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The Master Hand
One of the nine Masters of Roke, the Master Namer resides in the Isolate Tower, far away from the School, where he instructs students in the grave and mostly silent art of understanding the true names of everything in the universe. When Ged is first sent to study with the Master Namer, he feels the work is boring drudgery—on his second trip to the Isolate Tower, however, Ged feels a deep reverence for the careful, specific work the Master Namer does.
The Master Namer Quotes in A Wizard of Earthsea
The A Wizard of Earthsea quotes below are all either spoken by The Master Namer or refer to The Master Namer. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 3 Quotes
If the student complained the Master might say nothing, but lengthen the list; or he might say, "He who would be Seamaster must know the true name of every drop of water in the sea."
Related Characters:
The Master Namer (speaker)
Related Symbols:
True Names
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
54
Explanation and Analysis:
When Ged travels to the Isolate Tower north of the town of Thwil to study with the Master Namer, he and his fellow prentices find themselves bored by the laborious work of learning lengthy lists of objects’ true names. The Master Namer insists that because spells fundamentally change the world, a person must know what they are changing. To know, see, and understand a thing’s essence is of fundamental importance to sorcery—and even if it’s boring to learn these names, to memorize them, and to consider them each time one casts a spell, it is paramount in maintaining the careful balance of the universe.
The Master Namer’s words echo sentiments expressed to Ged already by the Master Hand and by Ogion, underscoring the fundamental importance of knowledge and patience over power and the pursuit of pride. This challenge also relates to Ged’s journey toward self-understanding and a holistic integration of all of the good, bad, light, and dark parts of himself. Just as Ged scoffs at the idea that he must learn the true names of everything in the world, he does not devote the time or energy to understanding his competing feelings and instincts. His impatient, headstrong nature will cost him gravely in the years to come—but the disastrous events soon to transpire will ultimately inspire him to take his former masters’ words to heart at last.
Get the entire A Wizard of Earthsea LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Master Namer Quotes in A Wizard of Earthsea
The A Wizard of Earthsea quotes below are all either spoken by The Master Namer or refer to The Master Namer. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 3 Quotes
If the student complained the Master might say nothing, but lengthen the list; or he might say, "He who would be Seamaster must know the true name of every drop of water in the sea."
Related Characters:
The Master Namer (speaker)
Related Symbols:
True Names
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
54
Explanation and Analysis:
When Ged travels to the Isolate Tower north of the town of Thwil to study with the Master Namer, he and his fellow prentices find themselves bored by the laborious work of learning lengthy lists of objects’ true names. The Master Namer insists that because spells fundamentally change the world, a person must know what they are changing. To know, see, and understand a thing’s essence is of fundamental importance to sorcery—and even if it’s boring to learn these names, to memorize them, and to consider them each time one casts a spell, it is paramount in maintaining the careful balance of the universe.
The Master Namer’s words echo sentiments expressed to Ged already by the Master Hand and by Ogion, underscoring the fundamental importance of knowledge and patience over power and the pursuit of pride. This challenge also relates to Ged’s journey toward self-understanding and a holistic integration of all of the good, bad, light, and dark parts of himself. Just as Ged scoffs at the idea that he must learn the true names of everything in the world, he does not devote the time or energy to understanding his competing feelings and instincts. His impatient, headstrong nature will cost him gravely in the years to come—but the disastrous events soon to transpire will ultimately inspire him to take his former masters’ words to heart at last.
