Grimmerie

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The Grimmerie (a variation on the word Grimoire) is a fictional book of spells found in Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, as well as the Broadway musical Wicked (based on Maguire's novel). The Grimmerie is also the title of a behind-the-scenes book about the musical, published in 2005 (ISBN 1401308201).

[edit] The Novel

In the novel, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) discovers the Grimmerie locked in a chest in the attic of Kiamo Ko. The book is large and leather-bound in appearance, with pages of a strange purple parchment. The writing on the pages is inscribed in a silvery ink that seems to shimmer and move about the page on its own. The book is described as "an encyclopedia of things numinous. Magic; and of the spirit world; and of things seen and unseen; and of things once and future." When the Wizard of Oz discovers she has it in her possession, he is extremely keen on obtaining it from her, as he is apparently the only one who is able to read it. Elphaba tries to read the strange text with a lot of trouble, though at times she can randomly recognize words. It is later revealed that the Grimmerie is actually a book from Earth, hence the Wizard (who came from Earth) and Elphaba (who was actually the illegitimate daughter of the Wizard, and as such was half Ozian, half Earthling) being able to read it.

[edit] The Musical

In the musical, the Grimmerie is described by Madame Morrible as "The Ancient Book of Thaumaturgy and Enchantments," or as more simply put by the Wizard, "a recipe book for change." It is initially given to Elphaba by The Wizard in order to "prove herself" by making the monkey Chistery fly, and although the book is written in "the lost language of spells," Elphaba starts reciting its chants as if it were second nature. Elphaba soon realizes that the Wizard is powerless and cannot read the book himself, and that was the real reason he needed her help. She steals the Grimmerie and uses it to fly in the showstopping musical number "Defying Gravity". The Grimmerie is also responsible for helping Elphaba to enchant the silver slippers of her sister Nessarose into the ruby slippers (the ones seen in the film) to help her to walk, and to transform Boq into the Tin Woodman as well as Fiyero into the Scarecrow. In the song "For Good", Elphaba seems to surrender her cause, and gives the Grimmerie to Glinda in hopes that she will use it to continue what Elphaba has already done.

[edit] Contents of The Grimmerie

In the musical, the Grimmerie is a pivotal instrument in Elphaba's magical powers. It contains a variety of incantations, written in a strange language, that allow her to perform various spells throughout the musical. Below is a list of spells used in the musical along with their incantations:

The Levitation Spell I

Used by Elphaba to unwittingly give wings to the Wizard's monkey servants.

"Ahben Tahkay Ahben Tahkay Ahben Tahkay Ah Entayah Tifentah Ahben Tahkay Ah"

In the San Francisco tryouts, this was followed by more chanting which was deleted for the Broadway show.

"Et Antay Daytum Entayah Tahkay Bayah Ben"

The Levitation Spell II

Used by Elphaba to enchant the broom and fly.

"Ahben Tahkay Ah Tum Entay Ditum Entayah (repeated)"

According to MusicalSchwartz.com, however, this spell is as follows.

"Ah May Ah Tay Ah Tum Ditum"

To Enchant the Ruby Slippers

Used by Elphaba on the silver slippers to allow Nessarose to walk. It changes them from silver to red.

"Ambulahn Dare Pahto Pahpoot Ambulahn Dasca Caldapess Lahfenahto Lahfenahtum Pede Pede Caldapess (repeated)"

The Love Spell

The incompleted spell used by Nessarose in an attempt to make Boq "lose his heart" to her.

"Ah Tum Tahtay (repeated)"

The Tin-Man Transformation

Used by Elphaba to allow Boq to live without a heart.

"Meno Non Cordo Meno Non Cordo Cordahlos Vivahlos Vivahlos (repeated)"

The Scarecrow Transformation

Used by Elphaba to save Fiyero, unwittingly turning him into a Scarecrow.

"Eleka Nahmen Nahmen Ah Tum Ah Tum Eleka Nahmen (repeated)"

The original chant Schwartz was planning to use was as follows.

"Ad Nay Prae Tum Ister Fah Tum Antay Dayculum"

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