What’s in a Cellar Door
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“Most English-speaking people, for instance, will admit that cellar door is ‘beautiful’, especially if dissociated from its sense (and its spelling). More beautiful than, say, sky, and far more beautiful than beautiful. Well then, in Welsh for me cellar doors are extraordinarily frequent.” ~J.R.R. Tolkien On the appearance and sounds of words
This is referenced in the movie Donnie Darko:
“This famous linguist once said that of all the phrases in the English language, of all the endless combinations of words in all of history, that Cellar Door is the most beautiful. “
What is so special about these two words? J.R.R. Tolkien said that is has an extraordinary sound, and from the words “Cellar Door”, he thinks of the name Selador, and begins to create a character.
Is that the meaning of the quote, or is there more to it? Does anyone have any input as to why ‘Cellar Door’ is so special?
-Justin
[tags]Donnie Darko, J.R.R. Tolkien, quotes, jfcapasso[/tags]
3 Comments
the oracle
October 25th, 2007
at 6:36pm
Sounds like the meaningless ramblings of someone in a psychotropic drug-induced state.
donnie darko
November 4th, 2008
at 11:15am
I was wondering this same thing about “cellar door” when I came across this website. Maybe it means a way. In that when all things seem dark and wrong, like in a cellar. There is a door,and once this door is opened light flows in and everything is illuminated.
Chris
December 18th, 2008
at 2:51am
well i beg to differ, it is my belief that Cellar Door sounds good not for its hidden, darkened reasons but for the beauty that the words create. Selador sounds french, well if not french some sort of european language, which sound nicer than our language.