Panserbjørne
From Srafopedia
Panserbjørne are Armoured Bears who live on the far northern island of Svalbard in Lyra's world. Panserbjørne are innately different than humans even though both have the capacity to reason and speak. They are able to work metals using sharp claws and an opposable thumb. They are known for their strong armour they fashion from sky-iron.
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Overview
The word panserbjørn is taken from Norwegian/Danish meaning armoured bear. Panserbjørne are biologically the same as polar bears except for their opposable thumbs and their ability to speak human languages, with the former possibly causing the latter. They are excellent metalsmiths and can fashion all types of metal, using this to create their distinct armour and, sometimes, working for humans, to whom they have superior skill. The Armoured Bears live on Svalbard and are ruled by a monarchy selected by bloodline, though they do not have a structured society until the reign of Iofur Raknison, instead living by wandering, eating seals and other Artic creatures. After Lord Asriel cut a large window to Cittàgazze and the planet experienced rapid heating and melting Iorek Byrnison took the bears on a boat to the Himilayas, though it also proved inhospitable to them and they returned and fought in Lord Asriel's rebellion. She-bears are chosen by the stronger males for mates, and sometimes confrontations occur between two competing males. However, fighting is usually not necessary as Armoured Bears can tell who will win, thought fights are sometimes allowed in special cases.
Panserbjørne are, despite their close characteristics, animals. Because of this, they cannot be tricked as humans can unless they begin to develop human traits. The bears are sometimes seen becoming human, such as when Iofur Raknison becomes king and creates a palace, attempting to create universities, trade, and art. He also wanted to have a dæmon and be baptised Christian. Because of this, he made an alliance with the General Oblation Board. The true king, Iorek Byrnison, defeated Iofur in a fight and ordered the bears to return to their animal ways. In The Amber Spyglass Iorek also feels human feelings as he feels doubt when he forges the subtle knife. After Will asks him if the first bear to make armour was becoming human, Iorek tells him that bear custom and human behavior are separate, though this is debatable.
Technology
Armour
A bears armour is usually developed from sky-iron, the metal from meteorites that land in the North. Their armour is not decorated, but instead completely practical. The exceptions to those are when Iofur developed his own armour of gold and had the bears decorate their own with badges and feathers. Normal armour is strong enough to survive the Tartar's bullets, arrows, and several blows from another bear (however, it is less effective against Magisterium machine-gun bullets). Seal blubber is often used for lubrication when it gets rusty. The panserbjørne treat their armour like a human in Lyra's world treats their dæmon; like dæmons, this armour is the physicalisation of one's soul.
Fire Hurler
A fire hurler is a weapon commonly employed by the panserbjørne which hurls fire from a long, cannon-like object. The machine uses two bears to operate, one to load the machine with fuel and another to aim the tube at a target. The fire is enough to kill a fully armoured bear and bring down a zeppelin. During Iofur's reign they were positioned on top of the castle at Svalbard. They were also used against Mrs Coulter's forces at the end of Northern Lights, being pulled by the bears, and against a Muscovite village along the way to the Himilayas.
Notable Panserbjørne
Iorek Byrnison was the rightful king of Svalbard who was dethroned after Iofur plotted against him and caused his exile. He worked behind Einarsson's Bar in Trollesund as a metalsmith and was kept drunk and docile by the townsfolk. He got his armour back with the help of Lyra and helped protect her and the Gyptians, along with his comrade, Lee Scoresby, to save the children at Bolvangar and rescue Lord Asriel from Iofur Raknison, whom he killed. Later, he helps Will rescue Lyra, forges the broken Subtle Knife, and fights in Lord Asriel's rebellion.
Iofur Raknison was the false king of Svalbard who usurped Iorek Byrnison with the help of Mrs Coulter. He desired to be more human and allied himself with the General Oblation Board in order to get power and, possibly, acquire a dæmon. He built a temporary civilization on Svalbard but was defeated by Iorek when he challenged Iorek in order to acquire Lyra as his dæmon, as Lyra told him she was Iorek's dæmon. Iofur, however, was able to be tricked due to his human nature by Lyra and Iorek in battle.
Hjalmur Hjalmurson was the bear who Iorek Byrnison killed and was subsequently exiled for as part of Iofur Raknison and Mrs Coulter's plot to place Iofur as king. Hjalmur and Iorek both sought the same she-bear. Iorek was stronger, but Hjalmur refused to back down because he was drugged by drugs Mrs Coulter gave Iofur. Iorek then killed him.
Søren Eisarson was an advisor for the king of Svalbard. He was an old, intelligent bear who told Lyra Lord Asriel's whereabouts.
Trivia
- Panserbjørne is Danish for "Armoured Bears".
- Panserbjørne is the plural form of the word Panserbjørn.
- Early UK editions of the novels had Panserbørne instead of Panserbjørne. Panserbørne means armoured children, though in Danish the word itself is incorrect.
- In reality, native peoples of the arctic do value meteorites (particularly the Cape York meteorite) as an invaluable source of iron for toolmaking.
Theories
Many discuss whether or not, or to what degree, panserbjørne are connected with Dust as people are, and this is a large argument among fans, as well as being discussed lightly in the books. One party says that panserbjørne are unrelated to Dust, as animals are, because they do not enter the World of the Dead and have not experienced knowledge as people have for various reasons. This is backed up by their lack of dæmons. Another party says that panserbjørne are attractive to Dust, they just do not realize it, as they can speak, reason, organize, and do other things. Their armour is like a dæmon in that, as humans acquired dæmons when they connected to Dust, bears acquired the ability to forge armour. This is more similar to the mulefa use of seed pods.
Others argue that panserbjørne are somewhere in between, attracting Dust somewhat, much like a child. Indeed, Dust is attracted to anything associated with knowledge, even inanimate objects humans use. Also, it is possible that they are on the verge of attracting Dust as people do. This can be evidenced by Iofur beginning to acquire human attributes and immitating them and other bears doing the same, even Iorek.
In the Adaptations
The Movie Adaptations
At the New York Licence Show, a life-size model of Iorek was shown with Lyra on his back, as well as a movie poster with Lyra riding Iorek in the snow, showing a release date of 2007. Some found Iorek's armour to be too decorated.
The Stage Adaptations
The Radio Adaptations
Sources
Some parts taken from Wikipedia.
| The Species in the Trilogy |
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Witches | Panserbjørne | Gallivespians | Mulefa | Specters | Harpies |
