Are You Writing Serious Fantasy? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Starbreeze · 06-28-2002, 01:23 PM

Did someone mention themes?

Ok, here are the themes or issues I have used already, or have planned to use.

*Who I am - sense of person
*Ancient spirits/earth energies/powers
*Light against Dark (rather like one of Tolkien's themes)
*God (as in who, where, what, why, how type of thing - people trying to find out more)
*Preserving the world from destruction
*The human vices of violence, greed and hatred
*Xenophobia
*class system
*growing up without parents
*growing up in a large family
*Betrayal and redemption
*The importance of friendship (again like Tolkien)
*Cruelty to animals
*Prejudice against those who don't conform

There, I think thats about it.

Now, I have some questions of my own to ask, I hope they haven't been asked already, I'm a little behind, having only read up to page 5 properly.

Firstly, are your places similar to any on Earth. For example - Tolkien's Shire is supposed to be similar to England.

Secondly, How civilised to you make the people that inhabit your world? I would say that Tolkien's characters were sort of around 13th Century in English terms.

Thirdly - if you have used elves how have you portrayed them? Terry Pratchett portrays elves as forces of evil, greedy and malicious, but Tolkien portrays them as a gentle and advanced people.

There, thats me done for now - I think.

06-28-2002, 01:23 PM	#11
Starbreeze Ghost of a Smile Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Mirkwood - Middle Earth Posts: 389	Did someone mention themes? Ok, here are the themes or issues I have used already, or have planned to use. Who I am - sense of person Ancient spirits/earth energies/powers Light against Dark (rather like one of Tolkien's themes) God (as in who, where, what, why, how type of thing - people trying to find out more) Preserving the world from destruction The human vices of violence, greed and hatred Xenophobia class system growing up without parents growing up in a large family Betrayal and redemption The importance of friendship (again like Tolkien) Cruelty to animals Prejudice against those who don't conform There, I think thats about it. Now, I have some questions of my own to ask, I hope they haven't been asked already, I'm a little behind, having only read up to page 5 properly. Firstly, are your places similar to any on Earth. For example - Tolkien's Shire is supposed to be similar to England. Secondly, How civilised to you make the people that inhabit your world? I would say that Tolkien's characters were sort of around 13th Century in English terms. Thirdly - if you have used elves how have you portrayed them? Terry Pratchett portrays elves as forces of evil, greedy and malicious, but Tolkien portrays them as a gentle and advanced people. There, thats me done for now - I think. __________________ Do not tamper with the affairs of wizards, they are not all that subtle - Terry Pratchett To write is to make dreams, to make dreams is to awaken the fantasy of the mind, to awaken the mind is to be a master.