The Name of the Wind

This story, like other coming-of-age stories, builds upon elements of mortal experiences to draw readers in and explore the human condition. What about Kvothe’s journey is relatable? How are his experiences different than other such tales?

As with many classic fantasy tales, women do not necessarily play a key role in the narrative here; if they do, it is often more as motivation for the hero. However, Denna is a unique character because her actions, as Deoch explains, highlight some of the problems that women have faced in pre-industrial societies like the one depicted. Have you learned anything about the world from Denna’s situation? Do you think Rothfuss does justice to the secondary female characters, such as Devi, Auri, and Fela? Could Denna have made her way in life the same way Kvothe has? 

What is the importance of naming in Kvothe’s world? How does that importance compare with naming in our real life? Consider older cultures that may have believed in a similar magic. 

Kvothe spends much of his early life without money. What role does money and the need for it play in his development? What tension does this add to the story, and why?

Music and storytelling are major themes in The Name of the Wind. What is the importance of these in the world of Temerant, and in Kvothe’s own life? How does music and the telling of tales influence his personality and his destiny?

The Name of the Wind follows some tried-and-true fantasy formulas steeped in British and Irish tradition. Compare this book with other fantasy staples, such as J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings series or Terry Brooks’s Shannara books, and pinpoint similarities and differences in the way the plot develops, in world-building, and in the characters.

The book is very character driven. Can you explain some of the ways Rothfuss bring his characters to life? 

One of the motifs within this book is silence. Silence isn’t simply the absence of quiet here; it has different meanings and “feels.” Why do you think the author chose to focus on the idea of silence within the context of this book, and how does it affect the story’s tone and mood?