Tyrion’s Journey
Tyrion’s journey from Pentos to Meereen is full of events and adventures that a man used to royal life like him didn’t think of living through at any point of time. In the course of his journey, he travels by a ship from King’s Landing to Pentos, through the Valyrian roads to sailing on Rhoyne, through sailing past Valyria to Meereen, first as a refugee, then a disguised spy, to a captive and finally a slave. Tyrion is slowly discovering what the real world is, how cruel it can be. Through his journey, we get to observe Essos which has not been described in such detail in the past. His journey describes the changing geographies, customs, religions and ethnicities.
Food
Food is used as a repeated motif in multiple books of ASOIAF. Numerous dishes are mentioned which one can’t easily associate with the real world and thus, it creates an element of mystery and intrigue. Culinary concepts as staple and delicacy change meaning over geographic locations. In Dorne, dishes are cooked with multiple peppers, snakes and even venom. This makes them appear strange and dangerous to other people of Westeros. In Ghiscari regions, like Astapor or Meereen, dog and especially dog foetuses make a delicacy. Daenerys finds it abhorrent. Lord Manderly is thought to have murdered three important Freys and fed the Boltons and Freys in Ramsey Bolton’s marriage with pies made from their flesh. Thus, food is an essential element that creates the world of ASOIAF.
Snow
Since winter is approaching Westeros, which is a reason for many to worry as the seasons are decades long sometimes, cold winds have started to flow and the North is slowly getting covered in ice. The North is a cold place even is summers, but winters can be fatal. No crops can be harvested and people die of frostbite in hours. Since, Baratheon party is not used to the snow they find it additionally unbearable. Snow also heralds the arrival of Others who are supernatural creatures set on invading Westeros.
Fire
Daenerys discovers that her dragons are feeding on humans and have killed many in the process. She realises at this point that she can’t control her dragons. She is brought human bones multiple times to see and do justice. She feels guilty for unleashing the dragons when she can’t control them.
