Assignment 1: Definitions and Notes

Actors: The actors are the people or characters that play a role, whether that role is important or
insignificant, in the happenings of a place, time period, or TV show. Actors in a TV show often
make more of an impact on the world as they become more important. In the Game of Thrones
series, there are many important actors that have importance at different time periods.
Eddard Stark: Eddard Stark is the patriarch of the Stark family and the ruler of
Winterfell. During the first series of GoT, he also becomes the Hand to the King, an
important governing role in the Seven Kingdoms. Eddard, also known as Ned, is the
embodiment of the just leader, putting justice and truth above all else in leadership and as
a man. Ultimately, this leads to his demise because he searched for the truth even when it
was ill advised.
Catelyn Stark: Catelyn Stark, Ned Starks wife, is the mother of the Stark children and
the Lady of Winterfell. Catelyn was originally a Tully before she married Ned. She plays
the role of mother and protector of her children and always has their interests and safety
in mind. That being said, she has an immense distrust and hatred for Jon Snow.
Robb Stark: Robb Stark is the son of Ned and Catelyn Stark, and is the eldest of the five
children. Heir to Winterfell, Robb Stark has been groomed as a man and a warrior by his
father so that he will be fit to take the throne one day.
Jon Snow: Jon Snow is the baseborn son of Ned Stark. His mother is unknown and he is
very close with the Stark children except for Sansa. Ned took him as his own and raised
him until Ned left to become the Hand. Jon then was forced to take the Black of the
Nights Watch with his uncle Benjen Stark. Jon Snow is a honorable man and a good
friend, while also being a strong leader.
Sansa Stark: The eldest female child of the Starks, Sansa is the typical princess type.
Well-mannered and soft spoken, she is a people pleaser and subscribes to the ideals of
being a true lady. This causes her to bump heads often with her sister, Arya.
Arya Stark: The youngest daughter of the Starks, Ayra is the wild child. She wants to
fight with swords and go on hunts instead of learn needle working and other lady-like
skills of her time. She has a very close relationship with Jon Snow, and she is always
getting herself into trouble.
Brandon Stark: Bran Stark is the second youngest child of the Stark household. He is
curious and loves to explore, which causes him much displeasure after he falls and
becomes paralyzed from the waist down. Once lively, Bran begins to struggle and feel
trapped in the body that he used to be able to climb to the top of the world in.
Rickon Stark: The youngest Stark, Rickon is but a toddler in the early stages of the bok.
Pampered and ill-mannered, Rickon often exhibits himself as the archetypal baby of the
family.
Artifacts: Items in the world that have some sort of importance to a character or group of
characters. These can be physical or emotional and have a lot of sway in the daily lives of the
characters.
The Dire Wolves: The dire wolves are the pets of the Stark children. Found after the
execution of a deserter, there are six dire wolves. Grey Wind is Robbs, Ghost is Jons,
Lady is Sansas, Nymeria is Aryas, Summer is Brans, and Shaggydog is Rickons. The
Dire wolves play an important role to each of the Starks, and they exhibit similar
characteristics to each of the Starks children.
Ice: The familial great sword of the Stark household, Ice is Ned Starks weapon. Made of
Valyrian steel, it is one of the sharpest blades in the Seven Kingdoms. It shines blue in
the light and is intricately carved. It has been passed down through the Stark generations
to Ned, and will one day fall to Robb.
The Dire Wolf Crest: The crest of the Stark household, the Dire Wolf represents all
Starks as a whole. Showing the ferocity and strength of the Stark house, the Dire Wolf
remains a terrible sight to behold to both enemies and prey. The Dire Wolf is the top of
the food chain, and the Starks view themselves as the premier house in all of the Seven
Kingdoms.
Neds Honor: Ned Stark is known for his honor. He believes that a leader should carry
out his own verdicts. Therefore, Ned Stark does the executing of people that he orders
executed. Ned values his honor and the honor of others above all else, which ultimately
ends in Neds demise.
Communities of Practice: Communities of practice are the groups of people that share similar
ideals or goals in the world. This can be a distinct group of just a number of people who happen
to be similarly driven.
The Starks: The Stark family is the most powerful family in the north. The liege lords of
many banner men, the Starks have been tasked with being the Kings in the North.
Although the kingdom is ruled by one king at the moment, the Starks remain the
authority in the North and no Northman will bend to the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms if
the Starks do not do so first.
The Seven Kingdoms: The alliance of all seven regions in Westeros, the Seven
Kingdoms is a grouping of city states that has come together in the interest of combined
strength in numbers. Ruled by Robert Baratheon, the Seven Kingdoms have gradually
become weaker and weaker as an alliance since the fall of the Dragon Kings
(Targaryens). This contains all of the houses in Westeros.
The Nights Watch: The watchers on the wall, the Nights Watch protect the kingdoms
of man from the various monsters and wild men that occupy the area North of the Wall.
Lord Commander Jeor Mormont leads the Nights watch, while Jon Snow, Maester
Aemon, Samwell Tarly, Pyp, Grenn, Halfhand, and Benjen Stark are notable Nights
Watchmen.
The Lannisters: The main antagonists to the Stark household, the Lannisters have only
their goals in mind. Cersei and Jaime Lannister are twins, Tyrion Lannister is the dwarf,
and Tywin Lannister is the patriarch. The Lannisters are from the south of Westeros and
are interested in taking over the Seven Kingdoms. Cersei was married to Robert
Baratheon until his death and then she became the queen regent while her son Jeoffry
ruled. Tywin led the troops of Casterly Rock (the Lannister home) to battle against the
Northmen and Stannis Baratheon.
Literacy Practices: The ability to communicate is hindered in medieval times. Long
distances cannot be spanned easily, and most trips from city to city take days. Literacy
practices are the way that people communicate, and the mediums through which they do so.
Ravens: Essentially all communication that happens between cities is carried by
ravens. The maesters train ravens to carry letters to the maesters in other cities. Most
notably, the statement black wings, black words, says that if someone is sending or
receiving a raven then there must be bad news.
Reading: Most people in both Westeros and Essos are illiterate. Mostly it is only the
nobility or the maesters of the Citadel that have ample opportunity to learn to read.
Peasants and common folk for the large part do not know how to read or write and it
has become a status symbol for the upper class.
Domains: The domain is a common or shared goal amongst groups of people or
alliances. Domains bring people together as well as tear them apart.
A Unified Kingdom: Families such as the Lannisters and the royalty of Kings
Landing have a vested interest in keeping the Seven Kingdoms together. It would
keep them powerful and make sure that they can keep their enemies and their
allies in line.
Rebirth of the Targaryens: The last dragon, Daenerys Targaryen, is the blood
claim to the throne of the Seven Kingdoms. She is currently in Essos, building an
army so that she can lay claim to the throne and retrieve the right by blood that
she has to rule.
The King in the North: The Northmen and the Starks have split off and have
declared themselves the Kings in the North again. Like in the past before Aegon
the Conqueror, the Starks want to add power to the name that they had in the past
as kings in the North.
The Protection of the Wall: The Nights Watch is all about protecting the
kingdoms of man. The enemies beyond the wall are the enemies of the light and
all mankind as a whole.