The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Discerning the Future: Prophecy in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire

På svenska

Author

  • Henric Frenning

Summary, in English

A Song of Ice and Fire (1996-Present) is a series of fantasy books written by George R.R. Martin. In this series, the concept of ‘prophecy’ plays a major role, as it does in many works of literature, both within the fantasy genre and in literary fiction in general. This essay defines prophecy in a literary context, looking at how prophecies are used to drive a narrative and what other purposes the inclusion of prophecies may serve in any given story. These definitions are then applied to A Song of Ice and Fire in order to analyze the ways in which George R.R. Martin both conforms to and breaks with literary conventions relating to the concept of prophecy. The conclusion is made that Martin weaves prophecy into the fabric of his story in a way that is all-encompassing: prophecy stands at the center of the narrative and affects it on nearly every level.

Department/s

Publishing year

2017

Language

English

Document type

Student publication for Bachelor's degree

Topic

  • Languages and Literatures

Keywords

  • Fantasy
  • Prophecy

Supervisor

  • Cian Duffy (Professor)