A blog for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien, from complete beginners to avid enthusiasts, exploring the author's imaginary world, influential writing and cinematic adaptations.
Continuing right where I left off during the last update, here’s some further writing. Nothing major, just a couple of new verses on Mordred’s response at Arthur’s arrival to Britain’s coasts.
Please enjoy 🙂
Continue reading “Concluding ‘The Fall of Arthur’ – Update 3”
This week we’ll be dealing with the next three chapters.
As is the style of The Silmarillion, even short sentences pack a punch. A phrase can suddenly take a reader a thousand years forward into the narrative.
So whilst these chapters are short of pages, there’s much going on …
Continue reading “TTRT: The Silmarillion – Chapters Ten, Eleven and Twelve!”
Since this chapter is quite long I decided to tackle it on its own for this week. As always, stick-figures make a persistent return.
Melkor has wreaked havoc in Valinor. The Two Trees lie dead in the darkness of the world. As the Valar convene in Máhanaxar (“the Ring of Doom”), they mourn the staggering loss they have suffered and decide on what to do next. Continue reading “TTRT: The Silmarillion – Chapter Nine”
You may or may not remember (for which I wouldn’t blame you), that I had in mind a little project that would attempt to conclude Tolkien’s unfinished poem The Fall of Arthur.
You may also recall how much I love this poem and that I had posted an extract way back at the end of August last year (The Writing Begins), hoping to complete the poem in a further 4 cantos (approximately 200 lines each).
Tolkien’s poem ends at Canto V (‘Of the setting of the sun at Romeril’); this project thereby attempts to reconstruct Cantos VI to IX. Weirdly enough, my first update picked up from Canto VII, titled: ‘Arthur lands in Romeril’.
This time, I’m posting an extract from the beginning of Canto VI: ‘The Departure of Gawain’.
As I’ve said before, the verses are more in freestyle form rather than the Old English metre I had originally attempted. I’ve decided to focus more on the rhythm and the sense of every line.
Furthermore, I am in no way attempting to write on the same level as Professor Tolkien – that is rather impossible to do.
Continue reading “Concluding ‘The Fall of Arthur’ ~ Update 2”
Free from captivity, Melkor wanders Valinor among Elves and Ainur. His contributions of hidden knowledge help the Noldor to increase their skill in craftsmanship; and for a time Valinor is made more beautiful. Continue reading “TTRT: The Silmarillion – Chapters Seven and Eight”
It’s Mother’s Day in this part of the world (and in many other parts), so it’s only natural to dedicate a nice post on the subject.
There are many strong female characters in the histories of Middle-earth who have given birth and raised equally important characters.
In honour of Mother’s Day, we will take a look at the finest examples of motherhood in Tolkien’s fantasy world (books only).
At the same time, I take this opportunity to wish all real-world mothers out there my best wishes and thumbs up for the awesome job you do 😉
Oh and now’s the time to put a -Spoiler Alert!- If you haven’t yet read The Silmarillion or Unfinished Tales (The Lord of the Rings seems to lack in mothers) proceed with extra caution…
Chapter 5 – “Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië”
As the Eldalië’s (Elves) colossal march towards the western shores of Beleriand continues, the so-called Sundering of the Elves spreads throughout the Hither Lands.
The Teleri fall behind, whilst the Vanyar and Noldor proceed forward until they finally arrive on the coasts. Ulmo utilises an island in the sea to ferry the Elves across the Great Sea and onto Aman. Continue reading “TTRT: The Silmarillion – Chapters Five and Six”
In this week’s TTRT post we’ll be looking at ‘Of The Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor’ (spoilers!) and ‘Thingol and Melian’.
This is the appropriate time when you should start, frequently, browsing through the index of names and the family trees.
Things are about the get a little bit personal, and therefore, infinitely complex!
A Tolkienist's Perspective 