Kevin's Watch

Rightey-o! so as some of you may know, i havent read all of the TC chronicles. im actually almost done LFB, and im working on an ISU for this book, and TIW, and for one part i have to explain the culture and nature of the people in the book compared to the time peroid. fisrt of all i have no diea about the time peroid, but looking at the culture and the nature of the people, i have a hard time explaining it all without talking for 30 pages. if you guys could maybe help me out and give me a few key points that you find very important, thatd help sooooooo much! ive highlighted my book everywhere so im doing pretty good with it but sometimes a second set of eyes and a different point of view go a long way! im not asking for the answers, just suggestions of where to start, because i really dont know where to at all......

-s-

I don't know if it helps a lot, but if you are comparing it with some specific earthly time period you might start by trying to figure out which technological level the different people are at. My guess would be:

-the people of the land: bronze age?
-haruchai - stone age?
-giants - possibly iron age, they have sailing ships at least
-Lord Fouls people: definitely iron age, they have basic catapults
-Ramen - stone age/bronze age
-The Bharatrain - maybe late iron age/early medieval they seem quite advanced compared to others

And then you could say that it doesn't really matter about the technology because the earthpower supplies the needs that we have supported by technology.

awesomeness! thats exactly the sort of stuff i need.... i think.. lol but the main other thing im looking for is hints on the culture and how the people of the Land live...... its writers craft so i gotta have something good to say

-s-

Hello, surrender, congratulations on starting on the Thomas Covenant books. Just for background, I read the first three in the late 70's, the next set as soon as they were written (waiting was torture), and now am chomping to read the second book of the final set, the Last Chronicles. I have read the first six books at least ten times over the last 20 or so years, and read them all at least once a year now. I'm not uniquely qualified to give any insight, but I'll share my own thoughts, such as they are. The people of the Land live simple lives. There is no such thing as money there. Lives are lived by survival alone and an appreciation of the beauty and abundance of the earth. All nature is revered and appreciated for what it gives and its inherent beauty. All people live in harmony and peace in the Land. No one searches for power or wealth in the Land. When I think of the Land, I think of pioneers living off nature, cooperating with and helping one another, willing to risk their very lives to protect their freedoms and the beauty of their simple, gentle lives. All their lives revolve around the health and power that is natural to the Land. As you get further into reading, you'll see the depth of that devotion. All would gladly give their lives for the Land. It makes our lives look so impoverished by comparison. Enjoy Donaldson; I have read nothing in my long life that has moved me like his Covenant books. Be welcome and true, surrender.

Don't forget that they are all artists of sorts as well, they craft art from the land of the land as a tribute to the land and all it's inhabitants. Each of the people of a group specialize in a certain type of artistic craft, the stonedowners have a craft of stones and the woodhelvennin have woodwork art and the ramen meld bones.

This actually touches on something that always puzzles me... why don't the people of the Land invent anything? Like, ever? I know they have rocks that glow and a mandate to resist screwing about with dangerous lore, but why doesn't the natural instinct of human curiosity/invention ever show up in the Land?

Or am I missing something? It seems like a hole in the world-building to me, but I readily admit I may be missing something.

jwaneeta wrote:This actually touches on something that always puzzles me... why don't the people of the Land invent anything? Like, ever? I know they have rocks that glow and a mandate to resist screwing about with dangerous lore, but why doesn't the natural instinct of human curiosity/invention ever show up in the Land?

Or am I missing something? It seems like a hole in the world-building to me, but I readily admit I may be missing something.

I always blame the Oath of Peace for all the lack of initiative that the people of the Land seems to have. Apparently the old Lords vere a little more interested in discovering things, and the unfettered still are. Everybody else seems ready to go on like they have always done, possibly trying to uncover more of Kevin's Lore.

The technology angle has come up many times in the Watch. It's been asked in the GI. The answers there are clear and concise.

Cameraman Jenn wrote:Don't forget that they are all artists of sorts as well, they craft art from the land of the land as a tribute to the land and all it's inhabitants. Each of the people of a group specialize in a certain type of artistic craft, the stonedowners have a craft of stones and the woodhelvennin have woodwork art and the ramen meld bones.

Each of the groups of people have one or more crafts, but I don't think that each individual is an artist (although most at least learn the fundamentals of the wood or stone lore so they can cook, have light, etc.) For example, Atiaran is a singer, probably the only one in her village. Lena is learning the art of building with stones (surupamaerl?) but I doubt Triock does anything more than tend his cattle. Or at least that's how it was before the strange guy in the flannel shirt showed up

I stand corrected, not all the individuals are artists. However it's important to stress that art is very quintessential to the passing of lore etc. in the land. It also is a means of discovery. Mhorham (and I had to pause because I wrote Mormon and had to correct it...heheheheh) learns the secret of the ritual of desecration from the marrowmeld art that High Lord Elena made, the bust of Covenant/Bannor.

I kind of look at the land as a mesh of many native cultures.

The Ramen seem very Huron or Cree Native American like

While the regular Lander's are more, possibly Tribal African...rich with songs and history, and very tight knit villages.

The Lords seem fairly Ancient Celt-like to me...dignified and wise, yet strong.