Post by Andorinha on Jan 18, 2009 9:27:26 GMT -6
week four - I've heard this story before...
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Message 1 of 3 in Discussion
From: megn1
Sent: 5/4/2002 7:47 PM
Hidden kingdoms... kin strife... a woman made to wed and remain confined with her husband and child... oaths... confused loyalties... secrets... betrayals come to light...
Do any of these themes seem familiar? What other stories does the Silmarillion call to mind?
Share with us either old legends and fairy stories that Tolkien might have known, or newer fantasy that seems to have been influenced by Tolkien.
And some of the themes are simply universal, and there need not be any direct connection between Tolkien and the story you name.
So what stories or characters have popped into your mind as you have read Sil?
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Message 2 of 3 in Discussion
From: Azurite
Sent: 5/6/2002 3:04 PM
It seems to me that many stories in the Silmarillion seem less familiar than they ought to. I know from reading Shippey's book what many of Tolkien's sources were - both of inspiration and information. And I can see various mythological threads cropping up from many cultures. But all the same... I see so much originality in Tolkien, so much of his own style of thought and writing, that the story seems to me like his own creation, even when I can recognize echoes of other sources. I read many fantasy novels where mythic or legendary precedents are clear - especially references to the Arthurian legends - I'm thinking here of books like Guy Gavriel Kay's "The Fionavar Tapestry" or Diana Wynne Jones' "Hexwood". Tolkien just doesn't do this. He has all sorts of inspirations (probably everything he ever read) but he doesn't take elements, he simply lets them inspire him, so when he writes about similar things, they come out with the stampof his own thought.
I know Tolkien said that the only way The Lord of the Rings resembles the Wagner Ring cycle is that both rings were round. This may be true, but I thought I heard echoes of Wagner's stories in The Silmarillion. More in the mood than the particulars.
I do not see much echo of the Arthurian legends, mainly because Tolkien's writing style is so unlike that of Malory or Chretien de Troyes, and there he has no courtly love theme.
namaste,
Azurite
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Message 3 of 3 in Discussion
From: Lady_Oiolaire
Sent: 5/7/2002 7:50 PM
methinks that i am reminded of many stories.
Arthurian legend in particular- i must disagree with Azurite there- in parts of the Silmarillion. Esp when it comes to Maeglin (see my post there)
but not just King Arthur, his works, to me "ring" of old British legends and fairy tales. (not the clasic French Farytales or the German ones that little kids know but the moor adult stories ex, the movie "braveheart" was based on actuall happenings)
my half cent
_____________________________________________
Reply
Message 1 of 3 in Discussion
From: megn1
Sent: 5/4/2002 7:47 PM
Hidden kingdoms... kin strife... a woman made to wed and remain confined with her husband and child... oaths... confused loyalties... secrets... betrayals come to light...
Do any of these themes seem familiar? What other stories does the Silmarillion call to mind?
Share with us either old legends and fairy stories that Tolkien might have known, or newer fantasy that seems to have been influenced by Tolkien.
And some of the themes are simply universal, and there need not be any direct connection between Tolkien and the story you name.
So what stories or characters have popped into your mind as you have read Sil?
_____________________________________
Reply
Message 2 of 3 in Discussion
From: Azurite
Sent: 5/6/2002 3:04 PM
It seems to me that many stories in the Silmarillion seem less familiar than they ought to. I know from reading Shippey's book what many of Tolkien's sources were - both of inspiration and information. And I can see various mythological threads cropping up from many cultures. But all the same... I see so much originality in Tolkien, so much of his own style of thought and writing, that the story seems to me like his own creation, even when I can recognize echoes of other sources. I read many fantasy novels where mythic or legendary precedents are clear - especially references to the Arthurian legends - I'm thinking here of books like Guy Gavriel Kay's "The Fionavar Tapestry" or Diana Wynne Jones' "Hexwood". Tolkien just doesn't do this. He has all sorts of inspirations (probably everything he ever read) but he doesn't take elements, he simply lets them inspire him, so when he writes about similar things, they come out with the stampof his own thought.
I know Tolkien said that the only way The Lord of the Rings resembles the Wagner Ring cycle is that both rings were round. This may be true, but I thought I heard echoes of Wagner's stories in The Silmarillion. More in the mood than the particulars.
I do not see much echo of the Arthurian legends, mainly because Tolkien's writing style is so unlike that of Malory or Chretien de Troyes, and there he has no courtly love theme.
namaste,
Azurite
_________________________________________
Reply
Message 3 of 3 in Discussion
From: Lady_Oiolaire
Sent: 5/7/2002 7:50 PM
methinks that i am reminded of many stories.
Arthurian legend in particular- i must disagree with Azurite there- in parts of the Silmarillion. Esp when it comes to Maeglin (see my post there)
but not just King Arthur, his works, to me "ring" of old British legends and fairy tales. (not the clasic French Farytales or the German ones that little kids know but the moor adult stories ex, the movie "braveheart" was based on actuall happenings)
my half cent