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threatens to say "Ni!" to the old woman unless she helps them, and when she still refuses, begins shouting "Ni!". Bedivere has trouble saying the sacred word, which he pronounces "Nu!" until Arthur demonstrates the correct technique. As the crone shrinks back from their combined assault, they are interrupted by Roger the
Shrubber, who laments the lack of law and order that allows ruffians to say "Ni!" to an old woman. Arthur obtains a shrubbery from Roger, and brings it to the Knights of Ni.
148:!" The knight presents a herring to be used. Arthur objects, asserting that "it can't be done!" upon which the knights recoil as though in fear and pain. It soon emerges that the knights are unable to withstand the word "it", which Arthur's party is unable to avoid saying. The knights are soon incapacitated by the word, which even the head knight cannot stop repeating, allowing Arthur and his followers to make their escape.
198:, rather than neomedievalism, as many of the film's details are in fact based on authentic medieval texts and ideas. With respect to the Knights who say "Ni!", the authors suggest that Sir Bedivere's difficulty pronouncing "Ni!", despite its levity, "carries a very learned joke about the difficulties of pronouncing
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In order to fulfill their promise to the
Knights of Ni, the party visits a small village, where Arthur and Bedivere ask an old crone where they can obtain a shrubbery. The woman questions them, and Arthur admits that it is for the Knights who say "Ni!", whereupon she refuses to cooperate. Arthur then
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The knights demand a sacrifice, and when Arthur states that he merely wishes to pass through the woods, the knights begin shouting "Ni!", forcing the party to shrink back in fear. After this demonstration of their power, the head knight threatens to say "Ni!" again unless the travellers appease them
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The head knight acknowledges that "it is a good shrubbery", but asserts that the knights cannot allow Arthur and his followers to pass through the wood because they are no longer the
Knights who say "Ni!", now being the Knights who say "Ekke Ekke Ekke Ekke Ptang Zoo Boing!", and must therefore give
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There are several slight variations in spelling based on different sources; this spelling is based on the film subtitles, which give "Zoo" rather than "Zoom"; the end of this word is indistinctly pronounced in the film. The subtitles only include three "Ekkes", but four can definitely be heard in
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the dialogue. This line appears to have been semi-improvisational, and may differ from the original script and later versions, with "Ni!" sometimes being added at the end. Despite the head knight's pronouncement of the new name, some of the other knights still chatter "Ni!" in the background.
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The knights appear silhouetted in a misty wood, wearing robes and horned helmets; their full number is never apparent, but there are at least six. The leader of the knights, played by
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The head knight demands another shrubbery, to be placed next to but slightly higher than the first; and then Arthur "must cut down the mightiest tree in the forest—with a
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helmets decorated with cow horns. The knight explains that they are the "keepers of the sacred words 'Ni', 'Peng', and 'Neee-Wom'". Arthur confides to Sir
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shoulders". In the DVD commentary for the film, Michael Palin states that their use of the word "Ni!" was derived from
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Arthur a test. Unable to pronounce the new name, Arthur addresses them as "Knights who until recently said 'Ni!
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decorated with long antlers. The other knights are large, but of human proportions, and wear visored
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And Now For
Something Completely Digital: A Complete Illustrated Guide to Monty Python CDs and DVDs
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In the original screenplay, it was suggested that the head knight be played by "Mike standing on
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The Album of the
Soundtrack of the Trailer of the Film of Monty Python and the Holy Grail
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Neomedievalism in the Media: Essays on Film, Television, and
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71:. They demonstrate their power by shouting "Ni!" (pronounced "nee"
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Monty Python, Shakespeare, and
English Renaissance drama
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The
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482:(2'06") – Official Monty Python Channel, YouTube
473:(1'20") – Official Monty Python Channel, YouTube
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365:L. Robinson, Carol; Clements, Pamela (2012).
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