The Artist and the Creation

Where it surfaces

• III

  The narrator discusses how the old poets of Poictesme handled their national hero, revealing the artist's struggle to fully understand or sympathize with a character who succeeds in everything.

• X: Alianora

  Manuel's modeling of clay images and his desire to animate them reflects the artist's struggle to create something significant.

• XIV: They Duel on Morven

  Manuel's images are imperfect (the limping Alianora), and his creative ambition is subsumed by his passion.

• XVII: Magic of the Image-Makers

  The chapter explores the nature of image-making magic, the cost of creation, and the flawed character of the enchanters who sacrifice their own virtue to imbue their works with life.

• XXVII: They Come to Sargyll

  The ten images Manuel created and left on Upper Morven are brought to life by Freydis, highlighting the consequences of artistic creation.

• XXIX: Sesphra of the Dreams

  Sesphra, a creation of Manuel's own hands, now controls and tempts him, illustrating the creator's loss of power over his creation.

• XXX: Farewell to Freydis

  Manuel confronts the consequences of creating Sesphra, a being he cannot control, lamenting 'I have loosed among mankind a blighting misery.'

• The Redemption of Poictesme

  Miramon Lluagor acts as an artist reanimating the past, evoking champions through incantations and symbolic objects.