along with the (Roman) Catholic Church – and while it's true that Jordan used everything from everything (see FAQ, interviews) he ever read (e. g. if you read Hemingway's books you will see many, many things which Jordan deemed worthy to use in his own books), the biggest motifs (I think) came from Faulkner (as inspirations, naturally).

From the character of Rand, through (the development of) the whole story, through 'small' things like the agelessness of Aes Sedai, the cloaks of the Warders, or sometimes Jordan did quite a deed, like condensing As I Lay Dying (the whole novel!) into two chapters in TSR (chapter 25 and 26) with a few twists, and so many things come from Light in August, Soldiers' Pay etc. that I reckon the spine, the basic foundation of WOT is based on Faulkner's works, despite having not seen William Faulkner's name ever mentioned in posts regarding WOT.

Thoughts, opinions?

I don't recall enough Faulkner to know.

 

But read 'The Belgariad' series by David Eddings and you will see lots of overlap.

On 2/14/2024 at 2:32 PM, DojoToad said:

I don't recall enough Faulkner to know.

 

It is worth to read his novels even just to compare things: Perrin's eyes etc, there are so many things which surely came from him. Or you will recognise a certain thing from A Rose for Emily etc. 

His best book is Light in August (he has Soldiers' Pay, The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying, LiA, and Pylon – A,A! is on the fence for me, his other books are just bad), read it, if you have the time, and you will see tons of stuff which Jordan used in WOT – in wildly different forms, of course.