# Face-of-God Falls in with Menfolk on the Mountain explained — The Roots of the Mountains

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

## What happens

Face-of-God journeys through the forest and into the mountains, encountering a strange dwelling. He is ambushed by a man in a scarlet kirtle, but a woman intervenes, striking the man with a staff. The man turns out to be her brother, and they reconcile, inviting Face-of-God to be their guest.

## Themes in this chapter

### Heroic Journey and Self-Discovery

Face-of-god's solo trek into the unknown mountains and his confrontation with a stranger test his courage and lead to a new encounter.

### Community and Kinship

The bond between the brother and sister is shown through the woman's protective act and their shared invitation to Face-of-god.

## Character check-ins

### Face-of-god

Travels alone through the mountain forest, is ambushed, and is saved by a woman who later invites him to her home.

### Sun-beam

A tall woman who strikes her brother to save Face-of-god, then invites him to be a guest.

### Dallach

The man in the scarlet kirtle who ambushes Face-of-god; he is the brother of the woman and later reconciles with Face-of-god.

## Key lines

> I am a fool: this comes of being alone in the dark wood and the dismal waste, after the merry faces of the Dale had swept away my foolish musings of yesterday and the day before.

Face-of-god chides himself for his earlier fears, realizing that solitude in the wilderness has magnified his anxieties.

_Reflects his internal struggle and self-reassurance._

> The doom is soon given forth; against the tumble on the grass I set the clout on the head; there is nought left over to pay to any man’s son.

Face-of-god declares that the ambush and the blow are even, settling the matter without further penalty.

_Shows his sense of fairness and willingness to forgive._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_roots_of_the_mountains_se/chapters/v-face-of-god-falls-in-with-menfolk-on-the-mountain
- 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