Thursday, October 14, 2010

The Steadfast Steed

I was going to say loyal, but I already used that term for sidekicks. This is definitely not a Jungian Archetype, but it is a pretty common character in film and literature and besides, my good friend Leigh T Moore convinced me to do this one just so that she can pick a certain character. So she better get here quick to be the first one to comment about him.

I should clarify. This doesn't have to actually be a horse. This is sort of like a sidekick/mount/animal companion category. I'll even accept Chewbacca even though Han doesn't ride him around (as far as we know, at least). Gurgi from the Chronicles of Prydain would be another example of an animal companion that no one actually rode. You could also go with actual classic horses, like Rocinante, Red Hare, Shadowfax, Hasufel, Arod or Bill the Pony, or even mythical horses (with eight legs no less) like Sleipnir, Odin's horse from the Poetic Edda.

I'm going with a character from a film today, slightly different from my other choices, but probably not a huge surprise to most of you. I have always loved Artax from The Neverending Story. He was noble. He was swift. He was Atreyu's only companion on the greatest journey of his life. Well ... at least until the Swamp of Sadness that is.

I can tell you I wept like a crackhead without a rock when I first saw that scene and I still cry freely today whenever I watch it with my family. My one daughter calls me a tear-dropper and the other calls me sentimental. I'm not afraid to admit I cry during movies, hell, I don't really enjoy a movie that much unless it makes me cry. I'm an emotional writer, remember?

So who is your favorite steadfast stead or loyal animal companion? Did I give way too many examples and left nothing for you guys to come up with (except for Leigh)? I hope not.

26 comments:

Candyland said...

Garfield. No wait. Scooby Doo.

Ted Cross said...

Samwise Gamgee. Oh wait...

Stephanie Lorée said...

I actually liked Falcor the best in Neverending Story.

There's also the ever popular Silver, the Lone Ranger's stead.

But overall, my favorite has to be Mouse, Harry Dresden's faithful temple dog from later books in the Dresden Files. Mouse is awesome.

Old Kitty said...

Sam the dog in I am Legend film with Will Smith. The book I Am Legend also had a poor doggie character in it - but it was a sadder type dog that Neville tried to look after but failed. Cried like a baby both times! Take care
x

Unknown said...

I loved they hypogriff in Harry Potter... it was Sirius's sidekick until Sirius passed, but that hypogriff was awesome, he helped so many people!!! Hagrid adored him!

Also fawkes a phoenix for Albus Dumbledore, a very loyal companion...

See I like Harry Potter... hehe and I'm counting the days for HP PT 1!

Bish Denham said...

Falcor is a good one. (By the way have you ever read the book? It's WAY better than the movie!)

My choice...I'm going with myth. I choose Pegasus.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Scooby-Doo! Perfect.

Would the Terminator in T2 qualify?

Jessica Bell said...

SKippy!!!! LOLOLOL

LTM said...

your comment cherry is very hard to get. Blut. (figure that one out)

j/k--it's all about the love~

APPA! :D

Melissa Gill said...

My first thought was donkey and puss-n-boots from Shrek. I loved those movies.

This one isn't from a book, but he was the most loyal sidekick I knew, my friend Jill's hearing assistance dog Uriah who passed away last May.

Slamdunk said...

Hmm not sure it would meet your criteria, but Old Dan and Little Ann from Where the Red Fern Grows.

If not, where would Charlie Brown be without Snoopy.

Christina Lee said...

Um.. at a loss right now. I can only think of Frodo's sidekick (Name?) or Ron and Hermione!

Shannon said...

Hrm, this is an interesting one. Again, I'm going back to movies:

1. Cisco, Dunbar's horse in Dances with Wolves

2. Two Socks, the wolf in Dances with Wolves

That's all I can think of right now. Interesting topic, Matt.

Sarah Ahiers said...

Who doesn't cry in the Neverending story? Jerks, that's who.

I would say Ruth, in Anne McCaffrey's White Dragon. Best. Dragon. Ever.

Sigh. Now i have to read those again right now.

(oh man, Slamdunk is going to make me cry just THINKING about where the red fern grows)

Colene Murphy said...

Dang it! Candyland stole Scooby Doo! okay okay (and I can't won't willn't watch the horse scene in NES. Nope. skip it.)

Yoshi. or Abu(Aladdin).

I am Loving this series of posts!

Nate Wilson said...

I'll go with Baloo from The Jungle Book. (And since Mowgli rode on his shoulders, he might even qualify as a "steed.")

Creepy Query Girl said...

Harry Potter's Nimbus 2000

Lenny Lee said...

hi mr matthew! for me the most loyal one ever was hachico. i dont know if he could count for an answer cause he was a for real dog. you just gotta see that movie thats called hachi a dogs tale. for sure it could make you cry. hachico got famous for being so loyal and even got a statue made of him.
...hugs from lenny

Lindsay said...

Ooh, I agree with the mentions for Falcor. Love The Neverending Story book (and the movie. heehee)

About Me said...

Creepy Query Girl picked the perfect steadfast steed. Harry Potter's Nimbus 2000

(I recall that I loved the Neverending Story, but my memory of the story is foggy)

Hannah said...

Hands down, Denny from THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER. Best. Horse. Evah!

Bryan Russell said...

Old Yeller, from the book, um, Old Yeller. And I'm not even a dog guy. Go figure.

And I just have to say I never shed a tear during the Artax scene in the swamp. Nope. Not ever. No how. Nuh uh. Not a chance. No way. Nada.

Steve MC said...

Yfandes, from Mercedes Lackey's Last Herald Mage Trilogy.

lisa and laura said...

My daughter's obsessed with Dora these days. I'm going to say Boots. Boots the monkey all the way.

Anonymous said...

That scene absolutely guts me, every time.

I don't think I could ever pick a favorite animal companion. They're usually one of my favorite parts of a story, and I love so many of them far too much to narrow it down.

Ishta Mercurio said...

What's Garfield without Odie?