Post by Stormrider on Jan 19, 2009 13:18:24 GMT -6
From: Annie2 (Original Message) Sent: 5/30/2003 5:53 PM
This pictures was lost: Minstrel of Gondor (animated ROTK)
Bk6, Ch4, DISCUSSION: The Minstrel of Gondor
What are Minstrels? What role or roles do they play in a society? How does Tolkien make use of the Minstrel here and in other places of LOTR? Under another thread Sparrow left an interesting post pointing out that Minstrel is close in meaning to Minister. How is a minstrel ministering to those he entertains?
How was Frodo’s song composed so quickly? I assume Gondor's Minstrel wrote the song? Is he also one of the soldiers? Or was he invited from Minas Tirith or another place to sing and play? Is it possible to be both a soldier and a minstrel? Could he also be a minister in some way? Many of our beloved characters are both warriors and minstrels, although they are not called so. And many of them also ministered to those around them. Can you think of other examples from the LOTR when a character filled all these roles? Aragorn comes quickly to my mind.
Sam surprises us many times with his knowledge of songs. Would you consider him a minstrel? Why or why not? I also think of the ways in which he "ministers" to Frodo in Mordor. Sam didn’t seem to mind that he was not mentioned in this minstrel’s song. Why do you think he was not included? Was he not a hero, also? What have you to say about Tolkien’s unsung hero? If you were to write a song about Sam, what would the title be?
The Lord of the Rings is full of songs, sometimes celebratory, sometimes prophetic, sometimes lays and ballads of times past. Why is middle earth’s history passed down in song? And do you feel that the inclusion of songs is important for the telling of this story? Why or why not?
In this chapter we are also introduced to the "Crowds Song" which really isn’t a song at all but the voices of those gathered offering accolades to the heroes in different ME languages. Why do you think Tolkien writes it as a song?
This pictures was lost: Minstrel of Gondor (animated ROTK)
Bk6, Ch4, DISCUSSION: The Minstrel of Gondor
What are Minstrels? What role or roles do they play in a society? How does Tolkien make use of the Minstrel here and in other places of LOTR? Under another thread Sparrow left an interesting post pointing out that Minstrel is close in meaning to Minister. How is a minstrel ministering to those he entertains?
How was Frodo’s song composed so quickly? I assume Gondor's Minstrel wrote the song? Is he also one of the soldiers? Or was he invited from Minas Tirith or another place to sing and play? Is it possible to be both a soldier and a minstrel? Could he also be a minister in some way? Many of our beloved characters are both warriors and minstrels, although they are not called so. And many of them also ministered to those around them. Can you think of other examples from the LOTR when a character filled all these roles? Aragorn comes quickly to my mind.
Sam surprises us many times with his knowledge of songs. Would you consider him a minstrel? Why or why not? I also think of the ways in which he "ministers" to Frodo in Mordor. Sam didn’t seem to mind that he was not mentioned in this minstrel’s song. Why do you think he was not included? Was he not a hero, also? What have you to say about Tolkien’s unsung hero? If you were to write a song about Sam, what would the title be?
The Lord of the Rings is full of songs, sometimes celebratory, sometimes prophetic, sometimes lays and ballads of times past. Why is middle earth’s history passed down in song? And do you feel that the inclusion of songs is important for the telling of this story? Why or why not?
In this chapter we are also introduced to the "Crowds Song" which really isn’t a song at all but the voices of those gathered offering accolades to the heroes in different ME languages. Why do you think Tolkien writes it as a song?