Questions About Bambi: A Life in the Woods (Bambi, #1)

by Felix Salten

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Answered Questions (3)

Do you know what are the differences between this book and the Disney animated movie?

Clint

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)[Thumper and Flower are not in the book; they were created for the movie. In the book, Faline has a brother named Gobo, who was not in the movie. At one point Gobo gets taken away by humans and kept as a pet, then returns to the forest later on and tells the other animals what humans are like. There are other deer in the book as well, that are all mentioned by name.

The movie really cranks up the cuteness factor, and is really watered down in comparison to the book, to be honest. The animals act more like, well, animals in the book...there's no skating around on ice, no getting "twitterpated" or anything like that. There's still dialogue, though, the animals do talk in the book. What they talk about is more in line with how animals actually think and what they experience. It's a lot more realistic overall. Not all the animals get along, some of them kill each other for food, and there are mentions of blood at times. The book paints a more accurate mental picture of nature in that regard.

The book is kinda deep, too. A lot of it can be taken as a metaphor for life. Like the changing of the seasons for example, from the warm summer to the cool autumn to the harsh winter, can be seen as a metaphor for the changes that we all go through in our lives, from good times to bad times, then back to good again, and so on. (The chapter about the two leaves is particularly brilliant in that regard, in a simple yet powerful way.) Also, at one point Bambi comes to the realization that Man is not all-powerful and is ultimately subject to the same laws of nature that the rest of the animals are.

One good thing I can say about the movie--other than the beautiful animation and music, that is--is that Man is never shown onscreen at any point. The animals are warned of his approach by screeching birds in the distance. This happens in the book as well, and of course the deer can also smell humans from far away, but humans are actually visible to the deer a few times in the book. In the movie however, Man is always an unseen threat, and this was a deliberate choice made my Walt Disney and his crew, who realized that an unknown danger is scarier than something that you actually get to see, especially in a film.

I would definitely recommend reading the book. It's a pretty easy read. (hide spoiler)]

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Forked Radish I would just Google translate the original German text. Translators are often egregious egoists, like directors, who want to put their personal stamp …moreI would just Google translate the original German text. Translators are often egregious egoists, like directors, who want to put their personal stamp on everything they touch.(less)

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what's the best age range for Felix Salten's novel BAMBI?

Julia There is death and gore, as in gunshot wounds and other wounds are described in detail and matter-of-factly and dying animals final moments are descri…moreThere is death and gore, as in gunshot wounds and other wounds are described in detail and matter-of-factly and dying animals final moments are described, but it is presented as a sad and cruel fact of life and not dwelled on. If the kids are able to watch a predator/prey nature doc, they should be fine. Maybe 10+?(less)

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