Noddy
Noddy
is a character created by British children’s author Enid Blyton, originally
published between 1949 and 1963. The television show based on the character is
the longest running show in British television since 1955, and continues to
appear to this day. Noddy
is a little wooden boy who lives in his own little House-for-One in Toyland. |
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The first book explains Noddy’s origins. He was carved by a woodsman but ran away after the man began to make a wooden lion, which Noddy was scared of. As he wanders through the woods, with no clothes, money or home, he meets Big Ears, a friendly gnome. Big Ears decides that Noddy is a toy and takes him to live in Toyland. He generously provides Noddy with a set of clothing and buys a build-it-yourself house for him. While Noddy is quite happy to be a toy, the citizens of Toyland are not sure that he is actually one. They put Noddy on trial and examine whether he is a toy, ornament or other object. Eventually, Noddy is declared a toy, after a doll, whose baby Noddy saved, tells the courts how wonderful Noddy is. Noddy gets his |
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car within
a few books. It is given to him by the townspeople, after Noddy helps solve a
local mystery. Noddy
loves driving his friends around Toyland and delivering parcels in his little
red and yellow taxi. The other toys can hear him coming by the distinctive
“Parp, Parp” sound of his taxi’s horn and the jingle of the bell on his
blue hat. Often he uses his airplane to get around to visit all the places in
Toyland. When his Taxi business is not doing so well, or when he needs help, he
turns to Big Ears. Big Ears will often lend him what he needs. On occasion,
Noddy will allow people to make his head nod, in exchange for small items, like
his morning milk. Noddy
is kind and honest, but he often gets in trouble, either through his own
misunderstandings, or because someone (usually the naughty goblins Sly and Gobbo)
has played a trick on him. He is very childlike in his understanding of the
world and often becomes confused as a result. For example, in the first Noddy
book, Noddy and Big Ears are building Noddy’s house for one. Noddy suggests
that they build the roof first, in case it rains. With no understanding of
gravity or of the need for roof supports, this is perfectly logical to him. As
the series continues, Noddy becomes wiser but without losing his charm and
lovable naivety. Noddy’s
best friends are Big Ears, Tessie Bear, Bumpy Dog and the Tubby Bears. Tessie is
a gentle hearted, gold bear who often wears a bonnet with flowers and a skirt.
She is very kind and very loving towards all of her friends and neighbors. Bumpy
Dog is Tessie’s pet. He loves to run up and ‘bump’ people over. Noddy
frequently gets annoyed with Bumpy but still likes him. Whenever Noddy threatens
Bumpy, Tessie gets upset, and sometimes will even begin to cry. The Tubby Bears
live next door to Noddy. They are gold and chubby teddy bears. Mr. and Mrs.
Tubby Bear frequently help Noddy. It is clear that Mr. and Mrs. Tubby Bear are
the superiors of Noddy, as if he was a child. Their first names are never
mentioned and Noddy always refers to them as Mr. and Mrs. They have one son,
also named Tubby, who is occasionally referred to as Master Tubby. Tubby is
naughty and is usually in trouble, for breaking rules, being rude, or doing
something wrong. Noddy often attempts to scold or punish Tubby, with little
result. On one occasion, Tubby gets tired of always being bossed around and
being punished and decides to run away to sea. Noddy and Bumpy accidentally join
with him. By the end of the journey, Tubby misses his parents and brings them
back presents from his trip, as an apology. Noddy
has many run-ins with Mr. Plod, the local policeman. Some are caused by
Noddy’s lack of understanding of how Toyland works. Other times it is because
a case of mistaken identity. While Mr. Plod is generally long-suffering towards
Noddy, Noddy likes Mr. Plod and frequently goes out of his way to help him. Mr.
Plod often catches the mischief makers on his police bicycle, by blowing his
whistle and shouting “Halt, in the name of Plod!!” before locking the
culprits up in his jail. You
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