Sylvan

Sylvan or Silvan refers to an association with the woods. Specifically, that which inhabits the wood, is made of tree materials, or comprises the forest itself. The term can also refer to a person who resides in the woods or a spirit of the wood. [cite web | year=2006| title=Entry for Sylvan | format=HTML | work=Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1) | url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/silvan | accessdate=2006-12-18] In mythology, the term also refers to deities or spirits of the woods. [OED|sylvan]

The term in English is from the Latin "sylvus" or "silvus" meaning "forest, woods." This root is found in place names in the U.S.A. like "Pennsylvania" (lit. "Penn's woods") and "Spotsylvania". The first names "Sylvester" and "Sylva(i)n" are also from the Latin word.

Textual examples

In the Chronicles of Narnia, silvans are tree spirits, appearing primarily in the fourth book of the series, "Prince Caspian".

In the book, the following exchange occurs:

:"Huge people - beautiful people - like gods and goddesses and giants. Hundreds and thousands of them, closing in behind us. What are they?"

:"It's the Dryads and Hamadryads and Silvans," said Trufflehunter. "Aslan has waked them."

In the "Dungeons & Dragons" role playing game, Sylvan is the language of all magical creatures associated with the wilderness, such as fairies, dryads, centaurs and such.

In the computer game "Heroes of Might and Magic V," Sylvan is a playable faction, featuring the Elves and other mythical forest creatures such as Sprites, Unicorns, Treants and Dragons.

In the TCG "," the term sylvan appears on a number of cards.

John Keats calls the subject of his famous poem "Ode on a Grecian Urn" a Sylvan historian.

In Christopher Hill's book "The World Turned Upside Down" the term Sylvan refers to "wild men" - people of the forest. They retreated to the woods away from the city because they disagreed with the laws. They could be idealized as Robin Hood; outlaws and bandits.

References