The bear and the maiden fair - an analysis of all bear related themes in aSoIaF
1. Introduction
About bear beliefs, taboos, rituals, legends and Tolkien's bear
GRRM mentions or alludes to bears several times, refers to certain people as bears (temporarily or permanently), has an actual bear in a pit fighting a maiden, and a song called “the bear and the maiden fair”. Often the bear elements in the story tie in with sexual tension or even danger for a woman. In order to comprehend the symbolic value, patterns and motifs behind these, a significant amount of backgr
Well I'll just repost the swan-lake quotes and other swan references that I gathered in the Valkyrie thread:
WATER DANCING
So, this says that Water Dancing is the bravo's dance. It's a fighting style. But if there's a Swan Lake link it means it is certainly to take place in or involving Braavos. Note that Syrio declares Arya II, in KL, is where her Swan Lake ballet story BEGINS.
Illyrio we learn later was once a bravo fighter, and thus a water dancer. Arya notes that though he