Post by Andorinha on Jan 18, 2009 9:56:49 GMT -6
Week Six - Reading Assignment
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Message 1 of 7 in Discussion
From: megn1
Sent: 5/15/2002 9:57 PM
This week’s assigned reading (due May 19) is chapters 19 and 20 of Quenta Sillmarillion.
Chapter 19 is the story of Beren and Luthien. It seems that this was Tolkien’s favorite story. On Tolkien’s gravestone is carved the name "Beren," and on his wife’s is the name "Luthien." That gives an indication of what this story meant to him. The story of Beren and Luthien meeting in the woods is one he recycled many times: Elwe/Thingol meeting Melian, Aragorn meeting Arwen, even Eol meeting Aredhel. Clearly it is an image that held great power for him.
Tolkien also told the story of Beren and Luthien in more than one form. You can find it in verse, in the chapter "A Knife in the Dark" in Fellowship of the Ring. Aragorn tells the tale to the Hobbits, as they sit by the fire at Weathertop.
This week I’m going to assign extra reading. (The class groans audibly.) I want you to read the verses that Aragorn chants at Weathertop. Also read the conversation that Sam and Frodo have in the chapter "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol" in Two Towers. It begins on page 320 in my edition. Sam starts by saying "Yes, that’s so, and we shouldn’t be here at all, if we’d known more about it before we started..." Finally, read the part of Appendix A in Return of the King titled "Here Follows a Part of the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen." It comes after the section on Gondor, and before the section called "The House of Eorl."
Lots of connections to be found here! Now that you have read of Beren and Luthien, these LOTR passages will be much clearer.
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Message 2 of 7 in Discussion
From: Zauber
Sent: 5/16/2002 8:52 AM
VERY NICE! Referring us back to the LOTR. Good thinking, Teach!
Seriously, I like what you are doing here!
Zauber
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Message 3 of 7 in Discussion
Sent: 5/18/2002 7:23 PM
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Sent: 5/18/2002 7:25 PM
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Message 5 of 7 in Discussion
From: megn1
Sent: 5/18/2002 7:28 PM
It's time to update this chart, now that we have the story of the fifth battle.
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Message 6 of 7 in Discussion
Sent: 5/18/2002 7:31 PM
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Message 7 of 7 in Discussion
From: megn1
Sent: 5/18/2002 7:33 PM
Sorry about the gunk - I can't seem to get rid of it.
I'll try again later, when I have time.
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Reply
Message 1 of 7 in Discussion
From: megn1
Sent: 5/15/2002 9:57 PM
This week’s assigned reading (due May 19) is chapters 19 and 20 of Quenta Sillmarillion.
Chapter 19 is the story of Beren and Luthien. It seems that this was Tolkien’s favorite story. On Tolkien’s gravestone is carved the name "Beren," and on his wife’s is the name "Luthien." That gives an indication of what this story meant to him. The story of Beren and Luthien meeting in the woods is one he recycled many times: Elwe/Thingol meeting Melian, Aragorn meeting Arwen, even Eol meeting Aredhel. Clearly it is an image that held great power for him.
Tolkien also told the story of Beren and Luthien in more than one form. You can find it in verse, in the chapter "A Knife in the Dark" in Fellowship of the Ring. Aragorn tells the tale to the Hobbits, as they sit by the fire at Weathertop.
This week I’m going to assign extra reading. (The class groans audibly.) I want you to read the verses that Aragorn chants at Weathertop. Also read the conversation that Sam and Frodo have in the chapter "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol" in Two Towers. It begins on page 320 in my edition. Sam starts by saying "Yes, that’s so, and we shouldn’t be here at all, if we’d known more about it before we started..." Finally, read the part of Appendix A in Return of the King titled "Here Follows a Part of the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen." It comes after the section on Gondor, and before the section called "The House of Eorl."
Lots of connections to be found here! Now that you have read of Beren and Luthien, these LOTR passages will be much clearer.
____________________________________________
Reply
Message 2 of 7 in Discussion
From: Zauber
Sent: 5/16/2002 8:52 AM
VERY NICE! Referring us back to the LOTR. Good thinking, Teach!
Seriously, I like what you are doing here!
Zauber
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Message 3 of 7 in Discussion
Sent: 5/18/2002 7:23 PM
This message has been deleted by the author.
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Message 4 of 7 in Discussion
Sent: 5/18/2002 7:25 PM
This message has been deleted by the author.
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Message 5 of 7 in Discussion
From: megn1
Sent: 5/18/2002 7:28 PM
It's time to update this chart, now that we have the story of the fifth battle.
| # | name | when | description | outcome |
| 1 | (no name given) | After Morgoth returned from Valinor, but before the Noldor had arrived. | Morgoth sent a sudden onslaught of orcs. Cirdan was cut off, and Thingol surrounded. Denethor, of the Green Elves, came to Thingol's rescue, but was killed. Morgoth's forces destroyed. | Doriath fenced. The Green Elves decide that they will not fight in the battles anymore, but withdraw into themselves. |
| 2 | Dagor-nuin-Giliath (Battle Under the Stars) | AfterFeanor reached Middle Earth, before the moon had risen and before Fingolfin had completed the crossing of the Helcaraxe. | Morgoth assailed Feanor, before the newly arrived Noldor had a chance to prepare any defenses. Nevertheless, Morgoth's forces were utterly defeated. Feanor, pursuing his fleeing enemies, was slain. | Morgoth offered a false surrender, and Maedros was taken captive. Kingship of the Noldor ultimately passes to Fingolfin. |
| 3 | DagorAglareb (The Glorious Battle) | After the Noldor have settled. (About 50 years after the rising of the sun.) | A sudden assault by Morgoth, who thought the Noldor were confused and wandering. His forces were completely destroyed. | The Noldor learned to be wary, and kept watch on Angband for more than 400 years. |
| 4 | Dagor Bragollach (Battle of Sudden Flame) | About 400 years after the Dagor Aglareb, 455 years after Fingolfin arrived in Middle Earth. | Great rivers of fire were sent out from Angband, burning all the land around it. Great forces, including the full grown dragon, Glaurung, fell upon the Noldor. Fingolfin challenged Morgoth to single combat, and was slain by him. | Siege of Angband broken, and battle never fully ceases again. Fingon becomes king of the Noldor. Finrod swears an oath of friendship to Barahir and his kin, because they rescued him. |
| 5 | Nirnaeth Arnoediad (Unnumbered Tears) | Seems to be within 20 years of Dagor Bragollach, because it is partly inspired by Beren’s success. | Maedhros decided to unite the forces of the Noldor and attack Morgoth. Fingon attacked from the west, joined by Turgon and the forces of Gondor. The sons of Feanor attacked from the east. Because of his spies, Morgoth knew of their plans. Because of treachery, the Noldor were defeated. | Fingon killed – Turgon became king. Havens destroyed, and Cirdan fled to the Isle of Balar. Many men of the kindred of the elf friends killed, including Huor. Hurin captured, and his family cursed by Morgoth. |
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Message 6 of 7 in Discussion
Sent: 5/18/2002 7:31 PM
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Message 7 of 7 in Discussion
From: megn1
Sent: 5/18/2002 7:33 PM
Sorry about the gunk - I can't seem to get rid of it.
I'll try again later, when I have time.