Writing a specific atmosphere with a limited ability to

Question

For context, the world I'm writing is where woodland animals (think raccoons, badgers, foxes, etc.) exist on an island without humans and developed their own 'civilizations' (think wolf pack but more organized and less violent). With this comes some technology, such as spears, clay molded to make some form of bowls, fire, satchels, etc. With this lack of 'modern' technology and opposable thumbs, though, I'm finding it hard to set certain atmospheres.

In one of the chapters, a festival is going on. I want to give a specific atmosphere to the chapter. Sort of a whimsical, medieval festival-like atmosphere. However, they lack the ability for a lot of modern festival things, such as music and dancing, outfits, etc.

It's showing difficulty in creating such an atmosphere when it's a group of wild animals doing tournaments in the woods.

The festival is to honor the winter and pray for a better spring. What I've set up so far for the festival is...

• Friendly tournaments
• A feast
• Torches to light up the area

The environment I'm trying to nail is similar to the feeling you get from this video.

Is there anything I could write/add to make it have the same atmosphere? Any descriptive, themed terms that would convey that feeling to the reader? Could I get away with adding music/dancing in a way that is still primitive and not too modern for the setting?

Answer 1

I want to give a specific atmosphere to the chapter. Sort of a whimsical, medieval festival-like atmosphere. However, they lack the ability for a lot of modern festival things, such as music and dancing, outfits, etc.

Animals make music.

If these animals live in a forest, they hear birds singing all day long, they couldn't escape it. They would all be aware of daily 'music' even if they don't vocalize themselves.

Foxes make enthusiastic trills, and barks, and dog-like woos. Not sure what badgers and raccoons sound like, but there are internet videos of a porcupine 'talking' while he eats. Male mice sing to female mice for courtship – above the human range of hearing.

As for outfits, animal fur and feathers change throughout the year. It's not clear when your festival takes place (at the begining or end of winter). You can describe animals as being more attractive with their hibernation weight, or their winter coat, or whatever sounds logical for animals to look like this time of year.

worldbuild it

You've already created a society and a festival. You only need a bit of author confidence to create their festival songs – what you need is an angle, something to make it interesting and a bit of worldbuilding.

Not all species are equally good at singing and dancing, they'd have their own versions that suit their bodies. They may have some pride in their own traditions, with similar traditions in near species who share the same ecosystem,and some won't quite 'get' the quirks of the other animals' traditional festivities.

Children may find plenty in common through play, even species that are only close in height for a short time while the adults rarely mix.

Characterize it

Individualize specific characters that are universally recognized. An old man with the longest whiskers, a fussy woman who needs to control the food presentation, someone who sings a little too loud. Think back to every state fair and extended family function, add some of those touches.

With this comes some technology, such as spears, clay molded to make some form of bowls, fire, satchels, etc.

If they have bowls and sewing, they have drums. With spears, they have reeds and woodblocks and maybe wooden chimes or other tuned percussion. It doesn't take advanced technology to bang two things together and make a sound.

I get not wanting to Fred Flintstone an entire civilization, but all societies have members who work seriously while other persons entertain. If a technology can be used in practical ways, it can be adapted to help pass a winter underground.

Give it stakes

An entertainer of a forage-and-storage clan might actually earn their keep through the lean months. 'Bards' would use the festivals to network, share material, and publicly perform to make their reputations and gather invitations for wintering in a prominent clan's burrow.

The whole festival could gain a new dimension if a character has stakes in maneuvering its social aspects. Give them something they want and something they could lose, and then make the situation more complicated than they'd anticipated.