History AnimalMotifs / GameOfThrones

[[WMG:[[center: [- '''Tropes for ''Series/GameOfThrones'''''\\
GameOfThrones/TropesA ([[AdaptationalAttractiveness/GameOfThrones Adaptational Attractiveness]], [[AdaptationalBadass/GameOfThrones Adaptational Badass]], [[AdaptationalHeroism/GameOfThrones Adaptational Heroism]], [[AdaptationalModesty/GameOfThrones Adaptational Modesty]], [[AdaptationalVillainy/GameOfThrones Adaptational Villainy]], [[AdaptationalWimp/GameOfThrones Adaptational Wimp]], [[AdaptationDistillation/GameOfThrones Adaptation Distillation]], [[AdaptationDyeJob/GameOfThrones Adaptation Dye-Job]], [[AdaptationExpansion/GameOfThrones Adaptation Expansion]], [[AdaptationExplanationExtrication/GameOfThrones Adaptation Explanation Extrication]], [[AdaptationInducedPlotHole/GameOfThrones Adaptation-Induced Plot Hole]], [[AdaptationNameChange/GameOfThrones Adaptation Name Change]], [[AdaptationPersonalityChange/GameOfThrones Adaptation Personality Change]], [[AdaptationRelationshipOverhaul/GameOfThrones Adaptation Relationship Overhaul]], [[AdaptedOut/GameOfThrones Adapted Out]], [[AgeLift/GameOfThrones Age Lift]], '''Animal Motifs''', [[AscendedExtra/GameOfThrones Ascended Extra]], [[AssholeVictim/GameOfThrones Asshole Victim]], [[AsYouKnow/GameOfThrones As You Know]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesB ([[BadassBoast/GameOfThrones Badass Boast]], [[BaitAndSwitch/GameOfThrones Bait-and-Switch]], [[BullyingADragon/GameOfThrones Bullying a Dragon]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesCToD ([[CallBack/GameOfThrones Call-Back]], [[CanonForeigner/GameOfThrones Canon Foreigner]], [[CompositeCharacter/GameOfThrones Composite Character]], [[CruelAndUnusualDeath/GameOfThrones Cruel and Unusual Death]], [[DeathByAdaptation/GameOfThrones Death by Adaptation]], [[DemotedToExtra/GameOfThrones Demoted to Extra]], [[DueToTheDead/GameOfThrones Due to the Dead]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesEToF ([[EstablishingCharacterMoment/GameOfThrones Establishing Character Moment]], [[FamousLastWords/GameOfThrones Famous Last Words]], [[FanDisservice/GameOfThrones Fan Disservice]], [[FantasyCounterpartCulture/GameOfThrones Fantasy Counterpart Culture]], [[Foil/GameOfThrones Foil]], [[Foreshadowing/GameOfThrones Foreshadowing]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesGToK ([[HateSink/GameOfThrones Hate Sink]], [[JerkassHasAPoint/GameOfThrones Jerkass Has a Point]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesLToO ([[Leitmotif/GameOfThrones Leitmotif]], [[OhCrap/GameOfThrones Oh, Crap!]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesPToS ([[PragmaticAdaptation/GameOfThrones Pragmatic Adaptation]], [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome/GameOfThrones Surprisingly Realistic Outcome]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesTToZ ([[WhamEpisode/GameOfThrones Wham Episode]])]]]]-]

* The Lannister sigil is a [[{{Pride}} lion]], which they are often called, and they frequently use KingOfBeasts as dynastic propaganda, such as when Tywin declares that "A lion does not concern himself with the opinions of the sheep." Jaime asks, "By what right does the wolf judge the lion?!" and Cersei uses a parable about lions to comfort Tommen during the Battle of Blackwater. More subtly, the family's blond hair also gives them a vaguely leonine appearance e.g. Jaime starts to physically resemble a shaggy old lion when he gains a full BeardOfSorrow. Later Daenarys tells Cersei that dragons eat both wolves and lions. Interestingly the Westerlands actually do have lions.

** Not only does Roose refer to him as a "mad dog" for his consistent StupidEvil, but Ramsay frequently feeds living people to his pack of dogs for fun, displaying that he's just as much a savage beast as they are.

GameOfThrones/TropesA ([[AdaptationalAttractiveness/GameOfThrones Adaptational Attractiveness]], [[AdaptationalBadass/GameOfThrones Adaptational Badass]], [[AdaptationalHeroism/GameOfThrones Adaptational Heroism]], [[AdaptationalModesty/GameOfThrones Adaptational Modesty]], [[AdaptationalVillainy/GameOfThrones Adaptational Villainy]], [[AdaptationalWimp/GameOfThrones Adaptational Wimp]], [[AdaptationDistillation/GameOfThrones Adaptation Distillation]], [[AdaptationDyeJob/GameOfThrones Adaptation Dye-Job]], [[AdaptationExpansion/GameOfThrones Adaptation Expansion]], [[AdaptationExplanationExtrication/GameOfThrones Adaptation Explanation Extrication]], [[AdaptationInducedPlotHole/GameOfThrones Adaptation-Induced Plot Hole]], [[AdaptationNameChange/GameOfThrones Adaptation Name Change]], [[AdaptationPersonalityChange/GameOfThrones Adaptation Personality Change]], [[AdaptationRelationshipOverhaul/GameOfThrones Adaptation Relationship Overhaul]], [[AdaptedOut/GameOfThrones Adapted Out]], [[AgeLift/GameOfThrones Age Lift]], '''Animal Motifs''', [[AscendedExtra/GameOfThrones Ascended Extra]], [[AssholeVictim/GameOfThrones Asshole Victim]], [[AsYouKnow/GameOfThrones As You Know]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesB ([[BadassBoast/GameOfThrones Badass Boast]], [[BaitAndSwitch/GameOfThrones Bait-and-Switch]], [[BullyingADragon/GameOfThrones Bullying a Dragon]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesCToD ([[CallBack/GameOfThrones Call-Back]], [[CanonForeigner/GameOfThrones Canon Foreigner]], [[CompositeCharacter/GameOfThrones Composite Character]], [[CruelAndUnusualDeath/GameOfThrones Cruel and Unusual Death]], [[DeathByAdaptation/GameOfThrones Death by Adaptation]], [[DemotedToExtra/GameOfThrones Demoted to Extra]], [[DueToTheDead/GameOfThrones Due to the Dead]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesEToF ([[EstablishingCharacterMoment/GameOfThrones Establishing Character Moment]], [[FamousLastWords/GameOfThrones Famous Last Words]], [[FanDisservice/GameOfThrones Fan Disservice]], [[FantasyCounterpartCulture/GameOfThrones Fantasy Counterpart Culture]], [[Foil/GameOfThrones Foil]], [[Foreshadowing/GameOfThrones Foreshadowing]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesGToK ([[HateSink/GameOfThrones Hate Sink]], [[JerkassHasAPoint/GameOfThrones Jerkass Has a Point]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesLToO ([[Leitmotif/GameOfThrones Leitmotif]], [[OhCrap/GameOfThrones Oh, Crap!]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesPToS ([[PragmaticAdaptation/GameOfThrones Pragmatic Adaptation]], [[RealityEnsues/GameOfThrones Reality Ensues]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesTToZ ([[WhamEpisode/GameOfThrones Wham Episode]])]]]]-]

* The Lannister sigil is a [[{{Pride}} lion]], which they are often called, and they frequently use KingOfBeasts as dynastic propaganda, such as when Tywin declares that "A lion does not concern himself with the opinions of the sheep." Jaime asks, "[[NotSoDifferent By what right does the wolf judge the lion?!]]" and Cersei uses a parable about lions to comfort Tommen during the Battle of Blackwater. More subtly, the family's blond hair also gives them a vaguely leonine appearance e.g. Jaime starts to physically resemble a shaggy old lion when he gains a full BeardOfSorrow. Later Daenarys tells Cersei that dragons eat both wolves and lions. Interestingly the Westerlands actually do have lions.

GameOfThrones/TropesA ([[AdaptationalAttractiveness/GameOfThrones Adaptational Attractiveness]], [[AdaptationalBadass/GameOfThrones Adaptational Badass]], [[AdaptationalHeroism/GameOfThrones Adaptational Heroism]], [[AdaptationalModesty/GameOfThrones Adaptational Modesty]], [[AdaptationalVillainy/GameOfThrones Adaptational Villainy]], [[AdaptationalWimp/GameOfThrones Adaptational Wimp]], [[AdaptationDistillation/GameOfThrones Adaptation Distillation]], [[AdaptationDyeJob/GameOfThrones Adaptation Dye-Job]], [[AdaptationExpansion/GameOfThrones Adaptation Expansion]], [[AdaptationExplanationExtrication/GameOfThrones Adaptation Explanation Extrication]], [[AdaptationInducedPlotHole/GameOfThrones Adaptation-Induced Plot Hole]], [[AdaptationNameChange/GameOfThrones Adaptation Name Change]], [[AdaptationPersonalityChange/GameOfThrones Adaptation Personality Change]], [[AdaptedOut/GameOfThrones Adapted Out]], [[AgeLift/GameOfThrones Age Lift]], '''Animal Motifs''', [[AscendedExtra/GameOfThrones Ascended Extra]], [[AssholeVictim/GameOfThrones Asshole Victim]], [[AsYouKnow/GameOfThrones As You Know]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesB ([[BadassBoast/GameOfThrones Badass Boast]], [[BaitAndSwitch/GameOfThrones Bait-and-Switch]], [[BullyingADragon/GameOfThrones Bullying a Dragon]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesCToD ([[CallBack/GameOfThrones Call-Back]], [[CanonForeigner/GameOfThrones Canon Foreigner]], [[CompositeCharacter/GameOfThrones Composite Character]], [[CruelAndUnusualDeath/GameOfThrones Cruel and Unusual Death]], [[DeathByAdaptation/GameOfThrones Death by Adaptation]], [[DemotedToExtra/GameOfThrones Demoted to Extra]], [[DueToTheDead/GameOfThrones Due to the Dead]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesEToF ([[EstablishingCharacterMoment/GameOfThrones Establishing Character Moment]], [[FamousLastWords/GameOfThrones Famous Last Words]], [[FanDisservice/GameOfThrones Fan Disservice]], [[FantasyCounterpartCulture/GameOfThrones Fantasy Counterpart Culture]], [[Foil/GameOfThrones Foil]], [[Foreshadowing/GameOfThrones Foreshadowing]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesGToK ([[HateSink/GameOfThrones Hate Sink]], [[JerkassHasAPoint/GameOfThrones Jerkass Has a Point]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesLToO ([[Leitmotif/GameOfThrones Leitmotif]], [[OhCrap/GameOfThrones Oh, Crap!]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesPToS ([[PragmaticAdaptation/GameOfThrones Pragmatic Adaptation]], [[RealityEnsues/GameOfThrones Reality Ensues]]) | GameOfThrones/TropesTToZ ([[WhamEpisode/GameOfThrones Wham Episode]])]]]]-]

!!House sigils

!!Other examples

* The Sparrows use [[CaptainObvious a sparrow motif]], as they are common folk, there are many of them, and they enforce their will in groups, much like real sparrows do.

* Littlefinger chose his own sigil: a humble mockingbird to maintain his harmless façade.

* This trope is {{averted|Trope}} in the case of the Tyrells, in contrast to every other great house except for the Martells. The Tyrell sigil is a golden rose. House matriarch [[CoolOldLady Olenna]] says it's the dullest sigil of any house and is a major reason why people don't take them seriously, and says the direwolf and kraken are "strong sigils for strong houses."

* The Greyjoy sigil is a [[EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods kraken]] and their strength is tied to the sea. The Greyjoys think its intimidating and even Olenna thinks it's an impressive sigil. Ramsay Snow, however, notes that it's a bit less impressive than they would wish to believe:

** The wildlings refer to men of the Night's Watch as crows because of their black uniforms, and the birds tend to swarm when White Walkers are on the prowl.

* The Greyjoy sigil is a [[EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods kraken]] and their strength is tied to the sea. Ramsay Snow, however, notes that it's a bit less impressive than they would wish to believe:

* The traditional Baratheon sigil, a black stag on a gold field, is associated with King Robert in the series. His successors each have their own version: Joffrey gives his mother's Lannister lion equal place with the stag, Stannis encases the stag within the fiery heart of the Lord of Light, and Renly incorporates his wife's (and lover's) colours to create a gold stag on a green field.

* The Mormont sigil is a black {{bear|sAreBadNews}} in a green wood.
* The Lannister sigil is a [[{{Pride}} lion]], which they are often called, and they frequently use KingOfBeasts as dynastic propaganda, such as when Tywin declares that "A lion does not concern himself with the opinions of the sheep." Jaime asks, "[[NotSoDifferent By what right does the wolf judge the lion?!]]" and Cersei uses a parable about lions to comfort Tommen during the Battle of Blackwater. More subtly, the family's blond hair also gives them a vaguely leonine appearance e.g. Jaime starts to physically resemble a shaggy old lion when he gains a full BeardOfSorrow.

* This trope is {{averted|Trope}} in the case of the Tyrells, in contrast to every other great house except for the Martells. The Tyrell sigil is a golden rose.

* The Targaryen sigil is a dragon. Unlike the other Westerosi houses, this is seems to be partially literal: Daenerys was immune to the flames of Drogo's pyre due to Mirri's spell, which she interpreted as true Targaryens being fireproof (Hint: All the past Targaryens were cremated...). When shown in full, the sigil itself is [[MultipleHeadCase three-headed]]; while there are no multi-headed dragons in the Verse, it symbolizes a RuleOfThree motif that pops up quite a bit in Daenerys' story, and she even owns three (separate) dragons. In addition, notice that Daenerys' season 7 outfits in particular, with patterns resembling scales, a two-piece cape symbolizing wings, hair styled back to look like a head crest, and her eyes even appear like slit pupils. One of her dresses, in particular, gives her an UncattyResemblance to Drogon.

* The Targaryen sigil is a dragon. Unlike the other Westerosi houses, this is seems to be partially literal: Daenerys was immune to the flames of Drogo's pyre due to Mirri's spell, which she interpreted as true Targaryens being fireproof (Hint: All the past Targaryens were cremated...). When shown in full, the sigil itself is [[MultipleHeadCase three-headed]]; while there are no multi-headed dragons in the Verse, it symbolizes a RuleOfThree motif that pops up quite a bit in Daenerys' story, and she even owns three (separate) dragons.

* The Clegane sigil is three black dogs and the brothers are often compared to them. Sandor "the Hound" is a gruff but loyal guard who eventually tires of [[KickTheDog being kicked]] by his masters, and his older brother Ser Gregor is called "Tywin Lannister's [[RightHandAttackDog mad dog]]" because he is ferocious but obedient.

* The Targaryen sigil is a dragon. Unlike the other Westerosi houses, this is seems to be partially literal: Daenerys was immune to the flames of Drogo's pyre due to Mirri's spell, which she interpreted as true Targaryens being fireproof (Hint: All the past Targaryens were cremated...).

* The Lannister sigil is a [[{{Pride}} lion]] and they frequently use KingOfBeasts as dynastic propaganda, such as when Tywin declares that "A lion does not concern himself with the opinions of the sheep." Jaime asks, "[[NotSoDifferent By what right does the wolf judge the lion?!]]" and Cersei uses a parable about lions to comfort Tommen during the Battle of Blackwater. More subtly, the family's blond hair also gives them a vaguely leonine appearance e.g. Jaime starts to physically resemble a shaggy old lion when he gains a full BeardOfSorrow.

* The Lannister sigil is a [[{{Pride}} lion]] and they frequently use KingOfBeasts as dynastic propaganda, such as when Tywin declares that "A lion does not concern himself with the opinions of the sheep." Jaime asks, "[[NotSoDifferent By what right does the wolf judge the lion?!]]" and Cersei uses a parable about lions to comfort Tommen during the Battle of Blackwater. More subtly, the family's blond hair also gives them a vaguely leonine appearance and Jaime starts to physically resemble a shaggy old lion when he gains a full BeardOfSorrow.

* The Lannister sigil is a [[{{Pride}} lion]] and they frequently use KingOfBeasts as dynastic propaganda, such as when Tywin declares that "A lion does not concern himself with the opinions of the sheep." Jaime asks, "[[NotSoDifferent By what right does the wolf judge the lion?!]]" and Cersei uses a parable about lions to comfort Tommen during the Battle of Blackwater. The family's blond hair also gives them a vaguely leonine appearance.

* House Martell is a strange case since their sigil is actually a sun transfixed by a spear, as featured prominently in the set design of the Water Gardens, yet the opening credits give much more prominence to a viper to highlight their connection to Oberyn and his branch of the family, who use a snake motif well-matched to their personalities and fighting styles: quick, unpredictable, and [[PoisonedWeapons venomous]].

* Varys is frequently referred to as the Spider for his unsavoury reputation and his web of spies.

* [[CreepyCrows Ravens and crows]] are a running motif and are common in promotional artwork:
** [[CleverCrows Ravens]] are used to carry [[InstantMessengerPigeon urgent messages]], and Bran[[note]]A name derived from the Welsh word for "raven," incidentally[[/note]] frequently sees a three-eyed raven in his dreams.
** The wildlings refer to men of the Night's Watch as crows because of their black uniforms, and the birds tend to swarm when White Walkers are on the prowl.
* This trope is {{discussed|Trope}} when Oberyn mocks a pair of Lannister soldiers by pointing out that despite wearing golden lion livery, they're still just pink little men who are too slow on the draw.

* House Reed's sigil is that of a lizard-lion ([[NeverSmileAtACrocodile huge crocodiles]]) native to their swamps.
* Averted in the case of the Tyrells, in contrast to every other great house except for the Martells. The Tyrell sigil is a golden rose.

** Fittingly, [[spoiler:Ramsay's own dogs eat him alive after he's starved them for a week, showing him the same kind of loyalty he's shown to everyone else.]]

* Many Houses have animal sigils that say something metaphorical about them. It is implied that some Houses have a paranormal affinity for their sigil animal as well, such as the Targaryens who once rode dragons and the Starks who seem to have a mystical bond with their direwolves.

* The Greyjoy sigil is a [[EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods kraken]] and their strength is tied to the sea.

** [[CleverCrows Ravens]] are used to carry [[InstantMessengerPigeon urgent messages]], Bran[[note]]A name derived from the Welsh word for "raven," incidentally[[/note]] frequently sees a three-eyed raven in his dreams.

[[AnimalMotifs These]] are used both for noble Houses and individual nicknames. The sigils next to the actors' names also correspond to their characters' Houses:

* [[CreepyCrows Ravens and crows]] are running motif and common in promotional artwork. [[CleverCrows Ravens]] are used to carry [[InstantMessengerPigeon urgent messages]], Bran[[note]]A name derived from the Welsh word for "raven," incidentally[[/note]] frequently sees a three-eyed raven in his dreams, wildlings refer to men of the Night's Watch as crows because of their black uniforms, and the birds tend to swarm when White Walkers are on the prowl.
* {{Discussed|Trope}} when Oberyn mocks a pair of Lannister soldiers by pointing out that despite wearing golden lion livery, they're still just pink little men who are too slow on the draw.