Question: Elinor at first didn't seem to care about burning Merida's bow, especially since she didn't approve of Fergus giving her the bow, and became furious after Merida shot for her own hand. What made Elinor rescue the bow from the fire?
raywest
23rd Nov 2017
Brave (2012)
22nd May 2017
Brave (2012)
Question: When Merida runs out of the castle, was she crying because of Elinor burning her prized bow, or that Elinor "was never there for her?" Also, Merida is shown with another bow later on. If it's the same bow that was burned, how was the bowstring fixed?
Answer: Merida was upset and crying over everything her mother had done. Also, that was the same bow. Bowstrings are commonly breakable and can be easily replaced. Merida may have had an extra stashed away or knew where to get one.
Also if you look carefully the bow has a circle on either side of the bow which looks like extra bowstring even then she probably has a stash somewhere.
5th Apr 2017
Brave (2012)
Question: Why did Elinor throw Merida's bow in the fireplace? What happened to the bow when it was fished from the fire?
Answer: Merida had rebelled against her traditional female role and defied her mother by slicing the tapestry with a sword. As retaliation, Elinor angrily threw Merida's bow into the fire. The bow was fished out before any substantial damage was done to it, and Merida was still able to use it. Historically, wooden weapons (bows, spears, etc.) were often crafted with a process called "fire hardening" to dry out the moisture and make the wood stronger. The flames may have had this affect on Merida's bow.
30th Dec 2012
Brave (2012)
Question: It is stated that Merida is a tomboy. What exactly made her a tomboy in the first place? Can someone also please point out her tomboy behaviors just so I can get a better idea?
Answer: Nothing "makes" a tom boy, it's something they're born with. Some girls, myself included, from earliest childhood, just prefer engaging in sports or other physical activities and like exploring and being outdoors. Merida shows she is a tom boy because she easily adapts to using the bow and arrow and also likes being in the outdoors, hunts, and can use a weapon to defend herself, rather than relying on someone else to protect her. She is a natural-born leader.
25th Jul 2012
Answer: Elinor tossed the bow into the fire in a fit of anger, then regretted what she did and rescued it.
raywest ★
To add to raywest's answer, she threw it in a fit of rage, yes. As a parent, you sometimes disagree with your children's passions, while you try to steer and guide them, they love what they love. She may have disagreed with Merida having the bow, but she also knew how important it was to her. Its hard to explain, but basically while she objected to Merida having it, she knew it was the one thing that made her happy... she loves her daughter and wants her to be happy. She destroyed it in a fit of rage, and then realised she destroyed, for lack of better words, her daughter's "happiness." Marrying her off was one thing, burning her only joy is another.