A Song of Ice and Fire - A Chapter a day discussion

Tomorrow we will discuss the first chapter, centered on BRAN.



And... the location of this chapter is:

So, in this chapter we meet the Starks of Winterfell. In my opinion, it is a very unusual presentation and a very interesting chapter to analyse.

First of all, we learn that Bran, a child of seven, is riding with two of his brothers and his father to watch an execution. His father is Lord Eddard Stark, the Warden of the North.

The description of the man that is beheaded matches Gared from the Prologue.

"(...) He had lost both ears and a finger to frostbite, and he dressed all in black, the same as a brother of the Night’s Watch, except that his furs were ragged and greasy..."

So, Gared survived the ranging and headed south of the Wall after the incident.

"(...)In truth, the man was an oathbreaker, a deserter from the Night’s Watch. No man is more dangerous. The deserter knows his life is forfeit if he is taken, so he will not flinch from any crime..."

Lord Eddard beheads Gared and tells Bran why he did it.

"(...)our way is the older way. The blood of the First Men still flows in the veins of the Starks, and we hold to the belief that the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man’s life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die..."

So, their descendence makes the Starks different from the other Houses.

Another curious thing is that wildlings are mentioned again in this chapter and it is stated that they have a king. The depiction of the wildlings is quite horrid:

"(...)The man had been taken outside a small holdfast in the hills. Robb thought he was a wildling, his sword sworn to Mance Rayder, the King-beyond-the-Wall. It made Bran’s skin prickle to think of it. He remembered the hearth tales Old Nan told them. The wildlings were cruel men, she said, slavers and slayers and thieves. They consorted with giants and ghouls, stole girl children in the dead of night, and drank blood from polished horns. And their women lay with the Others in the Long Night to sire terrible half-human children..."

Of Lord Eddard we know that he likes to talk a lot about heroes and mythical figures to his kids.

"(...)He had a grim cast to his grey eyes this day, and he seemed not at all the man who would sit before the fire in the evening and talk softly of the age of heroes and the children of the forest..."

This is the first time the "children of the forest" are mentioned.

Eddard possesses a very unique sword called Ice, also.

"(...)Lord Eddard Stark dismounted and his ward Theon Greyjoy brought forth the sword. “Ice,” that sword was called. It was as wide across as a man’s hand, and taller even than Robb. The blade was Valyrian steel, spell-forged and dark as smoke. Nothing held an edge like Valyrian steel..."

So, we learn that there are swords that are forged through spells and made of Valyrian Steel.

Another curious thing is that Bran is a "summer child".

"(...)It was the ninth year of summer, and the seventh of Bran’s life..."

In Westeros, seasons can last decades. We don't really know why.

Now, getting to the main point of discussion. The banner of House Stark displays a grey direwolf racing across an ice-white field, and Robb finds a dead direwolf with 5 of his little pups. The direwolf died because of a wound inflicted by a stag, maybe.

"(...)His father knelt and groped under the beast’s head with his hand. He gave a yank and held it up for all to see. A foot of shattered antler, tines snapped off, all wet with blood.
A sudden silence descended over the party. The men looked at the antler uneasily, and no one dared to speak..."

For those of you rereading the book... *SPOILERS FOR UPCOMING CHAPTERS OF A GAME OF THRONES, BOOK 1* (view spoiler)[The Baratheon sigil has a stag on it, so... do you think this foreshadows Ned's beheading at the order of Joffrey "Baratheon"? Or maybe that Robert Baratheon will bring the doom to Winterfell with his visit. (hide spoiler)]

Leaving that aside, the chapter is told from Bran's point of view, but seems to be centered on Jon Snow. It is clearly stated that Jon is a bastard:

"(...)“Ass,” Jon muttered, low enough so Greyjoy did not hear. He put a hand on Bran’s shoulder, and Bran looked over at his bastard brother. “You did well,” Jon told him solemnly..."

And this is emphasised when Jon finds the albino direwolf, with eyes as red as blood. All of the other pups are blind yet, but the albino has already opened his eyes.

*SPOILERS FOR A DANCE WITH DRAGONS*(view spoiler)[Do you think the direwolves where placed there by the three-eyed crow? Or maybe Bran... sending them to the past? This last options is too far-fetched, in my opinion, but who knows. (hide spoiler)]

Very in-depth, Dani! I do agree that though this chapter is told in Bran's point of view, it does seem to center around Jon Snow, his bastard brother, which I find odd and intriguing. When I first read the book I didn't quite understand the importance here, though I right away fell in love with Bran and his father and brothers. The Stark's definitely feel like a "good" family, and Bran, I think, is quite privileged, especially since their father took it upon himself to let his bastard son come and live with them. It was this chapter that got me hooked to the books, in fact. This part: "Robb and Jon sat tall and still on their horses, with Bran between them on his pony, trying to seem older than seven, trying to pretend that he'd seen all this before." That's what got me hooked. Right away I like Bran. Plus, the fact that in A Song of Ice and Fire some of the main characters are actually younger than 16, which quite surprised me. I think we all can remember a time when we were young and wanted so very much to feel like a grown-up. This seems like a recurring motif in future chapters.

*SPOILERS FOR UPCOMING CHAPTERS OF A GAME OF THRONES, BOOK 1* (view spoiler)[Oh I very much believe this is a symbol of future events to come, that someone from the house of Baratheon will be the one to kill the "mother wolf," which in this case would be Lord Eddard. I think he has every right to be chilled to the bone when he sees the bloody antler. I hadn't put much thought into the theory that Robert brought the Doom on Winterfell, though. I suppose you could be right. When Robert comes to Winterfell certainly seems to be the catalyst part of the story in A Game of Thrones, the point that shakes up the characters. (hide spoiler)]

*SPOILERS FOR A DANCE WITH DRAGONS*(view spoiler)[You know, I hadn't thought of the three-eyed-crow doing such a thing with the wolf-pups before. It's a very intriguing idea! It seems possible, though I don't know how he would have been able to do it since I thought he could only influence creatures with his mind, and imagining him purposefully making a pregnant direwolf travel so far down from the Wall just to fight and be killed by a stag seems a bit much. More likely it just so happened to be magical coincidence, a sign, like Jon Snow says. Gods bless him. (hide spoiler)] That is one more thing I like about Jon Snow: he doesn't miss much. He's the one who puts the pup into Bran's hands, and the same one who convinces their Lord father to keep them. He's every bit a good brother to Bran as warm-hearted Robb. Plus, I love how he excludes himself from owning the five pups, only to be rewarded when he finds the albino at the end of the chapter.

I also like the subtle introduction to Theon Greyjoy that I didn't notice before. When I first read AGoT I didn't think much of Theon at all, (view spoiler)[which is strange because later on he becomes a lot more important, in my opinion, anyway (hide spoiler)]. The second time reading it I'm finding Theon much more deplorable and naive, though he is mentioned to be 19. By his antics, like kicking the dead man's severed head and laughing, he seems to function more like a rude 14 year old boy. I'm curious, what does everyone else think of Theon at this point?

Well, I don't think there's much I can add to the analysis of the book. However, I can say the things I really liked of this chapter:

* The Starks
* The encounter with the direwolf, first in so many years
* How there is one pup for each Stark, and then the albino one for Snow

Something that intrigues me is the birth and childhood of Jon Snow. I mean, even though he is a bastard child, he lives with the Starks and apparently knows their ways very well, being able to convince Lord Eddard to keep their pups based on the ancient lore of the Starks. I'd like to know more of Jon Snow...

Andrés wrote: "Well, I don't think there's much I can add to the analysis of the book. However, I can say the things I really liked of this chapter:

* The Starks
* The encounter with the direwolf, first in so ma..."
You will learn more about Jon throughout the series, and there is a particular theory which is very interesting, and I am sure we will discuss it here.

*SPOILERS FOR GAME OF THRONES AND A DANCE WITH DRAGONS* (view spoiler)[I do believe the stag has a meaning, that the visit of the King and his party brings doom, considering all the stuff that happens to the Starks in this books. Which is very interesting, and I forgot about this detail the first time I read the books, so it makes a lot of sense now. And Dani, I never thought that Bran could have sent the direwolf, but it is an interesting theory! Like Vicki, I don't really know how he could have done it, but now you have me thinking! (hide spoiler)]

I am sorry that I can't write great analysis like you guys, but I have two finals next week and I don't have the time to take notes. Hopefully, I will be able to do so once I finish studying.

@Vicki Yes, the Starks are presented as a "good" family. We, readers, get that vibe. But for me it is a little odd for us to get that vibe immediately when Eddard beheads someone in this chapter, someone we know from the Prologue. I don't know how George R.R. Martin can do something like that. It's amazing.

And yes, I didn't notice Theon kicking the head and being such a jerk on my first reading. I had only one image of Theon Greyjoy: womanizer.

@Andrés Oh, believe me when I say we will learn more about Jon Snow. I mean... I doubt that you can make me stop talking about him in a few chapters... he's one of the most amazing characters I have read about in my whole life. And, as Clara says, there is a very popular theory about his birth and childhood. I don't fully agree, but there is evidence that leads to it.

@Clara *SPOILERS FOR A DANCE WITH DRAGONS* (view spoiler)[Bloodraven (the three-eyed crow) is for me, the most powerful warg there is. I mean... I think he is doing a lot of things throughout the series to lead certain characters to a specific moment. I have the feeling he is warging multiple animals at the same time... like those crows Samwell encounters beyond the Wall.

And... in Jon VII in A Clash of Kings there is evidence Bran communicated with Jon while being with Bloodraven in the future... so this means he can send "messages" to the past. (hide spoiler)]

Just finished this chapter, there isn't much I can add but here are my thoughts:

-The Starks are my favourite family because of their honour and they stick true to the old ways. I think that the Lesson Eddard gives to their children is a bit hard for boys their age but wonderful at the same time, I can't quote exactly because I'm reading the Spanish version but his words are memorable.

-The scene where they find the dire wolves *SPOILERS FOR A GAME OF THRONES*(view spoiler)[the fact that a deer killed the wolf is kind of what happens later: Robert Baratheon (whose banner has a deer) naming Eddard hand of the king indirectly causes his death. I think its one of the strongest symbolisms in all books. (hide spoiler)]

-@Dani about your spoilers at the end of your post:(view spoiler)[it's a really interesting theory but I agree it's far fetched, we only catch a glimpse of Bran's Power (which I'm dying to know if the next book will answer) and I'm not sure he can alter reality that way, we'll have to wait :( (hide spoiler)]

-@Vicky about Theon: I also didn't care much for him at this point (actually I had a hard time identifying the main characters on my first read), I just thought that he was the typical as*hole and nothing more.

-I want a valyrian iron sword like "Ice" (?)

@José I love the lesson he gives his children, too.

"(...)If you would take a man’s life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die..."

and...

"(...)“Are you well, Bran?” he asked, not unkindly.
“Yes, Father,” Bran told him. He looked up. Wrapped in his furs and leathers, mounted on his great warhorse, his lord father loomed over him like a giant. “Robb says the man died bravely, but Jon says he was afraid.”
“What do you think?” his father asked.
Bran thought about it. “Can a man still be brave if he’s afraid?”
“That is the only time a man can be brave,” his father told him..."

*SPOILERS FOR UPCOMING CHAPTERS OF A GAME OF THRONES* (view spoiler)[That is certainly not Joffrey's way... (hide spoiler)]

The scene of the dire wolves, especially when they found Ghost *SPOILERS FOR UNPUBLISHED BOOKS AND SPECULATIONS OF THE WHOLE SAGA* (view spoiler)[ Many people say that Jon is half Stark and half Targaryen (son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen), and while I was reading the scene I couldn't avoid to think that Ghost it's a symbol of Jon, here's why: (considering that theory is true) Ghost has red eyes as the blood (Targaryen symbol) and white fur (Stark symbol-if we think in snow). I know it's a crazy theory but i don't think it's a random thing. (hide spoiler)]

@Antonella I know about that theory and I think it's quite good. Anyway... *SPOILERS FOR A STORM OF SWORDS, BOOK 3* (view spoiler)[Why do we think that Ned is too honorable to break his marriage vows? Maybe he did it for love. We see how Robb broke a pact for love, how Jon broke his vows for love... so, what's the problem of newly-married Ned breaking his marriage vows? (hide spoiler)]

@Dani I agreed with you, but *SPOILER FOR A GAME OF THRONES, BOOK 1* (view spoiler)[ his origin it's mysterious and quite strange. (hide spoiler)]

@Antonella Yes, *SPOILERS FOR THE SAGA* (view spoiler)[R+L=J is probably true, I was just pointing out that the basis of the theory (Ned being honorable) does not exclude him having a bastard. (hide spoiler)]

I'm dying to know the truth, though :O

*SPOILERS FOR A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE*(view spoiler)[While I favor the R+L=J Theory, before I was introduced to it I was perfectly willing to believe that Jon was sincerely Ned Stark's bastard. I mean, you have a very valid point, Dani. Both Robb and Jon broke their vows for women (though I still doubt Jon and Ygritte "loved" each other, exactly). Why is it so impossible for the honorable Ned Stark to have made a little blunder in his marriage in the early years? Marriage almost never stems out of love in this world, and I doubt Ned had much time with his new wife before he was carted off to war, and it's very possible he was taken with another woman, made a "mistake," and felt the need to take his "penance" back with him to Winterfell after it was all over. But still, the R+L=J theory would make even more sense than that, that Ned is keeping Lyanna's great secret with him. How horrible Catelyn will feel when she finds out the truth! (hide spoiler)]

About Ned Stark, just because he beheads someone that doesn't make him a "bad" person. It also helps his personality greatly when he later explains his actions to Bran in a fatherly way, that the person who passes the sentence should be the one to swing the sword, and if he cannot bear to do it, perhaps it means the man doesn't deserve to die. And also there is a lot of truth behind fear is the only time one can be brave. It is incredibly wise to feel that way, and I wish my dad was Ned Stark. haha

with the dead direwolf with the antler lodged in the throat - what do you think the real symbolism of that is?

(view spoiler)[ i got the impression that because of that, catelyn feels that ned must go or there will be conflicts between the two houses. however, knowing what happens later on, is it possible that it's actually some kind of foreshadowing device of what awaits ned and the stark family throughout the series ?? (hide spoiler)]

with the dead direwolf with the antler lodged in the throat - what do you think the real symbolism of that is?

(view spoiler)[ i got the impression that because of that, catelyn feels that ned must go or there will be conflicts between the two houses. however, knowing what happens later on, is it possible that it's actually some kind of foreshadowing device of what awaits ned and the stark family throughout the series ?? (hide spoiler)]