The Knocker, Knacker, or Tommyknocker
The Tommyknockers
The Tommyknockers is a 1987 science fiction novel by Stephen King. While maintaining a horror style, the novel is an excursion into the realm of science fiction for King, as the residents of the Maine town of Haven gradually fall under the influence of a mysterious object buried in the wo…
Cornish people
The Cornish people or Cornish are a Celtic ethnic group native to, or associated with Cornwall and a recognised national minority in the United Kingdom, which can trace its roots to the ancient Britons who inhabited southern and central Great Britain before the Roman conquest. Many in Cor…
Leprechaun
A leprechaun is a type of fairy of the Aos Sí in Irish folklore. They are usually depicted as little bearded men, wearing a coat and hat, who partake in mischief. They are solitary creatures who spend their time making and mending shoes and have a hidden pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. If c…
Kent
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west. The county also shares borders with Essex along the estuary of the River Thames, and with the French department of Pas-de-Calai…
What is another name for a Tommyknocker?
For other uses, see Tommyknocker (disambiguation). The Knocker, Knacker, or Tommyknocker (US) is a mythical, subterranean, gnome -like creature in Cornish and Devon folklore. Its Welsh counterpart is the coblynau.
What does knocker stand for?
Knocker (folklore) The Knocker, Knacker, Bwca ( Welsh ), Bucca ( Cornish) or Tommyknocker (US) is a mythical creature in Welsh, Cornish and Devon folklore. It is the equivalent of the Irish leprechaun and English and Scottish brownie. The Cornish described the creature as a little person two feet tall, with a big head, long arms,...
How does Stephen King describe the tommyknockers?
While maintaining a horror style, the novel is an excursion into the realm of science fiction for King, as the residents of the Maine town of Haven gradually fall under the influence of a mysterious object buried in the woods. King views The Tommyknockers as "an awful book."
What is the superstition of the tommyknocker?
As such, their superstition of the Tommyknocker thrived and spread throughout the mines of the west. The name “knockers,” pronounced “knackers,” comes from the knocking on the mine walls that often happens just before cave-ins.
What is tommyknocker slang for?
: the ghost of a man killed in a mine.
Where did the term Tommyknockers come from?
Traditionally, miners who heard sounds before a shaft would collapse often attributed it to a “Tommyknocker.” Certain cultures interpreted these sounds as coming from the spirits of dead miners, warning their brethren of the impending danger so they might escape death.
What are Cornish knockers?
In Cornish Folklore, Knockers were known to live deep in the dark of mines, away from human interaction, some believe they were the spirits of unfortunate minors who lost their lives, who, it was thought, would knock on mine walls to warn miners of impending cave-ins.
Where was Tommyknockers filmed?
New ZealandSince the story was set in an American location during the summertime, filming in the United States was out of the question. Thus, the series was filmed in another country that had many New England-looking areas: New Zealand.
What is the Tommyknockers rhyme?
“Late last night and the night before, Tommyknockers, Tommyknockers, knocking at the door. I want to go out, don't know if I can, 'Cause I'm so afraid of the Tommyknocker man.”
What is Bommy knocker?
The seed pod of the liquidambar tree. (Originally a word from a large print children's book describing a giant's spiked club. The children likened the seed pods of the liquidambar trees in the playground to the giant's club, and the name passed on to each new generation of children.)
Do people still speak Cornish?
Speakers of Cornish reside primarily in Cornwall, which has a population of 563,600 (2017 estimate). There are also some speakers living outside Cornwall, particularly in the countries of the Cornish diaspora, as well as in other Celtic nations.
What is the Tommyknockers rhyme?
“Late last night and the night before, Tommyknockers, Tommyknockers, knocking at the door. I want to go out, don't know if I can, 'Cause I'm so afraid of the Tommyknocker man.”
How did Tommyknockers end?
After exploring the ship and returning to Bobbi's home, Gard plans to kill Bobbi as he can see she is no longer human. Using a gun, Bobbi forces Gard to swallow a lethal dose of Valium. As they talk, he shields his mind, pulls his own gun out, and shoots Bobbi.
What is the name of the creature that is a tommyknocker?
Tommyknocker. Country. Britain. Region. Cornwall and Devon. The Knocker, Knacker, Bwca ( Welsh ), Bucca ( Cornish) or Tommyknocker (US) is a mythical human -like creature in Welsh, Cornish and Devon folklore. It is closely related to the Irish leprechaun or clurichaun, Kentish kloker and the English and Scottish brownie.
Where is Tommyknocker Brewery?
The owners complied. Belief among Nevadan miners persisted amongst its miners as late as the 1930s. Tommyknocker Brewery in Idaho Springs, Color ado owes its namesake to the mythical creature, and began serving in 1859 to meet the needs of the large number of prospectors, as part of the Colorado Silver Boom.
Why do miners knock on the walls?
To some miners, knockers were malevolent spirits and the knocking was the sound of them hammering at walls and supports to cause the cave-in. To others, who saw them as essentially well-meaning practical jokers, the knocking was their way of warning the miners that a life-threatening collapse was imminent.
When did the knockers close?
Belief in the knockers in America remained well into the 20th century. When one large mine closed in 1956 and the owners sealed the entrance, fourth, fifth, and sixth generation Cousin Jacks circulated a petition calling on the mineowners to set the knockers free so that they could move on to other mines. The owners complied. Belief among Nevadan miners persisted amongst its miners as late as the 1930s.
What did the Cornish miners believe?
Cornish miners believed that the diminutive Knockers beckoned them toward finding rich veins of tin. As miners changed from independent, family-owned operators to hired laborers for large industrialized companies, there was an increased concern for safety, reflected in the knockers new role. They knocked on the mine walls to warn of impending collapse.
What are Tommyknockers marked by?
In both incarnations, the Tommyknockers are marked by their technological prowess, which is passed onto the residents infected by the gas/psychic emanation. Adding to the various household implementations, such as Anderson's water heater and flying tractor, there are weapons.
How did the Tommyknockers die?
This is caused by a radioactive gas emitted from the spacecraft that begins with basic symptoms such as bleeding and losing teeth. However, many of the townspeople are gradually transformed into the likeness of the Tommyknockers themselves, some gaining transparent skin and tentacles in place of their genitals. This poisonous influence grants the residents with their technological prowess, often making fantastical adjustments to household items and appliances that are powered by batteries (such as Anderson's water heater powered by a small nuclear reactor). However, the Tommyknockers' psychosis and violent tempers also carry onto the populace, prompting some residents to take violent measures against outsiders to ensure security and even against each other (such as one resident who uses a teleportation/disintegration machine to eliminate a member of his poker circle for cheating him).
How did the Tommyknockers survive the crash?
The Tommyknockers survived the crash in the miniseries adaptation, unlike in the original novel, and serve as more direct antagonists. They utilize a psychic emanation to slowly but surely drain the life energy out of the populace and even capture some of them to trap in pods for such purposes (akin to how victims were used as living batteries in the novel). They are directly confronted when the ship is entered, returning to life to attack Gard. However, they are ultimately defeated and destroyed as Gard takes control of their ship, freeing the townspeople from their control.
What causes Tommyknockers to lose teeth?
This is caused by a radioactive gas emitted from the spacecraft that begins with basic symptoms such as bleeding and losing teeth. However, many of the townspeople are gradually transformed into the likeness of the Tommyknockers themselves, some gaining transparent skin and tentacles in place of their genitals.
Where is Tommyknockers set?
The book was released by Putnam on 10 November 1987 . The story is set in the small town of Haven, Maine .
What is the nursery rhyme for Tommyknockers?
Nursery Rhyme. The Tommyknockers takes its title from an obscure children's rhyme. It goes: "Late last night and the night before,Tommyknockers, Tommyknockers, knocking at the door. I want to go out, don't know if I can, 'Cause I'm so afraid of the Tommyknocker man.".
What are the Tommyknockers?
Tommyknockers of the Western Mines. Mining is an ancient profession and along with the back-breaking work and dangers of working in the dark underground, comes century-old superstitions, the most notable being that of the Tommyknockers. These impish, gnome-like men are the Cornish equivalent of Irish leprechauns and English brownies.
Where did the Tommyknockers come from?
The Tommyknockers were first heard of in the United States when Cornish miners worked in the western Pennsylvania coal mines in the 1820s. When the California Gold Rush began, these experienced Cornish miners were welcomed and often sought after by the mine owners.
Why did the Tommyknockers close the mines?
In some mines, where the Tommyknockers’ presence was known to be overwhelmingly malevolent, the mines were forced to close because of the mens’ fear of the spirits. When the mines played out, the legend continued, as many said the Tommyknockers found “work” in the homes surrounding the old mineshafts. Superstitions continued when many a family death or disaster was allegedly foretold by a knocking in the house.
Why did the miners leave food and other items?
In praise of these kind gestures, the miners would leave food and other items to secure their good graces and protection.
Why do miners make knocking noises?
Others saw their “knocking” as well-meaning, warning the miners that a life-threatening collapse was imminent. Yet, others believed that the knocking sounds would lead them to a rich ore body and or signs of good luck.
What did the Germans call the little miners?
Germans called them Berggeister or Bergmännlein, meaning “mountain ghosts” or “little miners.”. The Cornish believed these wee little men were the souls of the Jews who crucified Christ and were sent by the Romans to work as slaves in the tin mines. This belief was so strong that the Tommyknockers were allegedly never heard on Saturdays, ...
What were the good things about grizzled little gnomes?
When these grizzled little gnomes were good, they were thought to bring miners favors and wealth. But when they were bad, they were said to bring about misery, injury, and death to those who doubted their power or did not believe in them.
Why are knockers called knockers?
They were given the name knockers due to the knocks they sent through the mines to warn miners or in some cases cause a cave in. However if anyone angers a knocker they can go from help mischief makers to dangerous creatures who will harm people if provoked. Although the creatures are described as spirits when the tales were brought over to North America the knockers became more like ghosts in the American miner stories. The knockers are also invisible they can only be heard and are rarely seen. But when they make themselves noticed they appear in the form of a goblin .
What is a knocker in the Cornish mythology?
Myths & Legends. According to Cornish folklore the knocker was the helpful spirit of a previous fatality in the tin mines. A knocker is about 2 feet high, has a disproportionately large head, long beard and weathered, wrinkled skin.
What did miners think of the knockers?
Miners knew the knockers well but opinions on their intentions differed . Some believed the knocking on the cave walls caused by knockers were attempts to break down the walls, others that the knocks were directions on where to dig and others still that the knocks were warnings of an impending collapse. Knockers were said to be mischievious, at their best they hid tools and took candles, at their worst they set the tunnels on fire.
Where did the knocker originate?
A knocker, knacker, Bwca (Welsh), Bucca (Cornish) or Tommyknocker (US) was a British spirit of the underground, which is thought to have originated in Wales and branch out to other areas such as Cornwall.
When did the knockers come to America?
In the 1700 and 1800 Welsh miners brought the tales, stories myths and legends of the knockers over to North America. The tales of the knockers mischief or sometimes warnings in America were still told in the 20th century.
What is a tommyknocker?
(plural tommyknockers) (folklore) A mythical creature, like a brownie or leprechaun, believed to live in underground tunnels; later associated with dead miners. It is believed that the ghosts of these miners go on knocking in the mine shafts long after the victims have died. This definition was the basis for Stephen King's bestselling book The Tommyknockers, only in his story it was aliens that had been trapped underground instead of miners.
Why did mine owners detest the practice of leaving food for tommyknockers?
Mine owners and health and safety people detested the practice of leaving food for tommyknockers because it was actually the rats they were feeding. The min
Why did the owners of the Tommyknockers detest the practice of leaving food for the rats?
Mine owners and health and safety people detested the practice of leaving food for tommyknockers because it was actually the rats they were feeding. The mine owners agreed the small popping or creaking sounds were a reason to move from an area because the sounds were created as the earth was trying to move.
What is a knacker?
The Knocker, Knacker, Bwca ( Welsh ), Bucca ( Cornish) or Tommyknocker (US) is a mythical creature in Welsh, Cornish and Devon folklore. It is closely related to the Irish leprechaun or clurichaun, Kentish kloker and the English and Scottish brownie. The Cornish described the creature as a little person two feet tall, with a big head, long arms, wrinkled face, and white whiskers. It wears a tiny version of standard miner's garb and commits random mischief, such as stealing miners' unattended tools and food.
Overview
The Knocker, Knacker, or Tommyknocker (US) is a mythical, subterranean, gnome-like creature in Cornish and Devon folklore. Its Welsh counterpart is the coblynau. It is closely related to the Irish leprechaun, Kentish kloker and the English and Scottish brownie. The Cornish described the creature as a little person 2 ft 0 in (0.61 m) tall, with a disproportionately large head, long arms, wrinkled skin, and white whiskers. It wears a tiny version of standard miner's garb and commits random …
Cornish folklore
Cornish miners believed that the diminutive Knockers beckoned them toward finding rich veins of tin. As miners changed from independent, family-owned operators to hired laborers for large industrialized companies, there was an increased concern for safety, reflected in the knockers new role. They knocked on the mine walls to warn of impending collapse.
Generally considered benevolent, they were also tricksters who would hide tools and extinguish …
In the United States
In the 1820s, immigrant Welsh and Cornish miners brought tales of the Tommyknockers and their theft of unwatched items and warning knocks to western Pennsylvania. Cornish miners, much sought after in the years following the gold and silver rushes, brought them to Colorado, Nevada, and California. The underground elves became part of the folklore of miners throughout the American West, not just those of Cornish background.
In literature
• Knockers are a motif found in the science fiction/horror book The Tommyknockers by Stephen King.
• Tommyknockers are also mentioned in the Hardy Boys book, Hunting for Hidden Gold. "Tommy-clockers" is the title of chapter eight.
• A benevolent knocker appears in The Ironwood Tree, the fourth book in The Spiderwick Chronicles, in which it helps the protagonists escape from a dwarf kingdom.
External links
• BBC page on Devon myths and legends
• James, Ronald M. "Knockers, Knackers, and Ghosts: Immigrant Folklore in the Western Mines", Western Folklore, vol. 51, no. 2, 1992, pp. 153–177. JSTOR