KKC Theory Wiki

Elodin's 'Seven Words to Make a Woman Love You' Are the Chandrian's Names

fringe symbolism · popularity 236 · 1 source thread

The legendary seven words are really the seven names of the Chandrian, which bring calamity to anyone who speaks them.

About: The Chandrian, Naming

Also involves: Elodin, Kvothe, Haliax, Cinder, Stercus, Usnea, Grey Dalcenti, Alenta, Denna, The Lethani

The theory§

Elodin habitually tests Kvothe with riddles that look like nonsense but probe for hidden knowledge, as when he asks where the moon goes when it is not in the sky. This theory reads his quip about knowing 'seven words that will make a woman love you' in the same spirit: a dark joke in which the seven words are the true names of the Chandrian, which 'make her love you' only in the grim sense that speaking them brings calamity down on the speaker, so a woman will keep you close as long as you never say them. It supposes Elodin learned the Chandrian's names independently, perhaps during his own wanderings, and is teasing Kvothe with a disguised warning. The reading is widely regarded as fringe and partly playful, and the names listed do not all match canon (Haliax's true name is Alaxel, not Haliax). The competing canonical reading is that the seven words are not names at all but a metaphor for understanding a person so completely that you can say the right thing to win them, the words differing for every woman and every moment, much as Naming requires true understanding.

Evidence§

  • The Master Namer has always had a sense of humor and as seen when he asks Kvothe how many fingers he’s holding up or the questions about playing cards in regards to Corners.
    OP frames Elodin as a riddler who jokes while probing for hidden knowledge. — u/vaxlith
  • seeing as he also knows Adem handspeak, it’s likely he is a part of the lethani and learned the names of the Chandrian himself
    OP's bridge claim: Elodin's Adem ties imply he could know the Chandrian names. — u/vaxlith
  • what if the seven words to make a woman love you are the names which will drag calamity to you by uttering them. Sorta like she’ll love you as long as you don’t say them/ all of them.
    OP's core thesis: the seven words are Chandrian names that bring calamity. — u/vaxlith
  • Elodin asks this question at Kvothe’s first admissions interview. … One question Elodin asks is “where does the moon go when it’s not in our sky.” It sounds like non-sense, but then we later find out that it travels to the fae. … I think his other questions are similar in that it would reveal whether kvothe knows some deep secret.
    Comment supports OP: Elodin's riddles secretly test for deep knowledge. — u/SirJohannvonRocktown
  • Alaxel, not Haliax, but very amusing idea and I'd say not completely out of the question.
    CounterCounter: the OP's listed names are wrong; Haliax's true name is Alaxel. — u/aerojockey
  • How is it likely that he knows adem and the names of the chandriam?? This is a really big stretch
    CounterCounter: challenges the OP's leap from Adem knowledge to knowing the names. — u/carlos_6m
  • The "Seven words to make a woman love you" are metaphorical and have to do with understanding people. … if you can understand a person then you can say something that causes them to fall in love with you … It's not an enchantment or "magic" it's just understanding. "For all that she lacked your fire." isn't an incantation
    CounterCounter: the canonical reading is understanding a person, not fixed names. — u/Selraroot
  • Different for every woman, each time you talk to her...... kind of like the wind, ever changing.
    CounterReinforces the metaphor counter: the words shift per person and moment. — u/angryrhino62

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier downgraded: only support is a word-count coincidence; speculative leap

Contributors§

Source threads§