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Whatever the number of Links, another interesting question arises concerning the relationships between the various Links. Are the various Links part of a bloodline, reincarnations of the same entity, or simply separate individuals all chosen for a similar purpose? This and other questions of [[Zelda lore]] are intimately tied with timeline theorizing. (See section below on relation to other Zelda theory) | Whatever the number of Links, another interesting question arises concerning the relationships between the various Links. Are the various Links part of a bloodline, reincarnations of the same entity, or simply separate individuals all chosen for a similar purpose? This and other questions of [[Zelda lore]] are intimately tied with timeline theorizing. (See section below on relation to other Zelda theory) | ||
====Hyrule==== | |||
(Spoiler Warning!) At the end of {{Zelda| WW}} [[Old Hyrule]] has been flooded. [[Link]] and [[Tetra]] sail off to find a new land to call [[Hyrule]]. This [[New Hyrule]] is depicted in {{Zelda| ST}}. Thus it is fairly uncontroversial that there are at least two Hyrules. However, some timeline theorists believe that there may be more than two. If the timeline is divided, for example, there would be alternate Hyrules existing in the separate timelines. Alternatively, some fans speculate that more than one kingdom of [[Hyrule]] arises over the ages thereby explaining differences in the physical and political geography of Hyrule in various games in the series. (see "Relation to Other Zelda Theory" below) | |||
===Retcons?=== | ===Retcons?=== | ||
"Retcon" is short for "retroactive continuity" and refers to any alteration in the canonical facts in a fictional world.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retroactive_continuity</ref>] The possibility of retconing elements of the Zelda universe makes timeline theorizing especially difficult since any apparent contradiction between games in the series might be interpreted as a change in the canon story. When a timeline theorist argues for a specific placement based on a story conflict which would arise if the games were placed differently or criticizes another timeline theory based on story conflict, the possiblity of retcon reduces the effectiveness of such arguments. | |||
Fans debate the extent to which the series has been retconned; however, most agree that a timeline theory which necessitates fewer posited retcons is superior to a theory which posits a larger number of retcons. (see "Weighing the Evidence" below) The most common story elements suggested to be retconned are the [[backstory]] elements which appear in instruction manuals and other sources but not within the games themselves. (See "Instruction Manuals/Official Literature) below) | |||
===Backstories?=== | ===Backstories?=== | ||
A prominent issue in timeline theorizing is that of how to fit the various [[backstories]] into the timeline. Roughly, a game's "[[backstory]]" refers to story events related over the course of a game, especially at the beginning, which are not actually a part of story actually "played out" by the character over the course of the game. The [[backstory]] may be essential for understanding the historical context of the events related in a game and/or the character's motivations, but the [[backstory]] is not part of the narrative which the character/player experiences over the course of the game. It is worth noting that the line between [[backstory]] and the rest of the story in a game is often blurry. | |||
A game's [[backstory]] may be useful for placing it within the timeline. For example the backstory in {{Zelda| PH}} simply relates the events which occured in {{Zelda| WW}} thereby confirming in game that [[Phantom Hourglass]] is a sequel to [[Windwaker]]. In other games, the backstory may tie together two games more indirectly. (Spoiler Warning!) For example, fans often take the cutscene in {Zelda| TP}} where Ganon is shown to be sealed in the [[mirror of twilight]] to depict an event which occurs between {{Zelda| OoT}} and {{Zelda| MM}} after Link has warned the [[King of Hyrule]] about [[Ganondorf's]] evil intents. Of course this theory is not universal, and some of the events are speculative (see "Speculation" below), but it is a good example of the usefulness of [[backstories]] for timeline theorizing. | |||
Backstories can present a problem for timeline theorists when a game's [[backstory]] seems to conflict with canon events in other games in the series or other [[backstories]]. The two most prominent examples are the [[{{Zelda| AoL}} backstory]] and the seemingly conflicting accounts of [[Hyrule's creation story]] related in {{Zelda| ALttP}}, {{Zelda| OoT}}, and {{Zelda| SS}}. | |||
The [[Adventure of Line backstory]] claims both that the Zelda whom Link is to awaken in the game is the first princess Zelda and that the [[Triforce of Courage]] has been hidden since this "first" Zelda fell into her magical slumber. Since [[Adventure of Link]], several games have been released which purportedly occur before adventure of Link. Since Zelda appears in these other games, this seems to conflict with the claim that the Zelda in [[Adventure of Link]] is the first. This difficulty might be circumvented by claiming that the sleeping Zelda continued to sleep while other Zeldas were born and the events of other games occurred; however, the the appearance of the [[Triforce of Courage]] in several of these games blocks such a move. If the [[Triforce of Courage]] is supposed to have been hidden since the [[Adventure of Link]] Zelda was cursed, any game which features both Zelda the triforce of courage should occur after {{Zelda| AoL}} if the backstory is part of [[Hyrule's]] history. However, there is a great deal of evidence conflicting with the claim that the original NES titles occurred first in the timeline. Recently, the events in {{Zelda| SS}} depicting the origin of Hyrule provide especially strong conflict with the events in the [[Adventure of Link backstory]]. | |||
Theorists have suggested multiple ways of accounting for the [[Adventure of Link backstory]]. The story may have been retconned. The retcon may be changes in the details -- for example claiming that the Zelda in Adventure of Link is not actually the first Zelda -- or the story may have been more or less removed from the Canon. Alternatively, the conflicts arising from the [[Adventure of Link backstory]] have led some theorists to claim that the original NES titles are not part of the "main timeline." (See "How Many Timelines?" above) | |||
Another problematic [[backstory]] element is the [[imprisoning war]] alluded to in the [[backstory for {{Zelda| ALttP}}]]. Fans are divided over whether the [[imprisoning war]] occurred between games in the timeline or whether the [[imprisoning war]] depicts the events which occur in another game in the series such as {{Zelda| OoT}} or {{Zelda| FSA}}. | |||
{{Zelda| MC}} also presents some interesting questions via its backstory. For example, the relationship between the [[Hero of Men]] depicted in the [[Minish Cap backstory]] and the various incarnations of Link is questionable. | |||
The [[unification war]] mentioned in the [[Ocarina of Time backstory]] is also a point of contention. | |||
==Methods== | ==Methods== | ||
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====Testing for Consistency==== | ====Testing for Consistency==== | ||
===Weighing the Evidence=== | |||
==Evolution of Timeline Theories== | ==Evolution of Timeline Theories== | ||