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The Tombs of Atuan (Earthsea Cycle, #2)

Questions About The Tombs of Atuan (Earthsea Cycle, #2)

by Ursula K. Le Guin

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Answered Questions (3)

I know this may sound interestingly weird but I still have to ask it. Is this a love story between Tenar\ Arha and Ged ?
layla I think a lot of the answers here don't give satisfying answers to your question. I've just finished the "The Tombs of Atuan", but I know how Ged's an…moreI think a lot of the answers here don't give satisfying answers to your question. I've just finished the "The Tombs of Atuan", but I know how Ged's and Tenar's story continues from spoiling myself on Wikipedia lol.

Short answer: yes, this is a love story between Tenar/Arha and Ged, but not in the traditional sense.

Long answer: first and foremost, "The Tombs of Atuan" is a Bildungsroman - so it has many themes associated with coming-of-age. The main themes are identity, redemption, trust, and defying a false destiny. One of the minor themes is love. Tenar experiences many different conflicting, confusing and distressing emotions and revelations when Ged comes into her lives, and the combined feelings of resentment and love are some of them.

The love story is definitely there - it's just that Tenar, having very little exposure to a world that isn't consumed by religious fanaticism, doesn't understand what she's feeling (very easy to infer from the later chapters). Also, she's 15.

We don't get to see things from Ged's perspective, but it's pretty obvious that he cares for her deeply, but at that moment the reader is unsure if he returns her feelings.

The book might not be an orthodox love story, but it's definitely the beginning of one.
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Would you say it's necessary to read the first book in order to understand the second one?
Aliquid A No, not at all. As long as you read both, it doesn't really matter which order you read them in.…moreNo, not at all. As long as you read both, it doesn't really matter which order you read them in.(less)
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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Sarah The white figure is Manan. I think it's left ambiguous whether the dark figure is someone dressed up or a manifestation of the Nameless Ones. I don't …moreThe white figure is Manan. I think it's left ambiguous whether the dark figure is someone dressed up or a manifestation of the Nameless Ones. I don't know whether Le Guin ever clarified this elsewhere.(less)
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Unanswered Questions (2)

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