Key themes
- The shadow self and the cost of denying it
- Learning and the limits of power
- Names and the nature of things
About this book
A gifted boy at a school of wizardry must face the darkness he unleashed; spare, wise coming-of-age fantasy.
Published in 1968, A Wizard of Earthsea was originally commissioned as a fantasy novel for young adults. It became the foundation of one of the most sustained and philosophically serious fantasy series in the language.
Discussion questions
- The novel's central conflict is Ged's pursuit — and eventual acceptance — of the shadow he created. What is Le Guin saying about the relationship between our capabilities and our darkness?
- In Earthsea, knowing something's true name gives power over it. What does this system of magic suggest about language, knowledge and control?
- Ged's pride is both his gift and his flaw. How does Le Guin chart the difference between confidence and hubris — and what does the novel teach through his mistakes?
- The novel is short and economical. How does this brevity serve Le Guin's purposes — and what does it achieve that a longer, more elaborate fantasy might not?
- Earthsea is a world where the majority of characters are people of colour — an unusual choice in 1968. Why did Le Guin make this choice, and what does it do for the novel?
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