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Hans Bjelke
Arne Saknussemm is a 16th-century Icelandic alchemist. Though long dead by the start of the book, he initiates the plot with a runic message describing his journey to the center of the earth. When Professor Lidenbrock decodes this message, he becomes obsessed with following Saknussemm’s path. At multiple points throughout the voyage, the main characters discover Saknussemm’s name or initials carved into rocks. These signs of Saknussemm encourage Lidenbrock that the men are traveling in the right direction and reinvigorate his desire to succeed. Toward the end of the book, Axel finds himself sharing Lidenbrock’s enthusiasm toward following in Saknussemm’s footsteps.
Arne Saknussemm Quotes in Journey to the Center of the Earth
The Journey to the Center of the Earth quotes below are all either spoken by Arne Saknussemm or refer to Arne Saknussemm. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 16
Quotes
I was on the summit of one of the twin peaks of Snäffel […]. I commanded a view of almost the whole island. […] I could have said that one of Helbesmer’s relievo maps lay before me. […] precipices seemed mere walls, lakes changed into ponds, and rivers were little streams. On my right there were glaciers without number, and innumerable peaks […].
[…] I forgot who I was, and where I was […]. I gave myself to the luxury of the heights […].
Related Characters:
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Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 25
Quotes
“[…] if there is any law of increase in temperature, the heat here ought to be 1,500.”
“Ought to be, my boy.”
“And all this granite would be in a state of fusion, as it could not possibly remain in a solid state.”
“You see, however, that it is nothing of the sort, and that facts, as usual, give the lie to theories.”
Chapter 41
Quotes
What another had done I would dare, and nothing to me seemed impossible.
The soul of the professor had passed into me. The spirit of a discoverer pervaded me. I forgot the past, I disdained the future! Nothing existed for me on the face of our planet, in whose bosom I was plunged, neither town nor country, neither Hamburg nor Königstrasse, nor my poor Gräuben, who must think me lost for ever in the bowels of the earth!
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Arne Saknussemm Quotes in Journey to the Center of the Earth
The Journey to the Center of the Earth quotes below are all either spoken by Arne Saknussemm or refer to Arne Saknussemm. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 16
Quotes
I was on the summit of one of the twin peaks of Snäffel […]. I commanded a view of almost the whole island. […] I could have said that one of Helbesmer’s relievo maps lay before me. […] precipices seemed mere walls, lakes changed into ponds, and rivers were little streams. On my right there were glaciers without number, and innumerable peaks […].
[…] I forgot who I was, and where I was […]. I gave myself to the luxury of the heights […].
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 25
Quotes
“[…] if there is any law of increase in temperature, the heat here ought to be 1,500.”
“Ought to be, my boy.”
“And all this granite would be in a state of fusion, as it could not possibly remain in a solid state.”
“You see, however, that it is nothing of the sort, and that facts, as usual, give the lie to theories.”
Chapter 41
Quotes
What another had done I would dare, and nothing to me seemed impossible.
The soul of the professor had passed into me. The spirit of a discoverer pervaded me. I forgot the past, I disdained the future! Nothing existed for me on the face of our planet, in whose bosom I was plunged, neither town nor country, neither Hamburg nor Königstrasse, nor my poor Gräuben, who must think me lost for ever in the bowels of the earth!
