Ketek
| Ketek | |
|---|---|
| Related to | Vorinism |
| World of Origin | Roshar |
| Universe | Cosmere |
A ketek is a form of holy Vorin poetry which reads the same forward and backward (allowing for changes in verb form), and is also divisible into five sections, each of which also expresses a complete thought. The full poem should be grammatically correct and have a poignant meaning.[1] Vorin poets tend to weight the middle word and build the poem around it. Singer poets, the only currently known one being El, weight the poem differently. El intentionally made the last line longer than the rest.[2]
Keteks are a part of multiple Vorin ceremonies. Keteks are written by the female loved ones of the deceased for funerals. Other keteks are traditionally used in funerals. Both kinds of keteks are spoken aloud before being burned by Ardents as prayers.[3] Keteks are also given to a bride on her wedding day after her makeup is finished.[4]
Examples[edit]
“Above silence, the illuminating storms—dying storms—illuminate the silence above. ”
“Radiant / of birthplace / the announcer comes / to come announce / the birthplace of Radiants. ”
“Alight, winds approach deadly approaching winds alight. ”
“You, always about dreams. My soul weeps. Farewell, weeping soul. My dreams . . . about, always, You. ”
—A ketek by Navani Kholin, mourning the death of her husband[3]
“United, new beginnings sing: "Defying truth, love. Truth defy!" Sing beginnings, new unity. ”
“Burdens, Our Calling. Songs of Home, a knowledge: Knowing a Home of Songs, called our burden. ”
—Ketek written by El, Fused scholar of human art forms, to commemorate the restoration of the Sibling[2]
A ketek by Jasnah written in the women's script[7]
Trivia[edit]
- The Part titles for books in The Stormlight Archive form keteks.
- The abbreviated titles of the Stormlight Era 1 books form a ketek like structure but are not a ketek: "TWoK, WoR, O, RoW, KoWT"