# Atlantis explained — The Story of the Amulet

> Chapter companion for The Story of the Amulet by E. Nesbit.

## What happens

The children discuss their adventures in the Past and decide to visit Atlantis, taking the learned gentleman with them as a change of scene. They travel via the Amulet to the lost continent, where they explore a magnificent city of marble and gold, encounter public baths, and witness a bull-catching ritual in the Temple of Poseidon.

## Themes in this chapter

### Magic and the Ordinary

The Amulet's power transports the children and the learned gentleman to Atlantis, blending magical travel with everyday concerns like a holiday and a change of scene.

### Friendship and Cooperation

The children work together to plan the journey, include the learned gentleman, and navigate the Atlantean city, showing mutual support.

## Character check-ins

### Anthea

Suggests taking the learned gentleman to Atlantis; leads the group through the Amulet.

### Cyril

Injured during a statue game; agrees to visit Atlantis; pushes the learned gentleman through the Amulet arch.

### Robert

Hurt his thumb in the statue game; reluctant about Egypt and Babylon; comments on the Atlantean boys playing conkers.

### Jane

Wants to see Egyptian cats; holds up the Amulet for the journey; remarks on the visitor's friendliness.

### The Psammead

Brought up in its bag but protests being taken to Atlantis.

### Ji-jimmy

The learned gentleman; accompanies the children to Atlantis, believing it a dream; referred to as 'High Ji-jimmy' by the Atlanteans.

## Key lines

> You see a doctor, old boy; all that about thought-transference is just simply twaddle. You've been overworking. Take a holiday. Go to Dieppe.

The visitor advises the learned gentleman to see a doctor and take a holiday, dismissing thought-transference as nonsense.

_The visitor's suggestion prompts the children to take the learned gentleman to Atlantis as a change of scene._

> To know that you are dreaming shows that the dream is nearly at an end.

The learned gentleman rationalizes the children's invitation as part of a dream, indicating his disbelief.

_Highlights the learned gentleman's initial skepticism about the magical journey._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters/ix-atlantis
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters