The Illearth War
Chapter 3: THREE: The Summoning
by R, Donaldson, StephenThe chapter “The Summoning” begins with Thomas Covenant experiencing a disorienting transition from darkness into a vivid, sensory-laden vision. He is engulfed by shifting colors and sounds, from a noxious gray-green to a warm golden light, accompanied by a haunting melody that evolves into a woman’s song. The lyrics implore him to “be true” and answer a call, stirring memories and emotions he resists. Covenant is drawn helplessly forward until the light solidifies into the familiar setting of the Close, the council chamber of the Lords in Revelstone, where he finds himself standing unsteadily.
Covenant is met by the High Lord Elena, who welcomes him to the Land and explains that she has summoned him due to their great need for his aid. Disoriented and enraged, Covenant reacts violently, insisting he was speaking to his estranged wife, Joan, on the phone moments before. He demands to be sent back, accusing the Lords of disrupting a critical moment in his life. His emotional outburst reveals his deep anguish and refusal to accept the reality of the Land, which he dismisses as a delusion.
Lord Mhoram, now visibly older, attempts to calm Covenant, expressing regret for the pain caused by the summoning. He acknowledges Covenant’s distress but explains that the Lords lack the power to return him to his world. Mhoram reveals that forty years have passed in the Land since their last encounter, emphasizing the urgency of their plight. Covenant, however, remains defiant, rejecting their plea for help and insisting on his return, even as his physical and emotional turmoil intensifies.
The chapter underscores Covenant’s internal conflict and denial, juxtaposed against the Lords’ desperate appeal. His refusal to engage with the Land’s crisis highlights his unresolved trauma and alienation. Meanwhile, the Lords’ inability to reverse the summoning sets the stage for a fraught dynamic, as Covenant’s presence becomes both a potential salvation and a source of turmoil. The tension between his personal anguish and the Land’s existential threat drives the narrative forward, leaving his role in their struggle uncertain.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the sensory imagery (colors, sounds, smells) in the opening paragraphs of the chapter, and how does it relate to Covenant’s transition into the Land?
Answer:
The vivid sensory imagery serves as a bridge between Covenant’s reality and his arrival in the Land. The “gray-green” winding sheet with its “noxious” hue and “fetid reek of attar” creates a claustrophobic, unsettling atmosphere, mirroring Covenant’s resistance to the summoning. As the sound shifts to a “woman’s song,” the colors transition to “gold,” symbolizing warmth and familiarity—the Land’s essence. This sensory evolution reflects Covenant’s involuntary journey from his world (represented by discomfort) to the Land (represented by light and melody), emphasizing his passive role in the transition. The imagery also foreshadows the tension between his disbelief and the Land’s reality.2. Analyze Covenant’s reaction to being summoned. Why does he prioritize returning to Joan over the Land’s crisis, and what does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Covenant’s outburst (“I was talking to Joan! She was my wife!”) underscores his unresolved trauma and guilt. His ex-wife Joan represents a tangible, painful reality—her call symbolizes a chance for redemption in his “real” world. In contrast, the Land, despite its urgency, feels like a delusion to him. His refusal to engage (“I don’t give a bloody damn about the Land!”) reveals his self-protective denial and prioritization of personal suffering over abstract crises. This reaction aligns with his Unbeliever identity: he fears emotional investment in a world he perceives as illusory, as it might undermine his grip on reality and exacerbate his isolation.3. How does the poem/song (“Be true, Unbeliever…”) function thematically in the chapter, and what demands does it place on Covenant?
Answer:
The song acts as both a summons and a moral imperative. Its lyrics emphasize truth, fidelity, and consequences (“doom of darkness / Covers all”), framing Covenant’s role as a reluctant savior. The repetition of “Be true” underscores the Land’s expectation of his integrity, despite his disbelief. Thematically, it contrasts Covenant’s internal conflict: the Land views him as a Ringthane (a figure of power), while he sees himself as a victim of madness. The song’s “promise” and “curse” language also hints at the stakes—his choices may determine the Land’s survival, forcing him to confront whether his “unbelief” is a shield or a failure of responsibility.4. Compare the portrayals of Elena and Mhoram in this chapter. How do their interactions with Covenant reflect their roles and the broader tension in the Land?
Answer:
Elena, as High Lord, is formal and authoritative, appealing to Covenant’s duty (“our need is great”). Her use of titles (“ur-Lord,” “Ringthane”) reinforces hierarchy and the Land’s reverence for him. In contrast, Mhoram adopts a personal tone (“my friend”), acknowledging Covenant’s pain while admitting powerlessness (“we cannot return you”). Their approaches reflect the Land’s duality: Elena represents the weight of leadership and prophecy, while Mhoram embodies compassion and moral ambiguity. Together, they highlight Covenant’s dilemma—he is torn between the Land’s desperate plea and his own trauma, with neither figure able to fully bridge that divide.5. Why does the chapter emphasize the physical details of Covenant’s injury (the bleeding forehead), and how does this detail connect to larger themes?
Answer:
The blood serves as a visceral anchor to Covenant’s reality, a tangible proof of pain that contrasts with the Land’s ethereal summons. His focus on the wound (“his fingers came away covered with blood”) grounds his rage and disbelief, making the Land’s demands feel invasive. The injury also symbolizes his fractured identity: the blood “weeping” from his eyes mirrors his emotional turmoil, while its persistence in the Land suggests that his physical and psychological wounds transcend worlds. This detail reinforces the novel’s exploration of suffering’s authenticity—whether the Land is “real” or not, Covenant’s pain is undeniable.
Quotes
1. “Be true, Unbeliever- / Answer the call. / Life is the Giver: / Death ends all.”
This haunting song represents the central summons to Covenant, encapsulating the Land’s desperate need and the moral weight placed upon him. The poetic warning about “broken faith” and “doom of darkness” foreshadows the stakes of his choices.
2. “I was talking to Joan. She called me. After all this time. When I needed-needed. You have no right.”
A pivotal emotional outburst showing Covenant’s visceral connection to his estranged wife in the “real world.” His raw anguish contrasts sharply with the Land’s mystical demands, establishing his internal conflict.
3. “I don’t give a bloody damn about the Land!… You’re a delusion! A sickness in my mind. You don’t exist!”
This vehement denial captures Covenant’s foundational Unbeliever philosophy. His rejection of the Land’s reality - and his moral responsibility toward it - drives the central tension of his character.
4. “My friend, if the choice were mine, I would return you at once to your world… But, ur-Lord… we cannot return you.”
Lord Mhoram’s compassionate yet firm revelation marks a turning point - Covenant is trapped in the Land with no easy escape. The admission of the Lords’ limitations heightens the story’s stakes.
5. “For long years we have striven with power which we fail to master, and Lore which we have been unable to penetrate.”
This confession underscores the Lords’ vulnerability despite their 40-year struggle, emphasizing why they’ve resorted to summoning Covenant. It hints at deeper mysteries about their limitations and the Land’s peril.