# II explained — Ticket No. 9672

> Chapter companion for Ticket No. 9672 by Jules Verne.

## What happens

This chapter provides a detailed description of the hamlet of Dal in the Telemark region of Norway, focusing on the inn run by Dame Hansen. It contrasts the inn's well-stocked larder and comfortable accommodations with the poor fare typical of the 'Buttermilk Country.' The narrative also describes the landscape, architecture, and local customs, emphasizing the beauty and uniqueness of the Telemark before the advent of railroads.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and Norwegian Identity

The chapter vividly describes the natural beauty of the Telemark, including mountains, waterfalls, and the Maan river, emphasizing the region's unique character and charm.

### Social Class and Equality

The contrast between the poor fare of the 'Buttermilk Country' and the abundance at Dame Hansen's inn highlights disparities in hospitality and resources.

## Character check-ins

### Dame Hansen

Innkeeper of the well-regarded inn at Dal, noted for her well-stocked cellar and larder.

## Key lines

> Eggs are a luxury, and a most stale and unprofitable one; but there is any quantity of poor beer to be had, a profusion of buttermilk, either sweet or sour, and sometimes a little coffee, so thick and muddy that it is much more like distilled soot than the products of Mocha or Rio Nunez.

Eggs are considered a luxury but are often stale and not worth the cost; however, there is plenty of low-quality beer, abundant buttermilk (sweet or sour), and occasionally coffee that is so thick and muddy it resembles soot rather than fine coffee from Mocha or Rio Nunez.

_Highlights the poor quality of food typical in the Telemark region, contrasting with Dame Hansen's inn._

> The Telemark composes the broad portion of the immense horn that Norway forms between Bergen and Christiania. This dependency of the prefecture of Batsberg, has the mountains and glaciers of Switzerland, but it is not Switzerland. It has gigantic waterfalls like North America, but it is not America. The landscape is adorned with picturesque cottages, and processions of inhabitants, clad in costumes of a former age, like Holland, but it is not Holland. The Telemark is far better than any or all of these; it is the Telemark, noted above all countries in the world for the beauty of its scenery.

The Telemark forms the broad part of the horn-shaped region of Norway between Bergen and Christiania. It has mountains and glaciers like Switzerland, but it is not Switzerland; it has huge waterfalls like North America, but it is not America; it has picturesque cottages and people in traditional costumes like Holland, but it is not Holland. The Telemark surpasses all these, being renowned above all for its scenic beauty.

_Emphasizes the unique and superior natural beauty of the Telemark region._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ticket_no_9672_se/chapters/ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ticket_no_9672_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ticket_no_9672_se/chapters