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The Novel A Wizard of Earthsea

 

 

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A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. Le Guin, is an exceptional work in the field of fantasy. The novel tells the story of a boy named Sparrow hawk, whose true name is Ged. Later he will be known as one of the greatest of archmages of all time. But first he must learn of his power and how to control it. In the beginning of this tale, Ged is a proud, foolhardy show-off. Through the trial of releasing a Nameless One, he becomes scarred, timid, and uncertain. After defeating the demon, he becomes more like his former self, only better. He is powerful, wise and self-assured yet humble.


Miss Le Guin’s main method of characterization is the reactions of others. At first, he is treated as just a boy. At the Academy, he was just another student. After releasing the nameless one, he was a scarred, meek, and pitiful teenager. At the end of his training at the Academy, he is respected by others as a wizard, and is practically worshipped in the small island village he serves. But, as Le Guin shows us his thoughts and feelings, he feels powerless, running from a monster of his own making. After defeating the Dragon of Pendor, he is renowned throughout the West reaches, but he is still unsure of himself. Finally, after naming the Nameless One, he can be proud of his accomplishments.

 

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The book follows the wizard Ged, who was born in a Earthsea (a grouping of many, many islands) village in Gont. The boy soon shows signs of great power, the ability to call animals and to laugh even when his tongue has been bound by a spell. But he surpasses the expectations when he saves the village from invaders.
A mage named Ogion apprentices Ged known as Sparrow hawk, as knowledge of his true name would give anyone power over him. But Ogion's discipline and lessons are full of silence and self-examination, something that soon sends Ged to the school for mages in Roke. At the school, he meets two boys that will help shape his destiny: kind, easygoing Vetch, and arrogant Jasper who mocks Ged at every turn.


The boys all study and grow in their power, but Jasper's pride is unchanged. He finally mocks Ged into a magical duel, and Ged attempts a dangerous magic: to waken a long-dead woman. A monstrous creature made of shadow appears with the woman, and attacks Ged, nearly killing him. Ged remains within the school from then on, for the shadow is pursuing him. But upon the completion of his studies, the now-wiser wizard sets off to an island, where the dread Dragon of Pendor is attacking the natives with its children. The dragon offers him a way to escape the shadow, but Ged refuses for the sake of others. Later, an entranced queen and a magical Stone tempt him again but again he refuses for the greater good. As the shadow closes in on Ged and his life becomes increasingly imperiled, he must discern what and whom it is, to make himself truly whole.


This is a compelling story about a powerful and gifted young wizard who is tempted by vanity to try a Spell of Summoning which brings into the world a black shadow-beast. Barely escaping with his life the wizard Sparrow hawk at first tries to hide from the evil that he released into the world, before confronting the flaws in his own character, which were responsible for the disastrous Spell of Summoning. You won't warm to Sparrow hawk when you first meet him. He is indeed gifted and powerful beyond measure but he is also proud and conceited, self-willed, argumentative and perhaps above all ashamed of his lowly upbringing as a goatherd on the outlying island of Gont. But Ursula Le Guin moulds this character beautifully, dragging him inch by inch through devastating remorse and critical self-examination until he emerges, physically and mentally scarred, but now strong enough to turn and hunt the shadow beast in a final showdown.

 

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And not only is this scouring account of the battle between good and evil, but it is also set in a thoroughly constructed world where the rules of geography apply equally with the rules of magery. Ursula Le Guin introduces you to the power of naming, and shows you a school for wizards on the island of Roke where the arts of changing and summoning are taught Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea is a prime example of a great fantasy novel. The story takes place in a magical land called Earthsea. Earthsea exists in a medieval era full of dragons, wizards and mages Ged, the story's protagonist, is a young wizard. Ged discovers he has a great power at a very young age. He has an ambitious mind and a hunger to learn. After he goes to a wizardry school in a place called Roke, Ged matures and becomes less ambitious. The antagonist is an evil shadow that Ged accidentally released in an attempt to prove himself. The shadow stalks Ged for years trying to feed on his power.
 

Vetch is also a young wizard that Ged met at school in Roke. He and Ged become good friends and many times Vetch becomes an advisor to Ged. Vetch also looks after Ged's otac, his loyal pet and friend, when his friend becomes ill. Jasper, another boy Ged met in Roke, is quite the opposite of a friend to Ged. Jasper constantly competes with Ged and was partly responsible for Ged's shadow coming to Earthsea. Ogion is Ged's mentor. He is an old wizard famous for saving a land from a great earthquake. Ogion cares for Ged, much like a father, and his teachings become a huge part in Ged's life of wizardry.


Although there is also a conflict between Ged and his fear but the major conflict in the story is the continuing chase between Ged and his shadow. He also comes across several minor conflicts. For example is his fight with the Old Dragon of Pendor. Ged battles the dragon's children and then tames the old one. There is also a darker power Ged must face. After an encounter with his shadow, he is taken into a castle that holds a stone filled with an evil magic. The stone having its own mind attempts to captivate Ged with its power.


The turning point in the story comes after the encounter with the stone. Fleeing from the castle Ged turns himself into a falcon and flies to Ogion. Ogion cares for Ged and helps him realize that the shadow would not be as powerful if he chased it. Ged then starts on his long journey to find his own predator.
Ged chases the shadow for a long while until they finally meet. They come together and Ged starts the battle by calling the shadow's name, "Ged". The story ends after a long fight when Ged defeats his nemisis and returns home. Although the shadow has not been destroyed it is of no harm to anyone or anything ever again.


 

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