Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce for March 18, 2014

There should be a peter vrs Gina factown smackdown

Ta da. Well done xs11e. But, I don’t think Gina should get the credit.

Oh, and there’s no Nate drawn in today’s strip.

looks like a tie!

Not a tie yet; doesn’t Francis have one more question?

Even I knew that.

Winner… PETER!!!!!!!

That answer is wrong.

Francis is 2nd

Cliffhanger came about BEFORE films from when newspapers published novels, one chapter at a time (back in the 19th century.)

Webster’s Ninth Collegiate traces ‘cliffhanger’ only to 1937. Webster’s New World says it’s an Americanism and that it originated with movie serials. The 2-vol. Compact OED doesn’t list it at all. I don’t think 19th c. serialized novels have anything to do with it.

Nice try Gina.

pschearer: OED is, unfortunately, E. As a result, it is quite weak on other versions of the language, such as US, Canadian, Strine, or Pigin.

And, it also depends from which source Lincoln got this question.

The term “cliffhanger” actually originated in the late 1800’s, as a result of the serialization of “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte. At the end of each chapter, Earnshaw, Catherine’s father, becomes exasperated with Heathcliff and threatens to hang him from the nearest tree if he doesn’t straighten up. Heathcliff, young rascal that he is, simply moves on to the next scrape involving drugs, music, petty crime and pre-marital sexcapades, further enraging Earnshaw. The reason the term “cliffhanger” is associated with films is that the most popular early filmization of “Wuthering Heights” was the Laurel & Hardy version, featuring Laurel as Heathcliff, James Finlayson as Earnshaw, and Hardy as the stunned servant, Thrushcross.

Cliffhangers go back far beyond Bronte through ancient Greek novels to “The Arabian Nights”.

The term “cliffhanger” surely does not go back to the mid-1800s of “Wuthering Heights”. What would be the source of the simile? The earliest the word has been found is 1931 (not yet in the OED), in a reference to a Western serial movie.

This might end up being a tough decision for Jenny, now that Peter ruined the surprise!

sure gina

of course she knew that

ACTUALLY, the term originated in Beetle Bailey when Sarge… what? you’re not buying this? Oh, never mind.

Please, can we not talk about the word cliffhanger here, it’s a comic to have a laugh.

And Gina, you totally wanted to say that even though you didn’t probably know.

LOL

Take the full intro Suzanne: da ta da da…well done.

Weird how Nate didn’t appear in this comic strip! And he’s the main character!

Dont make the credit go to gina!

peter is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo smart

Mr. Peirce, I’m your biggest fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

peter is my new favorite character

Omg, Gina got beat kindergartner. Wow

That’s embarrassing, Gina. Getting an answer from a 1st Grader

but of courshe