# XXXIX: Forest Scenery Illuminated by Electricity explained — Journey to the Center of the Earth

> Chapter companion for Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne.

## What happens

Axel and Professor Liedenbrock traverse a luminous subterranean forest of tertiary-period vegetation, devoid of color and shadow. They encounter a herd of living mastodons and a giant human-like figure, causing them to flee in terror. Later, they find a sixteenth-century Spanish dagger and the initials 'A. S.' carved in stone, confirming Arne Saknussemm's prior presence.

## Themes in this chapter

### Scientific Curiosity and Ambition

The Professor's relentless drive to explore the forest and decipher Saknussemm's clues exemplifies the pursuit of knowledge despite danger.

### The Unknown and the Sublime

The awe-inspiring, shadowless forest, living mastodons, and giant figure evoke the sublime terror of encountering the unknown.

### The Limits of Human Knowledge

Axel's rational struggle to accept the giant creature and the impossibility of a subterranean human population highlights the boundaries of scientific understanding.

## Character check-ins

### Axel Liedenbrock

Narrates the journey through the electric forest, expresses fear and disbelief at the mastodons and giant figure, and discovers the dagger and Saknussemm's initials.

### Professor Otto Liedenbrock

Driven by curiosity, he urges Axel forward despite danger, identifies the dagger's origin, and excitedly recognizes Saknussemm's initials.

### Arne Saknussemm

Referenced through the discovery of his initials 'A. S.' carved on a granite slab, confirming his earlier exploration.

### Hans Bjelke

Mentioned indirectly when the Professor speculates the dagger might belong to him, though Axel notes Hans never possessed such an item.

## Key lines

> By some phenomenon which I am unable to explain, it lighted up all sides of every object equally. Such was its diffusiveness, there being no central point from which the light emanated, that shadows no longer existed.

The light was so evenly diffused that it illuminated every surface from all directions, eliminating shadows entirely.

_Describes the unique electric illumination of the subterranean forest._

> I saw those huge elephants whose long, flexible trunks were grouting and turning up the soil under the trees like a legion of serpents.

I observed massive elephants using their trunks to dig and root through the ground like a group of snakes.

_Axel's description of the living mastodons._

> Immanis pecoris custos, immanior ipse.

The guardian of the monstrous herd is himself more monstrous.

_Latin phrase describing the giant figure watching over the mastodons._

> This blade is steel⁠—

This knife is made of steel.

_Axel's observation about the discovered dagger, indicating it is not prehistoric._

> A. S. , shouted my uncle. 'Arne Saknussemm! Arne Saknussemm everywhere!'

My uncle exclaimed the initials 'A. S.' and declared that Arne Saknussemm was present everywhere.

_The Professor's excited recognition of Saknussemm's initials carved in stone._

## Links

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