SensibleRin
Dreamer
What is your opinion of the use of songs as an aid in fantasy stories? Do they have a place in a fantasy story?
Obviously we have all come across clumsy rhymes, tiresome lyrics, that seem to have no place in the story.
But when done well, can they add something?
I like to use songs as a kind of mnemonic device that the reader can use to help remember basic details of the world later on.
For example, I have a rather complicated calendar. See this thread: http://mythicscribes.com/forums/world-building/10200-calendars-your-world-3.html Like our "30 days hath November", they have their own songs. My MC starts the novel as a child, so we are exposed to some of the songs used to teach.
Here is a little excerpt from my song about the week:
"Moonsday, month’s first day,
New moon Moonsday
Half-moon Moonsday
Full-Moon Moonsday,
Second day, Sunday
Rising from the west way
Third day, Starsday
Shine down from afarsday
Fourth day Earthday
The land that gave us birth-day
Fifth and last day
Godsday, holy day
Dawning gray,
Candlelit pathways."
Childish, yes, but memorable, and establishing some background details.
What are your thoughts on songs inside novels?
Obviously we have all come across clumsy rhymes, tiresome lyrics, that seem to have no place in the story.
But when done well, can they add something?
I like to use songs as a kind of mnemonic device that the reader can use to help remember basic details of the world later on.
For example, I have a rather complicated calendar. See this thread: http://mythicscribes.com/forums/world-building/10200-calendars-your-world-3.html Like our "30 days hath November", they have their own songs. My MC starts the novel as a child, so we are exposed to some of the songs used to teach.
Here is a little excerpt from my song about the week:
"Moonsday, month’s first day,
New moon Moonsday
Half-moon Moonsday
Full-Moon Moonsday,
Second day, Sunday
Rising from the west way
Third day, Starsday
Shine down from afarsday
Fourth day Earthday
The land that gave us birth-day
Fifth and last day
Godsday, holy day
Dawning gray,
Candlelit pathways."
Childish, yes, but memorable, and establishing some background details.
What are your thoughts on songs inside novels?
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