KKC Theory Wiki

Caesura the Poet-Killer May Foreshadow Kvothe Killing Simmon

fringe prophecy · popularity 201 · 1 source thread

The sword's name 'poet-killer' could point not to Ambrose but to Sim, the poet who introduced Kvothe to the caesura.

About: Caesura, Simmon

Also involves: Kvothe, Ambrose Jakis, The Adem, Ademre

The theory§

This theory questions whether the epithet 'poet-killer' borne by Kvothe's sword Caesura foreshadows the death not of Ambrose but of Simmon. Caesura takes its name from the rhythmic pause in Eld Vintic verse, the poetry Sim introduced Kvothe to, giving Sim a strong thematic tie to the very blade. Read as a tragedy, the name could point to Kvothe one day killing his loyal friend through folly rather than malice. Sim is noted to frown when the sword is called poet-killer, as though the name unsettles him, and his place in line to a Small Kingdoms throne and the romance with Fela that Kvothe lingers over are taken as signs he is being set up to matter. A competing reading favours Roderic Calanthis, the poet-king Vashet once served, as the slain poet, since Kvothe also confesses he killed a king.

Evidence§

  • when the book talks about the man Kvothe kills in Imre and it is revealed that people often refer to his sword as poet killer, I though that it must be Ambrose! But as I ponder the endless possibilities I realized the story has another central poet character..... Simmon.
    OP's core pivot: the poet-killer may be Sim, not Ambrose. — u/beauxmanandkami
  • What if Ambrose is a red-herring? I dismissed the idea at first thinking that Kvothe would never hurt our dear Sim, but then I remember I am reading a tragedy.
    Frames the tragic genre as reason to expect Sim's death. — u/beauxmanandkami
  • Sim was the one who introduced Kvothe to Eld Vintic poetry and in particular the Caesura which he names the sword after. At the very least Sim has a very strong implied connection with the sword.
    Core thematic link: Sim tied to the very blade named poet-killer. — u/beauxmanandkami
  • He also frowns when the sword is referred to as the poet-killer, as if he finds it unpleasant.
    Comment adds textual tell: Sim is unsettled by the name. — u/antonjakov
  • Sim is in line to be king. Also if you notice when Kvothe mentions Fela falling in love with Sim when he read a poem there's this way it's told like he witnessed one of the great romances of the ages. Why point that out in such a way to Chronicler?
    Adds evidence Sim is being set up to matter narratively. — u/K1Strata
  • Maybe one of his schemes where he ropes in Sim and Wilem goes awry and Sim dies. It's not really his fault but he still takes the blame.
    Refines mechanism: death by folly/scheme, not malice. — u/yamanp
  • Sim and Ambrose aren't kings yet at this point. Vashet's poet king is the one Kvothe kills. That's my theory.
    CounterCounter: the slain poet is Vashet's poet-king, not Sim. — u/Byiron
  • My money is on the calanthis King Roderick. … I agree than Sim has a target on him and I am crying already.
    CounterCounter favouring Roderic Calanthis while conceding Sim is at risk. — u/Vorillian

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

fringe confirmed: speculative prophecy reading

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