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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page essay that discusses 2 short stories. George Martin, a science fiction writer, expressed in an interview (Locus, December 2005, 69) that he felt that too often science fiction and fantasy fiction paints characters as being black-and-white and, furthermore, that to humanize them with shades of gray requires multiple viewpoints on a conflict. Two fantasy stories that illustrate Martin's point and offer complex characterization are Poul Anderson's "A Tale of Hauk" and Judith Tarr's "Death and the Lady." In both of these short stories, the characters take on depth and nuance because the authors skillfully show that their main characters have self-doubt and faults, as well as heroic virtues. No additional sources cited.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_kh2scfi.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
as being black-and-white and, furthermore, that to humanize them with shades of gray requires multiple viewpoints on a conflict. Two fantasy stories that illustrate Martins point and offer complex characterization
are Poul Andersons "A Tale of Hauk" and Judith Tarrs "Death and the Lady." In both of these short stories, the characters take on depth and nuance because the authors
skillfully show that their main characters have self-doubt and faults, as well as heroic virtues. Andersons protagonist, Hauk, is a young Viking and, before introducing the central conflict of
the story, Anderson places his hero within the context of his cultural background, which is pre-Christian Scandinavia and its warrior-based ethos. Geirolf, Hauks father, has died a "straw-death," that is,
he has not died in battle. Due to this, his spirit will not rest and the corpse of Geirolf rises nightly to terrorize the countryside. The shade of Geirolf will
not rest unless he is given a "second death," which Alfhild, Hauks sweetheart, feels is Hauks duty to provide (Anderson 305). By showing the conflict through the eyes of
Alfhild, Anderson gains the opportunity to logically have Hauk discuss his reluctance to do as she asks. He says, "Geirolf is still my father...who begot me, reared me, named the
stars for me, weaponed me to make my way in the world...Did I slay him, what horror would come upon me and mine?" (Anderson 305). As this illustrates the contrast
between the two views, that is, what should be done and the possible personal repercussions, adds depth to the task ahead for Hauk, who takes on the burden of putting
his fathers ghost to rest, but also accepts the possible curse that this will place on him. Hauk fights his father and vanquishes him, but still fears a possible curse
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