Background Game of Thrones

1 background

1.1 setting
1.2 themes
1.3 inspirations , derivations

background



power , violence central themes of game of thrones, , number of weapons made series (some of shown here) reflects this.


setting

game of thrones based on storylines of song of ice , fire, set in fictional 7 kingdoms of westeros , continent of essos. series chronicles violent dynastic struggles among realm s noble families iron throne, while other families fight independence it. opens additional threats in icy north , essos in east.

showrunner david benioff jokingly suggested sopranos in middle-earth game of thrones tagline, referring intrigue-filled plot , dark tone in fantasy setting of magic , dragons. in 2012 study of deaths per episode, ranked second out of 40 recent u.s. tv drama series (with average of 14).

themes

the series praised perceived sort of medieval realism. george r.r. martin set out make story feel more historical fiction contemporary fantasy, less emphasis on magic , sorcery , more on battles, political intrigue, , characters, believing magic should used moderately in epic fantasy genre. martin has stated true horrors of human history derive not orcs , dark lords, ourselves.

a common theme in fantasy genre battle between , evil, martin says not mirror real world. people s capacity , evil in real life, martin explores questions of redemption , character change. show allows audience view different characters perspective, unlike in many other fantasies, , supposed villains can provide side of story. benioff said, george brought measure of harsh realism high fantasy. introduced gray tones black-and-white universe.

in seasons, under influence of song of ice , fire books, main characters regularly killed off, , credited developing tension among viewers. later seasons, however, critics pointed out characters had developed plot armor , attributing show s deviating books , becoming more of traditional television series. series reflects substantial death rates in war.

inspirations , derivations

although first season closely follows events of first novel, later seasons have made significant changes. according david benioff, show adapting series whole , following map george laid out , hitting major milestones, not each of stops along way .

tom holland of guardian believes novels , adaptations base aspects of settings, characters, , plot on events in european history. of westeros reminiscent of high medieval europe, lands , cultures, palace intrigue, feudal system, castles, , knightly tournaments. principal inspiration novels english wars of roses (1455–85) between houses of lancaster , york, reflected in martin s houses of lannister , stark. scheming cersei lannister evokes isabella, she-wolf of france (1295–1358); isabella , family (particularly portrayed in maurice druon s historical-novel series, accursed kings) main inspiration martin.

holland further proposes other historical antecedents of series elements include hadrian s wall (which becomes martin s wall), legend of atlantis (ancient valyria), byzantine greek fire ( wildfire ), icelandic sagas of viking age (the ironborn), mongol hordes (the dothraki), hundred years war (1337–1453) , italian renaissance (c. 1400–1500). series popularity has been attributed, in part, martin s skill @ fusing these elements seamless, credible version of alternate history. martin acknowledges, take [history] , file off serial numbers , turn 11.