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Authors
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Swords have been regarded as emblems of power and honour, symbols of status and authority belonging to several gods and heroes of many mythologies and cultures, but also as the main weapons of knights. Oaths were made upon swords and they were the companions of the most fearsome warriors and heroes. They were, sometimes, magical and had wills of their own, but above all swords were personal objects intimately connected to their owners. This article will first clarify the connection between fantasy literature and the Middle Ages in the creation of George R. R. Martin’s world in A Song of Ice and Fire, since that historical period influences the way that swords are portrayed in his work. It will then focus on exploring how swords are connected to their owner’s identity, an aspect that is present in the following swords: Eddard Stark's Ice, Jon Snow's Longclaw, Stannis Baratheon's Lightbringer, and Arya Stark's Needle.
Description
Keywords
Swords Middle Ages Celtic Myth Martin, George Raymond Richard, 1948-..... A Song of Ice and Fire Fantasy
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Messengers from the Stars: On Science Fiction and Fantasy. Nº1. 2016. Pp 33-46