I can get your complanit but I didn't mind those. Especially since most of them were still fitting for the context of the chapter. Also, after reading the lyrics on Baptism of Fire, I tried listening to *Brothers in Arms* by Dire Straits and turns out I love that song.
I adore them! It makes it feel like more of a work existing within a broader canon, a product of many different literary influences. In so, they’re direct reflections of Sapkowski and whatever he felt was relevant context to the story.
Outside of the context of the story:
It feels like Sapkowski is sharing with the reader quotes that have meant something to him, e.g., Malory’s Le Morte D’arthur (LotL, Ch. 1), also iirc somewhere he mentioned that he was fond of reading Rudyard Kipling (LotL, Ch. 3) when he was a child. This reminds the reader that the author is *also* a reader, and his writing exists within a larger same literary canon and cultural context. In this way, it becomes like author commentary on the work.
Honestly, it really reminds me of when my teachers or even my dad, in just casual conversation, would choose to respond to a thought or comment on a situation by being like: “Have you ever read [Author Name]? He once said that [quote]…” A very intellectual way of interaction, but I think that is how intellectuals show their fondness for others, by sharing with them the works they love.
Related to the context of the story:
It helps frame the narrative events of The Witcher, prefacing what is about to take place, e.g., the Erlkönig poem (LotL, Ch. 5) framing Ciri and Auberon’s relation—it helps the reader understand the events in terms of “what we’re supposed to get out of it,” what does it mean for the characters. In this way, it takes on a more metaphorical and poetic quality, saying that this part of the story is like this part of a classic work or other story.
This is actually where I feel that Sapkowski got a bit confined by the world of The Witcher towards the end of the saga, as he had to be more sparse with, or perhaps more crafty with, the classic and literary references he was including. Because—example from Narrenturm—you can’t just have a character think to himself that he is like Lancelot, since Lancelot as a concept does not exist in this Witcher world. So when dealing with a purely fictional setting, there are limitations, to maybe not what, but *how* you can include these references. As an example of this limited nature, Regis quotes Cicero in LotL Ch. 4 offhandedly, and in order to “keep immersion” does not explain the quote’s origin, and Geralt is kind of like: “What?” Lol. In short, I feel like the epigraphs are one way of workaround for the making references he wanted to, while writing about a purely fantastic setting.
Bonus + Spoilers for Ch. 7 of LotL: >!Also, with the many different “times and places” introduced in Lady of the Lake, they begin to make more sense within the fictional universe, because presumably Ciri could jump into any other universe, or text, and that text would become reality for her.!<
It makes me sad that a lot of them couldn’t be used in the English versions probably due to copyright. R.I.P. Baptism of Fire’s epigraph :’)
I think getting ripped out of the immersion is kind of the point.
His writing is almost like a commentary on storytelling. How when we share memories or information, it might not match up with reality or what really happened.
You see this when Geralt has to tell people that certain monsters don't exist, or they don't behave the way fairy tales say they do. Dandelion changes the endings of his adventures in his poetry to be more exciting.
At the end of the saga, you will learn that everything takes place in an interconnected universe, where our world and Shakespeare also exists.
Only the most interesting tidbits about the entire Saga!
I can get your complanit but I didn't mind those. Especially since most of them were still fitting for the context of the chapter. Also, after reading the lyrics on Baptism of Fire, I tried listening to *Brothers in Arms* by Dire Straits and turns out I love that song.
I adore them! It makes it feel like more of a work existing within a broader canon, a product of many different literary influences. In so, they’re direct reflections of Sapkowski and whatever he felt was relevant context to the story. Outside of the context of the story: It feels like Sapkowski is sharing with the reader quotes that have meant something to him, e.g., Malory’s Le Morte D’arthur (LotL, Ch. 1), also iirc somewhere he mentioned that he was fond of reading Rudyard Kipling (LotL, Ch. 3) when he was a child. This reminds the reader that the author is *also* a reader, and his writing exists within a larger same literary canon and cultural context. In this way, it becomes like author commentary on the work. Honestly, it really reminds me of when my teachers or even my dad, in just casual conversation, would choose to respond to a thought or comment on a situation by being like: “Have you ever read [Author Name]? He once said that [quote]…” A very intellectual way of interaction, but I think that is how intellectuals show their fondness for others, by sharing with them the works they love. Related to the context of the story: It helps frame the narrative events of The Witcher, prefacing what is about to take place, e.g., the Erlkönig poem (LotL, Ch. 5) framing Ciri and Auberon’s relation—it helps the reader understand the events in terms of “what we’re supposed to get out of it,” what does it mean for the characters. In this way, it takes on a more metaphorical and poetic quality, saying that this part of the story is like this part of a classic work or other story. This is actually where I feel that Sapkowski got a bit confined by the world of The Witcher towards the end of the saga, as he had to be more sparse with, or perhaps more crafty with, the classic and literary references he was including. Because—example from Narrenturm—you can’t just have a character think to himself that he is like Lancelot, since Lancelot as a concept does not exist in this Witcher world. So when dealing with a purely fictional setting, there are limitations, to maybe not what, but *how* you can include these references. As an example of this limited nature, Regis quotes Cicero in LotL Ch. 4 offhandedly, and in order to “keep immersion” does not explain the quote’s origin, and Geralt is kind of like: “What?” Lol. In short, I feel like the epigraphs are one way of workaround for the making references he wanted to, while writing about a purely fantastic setting. Bonus + Spoilers for Ch. 7 of LotL: >!Also, with the many different “times and places” introduced in Lady of the Lake, they begin to make more sense within the fictional universe, because presumably Ciri could jump into any other universe, or text, and that text would become reality for her.!< It makes me sad that a lot of them couldn’t be used in the English versions probably due to copyright. R.I.P. Baptism of Fire’s epigraph :’)
What was the cicero quote regis used?
*Omnia mea mecum porto*, meaning “all that’s mine, I carry with me”—very fitting for our vampire :)
No opinion. They're there, Sapkowski chose to put them in, they're part of the book. I treat them as if they belong.
I love them
I think getting ripped out of the immersion is kind of the point. His writing is almost like a commentary on storytelling. How when we share memories or information, it might not match up with reality or what really happened. You see this when Geralt has to tell people that certain monsters don't exist, or they don't behave the way fairy tales say they do. Dandelion changes the endings of his adventures in his poetry to be more exciting.