Snarks

Snarks are fabled creatures of Westeros.^[1]

Folkore

Snarks are supposed to live beyond the Wall with grumkins.^[2] In derision of the apparent futility of the Wall and the mission of the Night's Watch, the snarks are often referenced as an improbable danger that is hiding in the haunted forest.^[3] They are known to be elusive and some may have beards.^[3]

Adults no longer believe in snarks and consider them imaginary beings,^[4] comparable to legendary animals and supernatural entities^[5] or the monsters which children's wet nurses warn them against.^[2]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Tyrion Lannister jokes about grumkins and snarks to Jon Snow.^[2]^[6]

Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, describes his sister Maege, Lady of Bear Island, as a hoary old snark to Jon.^[7]

A Clash of Kings

Lord Varys disbelieves Ser Alliser Thorne's story of wights, thinking them as non-existent as grumkins and snarks.^[8]

A Feast for Crows

The small council of King Tommen I Baratheon mocks the mission of the Night's Watch, with Qyburn saying they defend against grumkins and snarks.^[3]

Quotes

The Night's Watch is a midden heap for all the misfits of the realm. I've seen you looking at Yoren and his boys. Those are your new brothers, Jon Snow, how do you like them? Sullen peasants, debtors, poachers, rapers, thieves, and bastards like you all wind up on the Wall, watching for grumkins and snarks and all the other monsters your wet nurse warned you about. The good part is there are no grumkins or snarks, so it's scarcely dangerous work. The bad part is you freeze your balls off, but since you're not allowed to breed anyway, I don't suppose that matters.^[2]
—Tyrion Lannister to Jon Snow

Jon: The rangers say it's just woods and mountains and frozen lakes, with lots of snow and ice.
Tyrion: And the grumkins and the snarks. Let us not forget them, Lord Snow, or else what's that big thing for?^[6]
—Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister

What if we should find the queen and discover that this talk of dragons was just some sailor's drunken fancy? This wide world is full of such mad tales. Grumkins and snarks, ghosts and ghouls, mermaids, rock goblins, winged horses, winged pigs ... winged lions.^[5]
—Tyrion Lannister to Griff

It has been centuries since White Harbor has seen any wildlings, and the ironmen have never troubled this coast. Does Lord Stannis propose to defend us from snarks and dragons too?^[9]
—Marlon Manderly to Davos Seaworth

Behind the Scenes

Snarks may be a homage by George R. R. Martin to The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll.

References

↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 13, Tyrion II.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 8, Tyrion III.
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 19, Jon III.
↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 70, Jon IX.
↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 25, Tyrion VI.
↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 19, Davos III.

[Rtwoiafthe_bones_and_beyond:_yi_ti{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-1] The World of Ice & Fire, The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti.

[Ragot13{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 13, Tyrion II.

[Raffc17{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.

[Rasos51{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-4] A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.

[Radwd8{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-5] 5.0 ^5.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 8, Tyrion III.

[Ragot19{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-6] 6.0 ^6.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 19, Jon III.

[Ragot70{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-7] A Game of Thrones, Chapter 70, Jon IX.

[Racok25{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-8] A Clash of Kings, Chapter 25, Tyrion VI.

[Radwd19{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-9] A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 19, Davos III.

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