Journey To The Center Of The Earth

Otto’s study is filled with mineral and rock specimens and looks like a small museum. Axel recalls fondly cleaning and playing with the rocks as a boy, revealing his own love of mineralogy.

When Axel enters the study, his uncle is looking at an old book. Otto tells his nephew that he has found a 12th-century Icelandic runic manuscript. While he is discussing the work and perusing the volume, a piece of paper falls out. The professor is intrigued as the text is also written in Icelandic runes. He becomes so preoccupied by the note that he declines to eat when Martha announces that lunch is ready. Axel takes advantage of his uncle’s distraction and eats both portions of the delicious meal.

As soon as Axel is done eating, he is summoned back to his uncle’s study. Otto is determined to understand the note, so he uses Axel to help him decipher the text. A literal translation from runic to Latin letters results in a nonsensical string of letters separated into groups. Otto then starts examining the manuscript with a magnifying glass and comes across some faint runes that spell out the name Arne Saknussemm, a 16th-century Icelandic alchemist. Theorizing that a scientist of that time would not write in his native language, but in Latin, Otto begins experimenting with rearranging the letters in search of the key to the cypher. While playing around with the text, Axel inadvertently writes out “I love thee well, my little Gräuben” (10). This sentence reveals that Axel and Gräuben have been in love for a while and are secretly betrothed. She is currently away, visiting her relatives, and Axel is easily distracted by thoughts about her. The young girl is blond and blue-eyed, of a serious disposition, and interested in science. She is also quite knowledgeable about minerals and helps Axel manage the professor’s collection of specimens. 

Otto reads the phrase and acknowledges his nephew’s feelings but seems indifferent to them—he is much more interested in the secret of the old note. After his attempts to use Latin to decipher the text, the professor grows exasperated and impatient and abruptly runs out of the house.

After the professor’s departure, both Axel and Martha are left bewildered and unsure what to do about dinner. Axel remains in the study and ends up lighting up his hookah. While he smokes he uses the note to fan the air and by accident discovers the note’s secret. After reading the text, he becomes perturbed and decides to keep the “dangerous secret” from his uncle, fearing that Otto would undertake a journey if he knew it.

Otto returns but is still thinking obsessively about the note and refuses to have dinner. Because of his refusal, neither Axel nor Martha get to eat, either. They have to go to bed hungry.

The following morning, Martha discovers that the house door is locked and there is no key in sight. The professor is so preoccupied with the mystery that it is impossible to get him to unlock the door. It seems that the entire household could end up starving, something that happened once in the past when the professor was so busy for 48 hours that he forgot about food and did not allow his household to eat, either. Axel is still reluctant to share his knowledge, but seeing how tired and overwrought his uncle is becoming, he feels pity and tells him that the text is indeed written in Latin, but backwards.

Otto is overjoyed at the discovery and, after reading the text, finds out that the note says, “Descend the crater of the Jokul of Snäfell, that the shadow of Scartaris softly touches before the Kalends of July, bold traveler, and thou wilt reach the center of the earth. Which I have done. Arne Saknussemm” (18). Upon understanding the message, Otto bids Axel to pack his trunk and goes in search of food. 

Axel is unhappy at the thought of a journey. He attempts to dissuade his uncle in various ways, pointing out that the note could be a hoax and that they do not know what the words Jokul or Snäfell mean. Otto, however, has an answer to everything. Based on a map of Iceland that he purchased recently, he determines that the note gives directions to an extinct volcano crater in the Snäfell mountain in Iceland. They need to wait until the mountain peak Scartaris casts its shadow on the crater at the end of June.

Axel’s next objection has to do with the theories about the composition of the Earth. He argues that according to popular theory, Earth’s center is extremely hot, and no human could survive there. Otto contradicts him by citing several other theories, including one that suggests the Earth is hollow, and concluding that no one actually knows or can prove decisively what is located at the center of the Earth. Consequently, the professor is determined to go and see for himself. 

After his conversation with Otto, Axel feels inspired for a short time, but the more he thinks about their plans, the more conflicted he becomes. He goes for a walk along the Elba River and, on the way, sees Gräuben, who is coming back from her relatives’ place. They begin conversing, and Axel tells her everything. Having expected her to object to Otto’s plans, the young man is surprised that Gräuben is supportive and even enthusiastic about the endeavor. She even expresses regret that she cannot join the expedition on account of being a young girl.

When they arrive home, Otto is waiting for Axel and announces that they are to depart in two days’ time. Axel does not understand the need to rush, but the professor explains that it is not so simple to reach Iceland. To make it to the mountain before the end of June, they need to depart immediately.

Gräuben helps Axel pack and is calm and collected about their imminent separation. The only time she expresses regret is when they are saying their goodbyes at the door. However, she finds solace in the fact that even if Axel is “leaving [his] betrothed,” he will “find [his] wife when [he] comes back” (27). 

This chapter describes in detail how Otto and Axel make their way to Copenhagen, where they need to find a ship to take them to Iceland. They travel by rail and steamboat and eventually reach Denmark’s capital. Otto is very impatient throughout the journey. In Copenhagen, they arrange for passage on a small schooner and receive letters of introduction to important people in Iceland, such as Baron Trampe, the island’s governor. While waiting for all the arrangements to be complete, Otto forces Axel to take “abyss lessons” meant to help him manage vertigo and fear of heights by climbing up on a very high spire and looking down at the ground.