I have read this first book and have greatly enjoyed it. Let's start our discussion with the verses from the book.
Drummer, beat, and piper,blow,
Harper,strike, and soldier, go.
Free the flame and sear the grasses
Till the dawning Red Star passes.
What do you think this means? What is it foretelling?
From the Weyr and from the Bowl
Bronze and brown and blue and green
Rise the dragonmen of Pern
Aloft, on wing, seen, then unseen.
what does "seen and then unseen mean"?
I especially like this one below. It holds a wealth of wisdom.
Honor those the dragons heed,
In thought and favor, word and deed.
Worlds are lost or worlds are saved,
From the dangers dragon-braved.
Dragonman, avoid excess;
Greed will bring the Weyr distress;
To the ancient Laws adjere,
Prospers thus the Dragonweyr
Tell me what YOU think this means. Who is it warning? What does it warn of?
I read the book as well, and I loved it.
ReplyDeleteSeth Kos
What did you like about the book? Be specific and expand :)
ReplyDeleteI think the first poem is warning to keep the traditions alive because the Threads that come with the Red Star will come.
ReplyDeleteI think the "seen, then unseen" bit refers to the dragons going between.
I agree, the "seen, then unseen" must refer to the dragons ability to go "between" from place to place.
ReplyDeleteLet's focus on the last two verses. "honor those..." .. who is the author talking to in this verse? Who are "those" ?
ReplyDeleteI think that "those" refers to the dragonmen and the Weyrwomen.
ReplyDeleteAnd who is the first verse talking to?
ReplyDeleteWho is the second verse talking to?
What is the second verse warning ?
I think that the first verse is talking to the holdspeople, (or the people that live in the various Holds). I think that the second verse is talking to the dragonmen and Weyrwomen. I believe that the verse is warning that their Long Interval of four hundred turns (turns-years) will end, and life will become harsh. The verse is telling the dragonmen to adhere to the traditions, because they are what will make life easier.
ReplyDelete