Prince Caspian

by

C. S. Lewis

Trufflehunter Character Analysis

Trufflehunter is a talking badger and a friend to Nikabrik and Trumpkin. With them, he rescues Prince Caspian, tending to the boy’s injuries after he falls from his horse in a storm. Trufflehunter represents the Narnian talking animals in general, and like them he exemplifies loyalty, a long memory, and patience in adversity. He frequently tempers Nikabrik’s worst impulses and patiently tries to convince both him and Trumpkin to believe in the stories of the Golden Age and what he knows about Aslan. Trufflehunter becomes one of Prince Caspian’s most trusted advisors during the war between Old Narnians and Telmarine forces, sitting in council in Aslan’s How and weighing in on all important decisions. In the end, Caspian rewards him for his loyal friendship and support by knighting him in the Order of the Golden Lion.

Trufflehunter Quotes in Prince Caspian

The Prince Caspian quotes below are all either spoken by Trufflehunter or refer to Trufflehunter. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Good vs. Evil Theme Icon
).
Chapter 5: Caspian’s Adventure in the Mountains Quotes

“Whistles and whirligigs! Trufflehunter,” said Trumpkin, “You don’t mean you want to give the country to Humans?”

“I said nothing about that,” answered the Badger. “It’s not Men’s country (who should know that better than me?) But it’s a country for a man to be King of. We badgers have long enough memories to know that. Why, bless us all, wasn’t the High King Peter a Man?”

“Do you believe all those old stories?” asked Trumpkin.

“I tell you, we don’t change, we beasts,” said Trufflehunter. “We don’t forget. I believe in the High King Peter and the rest that reigned at Cair Paravel, as firmly as I believe in Aslan himself.”

“As firmly as that, I daresay,” said Trumpkin. “But who believes in Aslan nowadays?”

“I do,” said Caspian, “And if I hadn’t believed in him before, I would now.”

Related Characters: Caspian (speaker), Trumpkin/the Dwarf/D.L.F. (speaker), Trufflehunter (speaker), Peter, Aslan, Nikabrik
Page Number: 71-72
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6: The People that Lived in Hiding Quotes

Up till now neither Caspian nor the others had really been thinking of a war. They had some vague idea, perhaps, of an occasional raid on some Human farmstead or of attacking a party of hunters, if it ventured too far into these southern wilds. But, in the main, they had thought only of living to themselves in woods and caves and building up an attempt at Old Narnia in hiding. As soon as Glenstorm had spoken, everyone felt much more serious.

“Do you mean a real war to drive Miraz out of Narnia?” asked Caspian.

“What else,” said the Centaur [...].

“Is it possible, Glenstorm?” asked the Badger [...].

“Tarva and Alambil have met in the halls of high heaven, and on earth a son of Adam has once more arisen to rule and name the creatures […]. Our council at the Dancing Lawn must be a council of war,” [said Glenstorm].

Related Characters: Caspian (speaker), Trufflehunter (speaker), Glenstorm (speaker), Trumpkin/the Dwarf/D.L.F., Nikabrik, Miraz
Page Number: 81-82
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12: Sorcery and Sudden Vengeance Quotes

“I blew it when first I had a breathing space,” [said Caspian].

“I’m not likely to forget it,” came the angry voice, “when my Dwarfs bore the brunt of the attack and one in five of them fell,” [said Nikabrik].

“For shame, Dwarf,” came [Trufflehunter’s] thick voice […]. “We all did as much as the Dwarfs and none more than the King.”

“Tell that tale your own way for all I care,” answered Nikabrik. “But whether it was that the Horn was blown too late, or whether there was no magic in it, no help has come. You, you great clerk, you master magician, you know-all; are you still asking us to hang our hopes on Aslan and King Peter and all the rest of it?”

“I must confess—I cannot deny it—that I am deeply disappointed with the results of the operation,” came the answer [from Doctor Cornelius].

Related Characters: Caspian (speaker), Nikabrik (speaker), Trufflehunter (speaker), Doctor Cornelius (speaker), Peter, Edmund, Susan, Aslan, Trumpkin/the Dwarf/D.L.F.
Related Symbols: Horn
Page Number: 173-174
Explanation and Analysis:

“And anyway,” Nikabrik continued, “what came of the Kings and their reign? They faded too. But it’s very different with the Witch. They say she ruled for a hundred years: a hundred years of winter. There’s power, if you like. There’s something practical.”

“But, […] said the King, “haven’t we always been told that she was the worst enemy of all? […].”

“Perhaps,” said Nikabrik in a cold voice. “Perhaps she was for you humans […]. Perhaps she was for some of the beasts. She stamped out the Beavers, I dare say; at least there are none of them in Narnia now. But she got on all right with us Dwarfs. I’m a Dwarf and I stand by my own people. We’re not afraid of the Witch.”

“But you’ve joined with us,” said Trufflehunter.

“Yes, and a lot of good it has done my people, so far,” snapped Nikabrik.

Related Characters: Caspian (speaker), Nikabrik (speaker), Trufflehunter (speaker), Aslan
Related Symbols: Horn
Page Number: 179-180
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13: The High King in Command Quotes

“Miraz would never be so hair-brained as to throw away his advantage on a combat.”

“He might be brought to it,” said Glozelle […].

“Softly,” said Sopespian. “[…] Have I taken your Lordship’s meaning aright?”

“If the King undertook wager of battle,” whispered Glozelle, “why, either he would kill or be killed.”

“So,” said Sopespian […].

“And if he killed we should have won this war.”

“Certainly. And if not?”

“Why, if not, we should be as able to win it without the King’s grace as with him [...], And after that, we should be both victorious and kingless.”

“And […] you and I could hold this land quiet as conveniently without a King as with one?”

Glozelle’s face grew ugly. “Not forgetting,” said he, “that it was we who first put him on the throne. And in all the years that he has enjoyed it, what fruits have come our way? What gratitude has he shown us?”

Related Characters: Glozelle (speaker), Sopespian (speaker), Caspian, Peter, Edmund, Trumpkin/the Dwarf/D.L.F., Trufflehunter, Doctor Cornelius, Miraz
Page Number: 192-193
Explanation and Analysis:
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Trufflehunter Quotes in Prince Caspian

The Prince Caspian quotes below are all either spoken by Trufflehunter or refer to Trufflehunter. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Good vs. Evil Theme Icon
).
Chapter 5: Caspian’s Adventure in the Mountains Quotes

“Whistles and whirligigs! Trufflehunter,” said Trumpkin, “You don’t mean you want to give the country to Humans?”

“I said nothing about that,” answered the Badger. “It’s not Men’s country (who should know that better than me?) But it’s a country for a man to be King of. We badgers have long enough memories to know that. Why, bless us all, wasn’t the High King Peter a Man?”

“Do you believe all those old stories?” asked Trumpkin.

“I tell you, we don’t change, we beasts,” said Trufflehunter. “We don’t forget. I believe in the High King Peter and the rest that reigned at Cair Paravel, as firmly as I believe in Aslan himself.”

“As firmly as that, I daresay,” said Trumpkin. “But who believes in Aslan nowadays?”

“I do,” said Caspian, “And if I hadn’t believed in him before, I would now.”

Related Characters: Caspian (speaker), Trumpkin/the Dwarf/D.L.F. (speaker), Trufflehunter (speaker), Peter, Aslan, Nikabrik
Page Number: 71-72
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6: The People that Lived in Hiding Quotes

Up till now neither Caspian nor the others had really been thinking of a war. They had some vague idea, perhaps, of an occasional raid on some Human farmstead or of attacking a party of hunters, if it ventured too far into these southern wilds. But, in the main, they had thought only of living to themselves in woods and caves and building up an attempt at Old Narnia in hiding. As soon as Glenstorm had spoken, everyone felt much more serious.

“Do you mean a real war to drive Miraz out of Narnia?” asked Caspian.

“What else,” said the Centaur [...].

“Is it possible, Glenstorm?” asked the Badger [...].

“Tarva and Alambil have met in the halls of high heaven, and on earth a son of Adam has once more arisen to rule and name the creatures […]. Our council at the Dancing Lawn must be a council of war,” [said Glenstorm].

Related Characters: Caspian (speaker), Trufflehunter (speaker), Glenstorm (speaker), Trumpkin/the Dwarf/D.L.F., Nikabrik, Miraz
Page Number: 81-82
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12: Sorcery and Sudden Vengeance Quotes

“I blew it when first I had a breathing space,” [said Caspian].

“I’m not likely to forget it,” came the angry voice, “when my Dwarfs bore the brunt of the attack and one in five of them fell,” [said Nikabrik].

“For shame, Dwarf,” came [Trufflehunter’s] thick voice […]. “We all did as much as the Dwarfs and none more than the King.”

“Tell that tale your own way for all I care,” answered Nikabrik. “But whether it was that the Horn was blown too late, or whether there was no magic in it, no help has come. You, you great clerk, you master magician, you know-all; are you still asking us to hang our hopes on Aslan and King Peter and all the rest of it?”

“I must confess—I cannot deny it—that I am deeply disappointed with the results of the operation,” came the answer [from Doctor Cornelius].

Related Characters: Caspian (speaker), Nikabrik (speaker), Trufflehunter (speaker), Doctor Cornelius (speaker), Peter, Edmund, Susan, Aslan, Trumpkin/the Dwarf/D.L.F.
Related Symbols: Horn
Page Number: 173-174
Explanation and Analysis:

“And anyway,” Nikabrik continued, “what came of the Kings and their reign? They faded too. But it’s very different with the Witch. They say she ruled for a hundred years: a hundred years of winter. There’s power, if you like. There’s something practical.”

“But, […] said the King, “haven’t we always been told that she was the worst enemy of all? […].”

“Perhaps,” said Nikabrik in a cold voice. “Perhaps she was for you humans […]. Perhaps she was for some of the beasts. She stamped out the Beavers, I dare say; at least there are none of them in Narnia now. But she got on all right with us Dwarfs. I’m a Dwarf and I stand by my own people. We’re not afraid of the Witch.”

“But you’ve joined with us,” said Trufflehunter.

“Yes, and a lot of good it has done my people, so far,” snapped Nikabrik.

Related Characters: Caspian (speaker), Nikabrik (speaker), Trufflehunter (speaker), Aslan
Related Symbols: Horn
Page Number: 179-180
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13: The High King in Command Quotes

“Miraz would never be so hair-brained as to throw away his advantage on a combat.”

“He might be brought to it,” said Glozelle […].

“Softly,” said Sopespian. “[…] Have I taken your Lordship’s meaning aright?”

“If the King undertook wager of battle,” whispered Glozelle, “why, either he would kill or be killed.”

“So,” said Sopespian […].

“And if he killed we should have won this war.”

“Certainly. And if not?”

“Why, if not, we should be as able to win it without the King’s grace as with him [...], And after that, we should be both victorious and kingless.”

“And […] you and I could hold this land quiet as conveniently without a King as with one?”

Glozelle’s face grew ugly. “Not forgetting,” said he, “that it was we who first put him on the throne. And in all the years that he has enjoyed it, what fruits have come our way? What gratitude has he shown us?”

Related Characters: Glozelle (speaker), Sopespian (speaker), Caspian, Peter, Edmund, Trumpkin/the Dwarf/D.L.F., Trufflehunter, Doctor Cornelius, Miraz
Page Number: 192-193
Explanation and Analysis: