Post by Andorinha on Jan 18, 2009 11:30:36 GMT -6
week eight - reading assignment
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From: megn1
Sent: 6/8/2002 10:54 AM
The reading that is due June 9 is the last two chapters of Quenta Silmarillion - chapters 23 & 24. This is the big climax. Everything has been leading up to this point. The whole of the story has been building to this moment... and in my opinion it is something of a disappointment. It's a great story, and I love the way it all comes together, but it ends too quickly.
You can look at the story of the Silmarillion as one of fall (Feanor) and redemption (Earendil). There have been two main themes, warring with each other. One is the working out of the oath of Feanor and the curse of the Noldor. That's the destructive thread. It is all you see the first time you read the book. The other thread is quieter, almost hidden. It is the patient working of faithful elves and men who individually accomplish little that is lasting, but who leave behind them a legacy that finds fulfillment in Earendil (and his wife Elwing).
Doriath is overthrown, but the descendent of Thingol and Melian lives in Elwing. Gondolin falls, but the descendent of Turgon lives in Earendil. Luthien and Beren are represented in this pair. As is Tuor. Look back at the ancestryof Earendil and Elwing. Combined they represent the Noldor, the Teleri/Sindar, the Vanyar, and all three houses of the Edain. These are not an accidental pair of heroes - they are the result of generations of patient faithfulness and unlikely alliances. The fate which drove their ancestors seems to have done it just so that they might be born.
And what is the purpose, or destiny, for which they have been born? To bear to Valinor the prayers of the two kindreds in Middle Earth. No other ambassador, with no less token than the Silmaril, would have been received. Through them, the Noldor finally receive pardon, and Melkor is removed forever from Arda.
It's a powerful story, with epic themes. So why do I call it disappointing? Because Earendil's voyage is given less than a page, and his plea before the Valor is given only one paragraph. You can almost miss it, if you don't know what you're looking for.
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Message 2 of 3 in Discussion
From: megn1
Sent: 6/8/2002 10:57 AM
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Message 3 of 3 in Discussion
From: megn1
Sent: 6/8/2002 11:04 AM
Extra reading assignments!
Now that you have finished Quenta Silmarillion, there are some parts of LOTR that you will understand better.
1. Look at the song of Bilbo in "Many Meetings" (FOTR). He's singing about Earendil. Also read the discussion between Bilbo and Frodo which follows the song. Bilbo says of Aragorn "He obviously though the whole thing rather above my head, and he said that if I had the cheek to make verses about Earendil in the house of Elrond, it was my affair."
2. In "Farewell to Lorien" (FOTR), read Galadriel's description of the phial that she gives to Frodo. Then read again the conversation between Frodo and Sam in "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol" (TTT). Notice the part where Sam speaks of Beren.
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Message 1 of 3 in Discussion
From: megn1
Sent: 6/8/2002 10:54 AM
The reading that is due June 9 is the last two chapters of Quenta Silmarillion - chapters 23 & 24. This is the big climax. Everything has been leading up to this point. The whole of the story has been building to this moment... and in my opinion it is something of a disappointment. It's a great story, and I love the way it all comes together, but it ends too quickly.
You can look at the story of the Silmarillion as one of fall (Feanor) and redemption (Earendil). There have been two main themes, warring with each other. One is the working out of the oath of Feanor and the curse of the Noldor. That's the destructive thread. It is all you see the first time you read the book. The other thread is quieter, almost hidden. It is the patient working of faithful elves and men who individually accomplish little that is lasting, but who leave behind them a legacy that finds fulfillment in Earendil (and his wife Elwing).
Doriath is overthrown, but the descendent of Thingol and Melian lives in Elwing. Gondolin falls, but the descendent of Turgon lives in Earendil. Luthien and Beren are represented in this pair. As is Tuor. Look back at the ancestryof Earendil and Elwing. Combined they represent the Noldor, the Teleri/Sindar, the Vanyar, and all three houses of the Edain. These are not an accidental pair of heroes - they are the result of generations of patient faithfulness and unlikely alliances. The fate which drove their ancestors seems to have done it just so that they might be born.
And what is the purpose, or destiny, for which they have been born? To bear to Valinor the prayers of the two kindreds in Middle Earth. No other ambassador, with no less token than the Silmaril, would have been received. Through them, the Noldor finally receive pardon, and Melkor is removed forever from Arda.
It's a powerful story, with epic themes. So why do I call it disappointing? Because Earendil's voyage is given less than a page, and his plea before the Valor is given only one paragraph. You can almost miss it, if you don't know what you're looking for.
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Message 2 of 3 in Discussion
From: megn1
Sent: 6/8/2002 10:57 AM
| # | 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. |
| 6 | The War of Wrath, the Great Battle | The end of the first age | Earendil, with the help of Elwing, sailed into the West, carrying a Silmaril. He made his plea for aid before Manwe’s throne. The Valar rose up, and an army marched from Valinor and utterly destroyed Angband, and thrust Morgoth into the Timeless Void. | Morgoth cast out. Most of the remaining Noldor return to Valinor. Geography of Beleriand changed. Two Silmarils lost. Earendil, with a Silmaril, becomes a star sailing in the skies. Gil-galad become high king of the elves in Middle Earth. |
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Message 3 of 3 in Discussion
From: megn1
Sent: 6/8/2002 11:04 AM
Extra reading assignments!
Now that you have finished Quenta Silmarillion, there are some parts of LOTR that you will understand better.
1. Look at the song of Bilbo in "Many Meetings" (FOTR). He's singing about Earendil. Also read the discussion between Bilbo and Frodo which follows the song. Bilbo says of Aragorn "He obviously though the whole thing rather above my head, and he said that if I had the cheek to make verses about Earendil in the house of Elrond, it was my affair."
2. In "Farewell to Lorien" (FOTR), read Galadriel's description of the phial that she gives to Frodo. Then read again the conversation between Frodo and Sam in "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol" (TTT). Notice the part where Sam speaks of Beren.