Island: A landmass, especially one smaller than a continent, surrounded by water.
Isle: An island, especially a small one.
Islet: A very small island.
The island included in a fictional work can be one of the most interesting locations in the entire story. It can also be the destination of great pains and labors undertaken by others to reach its shores. Many characters may risk their lives at the off-chance that they might arrive on the island still alive and all in one piece. The journey that is set out at seas in order to reach the isle is often also as important as the destination itself. The numbered trials faced by characters help to build anticipation of the mysterious island once they have arrived at it and disembarked from their rafts or vessels. The unveiling of the island and how the land mass has been characterized by, is tied to this great length of the voyage.
Greek Mythology: Edith Hamilton wrote in her work Mythology of the great sea-faring Trojan hero known as Aeneas. Aeneas was the offspring of Venus and was one of the most prominent fighters in the Trojan war, considered second only to Hector. He successfully evaded capture when Troy fell with the help of his mother where he sailed with his son and father away from the walls of the city. He was known for his long journeys at sea where he faced many trials. He was brought to the shores of Italy on many occasions, and notably, the island of Sicily. Once banked on the island, they encountered a disheveled man, a forgotten solider of Ulysses who insisted that they leave immediately as the island was overrun by Cyclopes. Aeneas and his company did not wait to verify this claim and left as soon as they were told this news. As they were cutting the ropes of their docked ship, a Cyclopes heard them and nearly succeeded in capturing them before they set sail.
Aeneas avoided being devoured by the Cyclopes, but was nearly drowned in the seas by Juno, who was vengeful and distrusted all Trojans and knew that the city of Rome, as predicted, was to be founded by men of Trojan origin. Aeolus, brother of Juno, calmed the waters and allowed safe passage for Aeneas and his crew to get by. When he sailed from Sicily to North Africa, he landed in Carthage, and Juno planned again to divert his attention away from Italy. She intended for him to fall in love with Dido, a beautiful widow who ruled the city. With the help of Cupid, it was a successful union and they fell in love and enjoyed the company of one another for a time. But the Gods intervened and Jupitor sent Mercury to remind Aeneas that Carthage was not to be his permanent home. That he must not become attached to the luxuries provided to him by Dido, and that he had to fulfill the rest of his destiny. And so he set sail from Carthage to the west coast of Italy in the dead of night, not informing his beloved Dido. But she knew of his departure, and as he tried to flee in secret, she saw from the walls of her city as his ships sailed away, and she lit a funeral pyre and killed herself.
Aeneas sought out the Sibyl of Cumae, a wise old woman who could foresee the future, the old woman lead Aeneas to another journey through the underworld where they were to search for his father. They travel through the horrors of the afterlife and by the learned ways of Sibyl, they are both able to pass through its various levels unscathed. They were prevented from being eaten by the three headed dog Cerberus when she fed the beast some cake, they were able to cross the stretch of water ferried by Charon because they carried the Golden Bough. Once they discovered his father who was located in the Elysian fields, Anchises instructed Aeneas on how to best establish his home and what was in store for the future of Rome. Once this knowledge was imparted to his son, Aeneas took leave of his father and he departed with Sibyl from the Underworld back to the land of the living. The following day Aeneas and the rest of the Trojans set sail for their promised land.
Edith Hamilton also included in her work the island known as Delos. Mentioned in Mythology, is the story of the welcoming of a figure known as Leto, and the transformation of the island from a rocky islet into a treasured heavenly isle;
"Leto (Latona) She was the daughter of the Titians Phoebe and Coeus. Zeus loved her, but when she was about to bear a child he abandoned her, afraid of Hera. All countries and islands, afraid for the same reason, refused to receive her and give her a place where her child could be reborn. On and on she wandered in desperation until she reached a bit of land which was floating on the sea. It had no foundation, but was tossed hither and thither by waves and winds. It was called Delos and besides being of all islands the most insecure it was rocky and barren. But when Leto set foot on it and asked for refuge, the little isle welcomed her gladly, and at that moment four lofty pillars rose from the bottom of the sea and held it firmly anchored forever. There Leto's chilren were born, Artemis and Pheobus Apollo; and in after years Apollo's glorious temple stood there, visited by men from all over the world. The barren rock was called "the heaven-built isle," and from being the most despised it became the most renowned of islands."
Celtic Mythology: In the work by T.W. Rolleston, Celtic, there is written of the sea-faring hero known as Maeldun, whom after discovering his real identity is different from what his foster parents had told to him, decided to go on an epic journey at the advice of a druid, this was known as the Voyage of Maeldun. He traveled with a company of twenty other men which included three of his foster brothers and they visited over a dozen fantastical islands on their journey. Included are some of the locations Rolleston writes about, and the strange happenings that occurred on each island;
"The Island of the Great Birds: This was a terraced island, with trees all round it, and great birds sitting on the trees. Maeldun landed first alone, and carefully searched the island for any evil thing, but finding none, the rest followed him, and killed and ate many of the birds, bringing other on board their boat."
"The Island of the Giant Horses: A great, flat island, which it fell by lot to German and Diuran to explore first. They found vast green racecourse, on which were the marks of horses' hoofs, each as big as the sail of a ship, and the shells of nuts of monstrous size were lying about, and much plunder. So they were afraid, and took ship hastily again, and from the sea they saw a horse-race in progress and heard the shouting of a great multitude cheering on the white horse or the brown, and saw the giant horses running swifter than the wind. So they rowed away with all their might, thinking they had come upon an assembly of demons."
"The Island of the Fiery Swine: With great weariness, hunger, and thirst they arrived at the tenth island, which was full of trees loaded with golden apples. Under the trees went red beasts, like fiery swine, that kicked the trees with their legs, when the apples fell and the beasts consumed them. The beasts came out at morning only, when a multitude of birds left the island, and swam out to sea till nones, when they turned and swam inward again till vespers, and ate the apples all night. Maeldun and his comrades landed at night, and felt the soil hot under their feet from the fiery swine their caverns underground. They collected all the apples they could, which were good both against hunger and thirst, and loaded their boat with them and put to sea once more, refreshed."
"The Island of the Anchorite: Here they found a wooded island full of birds, and on it a solitary man, whose only clothing was his hair. They asked him of his country and kin. He tells them that he was a man of Ireland who had put to sea with a sod of his native country under his feet. God had turned the sod into an island, adding a foot's breadth to it and one tree for every year. The birds are his kith and kin, and they all wait there till Doomsday, miraculously nourished by angels. He entertained them for three nights, and then they sailed away."
"The Island of the Flaming Rampart: They now came in sight of an island which was not large, and it had about it a rampart of flame that circled round and round it continually. In one part of the rampart there was an opening, and when this opening came opposite to them they saw through it the whole island, and saw those who dwelt therein, even men and women, beautiful, many, and wearing adorned garments, with vessels of gold in their hands. And the festal music which they made came to the ears of the wanderers. For a long time they lingered there, watching this marvel, 'and they deemed it delightful to behold.'"
Island of the Blessed: There are beliefs of the transmigration of the soul whose journey travels beyond earthly conditions to a temporary meeting place, or a final destination and resting place, which are often referred to as an Island of sorts. Alexander Porteous mentioned the Egyptian belief known as the Isle of the Blest:
"The Ancient Egyptians believed that the souls of the dead had a long and arduous journey before they reached the Islands of the Blest.The Book of the Dead gave them full instructions, which, if they obeyed them to the letter, enabled them to reach the goal without fail. Professor Maspero, describing the journey of the soul, says: "On leaving the tomb he turned his back on the valley, and staff in hand climbed the hills which bounded it on the west, plunging boldly into the desert, where some bird, or even a kindly insect such as a praying mantis, a grasshopper, or a butterfly as his guide. Soon he came to one of the Sycamores which grow in the sand far away from the Nile, and are accounted magic trees by the fellahin. Out of the foliage a goddess Nuit, Hathor, or Nit half-emerged, and offered him a dish of fruit, loaves of bread, and jar of water. By accepting these gifts he becomes the guest of the goddess, and could never more retrace his steps without special permission. Beyond the Sycamore were lands of terror, infested by serpents and ferocious beasts, intersected by ponds and marshes where gigantic monkeys cast their nets." Having successfully eluded all these and other perils, he at last reached the Isle of the Blest, where perpetual bliss was his lot."
Lewis Spence in his book Myths of the North American Indians described an Algonquin myth which told of the destination known as the Island of the Blessed. In the story of The Spirit Bride, a young Algonquin brave was renowned as a courageous warrior and skilled hunter, but he happened to be very unlucky, for when he found his bride to be, their union was not consummated, and she died on the day of their wedding. He was not himself after her death and was struck by a deep melancholy, and in his state of grief, he spent most of his days by her grave-site. When he overheard some elders speak of a path to the Spirit-world, he regained hope and sought out this path in order that he might be reunited with his loved one. He traveled wearily for many days until he came upon a lodge high on a hill. He encountered an old man and asked that he might give him instructions on how to arrive at the Spirit-world;
""Yes," said the old man gravely, throwing aside his cloak of swan's skin. "Only a few days ago she who you seek rested in my lodge. If you will leave your body here you may follow her. To reach the Island of the Blessed you must cross yonder gulf you see in the distance. But I warn you crossing will be no easy matter. Do you still wish to go?"
"Oh, yes, yes," cried the warrior eagerly, and as the words were uttered he felt himself grow suddenly lighter. The whole aspect, too, of the scene was changed. Everything looked brighter and more ethereal. He found himself, in a moment walking through thickets which offered no resistance to his passage, and he knew that he was a spirit, traveling in the Spirit-World. When he reached the gulf which the old man had indicated he found to his delight a wonderful canoe ready on the shore. It was cut from a singe white stone, and shone and sparked in the sun like a jewel. The warrior lost no time in embarking, and as he put off from the shore he saw his pretty bride enter just such another canoe as his and imitate all his movements. Side by side they made for the Island of the Blessed, a charming woody islet set in the middle of the water, like an emerald in silver. When they were about half-way across a sudden storm arose, and the huge waves threatened to engulf them. Many other people had embarked on the perilous waters by this time, some of whom perished in the furious tempest. But the youth and maiden still battled on bravely, never losing sight of one another. Because they were good and innocent, the Master of Life had decreed that they should arrive safely at the fair island, and after a weary struggle they felt their canoes grate on the shore.
Hand in hand the lovers walked among the beautiful sights and sounds that greeted their eyes and ears from every quarter. There was no trace of the recent storm.The sea was as smooth as glass and the sky as clear as crystal. The youth and his bride felt that they could wander thus forever. But at length a faint, sweet voice bade the former return to his home in the Earth-country.
"You must finish your mortal course," it whispered softly. "You will become a great chief among your own people. Rule wisely and well, and when your earthly career is over you shall return to your bride, who will retain her youth and beauty forever."
The young man recognized the voice as that of the Master of Life, and sadly bade farewell to the woman. He was not without hope now, however, but looked forward to another and more lasting reunion. Returning to the old man's lodge, he regained his body, went home as the gently voice on the island had commanded him, and became a father to his people for many years. By his just and kindly rule he won the hearts of all who knew him, and ensured for himself a safe passage to the Island of the Blessed, where he arrived at last to partake of everlasting happiness with his beautiful bride."
Creation Myths: There are many popular Indigenous creation myths that are told of the earth or a prominent land mass that have sprouted from different kinds of organic matter. In his written work Myths of the North American Indians, Lewis Spence has written of different origin stories regarding the creation of islands and eventually the whole world which came into being;
"Algonquian Creation-Myth: In many other Indian mythologies we find the wind brooding over the primeval ocean in the form of a bird. In some creation-myths amphibious animals dive into the waters and bring up sufficient mud with them to form a beginning of the new earth. In a number of these tales no actual act of creation is recorded, but a reconstruction of matter only. The Algonquins relate that their great god Michabo, when hunting one day with wolves for dogs, was surprised to see the animals enter a great lake and disappear. He followed them into the waters with the object of rescuing them, but as he did so the lake suddenly overflowed and submerged the entire earth. Michabo dispatched a raven with directions to find a piece of earth which might serve as a nucleus for a new world, but the bird returned from its quest unsuccessful. Then the god sent an otter on a like errand, but it too failed to brink back the needful terrestrial germ. At last a musk-rat was sent on the same mission, and it returned with sufficient earth to enable Michabo to recreate the solid land. The trees had become denuded of their branches, so the god discharged arrows at them, which provided them with new boughs. After this Michabo married the musk-rat, and from their union sprang the human race."
"The Muskhogean Creation-Story: The Muskhogean Indians believe that in the beginning the primeval waste of waters alone was visible. Over the dreary expanse two pigeons or doves flew hither and thither, and in course of time observed a single blade of grass spring above the surface. The solid earth followed gradually, and the terrestrial sphere took its present shape. A great hill, Nunne Chaha, rose in he midst, and in the center of this was the house of the deity Esaugetuh Emisse, the 'Master of Breath.' He took the clay which surrounded his abode, and from it molded the first men, and as the waters still covered the earth he was compelled to build a great wall upon which to dry the folk he made. Gradually the soft mud became transformed into bone and flesh, and Esaugetuh was successful in directing the waters into their proper channels, reserving the dry land for the men he had created."
Cursed Land: The separate land mass that had fearful or negative superstitious beliefs which surrounded the isle or islands. The place was to be avoided at all costs and sea-faring travelers would have to reroute their journeys and take the long way around to avoid coming into harms way by encountering the island. Alexander Porteous wrote of such islands to be avoided in his work The Forest in Folklore and Mythology;
"The forests of Belle Isle, an island situated near Newfoundland, are still as wild and desolate as they were four hundred years ago. This island, and a neighboring one called Quirpon, were, in early days, known as the Isles of Demons, from the marvelous tales which the early explorers brought home regarding them. The forests were supposed to be infested with demons, and the terror-stricken mariners who sailed past their shores heard the hideous shrieks and outcries which announced the celebration of some infernal orgy. So strong was the belief in these Demons that maps were drawn of the islands, showing their infernal inhabitants to be adorned with the usual accessories of Devils, such as tails and horns."
Islands Shrouded in Mists: In the collection of written works, Irish Folk and Fairly Tales, by W.B. Yeats, he includes the text known as
The Phantom Isle, by Giraldus Cambrensis:
"Among the other islands is one newly formed, which they call the Phantom Isle, which had its origin in this manner. One calm day a large mass of earth rose to the surface of the sea, where no land had ever been seen before, to the great amazement of islanders who observed it. Some of them said that it was a whale, or other immense sea-monster; others remarking that it continued motionless, said, "No, it is land." In order, therefore, to reduce their doubts to certainty, some picked young men of the island determined to approach nearer to the spot in a boat. When, however, they came so near to it that they thought they should go one shore, the island sank in the water and entirely vanished from sight. The next day it re-appeared, and again mocked the same youths with the like delusion. At length, on their rowing towards it on the third day, they followed the advice of an older man, and let fly an arrow, barbed with red-hot steel, against the island; and then landing, found it stationary and habitable.
This adds one to the many proofs that fire is the greatest enemies to every sort of phantom; in so much that those who have seen apparitions, fall into a swoon as soon as they are sensible of the brightness of fire. For fire, both from its position and nature, is the noblest of elements, being a witness of the secrets of the heavens. The sky is fiery; the planets are fiery; the bush burnt with fire, but was not consumed; the Holy Ghost sat upon the apostles in tongues of fire."
Fiction & Film: In the film The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, based on the C.S. Lewis novels The Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian, Lucy, Edmund and their cousin Eustace are whisked away back to the magical land of Narnia through a portal found in a painting of a sailing ship. They find themselves on board a stately looking vessel where they embarked on a journey through the various Lone Islands. This territory had become divorced from Narnian rule and had become corrupt, it was ruled by a greedy Governor that has allowed for the existence of a Slave Trade. Once Prince Caspian arrived at this island, his identity and ancestry restore proper rule to the island, and they freed all those who have been wrongfully imprisoned.
The second island they banked upon, was the memorable location where Eustace is tempted by treasure and turns into a dragon. Only by the aid of Aslan was he able to change back into a boy. They arrived at another isle, known as Dark Island, a mysterious land mass they discovered under the cover of darkness, the island was veiled in mists and shown only by the moonlight. The island was known to have corrupted the minds of those who drew near to it, and it was able to discover the innermost fears of the sailors and used their terrors against them.
They unexpectedly found one of the lost Lords and rescued him, but when they encountered the man, they saw that he had been tormented by the island for years and had nearly gone insane. In the film, Edmund was shown to be confronted by the ghost of the White Witch, and Prince Caspian was shown to be insulted by the ghost of his deceased father. They departed the nightmarish island and ventured to the island of the fallen star, where the man known as Ramandu and his daughter lived, he instructed the group that they must sail towards the end of the world and leave one of their company behind.
In the fictional work by Robert Louis Stevensen Treasure Island, the character of the young boy known as Jim Hawkins lived and worked at the Admiral Benbow Inn. He lead an ordinary life with his mother where they managed the property together until a group of unsavory characters showed up in search of a man known as 'The Captain,' the inn was ransacked in search of a map that would lead them to the infamous Treasure Island. Jim Hawkins took the hidden map before they could get to it and delivered it to the Squire and the Doctor. They had undertaken their own expedition to the island where they boarded a vessel known as the Hispaniola. They were accompanied by a distrusting crew that was intermixed with local sailors and pirates from a previous ship known as the Walrus. Jim Hawkins gained entry to the vessel for his good work and stealth in having delivered the map to the two men.
Aboard the ship Jim encountered the infamous character known as Long John Silver, a one legged old sea-man. In the dead of night while hidden inside a wooden barrel, Jim overheard a mutiny being planned by Long John Silver and a group of men who planned to betray the Captain and loyal crew members of the ship. Jim took the delicate information he had discovered and informed the Captain in his private chambers of the treachery. They found themselves burdened with the precarious task of having to hold control of the ship while staying on course for Treasure Island.
In the famous work Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, the character of Lemuel Gulliver undertakes a voyage to several remote islands. He encounters various races of people who are unknown to human discovery, and witnesses islands managed by many fantastical creatures. On the Island of Lilliput, Gulliver discovers a race of tiny people small enough to fit in the palm of one's hand. They imprison Gulliver upon his arrival over their fear of his sheer size which they perceive as a threat to them. Swift equates the ruling power of these inhabitants as a people, and their ability to reason, with the puniness of their size. They are small in stature, and their miniature size is conveyed in their apparent preoccupation with seemingly unimportant matters.
He escapes the Lilliputians and ventures on another ship to the island of Brobdingnag. Oppositely, the inhabitants of the isle are enormous, and the island is run by a giant race of humans. Gulliver is picked up by a farmer and is exhibited as a traveling curiosity to those who are fascinated by his small size. He is later sold to the Queen of the Island who keeps his company and builds him a miniature house to live in. As a guest, he informs the Queen and King of the current state of affairs on his side of the globe. He does not stay in their court very long or on the island permanently and his house is stolen by an eagle that swoops down from the sky and carries him away while still inside his traveling box.
Of the various islands he visits on his voyage, one is known as The Land of the Houyhnhnms, an island inhabited by a deformed and unruly race of people known as the Yahoos, and a race of talking horses known as Houyhnhnms. He is taken into one of the homes of the Houyhnhnms and he learns while in their company that the talking horse race are the refined and rational breed of inhabitants on the island. But he does not stay long as they perceive Gulliver to be a Yahoo, albeit the most logical and least-deformed of the Yahoos, they still do not trust Gulliver and perceive him as a threat to their own personal security, so he is sent away in a canoe.
Poetry:
Hy-Brasail- The Isle of the Blest
On the ocean that hollows the rocks where ye dwell,
A shadowy land has appeared, as they tell;
Men thought it a region of sunshine and rest,
And they called it Hy-Brasail, the isle of the blest.
From year unto year on the ocean's blue rim,
The beautiful spectre showed lovely and dim;
The golden clouds curtained the deep where it lay,
And it looked like an Eden, away, far away!
A peasant who heard of the wonderful tale,
In the breeze of the Orient loosened his sail;
From Ara, the holy he turned to the west,
For though Ara was holy, Hy-Brasail was blest.
He heard not the voices that called from the shore-
He heard not the rising wind's menacing roar;
Home, kindred, and safety, he left on that day.
And he sped to Hy-Brasail, away, far away!
Morn rose on the deep, and that shadowy isle,
O'er the faint rim of distance, reflected its smile;
Noon burned on the wave, and that shadowy shore
Seemed lovelily distant, and faint as before;
Lone evening came down on the wanderer's track,
And to Ara again he looked timidly back;
Oh! far on the verge of the ocean it lay,
Yet the isle of the blest was away, far away!
Rash dreamer, return! O, ye winds of the main,
Bear him back to his own peaceful Ara again.
Rash fool! for a vision of fanciful bliss,
To barter thy calm life of labour and peace,
The warning of reason was spoken in vain;
He never revisited Ara again!
Night fell on the deep, amidst tempest and spray,
And he died on the waters, away, far away!
Gerald Griffin