The Last Chrons and the four Classic Elements

[thewormoftheworld'send]

********SPOILERS********


Suspicious as I am about finding even a hint of symmetry in anything Donaldson writes, I've come to the conclusion that the ocean theme of AATE reflects that of The One Tree.

Earlier this year, this theory led me to make a wrong prediction, but it wasn't so far off. The questors do not leave the Land taking to the seas again with Giants. Water does play a role, however, both allegorically and realistically. The allegory: Linden's fate is written in water. The reality: in the end, actual water comes to the questors. And in the end, they do not have to seek the Worm, the Worm comes to them via the water. This did not quite happen yet, but the forebodings of this momentous event are unmistakable, the first rumblings of the gathering apocalypse.

Now I also suspect that the four classic elements are being represented in each respective volume of the LC. ROTE represents Earth - Anele, Revelstone. FR represents Air - time-travel plays a greater role than before, as well as instant transportation. AATE represents Water, while TLD represents the Fire of destruction, of Kastenessen and of skurj - and as a natural result, the Phoenix rising from the ashes.

On another level, the fifth classic element, Spirit, represents the unity behind all the Chrons. which is allegorically the Phoenix itself.

[johnsomc]

Hmmm...very interesting...which leads me to believe that Donaldson would dismiss it and leave the rest of us twisting in the wind...

[thewormoftheworld'send]

Hmmm...very interesting...which leads me to believe that Donaldson would dismiss it and leave the rest of us twisting in the wind...

Dismiss what? You lost me there.

I would have said the water and fire allegories work well, but the other two seem a bit forced. And the phoenix/spirit part might be true but we lack information to decide on that issue. Some here have speculated about Linden becoming the Creator of a new Earth after the present apocalypse has ended.

Are you an English teacher, by any chance?