Rainbow Crow

This is a Native American folk tale that I came across somehow.

Rainbow Crow by Lenni Lenape Tribe
retold by S. E. Schlosser

https://americanfolklore.net/folklore/2010/09/rainbow_crow.html

I noticed that it has a lot of parallels with ASOIAF, and these were some of my thoughts. I don’t know if the stories are related at all and maybe this is just a consequence of having ASOIAF on my mind.

  • The hero of the story is a crow, and Night’s Watch members are often called Crows by the wildlings.

  • The crow is special because of his beautiful feathers and song. Jon is singled out because he walks, talks, and acts like a castle raised lordling. He’s also a Stark, which is a special sight at The Wall because mostly they just get rapists and theives. He may also be the embodiment of the song of ice and fire, though that remains to be seen.

  • The crow is sent to the sky spirit on behalf of the other animals to seek help for the long and harsh winter, which is like Starks being sent to The Wall to serve on behalf of the realm and defend against the monsters of winter.

  • The crow receives the gift of fire. If Jon finds out he is the son of Rhaegar, that is also like a gift of fire.

  • The crow returns to Earth with the gift of fire, but on the journey he undergoes a sort of rebirth. His feathers burn and his beautiful voice is lost to the smoke. Jon undergoes rebirth.

  • Though the crow has lost his beauty and song, it is a blessing. He is forever free from the cages of humans who want to hear his song. Jon is reborn and freed from his Night’s Watch vows.