleton Island” the same thing? Or are there two islands? I think that if they’re the same island “Skeleton Island” would have been a much cooler title for this book.
Well I look forward to hearing your thoughts again (perhaps at the beginning of March?)…
Until then,
“Long John” Jon
