Jordan College, Oxford
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Jordan College is a fictional college of the University of Oxford which appears in the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. It exists in the Oxford in a parallel universe to our own, and is the home of the trilogy's young heroine Lyra Belacqua (or Silvertongue).
The location and layout of Jordan College in the parallel universe is analogous to the location of Exeter College, Philip Pullman's alma mater, in the real city of Oxford. However, unlike the fictional college, Exeter College is not the oldest (it is the fourth oldest), richest, or most prestigious college of the University of Oxford.
As described by Pullman, the college is something of an exaggerated version of a real Oxford college, rambling above and below ground in a motley selection of buildings, cellars and tunnels constructed over several centuries:
- What was above ground was only a small fraction of the whole. Like some enormous fungus whose root-system extended over acres, Jordan (finding itself jostling for space above ground with St Michael's College on one side, Gabriel College on the other, and Bodley's Library behind) had begun, sometime in the Middle Age, to spread below the surface. Tunnels, shafts, vaults, cellars, staircases had so hollowed out the earth below Jordan and for some yards around it that there was almost as much air below ground as above; Jordan College stood on a sort of froth of stone.
(Pullman, Northern Lights)
The following description of the college will be worded as if the college is real.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The college is considered one of, if not the, most prestigious colleges in Brytain. Certainly, in the field of experimental theology, including the study of Dust, it is considered the top college in the world. It has been attended by several notable people, including Lord Asriel. The college itself owns other estates all over the isle, those paying it rent including farms, dye-works, brick-kilns, and atomcraft-works.
[edit] Architecture and layout
The college is situated next to St Michael's College and Brasenose College on Turl Street, and Gabriel College and Balliol College on Broad Street. Most visitors enter Jordan College via the Lodge. The layout of the college and the juxtaposition of many of its features are reminiscent of Exeter College.
In particular both colleges are situated between Turl Street, the Sheldonian Theatre (known as the "Sheldon Building" in Pullman's work), and the Bodleian Library. A feature of both Exeter College and the fictional college is the Palmer's Tower (also known as Pilgrim's Tower in Northern Lights). As in the fictional milieu of Jordan College the Rector's Lodging of Exeter College communicates (slightly indirectly) with the Fellows Garden (cf Pullman's Library Garden) via French windows.
A prominent feature of the Fellows Garden at Exeter College is that it contains the college library and is overlooked by both the Bodleian Library, and the Radcliffe Camera (another library).
The college's buildings are grouped around three irregular quadrangles, the most important of which—the Melrose Quadrangle—is the college Library. The Library on one side leads out to the Library Gardens, and on the other connects to the Scholar's Common Room, which leads to the grand Hall, which is laid out with a table to seat all the Scholars and Under-Scholars. At the back of the Hall is the Retiring Room of the Master and other privileged Scholars. The Yaxley Quadrangle, which also backs onto the Library Gardens, houses some of the oldest buildings in the college, including the Master's Lodging, and was where Lyra Belacqua had her bedroom during her time at the college.
Amongst the college's buildings are the Pilgrim's Tower and the Chapel, which includes the Oratory and leads down to the crypts of esteemed deceased Scholars.
[edit] History
The earliest of the buildings were constructed in the Middle Ages, and the most recent in the mid-18th century.
[edit] People
The college is attended by the Master, the titled Scholars, the other Scholars and the Under-Scholars, as well as various servants and other contributors.
[edit] The Master
The Master of Jordan College is the highest-ranking Scholar, and oversees the college's affairs in all sectors.
[edit] Past Masters
Include:
- Ignatius Cole, Master 1745-1748
- Dæmon: Musca
- Francis Lyall, Master 1748-1765
- Dæmon: Zohariel
- Simon Le Clerc, Master 1765-1789
- Dæmon: Cerebaton
The current incumbent Master is an elderly gentleman with a raven dæmon, who has long kept the college afloat amidst pressures from various sectors of the Magisterium (in particular the Consistorial Court of Discipline and the General Oblation Board).
[edit] The Scholars
[edit] The Cassington Scholar
Current incumbent*: One of the younger and more energetic Scholars. Lord Asriel explains that the post is usually given to a "free-thinker".
[edit] The Chaplain
Current incumbent*: A close friend of Lord Asriel.
[edit] The Dean
Current incumbent*: A sceptic.
[edit] The Enquirer
[edit] The Intercessor
An emissary of the Church who leads all the college services, preaches and prays and hears confessions.
Current incumbent*: Father Heyst, a friendly man with a lizard-dæmon.
[edit] The Librarian
In charge of the Library.
Current incumbent*: Charles ..., a close friend of the current Master.
[edit] The Palmerian Professor
Current incumbent*: Trewlaney, a man knowledgeable about the North, having made several expeditions to the Arctic regions. The current Professor is a plagiarist, but is much in favor with the church.
[edit] The Precentor
Current incumbent*: An venerably elderly Scholar.
[edit] The Sub-Rector
Current incumbent*: A nearly-blind elderly Scholar with a lot of knowledge of other cultures, including the Tartars.
[edit] The Servants
[edit] The Steward
Head of the servants of Jordan College.
Current incumbent*: Mr Cawson
[edit] The Butler
Reports only to the Steward. There is an established rivalry between the positions.
Current incumbent*: 'Wren'
[edit] The Porter
Reports to the Butler.
Current incumbent*: 'Shuter'
[edit] The Parslows
The Parslow family have been employed as masons and scaffolders to Jordan College's buildings, and to repair the most dilapidated parts of the college, for five generations.
Mr Parslow was teaching his son Roger Parslow his craft.
* As of Northern Lights
| Part of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series |
|---|
| Books |
| Northern Lights/The Golden Compass - The Subtle Knife - The Amber Spyglass Lyra's Oxford - The Book of Dust |
| Films |
| His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass |
| Games |
| The Golden Compass |
| Characters |
| Lyra Belacqua and Pantalaimon - Will Parry - Lord Asriel - Marisa Coulter - Iorek Byrnison - John Faa - Farder Coram - Serafina Pekkala - Lee Scoresby - Iofur Raknison - The Authority - Balthamos - Baruch - Mary Malone - Xaphania - Roger Parslow - Metatron |
| Other |
| Alethiometer - Dust - Æsahættr - Locations - Dæmons - Panserbjørne |
