52 pages • 1-hour read
Mossflower
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Symbols & Motifs
Kotir
Kotir is the stronghold that houses Tsarmina and her troops. Its presence looms over Mossflower Woods and symbolizes the oppressor in the woodlanders’ midst. It also relates to the theme of how Greed Leads to Tyranny. Physically, the structure is damp, dark, and drafty. The parts of the castle that receive the most focus in the novel are the subterranean lake where the Gloomer is chained and the dank prison cells in the dungeon. In contrast, Tsarmina’s chambers are the only spaces that provide comfort, luxury, and tasty food. Even the soldiers who live in Kotir are only given spare accommodations and half rations.
The pantry contains the castle’s store of provisions, which Gonff raids regularly. At the same time, Tsarmina’s captains also filch food for themselves rather than sharing it with their troops. The entire atmosphere seems to convey a sense of scarcity. This tallies with Tsarmina’s greed since it can never be satiated. For her, there is never enough of anything, so she experiences constant scarcity despite the luxuries she gives to herself.
Kotir is also a fortress intended to withstand a siege. This use only makes sense if the inhabitants have created enemies who wish them harm. In her various tyrannical attempts to enslave the population and steal their supplies, Tsarmina has earned the hostility of her neighbors. She needs all the protection that Kotir affords to keep the victims of her tyranny at a distance.
Martin’s Sword
Martin’s sword is ever present in the narrative as a symbol of the mouse’s heroism. It speaks to the theme of The Making of a Hero and undergoes physical changes that correlate to Martin’s psychological changes over the course of the novel. Initially, the sword appears as a rusty reminder of Martin’s father and his past glory. Now that the mouse is alone in the world, the only memento of his dead parent is a sword that is virtually useless. Tsarmina has no difficulty snapping it in half. After this point, Martin wears the hilt around his neck. This is a reminder to him of his desire for vengeance against the wildcat who broke his last remaining connection to his family.
Shortly after this point, Martin’s solitary existence ends when he encounters Gonff. The latter becomes his entry point into woodlander society and the concealed world of Brockhall. For the first time, Martin experiences a sense of community and feels that he has found a worthy cause in the quest to Salamandastron. As he completes his hero’s journey on the way to the seacoast, Martin matures and thinks of the welfare of those around him. By the time Boar reforges his sword, Martin’s sense of social responsibility has been awakened. Boar cautions, “When I make this sword anew, you must always remember that it is not the weapon but the creature that wields it. A sword is a force for good only in the paws of an honest warrior” (305). Martin has become both an honest warrior and a true hero.
Brockhall
Just as Kotir symbolizes oppression, Brockhall stands as a symbol of sanctuary to the woodlanders. It relates to the theme of how Generosity Builds Cooperation. Bella is the owner of the ancestral badger burrow of Brockhall. She generously opens her doors to all who seek shelter from Tsarmina’s tyranny. Not only do the fleeing peasants of the region come here, but Brockhall also shelters Abbess Germaine and her followers, who are escaping a plague in their own lands. Without even considering the strain on her own resources, Bella welcomes the refugees:
You can call my home your own, for you and your mice, as long as you like, and please don’t thank me—you’d do exactly the same if I needed shelter. In fact you did, many years ago, when I was young and liked to travel (65).
Germaine’s followers prove unexpectedly useful in the ensuing battles between the woodlanders and Tsarmina’s forces. They tend the young, heal the sick, and nurse those wounded in battle. Germaine herself is instrumental in saving Martin’s life after Tsarmina nearly kills him. Brockhall also functions to further the plot in two respects. Bella wishes to recall her father because he may be the best leader to liberate Mossflower Woods, and she enlists Martin in this quest. Further, the secret directions for finding Salamandastron are hidden in the burrow. Bella and her helpers ransack the immense building and must solve multiple clues before the quest can even begin. Bella’s generosity at Brockhall is amply repaid when Martin returns to help liberate the woodland once and for all.
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