Overview – Northern Lights His Dark Materials – Golden Compass
Lyra, a young girl who lives within Jordan, a fictitious Oxford college otherwise full of adult, male
scholars, is challenged when she is thrust into a mysterious quest for a substance called "dust."
She first learns of it when she and her daemon, an external embodiment of a person's soul, are
eavesdropping on a meeting between the scholars and a famous explorer. Lord Asriel, whom she
knows because he has visited the college before and has taken a casual interest in her
development, must be rescued from the Master of the college. Lyra sees the Master trying to
poison Lord Asriel, warns him, and is then taken into his confidence. However, his comments pique
her curiosity about many things such as the church and her own history, which she has heretofore
taken for granted. When other children start to disappear into the clutches of the mysterious
Oblation Board, she becomes even more curious. One of kidnapped children is her friend Roger,
and this spurs her to action. Then she finds out Lord Asriel is her father and is being held prisoner
in the North. She embarks on their rescue, traveling with a group of river-gypsies known as
"gyptians" who are looking for their lost children. She befriends a bear, witches and other unlikely
characters, rescues many of the stolen children, but is unsuccessful in rescuing her friend before
he is killed. The story ends when she sees Lord Asriel go off into a parallel world through a hole he
has created by "severing" her young friend. She runs after him but that is where this instalment of
the story ends, to be taken up again in The Subtle Knife and concluded in The Amber Spyglass.
About the Author
Philip Pullman was born October 19,1946, in Norwich, Norfolk, England. The son of Alfred Outram
and Audrey Evelyn (Merrifield), he has one brother. Before age eleven, he travelled extensively
with his family. "A lot of my life before I was ten was spent on board a ship. My father and then my
stepfather were both in the Royal Air Force, and my mother and my brother and I seemed to
constantly following them around the world by sea." His journeys included trips to South Africa and
Australia, through the Suez Canal, Bombay, Aden, Columbo, and Las Palmas. He attended
schools in Southern Rhodesia, South Australia, and England until age eleven. Then, when the
family returned to England, he was educated at Ysgol Ardudwy, Harlech, in North Wales. These
many exotic locations appear in some form, especially in The Golden Compass, but also in his
"Sally Lockhart" books. The unregulated childhood and early travels of his own experiences are
obvious in the habits and attitudes of Lyra Belacqua, the main character of the aforementioned
novel.
After primary school, Pullman attended Exeter College and read English, receiving a B.A. from
Oxford University in 1968. He still lives in Oxfordshire. He married Judith (Jude) Speller on August
15, 1970, and they have two sons, James (Jamie) and Thomas (Tom). He has described his wife
and children as his first audience and repeatedly suggests that one should tell stories and read
stories to children if one is to be a children's writer. His grandfather was the storyteller in his life.
"My grandfather died before I published my first children's book, but I still measure what I write
against his judgment." Pullman is also interested in music and drawing and describes visiting art
and historical museums, either to sit and look or to drink a favourite cup of coffee as a way of
getting re-inspired for when he is writing. As well as writing sixteen children's books, and one adult
novel, Galatea, he has also worked as a teacher for the Oxfordshire Education Authority (1972-
1988) and as a part-time lecturer for Westminster College, Oxford (1988-96). His familiarity with
middle-grade children is aptly demonstrated in the detailed portrait of Lyra and her few friends, but
also in the institutional setting in Bolvangar. Children's tendencies to gang up on each other, to
follow the crowd and to obey orders in the face of uncertainty are realistic elements of his plot. At
the same time, Pullman's books are partly famous because both his male and female characters
show creativity, intelligence, and courage beyond their years, but also a willingness, almost a
passion, to question conventions of behaviour and thought. The contrast between Lyra, a leader
with a few loyal friends, and the masses of children she tries to rescue, is carefully drawn. Pullman
is often in the public eye, lecturing at bookstores, schools, and conferences. While he accepts a
number of speaking engagements, he tries to limit them, especially speaking to children's or school
groups only when they have read his books. He works in more than one medium, having rewritten
Dumas, Mary Shelly, and Conan Doyle, as well as some of his own fiction, for play and television
,production. Thus, there are many sources for ascertaining his opinions on his work and on
literature in general. He often contrasts himself with C. S. Lewis and the Narnia books, and brings
up authors such as Milton, Kleist, and a host of contemporary popular writers such as Gary
Paulsen, Jan Mark, Peter Dickinson, Henrietta Bradford, and Brian Moore. Lewis is one writer he
reacts against, especially with regard to portrayals of children and of institutionalized religion. He
has well-developed writing habits to which he attributes his success as an author. In a shed which
has been set aside for that purpose, twelve feet by eight feet, with electricity, heating, insulation, a
carpet and a table, computer, books, and musical instruments, he writes a minimum of three pages
per day on narrow lined paper, by hand, with a ballpoint pen. Sunday is his day for answering
letters, which seems to be a big task. Pullman, like many British writers of fantasy, past and
present, lives in Oxford, his home since the 1960s. He acknowledges its influence on his work in
creating settings and in providing a useful setting for a writer. Oxford appears in transmuted forms
in The Golden Compass. The many medieval buildings, the narrow cobblestone streets, Oxford
colleges, and the many excellent libraries figure in both his fiction and his writing habits. "But the
experience of sitting in a medieval building, holding in your hand a book that is three or four
hundred years old, has a special quality that you can't get from the Internet." Perhaps this is why
many of his books are set in the Victorian period, which he considers to be a major transition point
in British culture. The "Sally Lockhart" series, which clinched his fame as a writer, was set in
Victorian London, but with a teenage female character who defied all conventions and grew up,
through his stories, to start her own detective agency. Pullman began receiving awards for his
children's fiction in 1987 and continues to receive local, regional, national and international awards.
He has received the most, to date, for The Golden Compass, including a Best Book for Young
Adults citation from American Library Association, a Carnegie Medal, the Guardian Children's
Fiction Award, and the Publishing News British Children's Book of the Year Award. Earlier honors
include the Lancashire County Libraries/National and Provincial Children's Book Award, 1987, and
the Children's Book Award for Older Readers from The International Reading Association, 1988, to
name a few. Ruby and the Smoke, a mystery-thriller set in Victorian England and the first of four
books with characters in common, first established his career as a young adult writer.
Plot Summary
The Golden Compass follows the ever-expanding adventure of Lyra Bacquela as she travels north
in search of a kidnapped friend. The story begins in Jordan College, Oxford, where Lyra is an
average eleven-year-old girl who enjoys playing with her friend, Roger. One day, while snooping
around Jordan College, Lyra accidentally learns about a mysterious substance known as Dust,
which is attracted to adults but not to children. She also learns that the Dust has something to do
with the snowy north.Rumours soon begin about a group known as Gobblers, who kidnap children,
take them to the north, and perform experiments on them. The people of Jordan College give little
credibility to these rumours, until the Gobblers arrive in Oxford. Several children are kidnapped,
and after an extensive search, Lyra returns home to find that Roger is also missing. Soon
thereafter, Lyra is given a strange compass-like device known as an alethiometer, and then is
forced to leave Oxford. Her new caretaker, Mrs. Coulter, takes her to London. Mrs. Coulter is an
explorer and promises to take Lyra north on her next expedition. However, Mrs. Coulter does not
hold true to her promise, and Lyra runs away, finding a family of Gyptians to take care of her.The
Gyptians head north toward the Fen, an area ruled by the Gyptian people, and where a meeting
has been called about the mysterious disappearances of children. At the meeting, it is decided that
a Gyptian rescue party will be formed to travel north and save the children. Although she is first
denied a place in this party, Lyra, who has been practicing with the alethiometer, is later allowed to
go because of her ability to read the truth-telling device.The rescue party of one hundred and
seventy Gyptians takes a boat to Trollesund, a city in the North. Here, they speak with a witch
consul, who can communicate with witches, who tells them that they should seek out an armoured
bear. Iorek Byrnison is an armoured bear, and happens to be in town. By using the alethiometer,
Lyra helps Iorek find his armor, which had been stolen by the townspeople. As payment, Iorek
agrees to help the rescue party. On their journey north, Lyra is captured and taken to Bolvangar,
the Gobbler's heavily guarded compound where experiments are performed on children. Here,
,Lyra is reunited with Roger. After learning the truth about the experiments, Lyra organizes an
escape attempt. With the assistance of some witches and Iorek, the children manage
to escape the compound before it is destroyed.
Iorek, Roger, Lyra, and a Texan aeronaut named Lee Scoresby travel by balloon to Svalbard, a
land in the far north that is ruled by Iofur Rakinson, king of the bears. The balloon is attacked by
cliff-ghasts and Lyra is thrown from the balloon and captured by some armored bears. She is taken
to Iofur Rakinson's castle and imprisoned. Lyra cleverly manipulates the bear guards to allow her
to speak with the king, whom she tricks into battling Iorek one on one. When Iorek arrives, the two
bears battle for the throne. Iorek wins, and orders that the castle be torn down.Iorek, Lyra, Roger,
and some armored bears head north to rescue Lord Asriel, who had been imprisoned. When they
reach Asriel's spacious prison, they find he has been researching the Dust. Lyra wakes up the next
morning to find Roger has been taken away by Lord Asriel, who is going to use the boy to
complete an experiment. Iorek and Lyra chase Lord Asriel, but are too late, and Asriel uses Roger
to open a bridge to another dimension. Lord Asriel enters the dimensional gateway, followed by
Lyra.
Part 1, Chapter 1 Summary
Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon, who is in the form of a well-camouflaged moth, enter the
forbidden Retiring Room, which is reserved for the use of scholars and their guests, and never
females. After examining the elegant meeting room, the two hear someone coming, and hide
behind one of the fourteen large mahogany armchairs. It is the Butler, who is soon joined by the
Master. After a brief conversation about the upcoming meeting, the Butler, who has decanted a
special 1898 Tokay for Lord Asriel, is asked to leave the room. Lyra and Pantalaimon then watch
as the Master removes a folded piece of paper from his pocket and pours its contents, a white
powder, into the decanter of Tokay, which is a type of wine. Lyra watches in horror as he stirs this
substance, which she believes to be poison, until it dissolves. After the Master leaves, Lyra and
Pantalaimon attempt to make an escape, but are once again forced to take cover, this time in a
wardrobe. The Butler enters the room and prepares for the arrival of Lord Asriel, Lyra's uncle who
soon enters the Retiring Room. Lord Asriel sends the Butler to get a screen and a projecting
lantern, and also to tell his Porter to bring the two cases that Lord Asriel had left in the Lodge. The
Butler exits, and after several minutes of stretching and relaxation, Lord Asriel pours himself a
glass of Tokay. Lyra bolts from the wardrobe and wrenches the glass, which falls to the floor and
breaks. At first very angry, Lord Asriel scolds Lyra for what she has done, but his anger subsides
once Lyra explains her actions -that she was saving him from being poisoned. Lord Asriel instructs
her to return to the wardrobe and to watch the Master's actions for anything out of the ordinary that
may signify his guilt. The Porter knocks on the door, and Lyra returns to her hiding spot in the
wardrobe. Carrying two large boxes, the Porter enters the room at Lord Ariel's bidding. When the
porter nears the broken glass, Lord Asriel knocks the decanter off the table and blames the
accident on the apologetic Porter, who runs off to get materials for cleaning the mess. As the
Porter is cleaning the mess, the Butler and Thorold, Lord Asriel's manservant, enter the room and
are instructed to set up a projecting lantern (movie projector) and a screen, which is made of linen.
After the servants leave, the Master enters, and Lord Asriel informs him that he has "something
very interesting to show."
Part 1, Chapter 1 Analysis
This chapter introduces several main themes of The Golden Compass, betrayal and power.
Throughout the book, individuals who appear to be friends, become enemies, and quite often,
those who appear to be enemies, are friends. This dichotomy is a perfect formula for betrayal. The
Master's attempted poisoning of Lord Asriel demonstrates the first betrayal of the book. Another
important theme is introduced in this chapter, power. Lord Asriel is the epitome of this theme. The
adjectives used to describe his stretching even allude to a sense of power; he is said to look like a
lion when he yawns. The connection between Lord Asriel and power grows throughout the book.
The spatial environment, which begins in a single room, and ultimately a wardrobe, also increases
in magnitude and significance as the plot progresses.
, Part 1, Chapter 2 Summary
The Master enters the Retiring Room and Lyra notices his eyes are instantly directed toward the
table, where the Tokay had been. The group of Scholars begins filtering into the room; the group
consists of: the Librarian, the Sub-Rector, the Enquirer, the Chaplain, and several others. The
Master prepares some poppy, which is always served after a dinner in order to "clarify the mind
and stimulate the tongue." After several minutes of banter, Lord Asriel gets the company's
attention. Lord Asriel cleverly manipulates the seating arrangement so that the Sub-Rector, who is
old and needs to be closer to the screen, is moved and the Master sits in his chair, which is
conveniently located less than a yard from the wardrobe where Lyra is hiding. She hears a
whispered conversation between the Librarian and the Master that clearly demonstrates their intent
to kill Lord Asriel. They seem very concerned about the money that will be spent on Lord Asriel's
next expedition. Lord Asriel describes his exploration to the north, which he has just returned from,
and the intentions of this expedition; to discover what happened to Grumman, who had
disappeared eighteen months prior, and to investigate a strange phenomenon that had been
mentioned in one of Grumman's final messages. Lord Asriel then shows a series of pictures, the
first of which depicts a snow-covered landscape with a hut in the background and a man in furs
with his hand raised in greeting in the foreground. The photogram (picture), Lord Asriel explains,
had been taken with standard silver nitrate emulsion. This slide is then replaced by another, which
depicts the same picture, only much darker. Most of the picture remains the same, however,
the man in the foreground is bathed in a bright light, which appears to be emitting from his raised
hand. Lord Asriel calls this light Dust. Another shape can be seen in Dust in the corner of this
photogram; that of a child. The third slide depicts a group of tents in the foreground, next to which
is a pile of wooden boxes and a sledge. The sky shows "streams and veils of light hung like
curtains." Lord Asriel explains that this is the Aurora, or Northern Lights.
As with the first picture, a darker reproduction of the slide is displayed. A city of lights can be seen
in the Aurora. Dr. Grumman, says Lord Asriel, is dead. He then removes a vessel from one of the
two boxes on the floor. The vessel, which Lyra cannot see, contains the scalped head of
Stanislaus Grumman. Asriel finishes his speech, and the Scholars begin making idle chat. Lyra
falls asleep with Pantalaimon, who is now in the form of an ermine, wrapped around her neck. She
is awakened by her uncle, Lord Asriel, who informs her he has received funding for his next
expedition, which he will be leaving for in ten minutes. Lyra tells her uncle about the Master's guilt,
then pleads to go to the North, but is forbidden by her uncle to go on the expedition. The point of
view then follows the Master and the Librarian to the Master's quarters, where they discuss Lord
Asriel's knowledge of their dubious plan. Charles, the Librarian, then explains how two renegade
theologians, Barnard and Stokes, had proposed the existence of numerous other worlds. The city
in the sky, believes the Librarian, may be proof of this theory. The two Scholars begin discussion
about a child, who is revealed to be Lyra. The Master says, "Lyra has a part to play in this, and a
major one...if my plan with the Tokay had succeeded, she would have been safe for a little longer."
The chapter ends with a statement that Lyra will be a betrayer.
Part 1, Chapter 2 Analysis
Again, the theme of betrayal plays a major part in this chapter when we find that the Librarian has
also betrayed Lord Asriel. It is important to take notice of particular character's daemons, as they
often allude to their master's personality. This is especially relevant to Lyra and Pantalaimon, who
often takes forms that reflect what Lyra is feeling. It would not be unreasonable to view daemons
and their actions as the physical manifestations of individuals' inner thoughts. Lyra's significance is
mentioned for the first time in this chapter, and it should be noted that, like spatiality, this increases
throughout the book.
Part 1, Chapter 3 Summary
The chapter begins with a description of Jordan College, "grandest and richest of all the colleges of
Oxford." The college owns land all over England, and is unrivaled in its claim to the center of
experimental theology. Lyra and Roger, a kitchen boy who is Lyra's closest friend, spend their days
engaging in mock warfare. This warfare occurs between the twenty-four colleges, and also
between the college children and the townies, and other groups such as the brick burners' children
or the Gytpian families. This first section of the chapter describes Lyra's life before she "first heard
