Post by Andorinha on Jan 16, 2009 23:53:19 GMT -6
The Sil ARCHIVE: week three - reading assignment
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Reply
Message 1 of 1 in Discussion
From: megn1
Sent: 4/27/2002 7:16 PM
April 28
By today (actually tomorrow, I'm posting this on 4/27), you should have read chapters 6 - 11 of Quenta Silmarillion. I've posted a few discussion starters, inspired by the reading. As always, if you have something else you want to talk about, or questions about what you are reading, please post them. This is a collective learning experience.
A few thoughts about this week's reading:
The book has finally hit a stride - there is a clear storyline which is moving forward. We have reached the main event of the book, from which everything else follows: the theft of the Silmarils by Melkor, and the oath of Feanor and his sons to retreive them. It is worth reading the wording of that oath several times. (It's on page 93 in my book.) Those who are reading for the first time, consider whether it was a wise decision to take that oath - those who have already read Sil know the answer! That oath will take on a life of its own as the story moves forward.
Also worth re-reading and remembering is the "Doom of the Noldor," spoken by Mandos as they move north, out of Valinor. (page 99 in my book) This, too, will come back to us again and again. Mark that page, for future reference.
Time to start using the map! The chapter "Of the Sindar" begins to describe Beleriand. It's a little confusing, because Tolkien is still telling us how the land came to be divided up the way it is, and the map shows later developments than this chapter describes. Confusingly, Angband (Melkor's home) is not on the map - it's to the north, out of sight. Ultimately, to fully understand the unfolding story of the Noldor in Middle Earth, you will need to get a sense of the geography of Beleriand. But don't get too stressed about it - you will enjoy the book even if you can't keep all the places straight. For now, notice that Thingol and Melian's land, Doriath, is in the middle of the map. Also note the two main rivers, Gelion and Sirion (Siron starts in Doriath, with many feeders). Lammoth, where Melkor uttered his terrible cry, is in the far northwest of the map. That is also the area where Feanor landed in his ships.
Finally, in chapter 11 we get the creation of the sun and the moon. (Note that the world is still flat.) When the sun rose for the first time, it was the beginning of the first age of the sun, which is generally referred to as the First Age. It is from this age that we are counting when we call the time of LOTR the Third Age. There have been many ages prior to this - remember that Melkor was imprisoned for three ages, and that's just since the elves were born. But now we have entered into the timeline on which they are still counting in the days of the War of the Ring.
Have fun!
____________________________________________
Reply
Message 1 of 1 in Discussion
From: megn1
Sent: 4/27/2002 7:16 PM
April 28
By today (actually tomorrow, I'm posting this on 4/27), you should have read chapters 6 - 11 of Quenta Silmarillion. I've posted a few discussion starters, inspired by the reading. As always, if you have something else you want to talk about, or questions about what you are reading, please post them. This is a collective learning experience.
A few thoughts about this week's reading:
The book has finally hit a stride - there is a clear storyline which is moving forward. We have reached the main event of the book, from which everything else follows: the theft of the Silmarils by Melkor, and the oath of Feanor and his sons to retreive them. It is worth reading the wording of that oath several times. (It's on page 93 in my book.) Those who are reading for the first time, consider whether it was a wise decision to take that oath - those who have already read Sil know the answer! That oath will take on a life of its own as the story moves forward.
Also worth re-reading and remembering is the "Doom of the Noldor," spoken by Mandos as they move north, out of Valinor. (page 99 in my book) This, too, will come back to us again and again. Mark that page, for future reference.
Time to start using the map! The chapter "Of the Sindar" begins to describe Beleriand. It's a little confusing, because Tolkien is still telling us how the land came to be divided up the way it is, and the map shows later developments than this chapter describes. Confusingly, Angband (Melkor's home) is not on the map - it's to the north, out of sight. Ultimately, to fully understand the unfolding story of the Noldor in Middle Earth, you will need to get a sense of the geography of Beleriand. But don't get too stressed about it - you will enjoy the book even if you can't keep all the places straight. For now, notice that Thingol and Melian's land, Doriath, is in the middle of the map. Also note the two main rivers, Gelion and Sirion (Siron starts in Doriath, with many feeders). Lammoth, where Melkor uttered his terrible cry, is in the far northwest of the map. That is also the area where Feanor landed in his ships.
Finally, in chapter 11 we get the creation of the sun and the moon. (Note that the world is still flat.) When the sun rose for the first time, it was the beginning of the first age of the sun, which is generally referred to as the First Age. It is from this age that we are counting when we call the time of LOTR the Third Age. There have been many ages prior to this - remember that Melkor was imprisoned for three ages, and that's just since the elves were born. But now we have entered into the timeline on which they are still counting in the days of the War of the Ring.
Have fun!