Are the Redwall creatures their natural real-world size?












16















One thing that always confused me about the books was the question of scale. You have everything from shrews to badgers living together, working together, fighting together. Are these animals the same size as in the real world, or more human-scaled relative to their environment?



I realize that there are some discrepancies between Redwall and the rest of the series, such as Cluny's entire army riding in a horse-drawn cart which suggests natural scale in a human-populated world. However the later books exclude references to large and/or domesticated animals and potential human activity. So once this change is taken into account, are the animals still assumed to be realistically scaled?



Otters and badgers are said to be huge, for example, but that could just be in the sense that Andre the Giant was huge compared to most people. I seem to recall a few mentions of distance but that would be easily explained as their own units of measurement either way.



I imagine that the animals were roughly human sized, otherwise their size differences would be too great for them to cohabitate and the scale of the world would make much of what they do impractical. Is there a canonical answer or enough evidence to reach a conclusion?










share|improve this question





























    16















    One thing that always confused me about the books was the question of scale. You have everything from shrews to badgers living together, working together, fighting together. Are these animals the same size as in the real world, or more human-scaled relative to their environment?



    I realize that there are some discrepancies between Redwall and the rest of the series, such as Cluny's entire army riding in a horse-drawn cart which suggests natural scale in a human-populated world. However the later books exclude references to large and/or domesticated animals and potential human activity. So once this change is taken into account, are the animals still assumed to be realistically scaled?



    Otters and badgers are said to be huge, for example, but that could just be in the sense that Andre the Giant was huge compared to most people. I seem to recall a few mentions of distance but that would be easily explained as their own units of measurement either way.



    I imagine that the animals were roughly human sized, otherwise their size differences would be too great for them to cohabitate and the scale of the world would make much of what they do impractical. Is there a canonical answer or enough evidence to reach a conclusion?










    share|improve this question



























      16












      16








      16


      1






      One thing that always confused me about the books was the question of scale. You have everything from shrews to badgers living together, working together, fighting together. Are these animals the same size as in the real world, or more human-scaled relative to their environment?



      I realize that there are some discrepancies between Redwall and the rest of the series, such as Cluny's entire army riding in a horse-drawn cart which suggests natural scale in a human-populated world. However the later books exclude references to large and/or domesticated animals and potential human activity. So once this change is taken into account, are the animals still assumed to be realistically scaled?



      Otters and badgers are said to be huge, for example, but that could just be in the sense that Andre the Giant was huge compared to most people. I seem to recall a few mentions of distance but that would be easily explained as their own units of measurement either way.



      I imagine that the animals were roughly human sized, otherwise their size differences would be too great for them to cohabitate and the scale of the world would make much of what they do impractical. Is there a canonical answer or enough evidence to reach a conclusion?










      share|improve this question
















      One thing that always confused me about the books was the question of scale. You have everything from shrews to badgers living together, working together, fighting together. Are these animals the same size as in the real world, or more human-scaled relative to their environment?



      I realize that there are some discrepancies between Redwall and the rest of the series, such as Cluny's entire army riding in a horse-drawn cart which suggests natural scale in a human-populated world. However the later books exclude references to large and/or domesticated animals and potential human activity. So once this change is taken into account, are the animals still assumed to be realistically scaled?



      Otters and badgers are said to be huge, for example, but that could just be in the sense that Andre the Giant was huge compared to most people. I seem to recall a few mentions of distance but that would be easily explained as their own units of measurement either way.



      I imagine that the animals were roughly human sized, otherwise their size differences would be too great for them to cohabitate and the scale of the world would make much of what they do impractical. Is there a canonical answer or enough evidence to reach a conclusion?







      animals redwall






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Feb 6 '17 at 1:06









      Rand al'Thor

      98k43465654




      98k43465654










      asked Jan 24 '14 at 16:34









      Travis ChristianTravis Christian

      5,35943856




      5,35943856






















          6 Answers
          6






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          14














          According the the FAQ on Brian Jacques' official Redwall website, the animals in the Redwall series have no clearly defined size:




          Q: Do the animals in your stories walk on all fours or, do they walk erect?



          BJ: The creatures in my stories are as big or small as your imagination wants them to be. My imagination does not see them on
          all fours.







          share|improve this answer



















          • 1





            Well that settles it.

            – Travis Christian
            May 30 '15 at 15:44



















          2














          My understanding when reading the books is that they are all similar in size. Mice are smaller than badgers but in the same way a normal dude is smaller than Andre the Giant. I think that it becomes much more standardized in the later books. RedWall had the most discrepancies, however it seems to be implied that they are not human sized, that is why Pikes are such deadly fish. So, to summarize, they are all small woodland creatures scaled together but not scaled to human proportions.






          share|improve this answer
























          • +1 for Redwall being the most inconstant. Adders and Pikes were huge but rats could drive a cart!

            – Liath
            Jun 30 '17 at 7:34



















          2














          I believe the animals are all similar sizes. Mice, hares, badgers, and otters all fit comfortably in all the rooms in Redwall Abbey and Salamandastron. Some animals are larger then others but its only by a fairly small amount. Armed mice are able to dual foxes and Badgers don't have as easy a time fighting rats as their real world size differences would cause.






          share|improve this answer































            0














            In Redwall however, a cat swallows Matthias whole, indicating a large size difference.



            Additionally, Matthias needs the aid of Constance the badger to move a 2 pound fish, which feeds the whole abbey.



            Additionally, the crab and eel in mossflower were described as much larger than gnoff, martin, and dinny.



            There is a size difference but it is much more pronounced in Redwall than other books.






            share|improve this answer

































              0














              In addition to what has been given, in the television show there are instances of discrepancies in size. For instance there is a cat in seen hunting Matthias and Myrtle (5 min into the first episode of season 1) and the horse Cluny rides in on seems to be near the size of a real horse (although the relative size of Cluny is much larger than a normal rat in this scene, around 15 min in). Not sure if television is able to make decisions on canon though.
              Cluny and horse






              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              WnGatRC456 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.




























                -2














                The sharks in The Bellmaker are described as as big as the ship the Pearl Queen.






                share|improve this answer





















                • 3





                  D'you mind adding the quote from the book that describes this? Thanks!

                  – Mithrandir
                  Jun 30 '17 at 7:22











                Your Answer








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                6 Answers
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                active

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                6 Answers
                6






                active

                oldest

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                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

                votes









                14














                According the the FAQ on Brian Jacques' official Redwall website, the animals in the Redwall series have no clearly defined size:




                Q: Do the animals in your stories walk on all fours or, do they walk erect?



                BJ: The creatures in my stories are as big or small as your imagination wants them to be. My imagination does not see them on
                all fours.







                share|improve this answer



















                • 1





                  Well that settles it.

                  – Travis Christian
                  May 30 '15 at 15:44
















                14














                According the the FAQ on Brian Jacques' official Redwall website, the animals in the Redwall series have no clearly defined size:




                Q: Do the animals in your stories walk on all fours or, do they walk erect?



                BJ: The creatures in my stories are as big or small as your imagination wants them to be. My imagination does not see them on
                all fours.







                share|improve this answer



















                • 1





                  Well that settles it.

                  – Travis Christian
                  May 30 '15 at 15:44














                14












                14








                14







                According the the FAQ on Brian Jacques' official Redwall website, the animals in the Redwall series have no clearly defined size:




                Q: Do the animals in your stories walk on all fours or, do they walk erect?



                BJ: The creatures in my stories are as big or small as your imagination wants them to be. My imagination does not see them on
                all fours.







                share|improve this answer













                According the the FAQ on Brian Jacques' official Redwall website, the animals in the Redwall series have no clearly defined size:




                Q: Do the animals in your stories walk on all fours or, do they walk erect?



                BJ: The creatures in my stories are as big or small as your imagination wants them to be. My imagination does not see them on
                all fours.








                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered May 30 '15 at 15:29









                ValorumValorum

                409k11029713196




                409k11029713196








                • 1





                  Well that settles it.

                  – Travis Christian
                  May 30 '15 at 15:44














                • 1





                  Well that settles it.

                  – Travis Christian
                  May 30 '15 at 15:44








                1




                1





                Well that settles it.

                – Travis Christian
                May 30 '15 at 15:44





                Well that settles it.

                – Travis Christian
                May 30 '15 at 15:44













                2














                My understanding when reading the books is that they are all similar in size. Mice are smaller than badgers but in the same way a normal dude is smaller than Andre the Giant. I think that it becomes much more standardized in the later books. RedWall had the most discrepancies, however it seems to be implied that they are not human sized, that is why Pikes are such deadly fish. So, to summarize, they are all small woodland creatures scaled together but not scaled to human proportions.






                share|improve this answer
























                • +1 for Redwall being the most inconstant. Adders and Pikes were huge but rats could drive a cart!

                  – Liath
                  Jun 30 '17 at 7:34
















                2














                My understanding when reading the books is that they are all similar in size. Mice are smaller than badgers but in the same way a normal dude is smaller than Andre the Giant. I think that it becomes much more standardized in the later books. RedWall had the most discrepancies, however it seems to be implied that they are not human sized, that is why Pikes are such deadly fish. So, to summarize, they are all small woodland creatures scaled together but not scaled to human proportions.






                share|improve this answer
























                • +1 for Redwall being the most inconstant. Adders and Pikes were huge but rats could drive a cart!

                  – Liath
                  Jun 30 '17 at 7:34














                2












                2








                2







                My understanding when reading the books is that they are all similar in size. Mice are smaller than badgers but in the same way a normal dude is smaller than Andre the Giant. I think that it becomes much more standardized in the later books. RedWall had the most discrepancies, however it seems to be implied that they are not human sized, that is why Pikes are such deadly fish. So, to summarize, they are all small woodland creatures scaled together but not scaled to human proportions.






                share|improve this answer













                My understanding when reading the books is that they are all similar in size. Mice are smaller than badgers but in the same way a normal dude is smaller than Andre the Giant. I think that it becomes much more standardized in the later books. RedWall had the most discrepancies, however it seems to be implied that they are not human sized, that is why Pikes are such deadly fish. So, to summarize, they are all small woodland creatures scaled together but not scaled to human proportions.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered Jan 24 '14 at 16:49









                SkylerSkyler

                211




                211













                • +1 for Redwall being the most inconstant. Adders and Pikes were huge but rats could drive a cart!

                  – Liath
                  Jun 30 '17 at 7:34



















                • +1 for Redwall being the most inconstant. Adders and Pikes were huge but rats could drive a cart!

                  – Liath
                  Jun 30 '17 at 7:34

















                +1 for Redwall being the most inconstant. Adders and Pikes were huge but rats could drive a cart!

                – Liath
                Jun 30 '17 at 7:34





                +1 for Redwall being the most inconstant. Adders and Pikes were huge but rats could drive a cart!

                – Liath
                Jun 30 '17 at 7:34











                2














                I believe the animals are all similar sizes. Mice, hares, badgers, and otters all fit comfortably in all the rooms in Redwall Abbey and Salamandastron. Some animals are larger then others but its only by a fairly small amount. Armed mice are able to dual foxes and Badgers don't have as easy a time fighting rats as their real world size differences would cause.






                share|improve this answer




























                  2














                  I believe the animals are all similar sizes. Mice, hares, badgers, and otters all fit comfortably in all the rooms in Redwall Abbey and Salamandastron. Some animals are larger then others but its only by a fairly small amount. Armed mice are able to dual foxes and Badgers don't have as easy a time fighting rats as their real world size differences would cause.






                  share|improve this answer


























                    2












                    2








                    2







                    I believe the animals are all similar sizes. Mice, hares, badgers, and otters all fit comfortably in all the rooms in Redwall Abbey and Salamandastron. Some animals are larger then others but its only by a fairly small amount. Armed mice are able to dual foxes and Badgers don't have as easy a time fighting rats as their real world size differences would cause.






                    share|improve this answer













                    I believe the animals are all similar sizes. Mice, hares, badgers, and otters all fit comfortably in all the rooms in Redwall Abbey and Salamandastron. Some animals are larger then others but its only by a fairly small amount. Armed mice are able to dual foxes and Badgers don't have as easy a time fighting rats as their real world size differences would cause.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Jan 28 '14 at 1:23









                    sevvacksevvack

                    785716




                    785716























                        0














                        In Redwall however, a cat swallows Matthias whole, indicating a large size difference.



                        Additionally, Matthias needs the aid of Constance the badger to move a 2 pound fish, which feeds the whole abbey.



                        Additionally, the crab and eel in mossflower were described as much larger than gnoff, martin, and dinny.



                        There is a size difference but it is much more pronounced in Redwall than other books.






                        share|improve this answer






























                          0














                          In Redwall however, a cat swallows Matthias whole, indicating a large size difference.



                          Additionally, Matthias needs the aid of Constance the badger to move a 2 pound fish, which feeds the whole abbey.



                          Additionally, the crab and eel in mossflower were described as much larger than gnoff, martin, and dinny.



                          There is a size difference but it is much more pronounced in Redwall than other books.






                          share|improve this answer




























                            0












                            0








                            0







                            In Redwall however, a cat swallows Matthias whole, indicating a large size difference.



                            Additionally, Matthias needs the aid of Constance the badger to move a 2 pound fish, which feeds the whole abbey.



                            Additionally, the crab and eel in mossflower were described as much larger than gnoff, martin, and dinny.



                            There is a size difference but it is much more pronounced in Redwall than other books.






                            share|improve this answer















                            In Redwall however, a cat swallows Matthias whole, indicating a large size difference.



                            Additionally, Matthias needs the aid of Constance the badger to move a 2 pound fish, which feeds the whole abbey.



                            Additionally, the crab and eel in mossflower were described as much larger than gnoff, martin, and dinny.



                            There is a size difference but it is much more pronounced in Redwall than other books.







                            share|improve this answer














                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer








                            edited Jul 28 '16 at 16:28









                            Null

                            54.3k18229312




                            54.3k18229312










                            answered Jul 28 '16 at 16:10









                            boxbotboxbot

                            1




                            1























                                0














                                In addition to what has been given, in the television show there are instances of discrepancies in size. For instance there is a cat in seen hunting Matthias and Myrtle (5 min into the first episode of season 1) and the horse Cluny rides in on seems to be near the size of a real horse (although the relative size of Cluny is much larger than a normal rat in this scene, around 15 min in). Not sure if television is able to make decisions on canon though.
                                Cluny and horse






                                share|improve this answer








                                New contributor




                                WnGatRC456 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                Check out our Code of Conduct.

























                                  0














                                  In addition to what has been given, in the television show there are instances of discrepancies in size. For instance there is a cat in seen hunting Matthias and Myrtle (5 min into the first episode of season 1) and the horse Cluny rides in on seems to be near the size of a real horse (although the relative size of Cluny is much larger than a normal rat in this scene, around 15 min in). Not sure if television is able to make decisions on canon though.
                                  Cluny and horse






                                  share|improve this answer








                                  New contributor




                                  WnGatRC456 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                  Check out our Code of Conduct.























                                    0












                                    0








                                    0







                                    In addition to what has been given, in the television show there are instances of discrepancies in size. For instance there is a cat in seen hunting Matthias and Myrtle (5 min into the first episode of season 1) and the horse Cluny rides in on seems to be near the size of a real horse (although the relative size of Cluny is much larger than a normal rat in this scene, around 15 min in). Not sure if television is able to make decisions on canon though.
                                    Cluny and horse






                                    share|improve this answer








                                    New contributor




                                    WnGatRC456 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.










                                    In addition to what has been given, in the television show there are instances of discrepancies in size. For instance there is a cat in seen hunting Matthias and Myrtle (5 min into the first episode of season 1) and the horse Cluny rides in on seems to be near the size of a real horse (although the relative size of Cluny is much larger than a normal rat in this scene, around 15 min in). Not sure if television is able to make decisions on canon though.
                                    Cluny and horse







                                    share|improve this answer








                                    New contributor




                                    WnGatRC456 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer






                                    New contributor




                                    WnGatRC456 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                    answered 10 mins ago









                                    WnGatRC456WnGatRC456

                                    11




                                    11




                                    New contributor




                                    WnGatRC456 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.





                                    New contributor





                                    WnGatRC456 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.






                                    WnGatRC456 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.























                                        -2














                                        The sharks in The Bellmaker are described as as big as the ship the Pearl Queen.






                                        share|improve this answer





















                                        • 3





                                          D'you mind adding the quote from the book that describes this? Thanks!

                                          – Mithrandir
                                          Jun 30 '17 at 7:22
















                                        -2














                                        The sharks in The Bellmaker are described as as big as the ship the Pearl Queen.






                                        share|improve this answer





















                                        • 3





                                          D'you mind adding the quote from the book that describes this? Thanks!

                                          – Mithrandir
                                          Jun 30 '17 at 7:22














                                        -2












                                        -2








                                        -2







                                        The sharks in The Bellmaker are described as as big as the ship the Pearl Queen.






                                        share|improve this answer















                                        The sharks in The Bellmaker are described as as big as the ship the Pearl Queen.







                                        share|improve this answer














                                        share|improve this answer



                                        share|improve this answer








                                        edited Jun 30 '17 at 7:18









                                        sjl

                                        4,31412140




                                        4,31412140










                                        answered Jun 30 '17 at 6:52









                                        DubTheNarwhalsDubTheNarwhals

                                        1




                                        1








                                        • 3





                                          D'you mind adding the quote from the book that describes this? Thanks!

                                          – Mithrandir
                                          Jun 30 '17 at 7:22














                                        • 3





                                          D'you mind adding the quote from the book that describes this? Thanks!

                                          – Mithrandir
                                          Jun 30 '17 at 7:22








                                        3




                                        3





                                        D'you mind adding the quote from the book that describes this? Thanks!

                                        – Mithrandir
                                        Jun 30 '17 at 7:22





                                        D'you mind adding the quote from the book that describes this? Thanks!

                                        – Mithrandir
                                        Jun 30 '17 at 7:22


















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