in the harry potter books, i read that ron repaired his wand with "spello-tape". i thought this was just a clever name, until i found out there is really a product called "selo-tape" in the UK.
i have both american and english versions of the books, and in the american versions, when the non-magical tape is referenced, it is called "scotch tape". (magical version still called "spello-tape.)
so...i was wondering...when j.k. rowling talks about "gringotts", is there a real bank in the UK with a fairly similar name that she was making a play on words with?
thanks!
2007-01-20 19:31:12 · 13 answers · asked by soren 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Ingot's another name for bares of gold etc. have a nice day.
2007-01-20 19:46:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't know of any bank but use of Scotch tape and Sellotape as the generic names for pressure sensitive tape in the US and UK respectively is true We do have the Scotch tape range in the UK but it is not the brand leader except for Magic Tape which outsells Sellotape's Invisible Tape.
I don't know if it is true but I have heard that the generic name in Australia is Durex which can lead to some confusion when Australians are trying to buy tape in a UK stationery shop.
2007-01-20 22:05:30 · answer #2 · answered by felineroche 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many authors play on words, and it falls flat in some countries where they just haven't got the allusion. The true test is if the books are still popular without the allusions being understood, which the Potter books are.
If you like plays on words, try reading the Eyre Afair by Jasper Fforde...it's full of literary allusion, but a good book even if you don't get them.
2007-01-20 22:48:39 · answer #3 · answered by i_am_jean_s 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No there isn't a bank with a similar name in the UK, but I think there's an intentional connection to the word 'ingot' which refers to a large block of precious metal, such as gold.
2007-01-20 22:03:18 · answer #4 · answered by Mrs. Miller 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yep. Warts are contagious. they are brought about by using a plague. i do no longer think of its very probable. My husband has a wart on his hand and we carry hands for all time and that i've got in no way gotten a wart yet its technically obtainable.
2016-10-31 21:39:07 · answer #5 · answered by barn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be a composite of Grindley's and Coutts.
The Grindley's sounds sort of witchified and Coutts are the Queens's bankers.
2007-01-20 19:53:52 · answer #6 · answered by Christine H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No there is not. Ingot is gold keeping ,she just added the "Gr" to make it sound powerful.
2007-01-21 04:07:23 · answer #7 · answered by [random name] 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe, maybe not. She might use many other things like that, good point!
2007-01-20 19:35:22 · answer #8 · answered by ♥Super_Colts_Fan♥ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there was I would be banking with them.
2007-01-20 20:52:49 · answer #9 · answered by Superspark 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
none that I am aware of I am afraid.
2007-01-20 19:34:34 · answer #10 · answered by chippyspie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋