While google searching some names, etc. from Haroun and the Sea of Stories, I found some interesting websites to references within the story. This first link I found to be extremely helpful as far as providing an accurate summary as well as providing a jumping-off point to begin identifying references to other works. For example, the two fishes that accompany Haroun on his adventure, Goopy and Bagha, refers to Satyajit Ray's film, Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne.
Goopy and Bagha are two exiles, one for singing badly and the other for playing music badly, who meet each other in the forest. Their playing eventually attracts a number of ghosts who, delighted with their talents, grant them 3 wishes. Here is a clip from the film depicting the two characters.
Goopy and Bagha are two exiles, one for singing badly and the other for playing music badly, who meet each other in the forest. Their playing eventually attracts a number of ghosts who, delighted with their talents, grant them 3 wishes. Here is a clip from the film depicting the two characters.
The link above also mentioned that the "Walrus" refers to a Beatles song, "I am the Walrus". Readers will remember that the Walrus' full title is I.M.D Walrus Esq.
The lyrics go as follows:
I am he as you are he as you are meVideo of the Beatles playing this song can be found here. I also found a website where the lyrics are explained and in which John Lennon describes his inspirations for the piece.
and we are all together
See how they run like pigs from a gun
see how they fly
I'm crying
Sitting on a cornflake
Waiting for the van to come
Corporation T-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday
Man you've been a naughty boy
you let your face grow long
I am the eggman
they are the eggmen
I am the walrus
Goo goo g' joob
Mr. city policeman sitting
pretty little policemen in a row
See how they fly like Lucy in the sky
See how they run
I'm crying
I'm crying, I'm crying
Yellow matter custard
Dripping from a dead dog's eye
Crabalocker fishwife
Pornographic priestess
Boy, you've been a naughty girl
you let your knickers down
I am the eggman
They are the eggmen
I am the walrus
Goo goo g' joob
Sitting in an English garden
waiting for the sun
If the sun don't come you get a tan
from standing in the English rain
I am the eggman
They are the eggmen
I am the walrus
Goo goo g' joob
Expert, texpert choking smokers
don't you think the joker laughs at you
See how they smile like pigs in a sty
See how they snide
I'm crying
Semolina pilchard
climbing up the Eiffel tower
Elementary penguin singing Hare Krishna
Man, you should have seen them kicking
Edgar Allan Poe
I am the eggman
They are the eggmen
I am the walrus
Goo goo g' joob
Goo goo g' joob
Goo goo g' goo
goo goo g' joob goo
juba juba juba
juba juba juba
juba juba juba juba
juba juba
Anyway, I just thought I would mention here these delightfully absurd (or disturbed) offshoots of the novel we are exploring.
