This week: The Barbarian Edited by: NaNoNette  
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"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split." - Robert E. Howard
"Anyone can admire creation. Only a barbarian sees the beauty in demolition." - Kamahl
"Civilization is the lamb's skin in which barbarism masquerades." - Thomas Bailey Aldrich |
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The Barbarian
The original, ancient Greek, meaning of barbarian meant "foreign" or "non-Greek." Similar to the current day use of the word "alien" that is used to describe people from other countries or other worlds. The word itself was what the ancient Greeks heard when they interacted with foreigners. The foreigners' languages sounded like burbarburbar to the Greeks, hence: barbarians.
The modern understanding of the word barbarian describes an uncivilized and cruel savage. This makes the barbarian character fit neatly into the typical medieval environments of contemporary fantasy. Free from the constraints of civilization, the barbarian appeals to readers because he represents a simple life. Living in nature, with nature, but not in an animal state.
Conan the Barbarian is likely the most famous of that type. Created in 1931 by Robert E. Howard, Conan started out in pulp magazines and has appeared in many stories by other authors since. Conan broke into the modern mainstream through several movies and TV shows from the 1980s through today. Conan the Barbarian is a good example of this archetype as he is modeled on a Celt or Indo-European, which were the kind of people the ancient Greeks didn't understand.
In fantasy stories, the barbarian can serve many purposes:
 The noble savage.
A person who lives wild in nature.
Giving a contrast to the decadent and corrupted civilized people.
Depicting heroism that reflects loyalty to a tribe and a deep-seated sense of justice.
The barbarian is an appealing character as he fits neatly into the simple, medieval life of fantasy stories. He provides easy escapism because he has a strong moral code and always chooses to do right in the end. The barbarian simplifies the notions of good and evil. He will either come to raid a town. Or he will crush an army of invaders. Or he will remind those in political power that they are just one barbarian's bad day away from losing everything.
Negatives of the barbarian archetype is that he can be misused to represent the "Other" in the worst way. Because of the barbarian's quick temper and selfish ways, he is easy to misunderstand. The language barrier further serves to keep the barbarian in the bad guy role.
Who is your favorite barbarian? Have you created one? |
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#1980078 by Not Available. |
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Maira, a barbarian giantess, finds a small child in the middle of a horrific battlefield.
#1950109 by Alex Arki  |
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Replies to my last Fantasy newsletter "The Mythic Warrior" that asked Do you prefer the classic white, male mythic warrior or do you like to see the archetype modernized?
Sir Various wrote: Thank you for including one of my older stories in your article. I’m happy they still get noticed. Solid article, keep up the good work.
Sir Various
Thank you for reading my newsletter and sending in such a nice comment.
BIG BAD WOLF Feeling Thankful  wrote: In one series I've been writing, I have what is, basically, a tribal chieftain that was made a slave. He seeks freedom for the slaves owned by his Master. Thing is, getting freedom isn't as simple leading a rebellion. This is because, on the day out Chieftain was caught, he and his (eventual) Master were in a situation where, due to reasons - pragmatism or honor, or just plain preservation, they had to fight a common foe, and ended up saving each other's lives - the Chieftain saving the Master in order to protect their own family, and the Master doing so out of a debt of honor, and, in a way, to save his own family.
Does the Chieftain get his freedom after that? |
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Fantasy: June 21, 2023 Issue [#12022]
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