How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Your tongue will be stilled until I choose to unbind it, and even then, though you can speak, you will not be able to speak the word I teach you where another person can hear it. We must keep the secrets of our craft." (1.12)
Ged's aunt teaches him magic, but she also wants to make sure that he doesn't give away her secrets. After all, if everyone knew what she knew, everyone would be calling goats to them. (We would for sure.) It's funny that the way he practices his power (speech) is also what his aunt tries to take away here.
Quote #2
The Hardic tongue of the Archipelago, though it has no more magic power in it than any other tongue of men, has its roots in the Old Speech, that language in which things are named with their true names … (2.18)
Here Le Guin lays out some of the rules for how magic works in this universe – it works with true names. What does this say about all the other tongues of men? Like, if there's a language in which things are truly named, does that mean all other languages are untrue or false in some way?
Quote #3
For magic consists in this, the true naming of a thing. (3.68)
Kurremkarmerruk explains this to Ged, as well as going on to explain that there are lots of names that people will never know. The idea of true names is a common idea in some cultures, as Le Guin mentions, but let's be honest: the idea that words are magical must be really appealing to an author.
Quote #4
"It has no name." (4.78)
Archmage Gensher explains this to Ged about the shadow monster. And if it has no name, the shadow monster is beyond human power. (Or really anyone's power.) Does this line – coming from the Archmage – make the reader lose hope?
Quote #5
Although the use of the Old Speech binds a man to truth, this is not so with dragons. It is their own language, and they can lie in it, twisting the true words to false ends, catching the unwary hearer in a maze of mirrorwords each of which reflects the truth and none of which leads anywhere. (5.61)
What is a "mirrorword"? Le Guin doesn't invent a lot of new words, which sometimes happens in some fantasy books, so "mirrorword" is one of the few times that your spellchecker will freak out. Notice that this invented word occurs in a section where she discusses the possibility of using language to confuse the hearer. Very clever, Le Guin.
Quote #6
Before Ged could speak spell or summon power, the gebbeth spoke, saying in its hoarse voice, "Ged!" (6.73)
This is one of the clues that the shadow monster is really a part of Ged: only a few people know Ged's true name, and one of those people is Ged himself. This is also an important moment since language is being used against Ged (in the same way that he used it against Yevaud in Chapter 5).
Quote #7
"I named you once, I think," he said, and then strode to his house and entered, bearing the bird still on his wrist. (7.81)
Ogion is right, of course – the falcon is really Ged – but notice that this sentence doesn't actually indicate that this is Ged. At the end of the sentence, it's still "the bird." The name "Ged" only appears at the end of this paragraph, even though the whole time, we know this bird is Ged. It's funny that the story can use one word to describe this character ("the bird"), while Ogion and we know who this really is all the while. It seems as if the book is demonstrating the difference between use-name ("the bird") and true name ("Ged"): we can call it a bird all we want, but it's still Ged.
Quote #8
"Do you understand me? Do you speak no Hardic?" Ged paused, and then asked, "Kargad?" (8.31)
We're mostly interested in language as it relates to magic (because magic is fun). But here's one of the few times when we learn that there are other languages, and contemplate all the real issues that go along with language. That is, it's hard to talk to someone who doesn't speak your language. (Maybe this is one reason why it's hard to talk to dragons. Sigh.)
Quote #9
"My name, and yours, and the true name of the sun, or a spring of water, or an unborn child, all are syllables of the great word that is very slowly spoken by the shining of the stars. There is no other power. No other name." (9.77)
This gets a little philosophical for us, but Ged does raise an interesting idea here: what if we're all connected in one true name? And this raises another question: who's speaking this word/sentence? Is there any god(s) in Earthsea? Or are the most powerful creatures the wizards and the dragons that can use the Old Speech?
Quote #10
Aloud and clearly, breaking that old silence, Ged spoke the shadow's name and in the same moment the shadow spoke without lips or tongue, saying the same word: "Ged." And the two voices were one voice. (10.65)
We have a whole section to discuss what's up with this ending (yes, you know which section we're referring to) – and we're still not sure about it. But one thing is clear: when Ged and the shadow monster speak their name, that speaking somehow undoes their unnatural separation and they become one. Can we imagine this ending happening without the use of language?