Category: June

Lay of Leofwin project #Update 2

~ James ~ 2 Comments

bayeux

Alas! dear readers and followers of A Tolkienist’s Perspective. I feel a long apology is due to redress my absence during these last few months. However, a short note must suffice at this stage. Although I’ve been actively replying to comments that still flow through on a weekly basis on this blog (thank you!), one of the reasons for my inactivity was precisely this Lay of Leofwin project, which I delve into a bit more in this post.

Hence, read on dear reader, read on …

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It soon becomes apparent to readers delving into Tolkien’s writings, that the aforementioned author was fascinated by the Anglo-Saxon world that thrived in England between c.450AD and 1066 — the latter, an infamous year in history when the Battle of Hastings took place. Continue reading “Lay of Leofwin project #Update 2” →

Army numbers in Middle-earth

~ James ~ 12 Comments

Last Alliance 2(C) New Line Cinema

 

When reading accounts of battles and warfare, numbers are important. They help provide context and scale to the conflict, allowing readers to assess the situation in terms of balance in favour or against an ally or enemy. Which is why I have often found it somewhat baffling that Tolkien gives us so little information on army numbers in his Middle-earth stories. Continue reading “Army numbers in Middle-earth” →

Was Gwaihir the “Great Eagle” in The Hobbit?

~ James ~ 7 Comments

Eagles

On my first few readings of The Hobbit I paid no attention to the possible connection between the Lord of the Eagles, who rescues the Hobbit and the Dwarves from a fiery forest, and Gwaihir, the Eagle who saves Gandalf three times in The Lord of the Rings.

Yet, the more I read the books, the more I found it unquestionable that the creature was one and the same in both stories. Continue reading “Was Gwaihir the “Great Eagle” in The Hobbit?” →

Salmar: The Forgotten Maia

~ James ~ 12 Comments

Salmar

Researching and Speculating on Tolkien

As I have often remarked on this blog, one of the great things about Tolkien’s works is the large number of mysteries and questions he has left unanswered; mysteries that can be picked up by any reader and researched to their heart’s content: looking for clues and cross-referencing over the thousands of pages of Middle-earth material, trying to dig up further information.

You may have read The Silmarillion numerous times and yet, with every new read, you discover something new. I know this because it happens to me. It has happened to me right now as I’m beginning my 10th or 11th re-read of the book and came across the oft forgotten character of Salmar. Continue reading “Salmar: The Forgotten Maia” →

Pareidolia in The Hobbit

~ James ~ 4 Comments

Arwen during Bofur's Song

Pareidolia: a psychological perception of seeing or hearing images and sounds that are non-existent.

Think of photographs of the man in the moon or the face on Mars. Shadows and light can play interesting tricks on the mind and create something that is not actually there. Our brains are hardwired to look for patterns and make out things which we cannot fully explain.

In a weirder post than usual, can we associate the concept of Pareidolia in scenes from The Hobbit trilogy? Continue reading “Pareidolia in The Hobbit” →

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition – Review (Part III)

~ James ~ 5 Comments

FOTR review header

It’s finally done! It took me over 2.5 years to complete this review of The Fellowship of the Ring. Well, I say “review” but in truth, it’s more of an analysis and an appreciation of the film.

Here’s hoping the next series of posts on The Two Towers and The Return of the King won’t take as long (yes, I said the same thing when I posted Part II of this review 7 months ago.)

If you haven’t done so yet, check out Part I and Part II.

Enjoy! Continue reading “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition – Review (Part III)” →