What is so heroic about a sword?

[Stewart]

The main heroes in fantasy almost always use a sword as their weapon and I have always found that proper without question. When I see a dwarf with an axe or hammer I say "Yeah thats right." When I see an elf with a bow and quiver full of arrows, I say "Oh yeah, that's right." And when I see the hero human or otherwise with the big ol' gleaming sword I can't help but agree as well. It just always seems right to have a hero use a sword, and juxtaposed against him/her the villain uses a sword. Can anyone tell why this seems right.

 

[Ouroboros]

My two cents

Swords retain some of the symbollic power and significance they had for the warrior castes of the past, even today (a sabre is still part of the dress uniform of many armed forces' officer corps).

'Excalibur', for example, epitomises the sword as embodiment of virtue, strength and majesty in the culture of the west.

With that said, my own opinion is that any kind of weapon is just a tool, and there's nothing inherently galmourous or sexy about a sword.

Not all cultures necessarily focussed on the sword in their folk stories and mythological cycles. Swords are luxury weapons, in some senses. Cuchulainn's weapon of choice was a magical spear ( the Gae Bolga? Can't remember) which could fell tens of enemies at a time, and would always return to his hand. In south east asia, Malaysia and so on, some Kris knives were believed to be charms for victory and possess magical powers. In scandinavia, Thor's hammer, and so on.

 

[Twelve]

Well, like the guy above me says, the sword is quite often the symbol of power or force in... certainly so in the Bible(right along with the horn).

Still, I do get bored with it sometimes!


12

 

[lemming]

The symbology of a sword is pretty obvious, but I'm not even sure I can say it on these (blessedly moderated) forums.

A hero is SUPPOSED to have a big, powerful, hard-as-titanium, uh... sword-like thing. Virility, vitality, power power power. Manliness. That's pretty much it for swords. And of course we're uncomfortable with males of other races having the same equipment... heh... I could think of all kinds of things to say about that, but think I'll stop before I get moderated right outta here.

 

[Ouroboros]

Originally posted by lemming
The symbology of a sword is pretty obvious, but I'm not even sure I can say it on these (blessedly moderated) forums.

A hero is SUPPOSED to have a big, powerful, hard-as-titanium, uh... sword-like thing. Virility, vitality, power power power. Manliness. That's pretty much it for swords. And of course we're uncomfortable with males of other races having the same equipment... heh... I could think of all kinds of things to say about that, but think I'll stop before I get moderated right outta here.

I've never found the idea that a sword or gun or whatever can be reduced to being a phallic symbol a convincing argument.

I mean, if subconsciously I wanted a weapon that would serve as a large phallic substitute, then I wouldn't pick up a sword ... I would pick up an 8ft spear or halbard, surely? Or a big, spiky mace?

Likewise, when someone told Massad Ayoob (well-known police firearms trainer) that his handgun was just a penis subsitute, he responded that if that was the case, he would be carrying a .44 magnum with a 6 inch barrel, not a dinky .38 special revolver.

 

[Bear]

Swords are overrated and they don't really brag enough--symbolically speaking. Were it me, I'd wield a twelve-foot bratwurst that shoots lasers.

 

[Ogier]

Well that would be something worth seeing!

 

[Dystran Hart]

I think the next superhero movie after the Hulk is called "laser shooting bratwurst man"

 

[saintjon]

there's definitely a trend about swords.

I find in more recent works swords are being edged out a bit by certain other weapons. Seem like there's a lot more daggers out there, for one thing.

 

[Shehzad]

Originally posted by saintjon
there's definitely a trend about swords.

I find in more recent works swords are being edged out a bit by certain other weapons. Seem like there's a lot more daggers out there, for one thing.

Heroes Die!

 

[Dominus]

Originally posted by saintjon
Seem like there's a lot more daggers out there, for one thing.

Maybe they just don't feel the need to compensate? Or are more in touch with their inner-selves? Maybe I should get a sword and a dagger and see which one pulls at me and then examine why I chose one over the other and come back with an answer.

I wish I had a sword, a dagger, a crossbow, a spear, a wicked looking double-bladed axe, and while I'm at it, a Coldfire sword that glowed and sucked souls and stuff......

 

[Vladimir]

or perhaps it's just a very good tool for killing people

it helps that it's pointy and made of hard stuff as well!

 

[Bear]

"I think the next superhero movie after the Hulk is called "laser shooting bratwurst man"

That, my friend, is a wonderful idea. You deserve a nobel prize. I'd give you one of mine, but I only have three. Hopefully, the committee will take notice. . .

And Shehzad, I'm just guessing here, but are you a Stover fan? You seem like you mildly enjoy some of his work.

As for daggers, give me a break. All that talk about "It's not the size, but how you use it that counts" is a load of crap and we all know it. Size is everything. And if you disagree, I'll shoot you with a laser.

 

[KatG]

Originally posted by Stewart
The main heroes in fantasy almost always use a sword as their weapon and I have always found that proper without question. When I see a dwarf with an axe or hammer I say "Yeah thats right." When I see an elf with a bow and quiver full of arrows, I say "Oh yeah, that's right." And when I see the hero human or otherwise with the big ol' gleaming sword I can't help but agree as well. It just always seems right to have a hero use a sword, and juxtaposed against him/her the villain uses a sword. Can anyone tell why this seems right.

I don't know personally why you have a sword fetish, but they're used in fantasy because most fantasy works take place in a pre-industrial realm where there aren't guns or aren't many of them, making a blade the major weapon on the scene. And because the original, initial model for fantasy epics is the French/British medieval chivalry tales, which were about knights whose main weapons were swords and lances. Few writers feel like tackling lance battles, so swords are the obvious way to go. In these medieval epics, the understanding was also that elves avoided iron (swords,) and were better known as archers, living and hunting in the forrests, and dwarves, who lived underground, were portrayed as blacksmiths who used hammers or maybe an axe. All those old legends, myths, and fairy tales are what most of us English-speaking folk grew up with, and have often been used as the basis for storytelling inspiration.

As for you personnaly, barring the sexual inuendo bantered here, if you feel a sword is just so right, I'd guess you got an early dose of the Three Muskateers or pirate movies.

One of the best scenes in movie history occurred because Harrison Ford was ill and did not want to do a four page sword-fight scene. "Can't I just shoot him?" he asked about his scimitar-wielding opponent and so he did in "Raiders of the Lost Ark." And that pretty much sums it up -- a gun fight doesn't last very long, unless you are using modern automatic weapons perhaps, whereas a sword fight takes longer and maybe has a bit more risk to it, certainly opportunities for dramatic flair. But don't forget Robin Hood -- his weapon of choice was the long bow, the peasant's weapon.

 

[kegasaurus]

Actually, before rifling came into play, a gun battle could take a monumentous amount of time.

 

[Aoibheil]

I think that perhaps another reason why authors like swords is that they are a weapon of skill. To become a truly proficient sword-wielder takes years of dedication, unless you happen to have a magical sword that lends you talent (i.e., Goodkind's Sword of Truth). Thus, when a hero faces a foe, assuming that enemy is similarily armed, it is seen as somehow more righteous than say a gun battle would be, and when the hero wins it's seen more as a triumph of good over evil, rather than a lucky shot.

 

[Ouroboros]

For those interested in probably the most realistic sword fight ever filmed, try the end of Kurosawa's Sanjuro. No ridiculous protracted duel as found in most books and movies- it's over in the blink of an eye.

 

[Bear]

And while you're on that tip, Ouroboros, watch everything Kurosawa has done. The man can certainly direct a film.

(zap!)