Discussing: storytellers - traditional openings
Re: storytellers - traditional openings
"Lo! lords and knights and men of valour unashamed, kings and princes, Dunedain of the North, and Elf and Dwarf, and greathears of the Shire, and all free folk of the West, now listen to my lay. For I will sing to you of Frodo of the Nine Fingers and the Ring of Doom."
So this introduction has a few key parts:
(1) "Lo" - an interjection used to call attention to something. Almost like saying "Hear what I am about to say."
(2) "lords and knights and men of valour unashamed, kings and princes," - In this part you give honor to people of high standingin society.
(3) " Dunedain of the North, and Elf and Dwarf, and greathearts of the Shire, and all free folk of the West, now listen to my lay." - This includes everyone present, no matter their social standing.
(4) "For I will sing to you of Frodo of the Nine Fingers" - this identifies the protagonist of the story that is about to be told.
(5) "and the Ring of Doom." - this identifies the antagonist that the protagonist had to struggle against.
I'm hesitant to make a blanket statement here, but it seems you could follow this model as a good introduction for formal story-telling, at least among Men.
Marta
