# X: Of Birdalone’s Flitting from the Isle of Nothing explained — The Water of the Wondrous Isles

> Chapter companion for The Water of the Wondrous Isles by William Morris.

## What happens

Birdalone departs from the Isle of Nothing despite the kindness of its inhabitants, who provide her with provisions. She performs a sacrifice to the boat's wight before gliding away, leaving the folk to wonder if she was a goddess. They vow to remember her as their lady and goddess, but Birdalone never returns, heading instead toward the Isle of Kings.

## Themes in this chapter

### Journey and Quest

Birdalone continues her journey across the water, leaving the Isle of Nothing behind and setting course for the Isle of Kings.

### Identity and Transformation

The folk of the Isle of Nothing transform Birdalone into a goddess in their memory, reshaping her identity in their lore.

## Character check-ins

### Birdalone

Departs the Isle of Nothing, performs sacrifice to the boat's wight, and heads toward the Isle of Kings.

### The Stony Folk

The inhabitants of the Isle of Nothing who befriend Birdalone, provide provisions, and later revere her as a goddess.

## Key lines

> If by any means thou mayst find a keel which will carry thee hither, at some time, I would thou wouldst come; for even if thou be old, and we passed away, yet here shall be our children or our grandchildren to welcome thee; and we will tell them the tale of thee that they remember it and long for thee.

The meat-fetcher invites Birdalone to return someday, promising that future generations will remember and welcome her.

_Expresses the folk's deep affection and desire to preserve Birdalone's memory._

> this must be some goddess (for of Holy Church they knew nought) who had come to visit them in her loveliness; and in after times, when this folk waxed a many, and tilled all the isle and made ships and spread to other lands and became great, they yet had a memory of Birdalone as their own very lady and goddess

The folk, ignorant of Christianity, believe Birdalone is a goddess and later enshrine her as their patron deity as their civilization grows.

_Highlights the folk's mythologizing of Birdalone and the lasting impact of her visit._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/x-of-birdalone-s-flitting-from-the-isle-of-nothing
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters