In the game of Medievilthem knights Karl Sturnguar and Dirk Steadfastalthough friends differ on sword art or the shield science. Karl Sturnguard to a prince who said that the best form of attack is defense. A principle contradicted by Dirk Steadfast, who advocates the use of the sword.
Although the subject of their debate will not be of direct interest to us, it makes us think that in myths and fantasy tales we find magical swords and shields. Do they have different roles in their use? Of the different symbols ? Is one more important than the other? This is what we will see in this file.
The sword
A fearsome weapon
When we think of a sword, which is more magical, we immediately think of the power it grants. Excalibur, the Sword of Nuada and Durandal by their properties are fearsome, indestructible blades, slicing through anything they touch. They are undoubtedly major assets (no pun intended). There are also many swords, which without being magical are exceptional in their manufacture, their creator being renowned. Au Japanwe can cite the blades Masamune and Murasamewhich without being magical have a quasi-legendary status or the Kusanagi sword.
A strong symbol
But the true strength of swords in stories and more in what they symbolize only in their properties. Very often the sword is a symbol of royalty ; Excalibur refers to the ruler of kingdom of Logres, the sword of Nuada the celtic kingHappy that of French. We can also cite again the Kusanagi sword, which in Japan symbolizes power, strength and bestows military supremacy on the emperor. Thereby, the sword is an object that represents power and unites peoples under one banner and one man. The same is true in some fantasy stories, where the sword designates a chosen onewho carries the hopes of a whole people and even the whole world.
Thereby the sword is perhaps more powerful in what it embodiesonly in its characteristics, because a king is nothing without his people and what they mean to them.
The shield
A symbol too
If the sword is rich in symbolism, the shield is too. The shield ofHector of Troy alone represents the devotion of a man to defend his city and his people. In his case, it goes further, since he is sometimes nicknamed the shield of Troy. Another example, the shield of Gilead could not be worn only by the best knight in the world. By managing to seize it, Gilead has proven his worth and his shield thus symbolizes whatit represents in its values and its purity.
From these two examples, we can see that shields tend to symbolize values, more than functions. But the symbols are no less strong; Those are great values, who make bearers of these shields model characters.
Unwavering support
The shield very rarely wins in stories on its own and the sword is the one that defeats adversaries. However, in many cases the shield is an ally on which the hero can count and without him he could never have won only with his sword. Perseus could never have beaten Astonished without the aid of his shield to thwart his gaze. Lancelot du Lac could not have defeat the twenty knights of the Painful Guardwithout sound shield increasing his strength tenfold.
In the video games, the sword and the shield form an unbreakable duo at the heart of the gameplay, but also essential for the character. We can think of Link (The Legend of Zelda), Fenyx (Immortal Fenyx Rising), the saga of souls.
Science of the shield or art of the sword?
One cannot say that one supplants the other in the stories. From a combat point of view heroes triumphed with the sword and it is hard to imagine some defeat their enemies or even monsters just with a shield. However, we can say that if some had had a magic shield with their sword maybe they would have won. Who knows if Roland might not have held out against his enemies long enough for the reinforcements to arrive? The shield is ultimately that less prominent allybut who sometimes proves to be one of the biggest and best supports.
Most both the sword and the shield derive their value from what they represent. More than their own strength, that which they give around them, symbolizing inspiring values and feelings is the biggest.
So to the chagrin of our friends Karl and Dirk, neither is superior to the other between sword and shield. Each can be powerful in the context and in the use given to it. and sometimes it is together that they are strong. Besides in Medievil, Sir Daniel Fortesque uses bothbringing together the two schools.
Last modified on 06/21/2022 by Ervael
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