Characters in Earthsea
Encyclopedia
This is a list of the names of characters in the stories about the fantasy world
of Earthsea
, written by Ursula K. Le Guin
.
one character often has several names. This is because in Earthsea, the true name
of a person has power, and a wizard can wield total power over someone whose name he knows. Consequently, any person guards his true name closely, and only shares it with those whom he or she can totally trust. Through childhood up to puberty, children are known by a child-name; at their rite of Passage, about the age of thirteen, children are given a true name in the Old Speech, usually by a wizard, that they will keep for the rest of their lives. In the Kargad lands this is not done, and a name given to a child functions as that person's name for life; it may, or may not, be the person's true name.
In dealings with most people, the Hardic peoples of Earthsea use a "use-name", usually a common word in the Hardic language (rendered into English) by which they are identified. Use-names are often words referring to animals (Dragonfly, Goha, Hare, Hawk, Hound, Lark, Murre, Otak, Otter, Sparrowhawk, Tern), plants (Alder, Apple, Aspen, Beech, Hemlock, Heather, Ivy, Lily, Moss, Rose, Vetch, Yarrow), stones and other substances (Diamond, Flint, Golden, Ivory, Jasper, Onyx); but some are simply sequences of sound without obvious meaning.
A person may keep one use-name all his or her life, or may change it at whim, or may be known to one group of people by one name, and to others by another name. While each true name only refers to one person, use-names may be shared by several people; there are, for instance, three different characters called Rose.
In the list below, true names are used where known; otherwise use-names and nicknames. A secondary list below gives the use-names and child-names of those whose true names are known.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
Y
Fantasy world
A fantasy world is a fictional universe used in fantasy novels and games. Typical worlds involve magic or magical abilities and often, but not always, either a medieval or futuristic theme...
of Earthsea
Earthsea
Earthsea is a fictional realm originally created by Ursula K. Le Guin for her short story "The Word of Unbinding", published in 1964. Earthsea became the setting for a further six books, beginning with A Wizard of Earthsea, first published in 1968, and continuing with The Tombs of Atuan, The...
, written by Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula Kroeber Le Guin is an American author. She has written novels, poetry, children's books, essays, and short stories, notably in fantasy and science fiction...
.
On names and naming
In EarthseaEarthsea
Earthsea is a fictional realm originally created by Ursula K. Le Guin for her short story "The Word of Unbinding", published in 1964. Earthsea became the setting for a further six books, beginning with A Wizard of Earthsea, first published in 1968, and continuing with The Tombs of Atuan, The...
one character often has several names. This is because in Earthsea, the true name
True name
A true name is a name of a thing or being that expresses, or is somehow identical with, its true nature. The notion that language, or some specific sacred language, refers to things by their true names has been central to philosophical and grammatical study as well as various traditions of magic,...
of a person has power, and a wizard can wield total power over someone whose name he knows. Consequently, any person guards his true name closely, and only shares it with those whom he or she can totally trust. Through childhood up to puberty, children are known by a child-name; at their rite of Passage, about the age of thirteen, children are given a true name in the Old Speech, usually by a wizard, that they will keep for the rest of their lives. In the Kargad lands this is not done, and a name given to a child functions as that person's name for life; it may, or may not, be the person's true name.
In dealings with most people, the Hardic peoples of Earthsea use a "use-name", usually a common word in the Hardic language (rendered into English) by which they are identified. Use-names are often words referring to animals (Dragonfly, Goha, Hare, Hawk, Hound, Lark, Murre, Otak, Otter, Sparrowhawk, Tern), plants (Alder, Apple, Aspen, Beech, Hemlock, Heather, Ivy, Lily, Moss, Rose, Vetch, Yarrow), stones and other substances (Diamond, Flint, Golden, Ivory, Jasper, Onyx); but some are simply sequences of sound without obvious meaning.
A person may keep one use-name all his or her life, or may change it at whim, or may be known to one group of people by one name, and to others by another name. While each true name only refers to one person, use-names may be shared by several people; there are, for instance, three different characters called Rose.
In the list below, true names are used where known; otherwise use-names and nicknames. A secondary list below gives the use-names and child-names of those whose true names are known.
Names of characters in Earthsea
True names are shown in bold type. Use names are in italics. Child names, names of unknown status and nicknames are unmarked. Titles in brackets are the novels or stories in which the character appears.A
- AihalAihalAihal is the true name of a fictional character in Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea fantasy series. In most of the Earthsea books he goes by the Hardic name Ogion or Ogion the Silent.-Biography:...
– A wizard on Gont, student of Heleth and master of Ged; called Ogion. ("The Bones of the Earth") - Akaren – A dyer of Lorbanery, who lost her magical powers.
- Anieb – A woman of the Hand, called Flag. ("The Finder")
- Ard – The Mage of Perregal, master of Heleth. Created Ard's lore-books. A female mage.
- Ath – The mage who wrote the first Book of Names.
- Ayeth – A sorcerer on Semel. Called Sunbright. ("On the High Marsh")
- Azver – The Master Patterner of Roke, from Karego-At. Means "banner of war" in Kargish. ("Dragonfly")
B
- Beech – Sorcerer of Valmouth. (Tehanu)
- Benderesk – Lord of the Terrenon in Osskil, husband of Serret. (A Wizard of EarthseaA Wizard of EarthseaA Wizard of Earthsea, first published in 1968, is the first of a series of books written by Ursula K. Le Guin and set in the fantasy world archipelago of Earthsea depicting the adventures of a budding young wizard named Ged...
) - Blackbeard – A mage, descendant of the Sealords of Pendor, who challenges Yevaud. ("The Rule of Names")
- Brand – Master Summoner of Roke after Thorion. (The Other WindThe Other WindThe Other Wind is the sixth and last of a series of books written by Ursula K. Le Guin and set in her fantasy archipelago of Earthsea...
)
C
- Cob – A sorcerer whom Ged meets and defeats. (The Farthest ShoreThe Farthest ShoreThe Farthest Shore is the third of a series of books written by Ursula K. Le Guin and set in her fantasy archipelago of Earthsea, first published in 1972. It follows on from The Tombs of Atuan, which itself was a sequel to A Wizard of Earthsea. It is the Earthsea series novel which inspired the...
)
D
- Deyala – The Master Herbal of Roke. ("Dragonfly")
- Duby – A eunuch at the Place of the Tombs. (The Tombs of AtuanThe Tombs of AtuanThe Tombs of Atuan is the second of a series of books written by Ursula K. Le Guin and set in her fantasy archipelago of Earthsea, first published in 1971. Its events take place a few years after those in A Wizard of Earthsea and around two decades before those in The Farthest Shore...
) - Dune – Old wizard on Roke, friend of Elehal and Yahan.
E
- Elehal – A mage on Roke, called Ember, partner of Medra, sister of Yahan. ("The Finder")
- Elfarran – Wife of Morred.
- Elt – A wizard wise in names.
- Emer – A woman of Semel. Called Gift. ("On the High Marsh")
- Enemy of Morred - An unnamed mage of great power who fought Morred.
- Ennas – Great Mage of Perregal, from whom Ard's lore-books came.
- Erisen – A twisted mage and follower of Cob. Called Aspen. (TehanuTehanuTehanu is the fourth of Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea books. It won the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1990, and the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1991.-Plot summary:...
) - Erreth-AkbeErreth-AkbeErreth-Akbe is a fictional character in Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea realm. He is introduced in A Wizard of Earthsea and is part of the historical back-story of the Earthsea novels.-Character Overview:...
– Hero-mage of Havnor, companion of King Maharion. - Essiri – A gifted man of Havnor, who abandons wizardry for musicianship. The word means "willow" in the Old Speech. Called Diamond. ("Darkrose and Diamond")
- Estarriol – A mage of Iffish, friend of Ged. Called Vetch. (A Wizard of Earthsea)
- Etaudis – A witch on Way. Called Rose. ("Dragonfly")
F
- Firelord – A mage of great power who attacked the inner Isles as he sought to stop the sun at noon. Defeated by Erreth-Akbe. Thought to have perhaps been a dragon.
- Flint – Husband of Tenar. (Tehanu)
G
- Gamble – Student on Roke. Later becomes the Master Windkey. (The Farthest Shore, The Other Wind)
- GedGed (Earthsea)Ged , is the true name of a fictional character in Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea realm. He is introduced in A Wizard of Earthsea, and plays both main and supporting roles in the subsequent Earthsea novels...
– Archmage of Roke. Called Sparrowhawk. - Gensher of Way – Archmage of Roke after Nemmerle. (A Wizard of Earthsea)
- Golden – Merchant of Glade, Havnor, husband of Tuly, father of Essiri. ("Darkrose and Diamond")
- Gray Mage – Mage from Paln who made great spells (the Lore of Paln) to summon the spirits of the dead to counsel the Lords of Paln a thousand years before the time of the novels.
H
- Hara – A sorcerer from Taon, called Alder. (The Other Wind)
- Hare – A former wizard in Wathort, follower of Cob. (The Farthest Shore)
- Hayohe – Daughter of Flint and Tenar. Called Apple. (Tehanu)
- Hemlock – Wizard of South Port, Havnor. ("Darkrose and Diamond")
- Hatha – Witch of Re Albi. Called Moss. (Tehanu)
- Heather – Goatherd at Re Albi. (Tehanu)
- Heleth Farseer – Master of Aihal. Called Dulse. ("The Bones of the Earth")
- Highdrake – A mage of Pendor who taught Medra. ("The Finder")
- Hound – A mage gifted in finding and tracking, servant to Tinaral and Teriel. ("The Finder")
I
- Ioeth – child-name of a son of Pechvarry. (A Wizard of Earthsea)
- Irian – see Orm Irian
- Irioth – A powerful summoner who loses his mind. Called Otak. ("On the High Marsh")
- Ivory – A sorcerer from Havnor who pretends to be a wizard on Way. ("Dragonfly")
- Ivy – A witch of Middle Valley. (Tehanu)
J
- Jasper – A sorcerer of O. Son of Enwit, born in the domain of Eolg, Havnor. Childhood rival of Ged. (A Wizard of Earthsea)
K
- Kalessin – The eldest dragon. He flies Ged and Arren home after they defeat Cob. Once called Segoy, suggesting a similarity or identity to the creator-deity of the songs and legends of Earthsea. (Tehanu)
- Kest – A woman of Iffish, called Yarrow. Sister of Vetch (Estarriol) and Murre. The word means "minnow" in the Old Speech. (A Wizard of Earthsea)
- Kossil – A corrupt Priestess of the Godking at the Place of the Tombs. (The Tombs of Atuan)
- Kurremkarmerruk – Name used by the Master Namers of Roke.
L
- Lark – A woman of Middle Valley, friend of Tenar. (Tehanu)
- Lebannen – King of Earthsea. The name means "rowan tree" in the Old Speech. Called Arren.
- Lord of Re Albi – A pirate-lord of Gont, father of Serret.
- Losen – 'King' or warlord of Havnor in the Dark Years.
M
- Maharion – The last king of Earthsea before Lebannen
- Manan – Eunuch at the Place of the Tombs of Atuan. (The Tombs of Atuan)
- Mebbeth – Priestess at the Place of the Tombs. (The Tombs of Atuan)
- Medra – The first Master Doorkeeper of Roke. Called Otter and Tern. ("The Finder")
- Mevre – A witch on Taon, married to Hara, called Lily. (The Other Wind)
- Morred – Mage-King of Enlad, ancestor of some of the kings of Earthsea. Also known as "The Young King".
- Murre – Brother of Estarriol and Kest. (A Wizard of Earthsea)
N
- Nemmerle – Archmage of Roke when Ged is young. Formerly the Master Patterner. (A Wizard of Earthsea)
- Nereger – Mage of Paln.
O
- Onyx – A wizard of Roke (The Other Wind)
- Orm – A dragon of the West Reach. Slayer of Erreth-Akbe.
- Orm Embar – A powerful dragon of the West Reach descended from Orm. Killed by Cob. (The Farthest Shore)
- Orm Irian – A dragon-woman. Called Dragonfly. ("Dragonfly")
P
- Pechvarry – A boatmaker of the Ninety Isles. He befriends Ged when Ged first arrives. Ged fails to save his sick son Ioeth. (A Wizard of Earthsea)
- Penthe – A girl at the Place of the Tombs. (The Tombs of Atuan)
R
- Red Mage of Ark
- Rose – A woman on Havnor, beloved of Essiri, daughter of Tangle. Also called Darkrose. ("Darkrose and Diamond")
- Rose – Mother of Lebannen. (The Farthest Shore)
S
- Seppel – A wizard of Paln (The Other Wind)
- Serrathen – Captain of the King's Ship, the Dolphin. (Tehanu)
- Serret – Daughter of the Lord of Re Albi, wife of Benderesk. The name means "silver" in Osskilian. (A Wizard of Earthsea)
- Serriadh – Son of Morred and Elfarran.
- Seserakh – Queen of Earthsea, daughter of Thol. (The Other Wind)
- Skiorh – An Osskilian who becomes possessed by the shadow that is unwittingly released into Earthsea by Ged. (A Wizard of Earthsea)
- Spark - Sailor son of Flint and Tenar. (Tehanu)
- Sopli – A Dyer of Lorbanery who goes mad. He accompanies Ged and Arren on their quest, but drowns himself soon after. Son of Akaren. (The Farthest Shore)
T
- Tangle – Witch on Havnor, mother of Rose. ("Darkrose and Diamond")
- Tehanu – A burned child, a woman-dragon. Called Therru. (Tehanu, The Other Wind)
- Tenar – Priestess of the Tombs of Atuan, White Lady of Gont. Called Arha and Goha. (The Tombs of Atuan, Tehanu, The Other Wind)
- Teriel – A mage of Havnor in the dark years. Called Early. ("The Finder")
- Thar – A priestess of the Twin Gods at the Place of the Tombs. (The Tombs of Atuan)
- Thol – King of the Kargad lands (The Other Wind)
- Thorion – Master Summoner on Roke.
- Tinaral – A mad wizard of Havnor. Called Gelluk. ("The Finder")
- Tuly – Woman on Havnor, wife of Golden. ("Darkrose and Diamond")
U
- Uahto – Eunuch at the place of the Tombs. (The Tombs of Atuan)
Y
- Yahan – a mage on Roke, sister of Elehal. Called Veil. ("The Finder")
- Yevaud – the Dragon of Pendor. ("The Rule of Names", A Wizard of Earthsea)
Use-names and Child-names
- Alder – Hara
- Apple – Hayohe
- Arha – Tenar, when she was priestess of the Tombs of Atuan. Arha means "eaten" in Kargish.
- Arren – Lebannen, before he became king. Arren means "sword" in the Hardic dialect of Enlad.
- Aspen – Erisen
- Diamond – Essiri. For short, "Di".
- Dragonfly – Irian.
- Dulse – Heleth
- Duny – child-name of Ged
- Early – Teriel
- Ember – Elehal
- Flag – Anieb
- Gelluk – Tinaral; an Osskilian name.
- Gift – Emer
- Goha – Tenar, after she had settled on Gont. Goha is a word for a white web-spinning spider in Hardic.
- Gully – Irioth. Transient use-name.
- Hawk – Ged, when he sailed the South Reach in disguise.
- Kelub – Ged, when he rowed on an Osskilian galley. Kelub means "red" in Osskilian.
- Lily – Mevre
- Moss – Hatha
- Ogion – Aihal. Ogion means "fir-cone" in Hardic.
- Otak – Irioth
- Otter – Medra, during his youth in Havnor.
- Rose – Etaudis.
- Silence – Aihal, when he was serving Heleth.
- Sparrowhawk – Ged
- Sunbright – Ayeth
- Tern – Medra, when he dwelt in Roke.
- Therru – Tehanu. Therru means "burning" or "flaming" in Kargish.
- Underhill – Yevaud, when he dwelt on Sattins island.
- Veil – Yahan
- Vetch – Estarriol
- Yarrow – Kest