The Meaning of Titles

I was just thinking the other day about the titles for LOTF and FOTJ. Since they are only one word each, that one word has to represent the entire novel. I was wondering what other people thought each title in LOTF and FOTJ meant.

I'll post my ideas a little later, so as not to prejudge anyone else.
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"But it was so artistically done."

“No. I am Ganner. This threshold is mine. I claim it for my own. Bring on your thousands, one at a time or all in a rush. I don’t give a damn. None shall pass.”

“Eventually, we all betray something, Tahiri. It’s what you stay true to that counts.”

"Shaken, not stirred, will get you cold water with a dash of gin and dry vermouth. The reason you stir it with a special spoon is so not to chip the ice. James is ordering a weak martini and being snooty about it."

I like long titles, they can be very poetic/descriptive. But I also liked the whole one word title thing. They were crisp, they were clean, they could carry so much implication. And that's just it, they were completely up to the reader's interpretation. Nice thread idea. Smile

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"It's not about the legacy you leave, it's about the life you live." ~Mara Jade Skywalker

Titles refer to words, usually a noun, used to distinguish the different representations of each book. herm.

but srsly flks, I agree with MJ. I don't think that they are always meant to symbolize an actual event in the narrative and sometimes are just chosen for no good reason other than to have something to call the book, picked out before the story was even written.

Enough with the killjoy. It's a fun thread idea and I'd be happy to throw out interpretations. I don't have the titles memorized, so maybe it would be a good place to start by just posting the list.
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They have taken the hearts and minds of our leaders. They have recruited the rich and the powerful, and they have blinded us to the truth! Our human spirit is corrupted. Why do we worship greed? Because, outside the limit of our sight, feeding off us, perched on top of us from birth to death are OUR OWNERS. They have us! They control us! They are our masters! Wake up! They’re all about you, all around you!

My take on it (obviously not complete; this is my take on what I read from it). Spoilers herein.

Betrayal: Jacen decides to betray the Jedi and learn the ways of the Sith
Bloodlines: Boba Fett learns of his daughter (killed by Jacen in the book), his granddaughter, the possibility of other clones of his father, etc.
Tempest: Numerous sources of evil are revealed; a lot of fights; chaos from the death of the World Brain
Exile: Han and Leia are personae non gratae in the Galactic Alliance; Jagged Fel shows up, having been exiled from the Chiss Ascendancy
Sacrifice: Jacen completes the required sacrifice to become Sith, killing Mara and losing the love of his cousin
Inferno: The aftermath of the death of Mara; also refers to the fires Jacen sets on Kashyyyk
Fury: Alema Rar, in all her craziness, his hunted down and killed
Revelation: Jaina realizes how evil her brother is; Ben confirms that Jacen killed Mara
Invincible: Jaina, having learned under Boba Fett, is an invincible Sith-killer

Outcast: Luke is cast out of the Galactic Alliance; also refers to Abeloth, who has been exiled for centuries (the events of the Han/Leia subplot lead to her return)
Omen: We learn about the crashed ship Omen and the Lost Tribe of the Sith; their arrival is also a bad omen for things to come
Abyss: Arrival of Abeloth, the darkest of them all; also refers to the Abyss Luke enters with the Mind Drinkers
Backlash: The aftermath of the Sith releasing Abeloth, and Vestara's capture
Allies: Luke must ally with the Sith to hunt Abeloth
Vortex: Another storm metaphor; the alliance between the Jedi and Sith comes to a head
Conviction: Refers to the deposition of Daala, and the imprisonment of Tahiri
Ascension: Abeloth ascends to power, taking over the GA; the Sith infiltrate the GA
Apocalypse: The end of everything; a terrible conflict where Abeloth is incapacitated and hundreds of Jedi and Sith die; the Killiks genuinely believe the return of Abeloth signifies the end of days
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It was the year of fire… the year of destruction… the year we took back what was ours.
It was the year of rebirth… the year of great sadness… the year of pain… and the year of joy.
It was a new age. It was the end of history. It was the year everything changed.
The year is 2261.
The place: Babylon 5.

I like the idea of one word titles because they're simple and easy to remember, but I find that they tend to be used lazily.
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All things die, Anakin Skywalker, even stars burn out.

So this is how liberty dies....with thunderous applause.

Those without swords can still die upon them

The world is a mess and I just need to rule it.

Here are my thoughts (BEWARE SPOILERS)

Betrayal: Jacen begins his path to the dark side, kills Nelani Dinn
Bloodlines: Boba Fett meets his granddaughter, deals with his family; the Skywalker-Solo brood is in conflict
Tempest: This one seemed less literal, more of a metaphorical storm building up
Exile: Leia and Han are in exile after Jacen tries to arrest/kill them
Sacrifice: Jacen sacrifices his family's love through Mara's death
Inferno: Kashyyyk aflame
Fury: Ben's anger over Mara's death
Revelation: Jacen revealed as a Sith Lord; Allana revealed as Jacen's daughter
Invincible: Jacen discovers that he is not invincible (this one is again more metaphorical)

Outcast: Luke is an outcast and begins his journey
Omen: The Sith ship Omen and the omen the Lost Tribe represents, maybe the arrival of Ship on Kesh?
Abyss: The journey beyond shadows, abyss of the soul/mind (somewhat metaphorical
Backlash: Somewhat of a backlash against Daala's policies (Jedi defeat the Mandalorian attack)
Allies: Jedi and Sith ally together
Vortex: Again metaphorical (Denning seems to have a lot of these), everything is getting mixed up, Jedi fighting Jedi (Saba and Kenth), the Jedi/Sith alliance falls apart
Conviction: Tahiri is convicted of murder; also people having firm convictions
Ascension: Abeloth "ascends" to the Chief of State post
Apocalypse: In the world-ending sense, mass destruction on Coruscant, a new world created without Abeloth; in the relevatory sense, Luke learns about the One Sith (kinda)
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"But it was so artistically done."

“No. I am Ganner. This threshold is mine. I claim it for my own. Bring on your thousands, one at a time or all in a rush. I don’t give a damn. None shall pass.”

“Eventually, we all betray something, Tahiri. It’s what you stay true to that counts.”

"Shaken, not stirred, will get you cold water with a dash of gin and dry vermouth. The reason you stir it with a special spoon is so not to chip the ice. James is ordering a weak martini and being snooty about it."

Knight Joined: 03 Apr 2012 Posts: 103 Location: UK

Don't forget that in 'Betrayal', Wedge is effectively betrayed by the GA when they take him to Coruscant under false pretences, and attempt to hold him against his will.

Later, Wedge and family become exiles from Corellia, in 'Exile'.

So this is kinda related to current thread. Has anyone ever heard or read a one word title, but been completely off? Like you had a totally different idea on what the title meant, or what the plot of the book would be?
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“When I left you, I was but the learner, now I am the master.”

“Only a master of evil, Darth.”

Crosscurrent, anyone?
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I am a Star Wars fan. That doesn't mean that I hate or love Jar Jar. That doesn't mean I hate or love Lucas, or agree or disagree 100% with him. That doesn't mean I prefer the PT over the OT, or vice versa. That doesn't mean I hate the EU, or even love all of it. These are not prerequisites. Being a man is not a prerequisite. Being a geek is not a prerequisite. The only prerequisite is that I love something about Star Wars. I am a Star Wars fan.

Crosscurrent is easy, Sith and Jedi from past crossing with the current of the future as well as future Sith and Jedi.

riptide: a stretch of turbulent water in the sea, caused by the meeting of currents or abrupt changes in depth

Riptide can of appeals on several levels. On the surface, there's the messed up Force clones running into Jaden and the One Sith and even Rakatan leftovers. Beyond the surface, the book certainly had some depth to it as the complexity level was ratcheted up with gray characters and the clone plot.

Edit: Taral beat me Sad

I think Maelstrom would be a nice water title. Wink

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