The name Bran also has resonance in Welsh and Irish literature.
Business
Standard : The events of medieval Britain were a major source
of inspiration for the world of Westeros in Game
of Thrones. The Wall in the North, for example, was inspired by
Hadrian’s Wall – and massacres like the Red Wedding have clear
parallels with similar slaughters in Wales.
But
historical events weren’t the only thing that author George R.R.
Martin took inspiration from when writing the original series of
books. He relied on the legends and languages of centuries past for
his writing too. Looking to the unique names of his characters, while
some are inventions (Hodor being the prime example), others like Ilyn
Payne, Daenerys Targaryen and Tormund Giantsbane come from a mixture
of different languages, including Old Norse. These names are often
used to show characters’ loyalty, but they have meaning too.
Indeed, Tormund volunteered an explanation of how he was named
“Giantsbane” in a recent episode of the television series. He
claims that, aged 10, he killed a giant and was then suckled by its
wife (though his character gave a different origin story in the
books).
Look
closely at the original origins of some key characters’ names –
particularly in Welsh – and you can find hints about the series
that have been hiding in plain sight all along.
Ravens
and giants
Take
Brandon Stark, for example, otherwise now known as the Three-Eyed
Raven. In fairness we did get a few clues as to the young Stark’s
future early on, when ravens appeared in his dreams. Yet Welsh
speakers had a spoiler from the very start. Brandon’s name is
conveniently (and deliberately) shortened to Bran. Bran (pronounced
brahn) is Welsh for raven.
The
name Bran also has resonance in Welsh
and Irish literature. The second branch of the Mabinogi – a
collection of Welsh medieval legends and some of Britain’s earliest
prose stories – features the giant Bendigeidfran in a story almost
as bloody as Game of Thrones.
Bendigeidfran
(which means Bran the Blessed) is the king of Britain who sails to
Ireland to rescue his sister Branwen (again, note the name). There
follows a huge slaughter, with the Irish using a magic cauldron of
resurrection to create their own army of the dead. All but seven of
the soldiers from Britain die, and while the survivors do return from
Ireland, Branwen dies of heartbreak.
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