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I post on Monday with an occasional random blog thrown in for good measure. I do my best to answer all comments via email and visit around on the days I post.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

L is for Labyrinth

Labyrinth: Middle English laborintus, from Latin labyrinthus, from Greek labyrinthos. A place full of intricate passageways and blind alleys. A maze. Something extremely complex or tortuous in structure, arrangement or character.

I love the sound of this word. I love how it feels as it rolls around inside my mouth and finds its way past my lips. Lab-y-rinth.

It's pronunciation and spelling haven't changed all that much through the ages and it's meaning has remained the same. They've been around a long time, are loaded with symbolism, and can represent many different kinds of journeys. There's the journey into the underworld, the spiritual journey, or a journey that leads to something like the Minotaur. Our very lives are a labyrinth. Our stories are labyrinths.
The labyrinth Pictures, Images and Photos
For a reader to find his/her way through the labyrinth of a story the author must have done the work of laying it out before hand. There will be dead-ends, false leads, twists and turns. But in the end the passageway must lead to the center, the heart.
labyrinth Pictures, Images and Photos
We can, as writers, get lost in our own mazes. Sometimes we have to step back to get the full picture. Sometimes we need others to help us find our way. Labyrinths can be a challenge, but isn't that what makes them so interesting?

27 comments:

  1. Great post Bish. You explain everything so beautifully.

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  2. I love the sound of the word as well! I like the way you brought it back to writing too. We can get lost and confused and often need to step back.

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  3. I'm aways amazed by the mazes they make in maize. Too labyrinthine sometimes.

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  4. Pondering my thoughts, processing...Mazes scare me, I am always getting lost, can't even find my way through a crossword puzzle. I think you just gave me some very good insight. Thank you!

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  5. Great comparison. I was struggling with the maze earlier this week.
    Nice to meet you at A to Z.

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  6. They have a corn maze on Halloween and it's at night. Many do get lost in it. I have been in my own writing maze. And once in, Bish, it's hard to find your way out. :-) You are the analogy queen, girlfriend.

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  7. I always liked the thought of going through a labyrinth as a kid. There was something very romantic, tragic hero about it.

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  8. I am "amazed" at the way you writers find your plot and stick to it. I love mysteries and tried to write them when i was young. I was really lost in a labyrinth. Yipes.
    Happy L Day.

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  9. That first photo makes me think of the human brain...the original labyrinth.

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  10. It's such a beautiful word, isn't it? I love how it rolls off the tongue, too.

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  11. Awesome word for L! The pictures you chose are beautiful.

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  12. Once again a fantastic post. LOVE the pics!

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  13. And you didn't mention the awesome film???? ;o)

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  14. Another great analogy, and a challenge to get it right for our audience. Too simple, and they'll be bored, too complicated, and they'll get lost. Either way, they probably won't bother to finish the book.

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  15. I love labyrinths, mazes, everything about them, great to get lost in them and work my way out. ;-)

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  16. Great post, Bish - I was expecting to see Bowie the goblin king, however :)

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  17. Thanks Niki!

    Too funny Bob! Maize mazes are built around here in the fall.

    mybabyjohn, I hadn't thought of that, but you're right. The brain does look like a maze.

    Sorry Ian. You and Jessica made me realize I could have added a bit more. Besides the movie with Bowie, there's a beautiful and heartbreaking Spanish film called Pan's Labyrinth.

    And thanks everyone. I can't believe I'm almost at 300 followers!

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  18. Love this post. I like the word, too, for the same reasons you mentioned. Nice comparison with writing...not something I have considered before, but you hit it spot on.

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  19. These are stunning photographs. Labyrinth. What a mellifluous word. And what a great metaphor for writers/writing, as you've demonstrated here.

    I'm back from my daughter's, the one who had neck surgery, and doing catch up on friends' blogs. As I'm typing this, I'm seeing the Kaleidoscope flashing, and that reminds me of the kaleidoscopes of my childhood. Haven't thought about them since then--until now.
    How DID you get this to flash on your site?
    Ann Carbine Best’s Long Journey Home

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  20. Thanks Ann! Hope your daughter is doing better. As for the flashing kaleidoscope, I think I found on Wikimedia Commons.

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  23. I'm glad others mentioned the movie :) It's one of my faves!

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  24. Labyrinth are fun, but don't mix them up with mazes, like the Minotaurs. It's a common mistake to think they are both the same. Labyrinth have only one way and always lead to the end, whereas mazes are multiple and you can get lost in them.

    I prefer mazes.
    Nahno ∗ McLein

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  25. I love this word and all the heavy meaning it can hold. You're right when you say that it is loaded with symbolism. Beautiful. Thank you!

    Sommer
    http://www.sommerleigh.com

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  26. We love to go to the corn mazes. It's so wonderful to get lost in a sea of tall corn and to hear people giggling in the other rows, as they try to find all the clues and make their way back to the entry.
    Labyrinth...in the way it's spelled is magical.

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Your Random Thoughts are most welcome!