# They Talk of Divers Matters in the Hall explained — The Roots of the Mountains

> Chapter companion for The Roots of the Mountains by William Morris.

## What happens

In the hall, Face-of-god (Gold-mane) is greeted by the Bride and others, including Stone-face. During the feast, Iron-face teases his son about hunting, and Face-of-god confesses a restless longing for the wood, though he affirms his love for the Dale. Stone-face warns of the dangers of the wildwood, and Redesman sings a song. The chapter explores Face-of-god's inner conflict between domestic contentment and the call of the unknown.

## Themes in this chapter

### Heroic Journey and Self-Discovery

Face-of-god's inner conflict between the safety of the Dale and the call of the wildwood embodies the early stirrings of a heroic journey.

### Community and Kinship

The feast, the shared drinking of healths, and the familial bonds among Iron-face, Stone-face, Face-of-god, and the Bride highlight the importance of kinship and community.

### Nature and the Wilderness

The wood is portrayed as both a source of longing and a place of danger, with Stone-face recounting its supernatural and mortal threats.

## Character check-ins

### Face-of-god

Also called Gold-mane; he is restless, confessing a longing for the wood despite his love for the Dale and the Bride.

### The Bride

Kisses Face-of-god and sits by him; she grows anxious as he speaks of his wandering desires.

### Stone-face

Foster-father of Iron-face and his sons; warns Face-of-god about the perils of the wildwood from his own bitter experience.

### Iron-face

The Alderman; teases his son but offers him the chance to travel west to the cities.

### Redesman

A minstrel who drinks a health to Face-of-god and the Bride, then sings a song to lighten the mood.

## Key lines

> Scarce are the wood-deer grown, kinsman, when I must needs eat sheep's flesh on a Thursday, though my son has lain abroad in the woods all night to hunt for me.

Iron-face jokingly complains that deer are so scarce he has to eat mutton, even though his son spent the night hunting.

_Iron-face teases Face-of-god about his unsuccessful hunt._

> Narrow is the Dale and the World is wide; I would it were dawn and daylight, that I might be afoot again.

Face-of-god feels confined by the Dale and yearns to explore the wider world.

_Expresses Face-of-god's restless desire for adventure._

> Therein are Kobbolds, and Wights that love not men, things unto whom the grief of men is as the sound of the fiddle-bow unto us.

Stone-face warns that the wood contains malevolent spirits who delight in human suffering.

_Stone-face's warning about the supernatural dangers of the wildwood._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_roots_of_the_mountains_se/chapters/iii-they-talk-of-divers-matters-in-the-hall
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_roots_of_the_mountains_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_roots_of_the_mountains_se/chapters