Scott Thompson Smith, Thesis Supervisor Carla J. Mulford, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Game of Thrones Martin Fantasy Lord of the Rings George R. R. Martin Fiction Genre Fiction Ned Stark
Abstract:
Ever since stumbling across the HBO show “Game of Thrones”, I have been fascinated with the story, the characters, and the themes that take place in George R. R. Martin’s fantasy world. I picked up his books and gave them a read and realized that he has written a fantasy that is unlike any other that I have read before. Because of its popularity coming mainly from the television series, I took it upon myself to focus on the first novel in the series and explain how this first book set in motion an unforgettable and original take on a traditional fantasy setting.
George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones provides an extremely innovative take on traditional fantasy, a genre popularized by Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Many characters, themes, common lessons, and other literary components that Tolkien established are recognized and altered by Martin, and he sets a precedent that his fiction will not follow the traditional formula. These changes are purposefully misleading and markedly different from what many may expect from the fantasy genre, and, therefore, spark new interests and new appreciation for the genre.
