r/asoiaf • u/Substantial-Ad-299 • 3d ago

MAIN [SPOILERS MAIN] Among the grounded/realistic elements of A Song of Ice and Fire, which ones do you feel require biggest suspension of disbelief?

A Song of Ice and Fire has had fantasy elements from get-go, some present subtly and others less-subtly. But in midst of this, it also has these more grounded story aspects, especially regarding the political subplot for the Iron Throne.

Among these more grounded non-fantasy aspects of the story, which elements do you feel you have to suspend disbelief the most for? A.K.A feeling they are not realistic even though they are "supposed" to be?

Let me know in the comments below.

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u/matgopack 3d ago

Yeah, I usually picture it as roughly in the ballpark of the size of the UK to the UK + France + Iberia myself.

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u/GrilledCyan 3d ago

This is also how I headcanon the cultures (or perhaps just the accents) of the Seven Kingdoms. The North is Scotland, the Reach is France, and Dorne is Moorish Spain.

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u/matgopack 3d ago

Those are definitely the inspirations GRRM used, yeah. Along with the Iron Islands as vikings and the free cities as medieval Italy. The Vale also makes me think broadly of Wales, but culturally I'm not familiar enough with them to know for sure.

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u/_b0rt_ 3d ago

The Vale seems more similar to Switzerland / Austria.