The Roots of the Mountains · Chapter
Face-of-God Cometh Home Again to Burgstead explained
Face-of-god returns to Burgstead from the wood, preoccupied with thoughts of the Fair Woman of the Mountainside.
What happens
Face-of-god returns to Burgstead from the wood, preoccupied with thoughts of the Fair Woman of the Mountainside. He dresses in fine raiment, to the puzzlement of his foster-father Stone-face and his father Iron-face, who question him about his intentions to travel or attend a feast. Face-of-god insists he will stay and work in the Dale, concealing his true distraction.
Themes in this chapter
Heroic Journey and Self-Discovery
Face-of-god's internal conflict between duty to his family and his fascination with the mysterious woman marks a turning point in his personal journey.
Tradition and Change
Face-of-god's rejection of the expected path (traveling with merchants) and his unusual behavior challenge the traditions of his household.
Characters to notice
- Face-of-god
Returns home from the wood, distracted by thoughts of the Fair Woman; dons fine raiment and deflects questions about his plans.
- Stone-face
Notices Face-of-god's unusual attire and suspects he has encountered a supernatural woman in the wood; warns him of doom.
- Iron-face
Greets his son and questions him about traveling with the Westland merchants; is told Face-of-god will stay in the Dale.
- Hall-face
Enters with the Alderman; is present at the hall but does not speak.
Key passages
“Face-of-god went back through the wood by the way he had come, paying little heed to the things about him. For whatever he thought of strayed not one whit from the image of the Fair Woman of the Mountainside.”
Face-of-god returned through the forest the same way he had come, barely noticing his surroundings because his mind was entirely fixed on the Fair Woman of the Mountainside.
Highlights his obsessive preoccupation with the mysterious woman.
“Said Face-of-god: 'Foster-father, sooth it is that I have been to the wood, but there have I seen nought of manfolk worse than myself.'”
Face-of-god replied, 'Foster-father, truly I went to the wood, but I saw no men there who were worse than me.'
Face-of-god deflects Stone-face's probing about his experience in the wood.
“And in good sooth, though he was a young man and loved mirth and the ways of his own will, he was a stalwarth workman, and few could mow a match with him in the hay-month and win it; or fell trees as certainly and swiftly, or drive as straight and clean a furrow through the stiff land of the lower Dale; and in other matters also was he deft and sturdy.”
Indeed, although he was young and enjoyed pleasure and independence, he was a strong worker, and few could match him at mowing hay, felling trees, or plowing the tough soil of the lower Dale; he was skilled and robust in many tasks.
Establishes Face-of-god's competence and work ethic despite his youthful love of freedom.