Is Birgitte Silverbow a shout out to Legolas from LOTR?

[michaelk93]

Ok I'm reading the series for the first time, I'm about 3/4 of my way through the Shadow Rising, and I always thought there was something familiar about Birgitte, and then it occurred to me. She is a an expert archer, who has long blonde hair, she's a legendary "hero" of the horn.(Legolas is basically a hero, he's surely not average). I'm pretty sure RJ also described her as moving gracefully and elegantly etc.

Legolas is rather similar, except for the gender. But he's a prince of Mirkwood whilst Birgitte is just a commoner. 

 

I love all the LOTR subliminal messages such as the "Nine Rings" inn in TGH. Oh and I also found out Galad is Sindarin (Elf language) for light.  ;D

[Hadilmir]

Don't forget that both RJ and Tolkien drew from various myths and legends directly and indirectly. Most of the not-so-obvious shout outs are coincidental and the intended ones are pretty specific.

[michaelk93]

Ok yeah I guess. Thanks for replying! ;)

[Morsker]

I figured she was a combination of Robin Hood, Brigid, and probably other things I didn't recognize. I wouldn't be surprised if she was Repunzle because of the hair, although the myth would've had to have been distorted heavily. And who knows where the silver arrows are from? "Silver arrow" gives half a million Google matches, so narrowing it down is probably hopeless.

 

 

[aunt_pol]

@ Michael - so jealous of you reading the sereies for the first time. Savour every page, most of them are great.

[Hadilmir]

@ Michael - so jealous of you reading the sereies for the first time. Savour every page, most of them are great.

This x2

[michaelk93]

This series is the greatest, well perhaps second greatest after a certain Mr Tolkien's work.  :D

[aunt_pol]

I actually far prefer WoT to LoTR, for myself. I'm not counting any of Tolkien's other work, now. I just love the complexity and realism of the characters - not a one of them doesn't have wonderful, frustrating quirks to their personalities.

[Sagacious Lu]

Ok I'm reading the series for the first time, I'm about 3/4 of my way through the Shadow Rising, and I always thought there was something familiar about Birgitte, and then it occurred to me. She is a an expert archer, who has long blonde hair, she's a legendary "hero" of the horn.(Legolas is basically a hero, he's surely not average). I'm pretty sure RJ also described her as moving gracefully and elegantly etc.

Legolas is rather similar, except for the gender. But he's a prince of Mirkwood whilst Birgitte is just a commoner. 

 

I love all the LOTR subliminal messages such as the "Nine Rings" inn in TGH. Oh and I also found out Galad is Sindarin (Elf language) for light.  ;D

 

I don't want to say too much about Birgitte because although I have some speculation but I'd hate to spoil anything for you.  Like Pol and Hildimar I can't help but be jealous.  In regards to Galad and Gawyn you should take a look at Galahad and Gawain, both of whom were Knights of the Round Table. There are some very clear comparisons that can be made there.  Personally I love sifting through these books for the (numerous!) references to mythological, historical and literary figures.  By all means keep posting any that you think you find in this thread; the sheer number that I've found makes me certain that there are a lot that I've missed and it would be great to get some different perspectives.

[ravenfier]

the base for Birgitte more than likely stems from the mythological Artimis rather than Tolken's Legolas. Artimis is depicted with blonde hair and silver bow/arrows in art. we do know that RJ drew heavily on European myhtos, soon you'll see Nordic referencis in regard to one of the main trio.

[MikeRiley]

Tolkien drew heavily on a number of sources as well. It's likely that any likeness between Legolas and Birgitte is due to the coincidence of both being inspired by the same real world being. Same goes for Galad and "light". Sir Galahad?

 

I know that Tolkien really liked Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, so there's a bit of that too.

[aunt_pol]

The first time I read the series, I had been given all the way up to book 8 at the time. I thought they were ok, nothin wonderful. Then my ubergeek friend told me to read them again, slowly. (I'm inclined to skim)

Well, that was about ten or eleven years ago, and I've def reread them about ten times since. I love the fact that some threads are so intricate that you can go 3 books back and find one line that makes you go "Oh yeah!".

Ooh can't wait for November now! Do you read fast, Michael? Do you have them all so far?

[michaelk93]

The first time I read the series, I had been given all the way up to book 8 at the time. I thought they were ok, nothin wonderful. Then my ubergeek friend told me to read them again, slowly. (I'm inclined to skim)

Well, that was about ten or eleven years ago, and I've def reread them about ten times since. I love the fact that some threads are so intricate that you can go 3 books back and find one line that makes you go "Oh yeah!".

Ooh can't wait for November now! Do you read fast, Michael? Do you have them all so far?

 

Yeah I'm about 75% through book 4. I ended up buying the whole series off ebay last week. I get through one book in about 3 weeks and that is balancing it with studying and assignments. So around November I should be around book 10 hopefully maybe book 9.  :D

I also pre-ordered book 13 off Amazon.

Sometimes I also re-read chapters just to make sure about things. Robert Jordan was a genius!

[aunt_pol]

Class, at least you won't be tortured avoiding the TOM spoiler boards for too long!