SOUTHFARTHING TOLKIEN READING GROUP11 March 2023

Eileen, Monique, Ian, Tim and Laura.

We all felt that our visit to the Poetry Reading Group had been successful although Tolkien was not everyone’s cup of tea! Thank you to Sandy for accommodating our passion!

All were reminded that the Tolkien Society were holding the annual Reading Day on 25 March 2023 (the day that the Ring and Sauron were destroyed). This year the topic is: Travel and Adventure. Which could sum up most of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings! We were not minded to discuss the subject at our next meeting but preferred to press on with The Silmarillion.
Our next meetings are on 8 April at 1.30pm in the Library as usual. There will be a mega moot on 22 April where we will meet in the Sea City café from 12.30pm and socialise!

The Silmarillion, Chapters 10 and 11

Laura had looked in the previous blogs (thank you Chris!) for comments on these chapters to help us stay on the road!
It must be remembered that the trick is that The Silmarillion was written by the Elves and possibly for themselves.
The Sun, Arien, is a fire spirit but she was not linked with Morgoth otherwise she could have become a balrog.
Gradually, it becomes clear that evil spirits and creatures cannot cope with sunlight including Morgoth. They prefer darkness of their own making as they do not appreciate starlight and moonlight either.
Chapters 10, 11 and 12 begin the motif of isolation between races eg Thingol and Melian protecting Doriath.

The beginning of Chapter 11 is almost like science fiction in that beings that are spirits rather than bodies are communicating with each other without speech. Tim wondered how long their vigil “in the night of Valinor” was as time could be different for them as they are elemental forces. “Beyond Eä and forth to the end.” Manwë cries and bows his head, showing that he cares about what happened to the trees and what is happening through Fëanor’s actions and oath. We have often discussed about the Valars’ human aspects, including apparent inaction and indifference. What is said by Manwë and Mandos at the end of the first paragraph and the next sentence sums up the great conundrum in Tolkien’s legendarium and our own world in that evil is part of the overall plan. The Valar have come to terms with Fëanor’s defiance and Mandos, chillingly, is expecting him soon in the halls of death ie he is prophesying Fëanor’s death.
Ian felt that Fëanor’s situation is like someone who has created beautiful things but does not use them. To have them is enough and make sure everyone knows. This could be about power: only an honoured few would be able to see the art although Fëanor has locked the Silmarils away except to wear on rare occasions.
Monique recalled visiting a museum in South Africa where stunning diamonds were exhibited, including in their raw state. They were heavily guarded.
Ian said that Tolkien was returning to his trope of the dragon hoard illness when people want to possess gold but not use it. In The Hobbit, the Arkenstone was the crucial item, the symbol of the Dwarves’ realm and the Mountain. The Trees are dead and Fëanor says that the gems belong to him and will not help. He has a lot of ego. In a way, the Trees putting all their strength into creating a last leaf and fruit could be compared to Miriel, giving up her strength and inner fire to create Fëanor.
Telperion gives up a silver flower and Laurelin a gold fruit. Aulë used them to create lamps for the heavens and provide a light for Middle-earth and to hinder Morgoth. Two Maiar steer the lights in their ships: Arien guides Anor, the Sun and Tilion steers the Moon. (Cf Minas Anor and Minas Ithil.)
Laura felt, that although Fëanor is majorly flawed, Morgoth’s lies continued to mislead him and other Elves. Ian said that humans create other gods at need and Tolkien does the same with the fruit and leaf from the Trees. Tim mentioned Yggdrasil, the Norse world holy ash tree and that we have only just discovered that trees communicate with each other underground by means of a fungal network. (Google joke – Wood Wide Web!) We have previously mentioned Irminsûl, the Norse/Anglo-Saxon wooden pillar representing the world Tree.
Men arrive in this chapter. The Elves arrived when there was only starlight. The Moon was placed in the skies first. Was this so people could get used to the bright light of the Sun which signifies the arrival of Men?
Tim said Morgoth is reduced in power as he passes his strength to others to carry out his plans but he still tried to attack the Sun. He has to hide in the shadows. The Sun is drawn under the Earth – which is flat at this time. Tolkien refers to “the Change of the World”. This is not an uncommon thing for him to slip in something that the first time reader does not understand but it makes it a much richer read.
In Chapter 12, Men are given lots of different names by the Elves, some insulting eg “the sickly” which compares their name for the Dwarves “the stunted”. Perhaps Men are called sickly because of their short lives. Eileen said that at first she was against the Dwarves but she realised that the Elves were making use of them in that the Dwarves made their halls, palaces, jewellery and later, weapons.
Ulmo appears to be the only Vala who is interested in Men and sends them messages and guidance. The frailty of Men is mentioned in comparison with the strengths of the Elves. The fate of Men is a mystery; it is not even controlled by the Valar.
Ian said that The Silmarillion is a slice through the development of the races. There is often a retelling of the same story in mythology by different races.
Tim drew our attention to the fact that the Sun is drawn down to the earth and Ian said that this world is geo-centric. The Sun goes round the earth which is flat.
Ian did not feel that Tolkien’s narrative was jumping about but giving a recap of what had happened with hints of what was to come. There are set pieces: creation; Elves; Men; Dwarves (who actually came before the other two) and the interaction between the races.
Chapter 11 finishes with an enchantment to protect Valinor against the Elves returning and Men which could be seen as isolationism. The Valar have strengthened Valinor’s defences with a “sleepless watch”. The Enchanted Isles are like a smokescreen – is this a form of stealth mode?
There is a reference to Eärendel the Mariner at the very end of the chapter in that he was the only one able to go to Valinor.

Next time: Chapters 12 and 13.

Catching up reports

These 2 reports come from Laura who has kindly taken notes of the meetings since I have not been attending. I am posting them on her behalf, and will continue to do this with subsequent reports, at least for now.

SOUTHFARTHING TOLKIEN READING GROUP

14 January 2023

Eileen, Tim and Laura. Apologies from Ian. Our first meeting without Lynn – we miss her!

• We agreed to write to Sandy, leader of the Poetry Group, to ask if we could attend and introduce her members to Tolkien as a poet. Eileen said that there is a particular topic each meeting and also an open meeting which might be the best opportunity. We might be able to recruit new members! (Action completed – Sandy will be speaking to her group on 4 February for their views.)

• We also discussed again other ways of increasing membership of the group such as adverts in the libraries, information on social media (Tim’s contacts).

• It is still our intention to read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight after we have completed The Silmarillion. It would be helpful for us to have access to different editions but the main reading would be from the Tolkien edition. Laura has an audio book of Tolkien’s translation of SGGK, read by Terry Jones – yes, Sir Gawain is just a very naughty boy! We could perhaps listen to an agreed event/number of lines that we have read as homework. (Laura had thought her disk was in the original – she’ll try and find one.) Our main concern is not being able to understand fully the Middle English and perhaps we need to access explanatory works.

• The Silmarillion – Chapters 10 and 11.
• JRRT comes through as a good person in this book. There is evidence of the importance of pity. Some characters are victims: Sauron of Morgoth (he was attached to Aulë originally hence his crafting skills); Gollum of the Ring and Sauron; perhaps even Morgoth of Iluvatar as he could be seen as a pawn in the great scheme. There was a discussion on having faith in a good outcome and different types of faith. There was further discussion on who created Iluvatar and God in our own world, as well as concepts of the Big Bang as a circular creation.
• Clarification about the different groups of elves was provided through the table at the back of the book and their locations through a map provided by Tim – also clearly showing joined super continents looking like Africa and Europe before the tectonic plates moved. Eileen said that different geological locations would give the elves different accents; she believed that Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland were two different islands once, brought together by geological shifts.

The next meeting is a Mickle Moot on Saturday 28 January 2023 at the Sea City café at 12pm for second breakfasts, nuncheon etc!

SOUTHFARTHING TOLKIEN READING GROUP

11 February 2023

Monique, Eileen, Tim and Laura. Apologies from Ian.

Monique was warmly welcomed for her Tolkien taster session.

The Poetry Group has agreed to host a Tolkien poetry session (4 March 2023). Laura suggested that they give an introduction about Tolkien – dates, career, writings etc; how he presents as a war poet and the importance of the Lay of Leithian/Beren and Luthien. This would be followed by the Tolkien members reading and discussing their favourite poem.

(Post meeting note re choices of poems: Lynn – The Sea Bell; Eileen – the Dwarves’ song in The Hobbit; Tim – The Road Goes Ever On; Laura – Kortirion among the Trees.)

There was a brief discussion about cats – including Tolkien’s dislike of them and that the forerunner of Sauron in early versions of stories in The Silmariliion was a monstrous cat called Tevildo.

Monique said she had read The Silmarillion up to and including Chapter 11 in order to have caught up with the others. She was interested that the Valar responsibilities were listed. There was a discussion on the similarity between the Valar and Gods in the primary world eg Greek, Pagan etc and that the responsibilities were elemental in nature.

Monique said that poetry came from Tolkien’s writing and that it was so evocative. There was enormous depth in his writing and that it is fluid and exquisite. The language reminded her of the Chansons de Gestes for the French.

We discussed the early world described in the Silmarillion and that this was the “mythology for England”.

Tolkien’s works encourage the reader’s imagination.

We also discussed the difficulties in translating his works. Would dialect words be used in the place of English dialect words. It was felt impossible for his poetic way of writing to be translated perfectly; impossible to capture the subtleties. We talked about Tolkien’s own editors changing words without his permission eg elfin for elvish. We remarked on people using the incorrect spelling of dwarves instead of dwarfs outside Tolkien’s context – which was rather a compliment.

There was a discussion about Tolkien shifting time lines eg going back to previous events such as Melkor killing Finwë.

Up to the end of Chapter 11, it seems that all races are motivated by lust, wanting things and greed.

Next meeting: 4 March 2023 for Poetry. 11 March 2023 for Tolkien.

SOUTHFARTHING TOLKIEN READING GROUP
11 March 2023

Eileen, Monique, Ian, Tim and Laura.

We all felt that our visit to the Poetry Reading Group had been successful although Tolkien was not everyone’s cup of tea! Thank you to Sandy for accommodating our passion!
All were reminded that the Tolkien Society were holding the annual Reading Day on 25 March 2023 (the day that the Ring and Sauron were destroyed). This year the topic is: Travel and Adventure. Which could sum up most of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings! We were not minded to discuss the subject at our next meeting but preferred to press on with The Silmarillion.
Our next meetings are on 8 April at 1.30pm in the Library as usual. There will be a mega moot on 22 April where we will meet in the Sea City café from 12.30pm and socialise!

The Silmarillion, Chapters 10 and 11

Laura had looked in the previous blogs (thank you Chris!) for comments on these chapters to help us stay on the road!
It must be remembered that the trick is that The Silmarillion was written by the Elves and possibly for themselves.
The Sun, Arien, is a fire spirit but she was not linked with Morgoth otherwise she could have become a balrog.
Gradually, it becomes clear that evil spirits and creatures cannot cope with sunlight including Morgoth. They prefer darkness of their own making as they do not appreciate starlight and moonlight either.

Chapters 10, 11 and 12 begin the motif of isolation between races eg Thingol and Melian protecting Doriath.

The beginning of Chapter 11 is almost like science fiction in that beings that are spirits rather than bodies are communicating with each other without speech. Tim wondered how long their vigil “in the night of Valinor” was as time could be different for them as they are elemental forces. “Beyond Eä and forth to the end.” Manwë cries and bows his head, showing that he cares about what happened to the trees and what is happening through Fëanor’s actions and oath. We have often discussed about the Valars’ human aspects, including apparent inaction and indifference. What is said by Manwë and Mandos at the end of the first paragraph and the next sentence sums up the great conundrum in Tolkien’s legendarium and our own world in that evil is part of the overall plan. The Valar have come to terms with Fëanor’s defiance and Mandos, chillingly, is expecting him soon in the halls of death ie he is prophesying Fëanor’s death.

Ian felt that Fëanor’s situation is like someone who has created beautiful things but does not use them. To have them is enough and make sure everyone knows. This could be about power: only an honoured few would be able to see the art although Fëanor has locked the Silmarils away except to wear on rare occasions.  Monique recalled visiting a museum in South Africa where stunning diamonds were exhibited, including in their raw state. They were heavily guarded. 

Ian said that Tolkien was returning to his trope of the dragon hoard illness when people want to possess gold but not use it. In The Hobbit, the Arkenstone was the crucial item, the symbol of the Dwarves’ realm and the Mountain. The Trees are dead and Fëanor says that the gems belong to him and will not help. He has a lot of ego. In a way, the Trees putting all their strength into creating a last leaf and fruit could be compared to Miriel, giving up her strength and inner fire to create Fëanor.

Telperion gives up a silver flower and Laurelin a gold fruit. Aulë used them to create lamps for the heavens and provide a light for Middle-earth and to hinder Morgoth. Two Maiar steer the lights in their ships: Arien guides Anor, the Sun and Tilion steers the Moon. (Cf Minas Anor and Minas Ithil.)

Laura felt, that although Fëanor is majorly flawed, Morgoth’s lies continued to mislead him and other Elves. Ian said that humans create other gods at need and Tolkien does the same with the fruit and leaf from the Trees. Tim mentioned Yggdrasil, the Norse world holy ash tree and that we have only just discovered that trees communicate with each other underground by means of a fungal network. (Google joke – Wood Wide Web!) We have previously mentioned Irminsûl, the Norse/Anglo-Saxon wooden pillar representing the world Tree.

Men arrive in this chapter. The Elves arrived when there was only starlight. The Moon was placed in the skies first. Was this so people could get used to the bright light of the Sun which signifies the arrival of Men?

Tim said Morgoth is reduced in power as he passes his strength to others to carry out his plans but he still tried to attack the Sun. He has to hide in the shadows. The Sun is drawn under the Earth – which is flat at this time. Tolkien refers to “the Change of the World”. This is not an uncommon thing for him to slip in something that the first time reader does not understand but it makes it a much richer read.

In Chapter 12, Men are given lots of different names by the Elves, some insulting eg “the sickly” which compares their name for the Dwarves “the stunted”. Perhaps Men are called sickly because of their short lives. Eileen said that at first she was against the Dwarves but she realised that the Elves were making use of them in that the Dwarves made their halls, palaces, jewellery and later, weapons.

Ulmo appears to be the only Vala who is interested in Men and sends them messages and guidance. The frailty of Men is mentioned in comparison with the strengths of the Elves. The fate of Men is a mystery; it is not even controlled by the Valar.
Ian said that The Silmarillion is a slice through the development of the races. There is often a retelling of the same story in mythology by different races.

Tim drew our attention to the fact that the Sun is drawn down to the earth and Ian said that this world is geo-centric. The Sun goes round the earth which is flat.

Ian did not feel that Tolkien’s narrative was jumping about but giving a recap of what had happened with hints of what was to come. There are set pieces: creation; Elves; Men; Dwarves (who actually came before the other two) and the interaction between the races.

Chapter 11 finishes with an enchantment to protect Valinor against the Elves returning and Men which could be seen as isolationism. The Valar have strengthened Valinor’s defences with a “sleepless watch”. The Enchanted Isles are like a smokescreen – is this a form of stealth mode?

There is a reference to Eärendel the Mariner at the very end of the chapter in that he was the only one able to go to Valinor.

Next time: Chapters 12 and 13.

 

 

March

With the usual apology for not being able to transfer the images Laura includes in her original notes. The captions to them indicate where and what was included.

SOUTHFARTHING READING GROUP

9 March 2024

Lynn, Eileen, Monique, Ian, Tim, Laura

Chapter 24 Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath

Monique continues to find the rhythm and syntax of Tolkien’s prose beautiful, particularly in this chapter. Eileen found the names and genealogies difficult to follow. This might help all of us: Eärendil is a descendant of the three main houses of Men who fought with the Elves against Morgoth and of the House of Fingon, the High King of Elves in Middle-earth as he is the son of Tuor and Idril, who escaped with him from the destruction of Gondolin. He is therefore half Elf and half Man. Elwing is the daughter of Dior, granddaughter of Luthien and Beren, Luthien being the daughter of Thingol and Melian the Maia. She is therefore one quarter Man, five eighths Elf and one eighth Maia. (I did not work this out, I checked on Google!)

Lynn explained that Tolkien took the name of Eärendel from the poem “Crist” by the eighth century poet, Cynewulf, in which he describes Christ in various guises, specifically in these lines as the Morning Star. Tolkien was very moved by this poem particularly because of his firm commitment to Catholicism.

In Modern English:

“Hail Earendel, brightest of Angels, above Middle-earth sent to men. …” (See more below.)

The first paragraph of Chapter 24 is full of information and action. We are reminded that Tuor and Idril have sailed to the West and that a grown-up Eärendel is now the leader of the Elves left on the shore. He has married Elwing, the daughter of Dior and Nimloth who were both killed by the remaining sons of Fëanor and their two sons abandoned in a forest. Therefore the two sons of Eärendel and Elwing, Elrond and Elros, are also half Elf and half Man. (Spoiler alert – Elrond appears in Lord of the Rings.)

Eärendel is desperate to sail to find his parents and to see the Valar to ask their forgiveness for Men and Elves. He builds the ship, Vingalot, and sails away on his quest, leaving Elwing behind. There is some similarity with the story of Aldarion and Erendis, a king and queen of Numenor, in Unfinished Tales. Tim said that is a typical situation with Navy wives! Also Eärendil’s father, Tuor, passed on his love of the sea to him. Lynn said that women left behind by sailors had to find work to keep themselves and their families. Before the twentieth century, women in Portsmouth made corsets, probably including whalebone. Monique has visited Seahouses where, traditionally, wives waiting for their husbands to return, kept watch sitting in the wide window seats of their cottages. Monique said that Brittany has a vast resource of tales around the subject of men at sea and women waiting.

Eärendel is not successful with his journey “defeated by shadows and enchantment”. Whose shadows and enchantments? Presumably that of the Valar as he is visited by frightening dreams to encourage him to return home. This turns out to be a wise action as Maedhros and Maglor have attacked and killed the Elves living on the coast as they knew that Elwing had the Silmaril, taken from Morgoth by Beren. The drama of Elf killing Elf cannot be understated: “…and that was the third of the great wrongs achieved by the accursed oath.” What were the other two? The Kinslaying and the attack on Doriath?)

M&M survive the battle and are the last of Fëanor’s sons, as their brothers, Amrod and Amras are killed. Despite Cirdan and Gil-galad coming to the rescue, Elwing escapes into the sea with the Silmaril and Elros and Elrond are captured. Eileen found the battle frightening and disappointing as some of the Elves are so wicked, particularly after the calm between Eärendel and Elwing.

M&M do not get the Silmaril. Ulmo, ever a supporter of Elves and Men, rescues Elwing by turning her into a white bird with the Silmaril on her bosom. She flies off to find Eärendel. She does find him and collapses onto the deck of Vingalot, still in her shape as a bird. (Laura was told by Maggie Percival of the Tolkien Society and creator of her Elwing costume that the bird was not a swan but a tern. Lynn said: Fairy tern!) Elwing returns to her proper form in the morning. This is like a Faerie story.

Maggie Percival of the TS, wearing the Elwing costume made by her.

Meanwhile, Maglor is having a change of heart because of the tragedies caused by his father’s oath. He fosters Elros and Elrond.

Eärendel and Elwing, and three others presumably Elves, leave in Vingalot to take up his quest to find the Valar. “The wise have said that it was by reason of that holy jewel that they came in time to waters that no vessels save those of the Teleri had known…” who are the wise? Shadows and enchantments are overcome this time. They arrive in Eldamar and Eärendel sets off by himself to see the Valar so that, if there is punishment, he will be the only one who suffers but Elwing insists on joining him. Eärendel is wearing the Silmaril. He brings hope and is a go-between for the violent Elves and Men, and the Valar. He pleads their case.

Oddly, although the Elves in Eldamar have seen them arrive in the ship, the streets are empty as there is a festival. This is not the first time that this has happened and security seems to be slack.

However, Eönwë, Manwë’s Herald, speaks to Eärendel and reminds us all that the light in the Silmaril was starlight before the Sun and Moon were in the sky. Eärendel is brought before the Valar and interestingly, Ulmo is summoned to be at this moot. Is it because he is a supporter of Men and Elves and argues for them to be forgiven in opposition to Mandos? Manwë’s judgement is that Eärendel and Elwing cannot return home but they and their two sons have to choose between being Elves or Men and accept the doom of that race. Elwing chooses to be with the Elves and, rather reluctantly, Eärendel chooses that also because he loves her. The three companions are returned in another boat because Vingalot is enhanced as a vessel that could travel in the sky. Spaceship!

Eärendel boards Vingalot with the Silmaril and travels across the sky and becomes the Morning and Evening Star. Lynn said, like the Anglo-Saxon poem, he is a mystic, messianic figure and his destiny is hinted at in The Fall of Gondolin; the light of stars was in his face. Tim said he has become a star and is now god-like. Lynn said that there was more detail in the book The Fall of Gondolin in which Christopher Tolkien has brought together all of his father’s writings on this part of his mythology. Tolkien was going to write a book about Eärendel. Eileen wondered why Eärendel had to leave Elwing and Lynn explained that it was his destiny.

There are dramatic and poetic phrases in this piece of writing including the Door of Night and the Ocean of Heaven. The Door of Night, which can either lead to heaven or the void, is similar to the gate in C S Lewis’ Narnian story, the Last Battle. The gate (in fact a stable door) is guarded by Aslan through which evil creatures go to darkness and good creatures go to Aslan’s Country.

There are now three bodies in the sky that we know of that are steered by beings, the Moon by the Maia Tilion (male), the Sun by the Maia Arien (female) and the Morning/Evening star by Eärendel. There is also the Sickle of the Valar (our Plough) to prevent Morgoth’s escape. What are the other stars? This was discussed at previous meetings and we were reminded of C S Lewis’ Narnian story, The Voyager of the Dawn Treader, in which a star and his daughter come to the Narnian world in human form. Eustace, one of the children, tells the Star that in world, stars are huge balls of flaming gas. The Star responds: “Even in your world, my son, that is not what a star is but what it is made of….”  The stars shining on Arda were in existence when the Elves were created. What were they?

Laura’s attempt at the Sickle of the Valar.

Lynn was surprised that Tolkien did not include the Northern Lights in his writing as they are such a key phenomenon in the northern world. Tim wondered if the various evils in the north of Arda could be seen as the Northern Lights, particularly the poisonous green colours or the yellow gold of dragons. Tim said that this is a book about northern countries, sea faring, Iceland and the cold reality of the North Sea, the Arctic and the Irish Sea.

Eileen loved the language and the gentle rhythm of the words in the paragraph beginning “On those journeys…” She felt it sounded like the sea. Monique said this paragraph was a good example of the impossibility of an accurate translation, as poetic and subtle as the original. Lynn agreed because so much of the vocabulary is linked with the environment, culture and background of the language eg for those whose first language is English and have knowledge of Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the first image of an albatross is of a guilty deadweight hanging around the neck rather than a huge white bird. Lynn also said about Wycliffe’s literal and unwieldy translation of the Bible published in 1382.

Elwing does not go with Eärendel in Vingalot – again similar to Aldarion and Erendis – because she does not like the cold and the void but preferred earth. She becomes close to birds and learns their language and can fly to meet Eärendel when he comes back.

Lynn referred us to the Anglo-Saxon poem, the Seafarer which is about a solitary sailor, separated from his lord and the meadhall, with vivid descriptions of the freezing conditions typical of the North Sea and nearer to the Arctic. Different birds are listed as his companions: swan, curlew, gull, gannet, eagle and tern in whose cries he finds comfort. Tolkien would have been very familiar with this poem and its religious themes (possibly added to the pagan original) such as the Seafarer being a lost soul. Tolkien had a steady view of his Catholicism.

When Eärendel and Vingalot are first seen in the sky, M&M know that he is wearing the Silmaril. They and other Elves are glad that this has happened as the jewel is untouchable. Morgoth is worried by this sight but did not anticipate that the Valar, Men and Elves would attack him. This is the Great Battle and the War of Wrath. Balrogs die or hide – spoiler alert – is one of these the one who attacks Gandalf in Moria?

Whilst Men from the three Houses fight with the Valar and the Elves, some men fight alongside Morgoth’s army – “..and the Elves do not forget it.” The use of the present tense in the last phrase is chilling and explains why Elves do not trust Men.

In this battle, winged dragons appear for the first time. However, Eärendel arrives with huge flocks of birds led by eagles which nearly destroy all the dragons. Is Smaug a descendant of these? Or one of them? It was suggested that some of the dragons, including Smaug, were still in their eggs. Eärendel kills Ancalagon the Black. This is the dragon that Gandalf refers to as not even he could melt The Ring. The dragon falls back onto Morgoth’s mountains “and they were broken in his ruin.” This is similar language to the Balrog falling down the mountain after having been defeated by Gandalf.

Eagle attacking a drone. Go Thorondor!

Morgoth is caught and put in chains – specifically Angainor the chain in which he was bound previously. It was an alloy of six different metals. His iron crown is forged into a collar. Some people might see a slavery image here. He is pushed out into the void for ever.

The two remaining Silmarils are guarded by Eönwë. The world is physically wrecked and changed because of the battle.

Still not learning their lesson, M&M tell Eönwë that they want the Silmarils. This demand is refused and they are instructed to go to Valinar to be judged for the evil they have caused. M&M debate the right course to take, Maglor preferring to renege on the oath because of the power of the original witnesses, Manwë and Varda but Maedhros argues that they had called on Iluvatar. Eileen thought the conflict between the two brothers was more interesting than if they had been in agreement. Maedhros wins the argument and they kill the Elves guarding the Silmarils which they take. Eönwë does not allow there to be revenge killings and allows M&M to escape, presumably because Eönwë knows what will happen. Maedhros sees a perfect turn of events in that they have a Silmaril each.

Like Carcharoth the wolf and like Morgoth, the Silmaril burns Maedhros’ hand. He realises that the oath is void and dies in a volcano, taking the Silmaril with him. Some people believe that this is the Arkenstone, found by the Dwarves in the Lonely Mountain.

Maglor, too, is hurt by his Silmaril and throws it out to sea. Tolkien writes that the Silmarils were in their intended homes: one in the air; one in the sea and one in the fire. As discussed before, this pre-echoes the three Elven rings: Narya, Nenya and Vilnya: fire, water and air; ruby, adamant and sapphire. However, the Valar feel their victory is not as great as it could have been as they do not have the Silmarils.

Some high-ranking Elves remain in Middle-earth: Cirdan, Celeborn, Galadriel, Gil-galad and Elrond. From Elrond and Elros are descended Men who have Elvish blood.

Although Morgoth has been banished to the Void, chillingly Tolkien writes that his lies continue to continue to fester on earth. He uses a botanical image of seeds that die and cannot be destroyed and which sprout and produce dark fruit.

The final paragraph of the Silmarillion refers to the damage that has happened to earth and the Valar may know if that can be mended but it is not known. The Silmarillion ends with warnings.

In response to a query by Monique, Lynn talked through the publications of the three main works, bearing in mind that Tolkien was writing his mythology many years before the final publication. He rewrote so much of his work that Christopher was able to edit many publications of the reworkings. The Silmarillion itself was published posthumously after Christopher had edited what he thought made the most sense. The Hobbit was published in 1937. The Lord of the Rings was published between 1954 and 1955 in three lots of two books in one cover – it is not a trilogy! The publishers had asked for more on Hobbits although Tolkien wanted to have his Silmarillion published as his main work but had to give in to public demand! The Silmarillion was published in 1977.

There are connections between all three for example some of the Elves met in the Silmarillion appear in the Lord of the Rings. Tim said that in the Silmarillion we are introduced to a Maia called Olórin, one of the wisest and who learned pity and patience. He is sent into Middle-earth and features prominently in the Lord of the Rings.

Our reading for the 13^{th of} April will be the next section: Akallabêth (The Downfallen).

February

With thanks to Laura and Tim for keeping up the reports of the meetings, this is the one Laura has sent for February. It comes with my apologies yet again that in spite of my best efforts I have not been able to transfer the pictures she has included. However, the post is rich with stimulating observations on the text:

SOUTHFARTHING READING GROUP

10 February 2024

Eileen, Monique, Ian, Tim, Laura

Chapter 22 Of The Ruin Of Doriath

In this and the next chapter, the curse of Fëanor continues to bite.

Monique said she loves the beauty of Tolkien’s language and its nomenclature. Monique also said it is rich poetically, e.g. when Húrin finds Morwen it is heartbreaking – create pathos using terminology. We continue to struggle with new names and words. The genealogies of races are helpful.

As the reader recovers from the tragedy of Túrin, Tolkien reminds us of what has been happening to Túrin’s father, Húrin and his mother, Morwen. Tim noted the description of the bleak journey of Húrin after his release.

Laura said that at the start of chapter, there is a short refresher and catch up. Húrin is not released by Morgoth out of pity.

Morgoth lets Húrin go after 28 years trapped in the chair on the mountainside and one year after Túrin’s death which Húrin will have seen through Morgoth’s eyes. He does not do this from pity – a key word for Tolkien – but so his malice can continue to work. He achieves this by Húrin being seen to have a sword and staff, and accompanied by orc escorts as if he is their leader. Tim said that Húrin looks like an agent of Morgoth. (Tolkien uses the word “girt” for the sword – same source as girdle.) Anyone who sees this, does not approach Húrin so he continues to wander, becoming angrier and sadder, while being watched by Morgoth’s spies. Húrin is described as “grim”, another of Tolkien’s key words.

In contrast to these spies, the Eagles are also being vigilant and whose leader, Thorondor, tells Turgon, the King of Gondolin, the news. Despite having befriended Húrin and Huor, he believes that Húrin has become a puppet of Morgoth and refuses to take him in. This is deeply ironic, as the reason for Húrin’s imprisonment was his refusal to identify Gondolin’s location to Morgoth as he and Huor had made oaths to Turgon that they would not. Oaths are not undertaken lightly in these cultures.

The descriptions of the country and wilderness through which Húrin travels are moving such as the wind hissing over the stones.

Although Turgon changes his mind, his decision has major repercussions as Húrin shouts a plea for help in the direction of Gondolin, watched by Morgoth’s spies who are now able to guess the location of the city. Tolkien describes this as: “…the first evil that the freedom of Húrin achieved.”

More personal tragedy follows for Húrin as he comes to the place, marked with a stone, where Glaurung, Túrin and Nienor died. He finds his wife, Morwen, sitting against the stone and, although this should be a cause for happiness, they both have been through such tragedy that it does not feel like a happy reunion. Morwen dies, not knowing if Túrin’s sister found him. Monique said this scene was full of great pathos.

Húrin continues to travel, going past the Petty Dwarves’ mountain. He will have witnessed what happened there with Tuor from Morgoth’s chair. He then goes to Nargothrond, destroyed by orcs and Glaurung. He finds Mîm with the treasure that Glaurung left. Mîm feels that the gold and jewels belong to him as the last of his race and tellingly describes the Elves who destroyed them as: “…the proud ones (who) came from over the sea……” Húrin kills him in revenge for his son’s betrayal by Mîm.

Tolkien adds to the tension of this encounter by describing Húrin leaving Nargothrond: “….he bore with him out of all of that great hoard but one thing only.” He does not say what that one thing is.

Húrin is found by Elves from Doriath and taken to Thingol. Húrin gives Thingol, in great bitterness, the one thing which is the Nauglamír, the Necklace of the Dwarves as he ironically describes it as the fee for looking after his family while Finrod, the original owner of the necklace, helped Beren to find a Silmaril in the Iron Crown as Thingol’s challenge. Melian is able to overcome Húrin’s subjection to Morgoth’s poison and at last he sees what really happened. He offers the Necklace to the King again in a more forgiving way and says that Morgoth has achieved his purpose but he is no longer his slave.

We wondered if the Nauglamír was made of mithril although its description in Unfinished Tales states that it is a golden carcanet (a necklace or ornamental collar made of gold or set with jewels).

Húrin leaves Doriath and Tolkien offers a guess as to his fate as no-one witnessed it but it is believed he threw himself into the sea.

It becomes clear that the Silmaril, brought to Doriath by Beren, has been preying on Thingol’s mind as Fëanor’s curse continues to work. Thingol decides to incorporate it into the Nauglamír and asks the best of Dwarf craftsmen to remake it. Tim reminded us that Thingol had been to Valinor and see the light of the Two Trees therefore seeing it in the Silmaril would be especially poignant for him.

The sight of their ancestors’ work instils in the Dwarves the need to retrieve the Necklace for themselves as is only right. The Silmaril leads to the downfall of the Elf/Dwarf relationship. When the Necklace is finished and Thingol is wearing it, the Dwarves demand it back. Recklessly, he insults them, calling them: “…uncouth race..”; “…stunted people…” so the Dwarves kill Thingol and take the Necklace, which is set with the Silmaril, with them. Again, the power of words results in action. Elves track down the Dwarves and retrieve the Necklace and kill most of the Dwarves. However, two escaped and returned home, telling the rest of the Dwarves what happened although they might have been economical with the truth as Tolkien writes: “…they told somewhat of all that had befallen…” A Dwarvish army marches towards Doriath.

Tim said that this leads to thousands of years of conflict between Elves & Dwarves starting with Thingol’s death. Monique said that there is such a poignant moment with Melian. Tim commented that there is also a poignant moment when Thingol looks at the light of the Silmaril as he dies.

Melian is devastated by Thingol’s death. She asks for the Necklace to be sent to Beren and Luthien and leaves to return to the Valar. She no longer wears her Elvish appearance and returns to a form of light as a Maia. Melian abandons her physical form and returns to the West.

This means that her Girdle no longer exists and the Dwarves are able to enter Doriath. They kill the Elves in Menegroth and seize the Necklace including the Silmaril. Beren hears of this and, with Green Elves, fights the Dwarves and is able to take back the Necklace although not before the King of the Dwarves curses all the treasure. Oddly, “the Shepherds of the Trees” (Ents) arrive to help the Elves destroy the Dwarves by forcing those remaining into woods where none came out. It may be that Melian, who loved trees, had warned them.

Tim said there was an example of renaming for the good ie the River Ascar, (described as “rushing”, “impetuous”) into which the remaining treasure of Doriath was thrown, was renamed Rathlóriel, Goldenbed because of the treasure.

Dior, Lúthien and Beren’s son, together with his wife, two sons and daughter, Elwing, set off to recreate Doriath. After he has installed himself as King in Menegroth, the Nauglamír is brought to him and by this, he knows that Beren and Luthien are dead. Luthien had chosen to be mortal in order to be with Beren and Tolkien reminds us that they had: “…gone where go the race of Men to a fate beyond the world.” Tolkien also writes that, because Lúthien was mortal, the wearing of the Nauglamír was too much for her. Dior, who has elvish blood, wears the Nauglamír and this fact comes to the attention of Fëanor’s sons – the Seven, as Tolkien describes them. The curse continues and leads to more killing of Elves by Elves.

They demand the return of the Silmaril which Dior ignores so they attack Doriath. Dior, his wife and three of the seven die and the two sons are forced into the forests where they are left to starve and presumably die. Maedhros looks but can’t find the two sons.

Interestingly, Maedhros, the oldest and leader of the brothers, alone regrets their action. (Maedhros was rescued from Thangorodrim by Fingon who cut off Maedhros’ right hand so he could escape the manacle which chained him to the mountain.) However, the brothers did not find the Silmaril as Elwing took the necklace and escaped to the sea. Elwing flees to Sirion by the sea (or Sirion-by-the-Sea, as Tim calls it!)

Celegorm, Curufin and Caranthir are killed. Dior and Nimloth are killed. Tim believes that mortal lands can’t handle the Silmaril.

Chapter 23 Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin

(There is a much more detailed account of this story in Christopher Tolkien’s edited The Fall of Gondolin.)

This chapter starts: “It has been told that……” referring the reader back to the Battle of Unnumbered Tears and also that Tolkien is writing down the story from the Elves’ point of view. We are told that Húrin and Rían’s son, Tuor, is fostered by Grey Elves, a typical arrangement in the Anglo-Saxon culture for high born sons.

Laura said that Tuor is a more positive character than his cousin Turin.

When the Elves move to the Havens of Sirion, they are attacked by Orcs and Easterlings. Tuor is captured and taken as a slave by the chief of the Easterlings but escapes after three years. He attacks Easterlings when he can and becomes an outlaw which compares directly with Túrin although Tuor is on his own.

Ulmo has chosen Tuor to carry out his plans and mysteriously manages to get him to leave Androth and travel westwards to the sea through hidden routes so that none of the enemy can track him. We considered that Ulmo’s Maiar, Ossë and Uinen were able to carry messages through the shores and riverways. The description of Ulmo does not include a trident although many artists persist in giving him this weapon of Poseidon/Neptune.

Lynn’s favourite bit is in Unfinished Tales, where Tuor is described walking through sunlit meadows of buttercup with butterflies all round. It’s such a pleasant change from Elves and twilight and Túrin’s northern gloom!

As soon as Tuor reaches the sea, he develops a great longing for it similar to that of Legolas in LOTR. Presumably this is to strengthen Ulmo’s hold on him. Whilst Tuor lives on the shore, the destruction of Nargothrond happens in which his cousin, Túrin, is mesmerised by Glaurung. The flight of seven (7!) swans (Tim compared them to gulls flying over people and stealing chips!) alerts Tuor that he must continue his travels to the halls of Vinyamar on the coast where he finds armour and a sword left by Turgon (Chapter 15 Of the Noldor in Beleriand) on the instructions of Ulmo who has told him that someone would come wearing the armour to warn him against treason and destruction. There is a wonderful sense of a fairy tale about this prophecy that happens.

Ulmo appears to Tuor and tells him to travel to the hidden Elvish kingdom of Gondolin and also gives him a camouflage cloak so that he can hide from any enemies.

Tuor comes across an Elf, Voronwë, who is the sole survivor of an expedition sent by Turgon to the West for help. This compares with Túrin meeting the Elf, Gwindor, an escapee from Morgoth. Voronwë agrees to help Tuor reach Gondolin and during their journey, they see a man dressed in black with a black sword walking in the distance. They don’t know who it is but this is of course Túrin who does not see them. What would have happened if the two cousins had met each other? Would Túrin have killed them both and then regretted it afterwards when he realised and acquired a new name?

Tuor and Voronwë, helped by Ulmo’s power, reach Gondolin and are captured by Elvish guards. Gondolin is described as the City of Seven Names. They are taken through the seven gates (7!). Elsewhere, Tolkien describes the seven gates in detail: Gate of Wood; Gate of Stone; Gate of Bronze; Gate of Writhen Iron; Gate of Silver; Gate of Gold; Gate of Steel. It struck Laura that the first four are how we describe Ages eg Stone Age, Bronze Age etc and the metal becomes more useless as a defence until the Gate of Steel as a last-ditch attempt to stop attacks. This list also reminds her of the part of Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast in which the Babylonians praise their gods of wood, stone, brass, silver and gold. The first performance was in Leeds on 8^th October 1931 (after Tolkien had left). Tolkien made a water colour of the Seven Gates.

Tolkien’s painting of the Seven Gates

Eileen noted that these are materials and crafts familiar to working people e.g. Dwarves, master craftsmen.

Tuor delivers Ulmo’s message to Turgon, who is accompanied by Maeglin, his nephew and Idril, his daughter. The message is that Gondolin should be abandoned and that the Elves should make their way to the sea. Turgon remembers the previous warning from Ulmo. This compares with the message from Ulmo to King Orodreth of Nargothrond to destroy the city’s bridge. Both warnings are ignored. Turgon has invested too much in the beautiful and apparently hidden city although he recalls Ulmo’s warning about treachery and the city is locked down.

Tuor and Idril fall in love and marry, the second marriage between a Man and an Elf. This embitters Maeglin even further as Turgon admires Tuor. They have a beautiful boy, Eärendil who will have a key role in the war between good and evil. However, Idril is troubled and has a secret tunnel built to ensure a safe escape from Gondolin. She has a sixth sense about something horrible that is going to happen.

Maeglin had taken to wandering away from Gondolin looking for metal ore, despite the instructions of Turgon. Consequently he was captured by orcs and taken to Morgoth. He betrays the location of Gondolin in return for his safety, the kingship of Gondolin and Idril.

Seven years after the boy’s birth, Morgoth attacks Gondolin in the early morning of the Festival of the Gates of Summer. His army is made up of dragons, balrogs, orcs and wolves. In Unfinished Tales, some of the dragons are described as machines in which orcs travel. Tanks were used for the first time in the battle of the Somme on 15^th September 1916 which Tolkien would have seen.

Mark I “Male” Tank, British Army

Turgon and other Elf leaders are killed. Maeglin seizes Idril and Eärendil but they are rescued by Tuor who throws Maeglin off the walls, exactly as his father, Eöl, cursed him, copying his own death.

Tuor, Idril, Eärendil and a company of Elves escape through the tunnel but still have to cross countryside where they are attacked by orcs and a balrog. Glorfindel fights the balrog and both fall to their deaths. There are debates about whether or not the spirit of this Glorfindel leaves the Halls of Mandos and inhabits the Glorfindel of LOTR. His body is rescued by Thorondor and buried under a mound of stones. Tolkien writes enigmatically that flowers grew upon the barrow “until the world was changed” which is not understood by readers at this point.

Tim said that the battle between Glorfindel and Balrog is a future echo of Gandalf’s struggle with the Balrog in Moria

Eagles attack the orcs and kill them all so that no-one can report back immediately that Tuor and his family escaped. Morgoth continues to gloat and think about how Fëanor’s curse has helped his aim of ruling the world.

This small group travel towards the sea where Tuor again feels the longing of the sea as does his son. They meet up with Elwing. As a result of the destruction of Nargothrond and Gondolin, Gil-galad becomes High King of the Elves and groups of Elves begin to settle on the coast.

Ulmo, who appears to be the only Vala who supports Elves and Men, travels to Valinor to ask for forgiveness on their behalf but Manwë rejects this plea. Tolkien introduces another prophecy in that only someone who comes in person for Elves and Men would succeed in mercy from the Valar and also only when the curse of the Silmarils has run its course. We are reminded that the light in the Silmarils was made by the Valar.

When Tuor and Idril are elderly, they leave on a ship and sail into the west. This partly a reference to the future Men of Númenor who can choose the time of their deaths.

Next time Saturday, 9^th March 2024 we will be reading Chapter 24, Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath.

Updates for December 2023 and January 2024

Laura has kindly sent notes which include Tim’s notes from last December at the end:

SOUTHFARTHING READING GROUP

13^th January 2024

Ian, Tim and Laura

These notes are to be read in conjunction with Laura’s notes dated 9^th December 2023.

Chapter 21 Of Túrin Turambar

Laura has just treated herself to the Silmarillion audiobook read by Andy Serkis. She thinks his interpretation of the voices are very good – a little touch of Welsh for the Petty Dwarves although the Elf voices are a bit gruff. Glaurung is a really deep growl with spaces in between each word as if he’s trying to breathe through the smoke! Tim has also treated himself and remarked that Andy Serkis enunciates every proper noun really clearly.

Ian and Tim talked about Tintagel and similarities with Nargothrond eg the bridge, dragons’ heads.

Ian also talked about Elizabeth Wright with reference to Chris’ interest in Tolkien and his women. Professor and Mrs Wright were both philologists and were famous for hosting Yorkshire teas in Oxford. If you were invited, you were with the in crowd. There was further discussion about Edith being left at the Wrights’ door for tea by Tolkien while he went off to meet up with his friends. Ian reminded us that Tolkien was executor to the Wrights’ estate.

Túrin and the outlaws are apparently attacking anyone until after the incident with Beleg, following which they agree to attack only orcs. This agreement is promptly broken when one of the outlaws shoots a Petty Dwarf.

Túrin’s names add to his story although Gwindor tells him his names do not change his arrogant personality/doom. His management badge would have been long! Túrin would now like to be known as…….

There was a long debate about Glaurung’s appearance. (Google to be recommended for looking at lots of illustrations including Tolkien’s own.) Stand by.

“Does Glaurung have legs?”

In most artists’ work, he is shown with legs; where it isn’t clear, it’s because he’s up to his plimsoll line in fields, fire etc. In the book, he is described as crawling but also he “…..cast his forward part across the chasm, and began to draw his bulk after” which is how some snakes move.

Glaurung is also described as the Father of Dragons without any mention of female dragons. Presumably Smaug is a descendant as Glaurung is golden and Smaug is red-gold.

There was then a debate about whether or not the malign characters had their physical appearance formed by nature or nurture. Merry and Pippin grow taller after drinking the Ent draughts therefore changed by their environment although “magic” by the Ents should not be underestimated. Dwarves are always short in Tolkien’s work and our own culture, a word not just used of mythical beings (dwarfs of course in our world).

From the description of the Petty Dwarves circumstances, there is clearly a caste system in the race and they are seen as the lowest and, because of the genocide by the Elves, they will be extinct when Mîm and Ibun die. Laura felt it was odd of Tolkien that he used what appears to be a French word but Ian and Tim said it was a translation of Sindarin. A Sindarin dictionary simply shows the origins, Nogoth Niben, to mean Dwarf and petty!

There were Seven Fathers of the Dwarves. Does this mean that one of them was the ancestor of the Petty Dwarves? Mîm describes Túrin acting as a “Dwarf Lord of old”, thereby calling up memories of what the Petty Dwarves might have been like or that they worked alongside other Dwarves.

Finduilas falls in love with Túrin “against her will”. Laura wondered if she was being used as a pawn by the Valar to achieve their goals although Tim felt it was simply that she fell in love with him and she didn’t want to.

Glaurung addresses Túrin as “captain foolhardy” amongst other titles. As we have discovered, the roots of Tolkien’s own surname mean risk taker!

**********

Meeting 9/12/2023

Lynn, Eileen, Monique, Tim

(Laura and Ian absent)

Tim’s notes:

Lynn: Túrin born into a family that already knows grief and tragedy.

Elves more mythic

Men seem to be more in the English medieval Romantic tradition – adventure, heroes, etc. Anglo-Norman era onwards, Middle English.

Túrin renames himself every time something happens to him – non-human attributes.

Eileen: form of escapism. Weapons have characteristics.

Monique referred to a girondelle, a literary whimsy, a fantasy.

Lynn: Túrin ’s fatal flaw is his pride, his hubris. He overreacts, all or nothing attitude. His is the only way of seeing things. He has the support of many. His flaw is through the maternal line – Morwen won’t leave to come to Doriath, stubbornness in family.

Monique: Comparisons with Chanson de Roland

Lynn: Byronic hero – Túrin is like Manfred

Reference to Laura’s written comment about ofermod in the context of the Battle of Maldon – overreaching pride.

Tim: Túrin is self-destructive.

**********

Next time, 10^th February, we’ll discuss Chapter 22 Of the Ruin of Doriath and perhaps start on Chapter 23 of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin although this chapter describes a key event and is fairly long, giving us a chance to contrast and compare the cousins, Túrin and Tuor.

Laura’s preparatory notes for Chapter 21

SOUTHFARTHING READING GROUP

9^th December 2023

Thoughts from Laura on Chapter 21 Of Túrin Turambar…….

Apologies for trying to sell my Silmarils instead of coming to the group!   Also apologies for lack of accents on proper nouns – it was all too much!

I’d forgotten Mandos had cursed the Noldor:  “Tears unnumbered ye shall shed; …” re the last chapter!

The first two paragraphs introduce us to the family trees of Hurin and Huor (this book is stuffed with genealogy perhaps Tolkien remembering various Anglo-Saxon tribes tracing their history back to Woden and even Adam!), making it clear that Turin and Tuor are cousins.  Tolkien warns us that this story is going to be tragic – which is worrying given what we have already read!  And doom/curses/fate runs all through it.

The Easterlings, who betrayed other Men in the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, are still in charge of Dor-lomin where 8-year-old Turin and his pregnant mother, Morwen, live in poverty.  Is Morwen a Welsh name?

Morwen sends Turin to Thingol (keep him secret, keep him safe!) because of the King’s friendship with her husband, Hurin, who is being kept prisoner by Morgoth.  Thingol has changed his mind about Men because Hurin and Huor fought against Morgoth.  This fostering arrangement is, as we know, common in the upper levels of Anglo-Saxon society.  Thingol later refers to Turin as his fosterson.

Morwen gives birth to her second daughter and names her Nienor “Mourning” seeming to curse her already.  (The first daughter died at 3 years old from a sickness created in the laboratories of Angband.)  The meaning of names in this chapter is important; people seem to be doomed by their names, particularly Turin who gives himself portentous names.

Morwen will not leave home to be with Turin but sends the Dragon Helm to him, the heirloom of their House.  Tolkien drew heavily on other stories and myths for this chapter, including the Tarnhelm in Wagner’s Ring Cycle in which this magic helmet is described as gold chainmail covering the wearer’s face and renders him invisible.  (According to Wikipedia!  Dernhelm is the Old English equivalent of Tarnhelm, the name taken by Eowyn when she becomes her warrior self!)  Tolkien would have also seen the reconstruction of the Sutton Hoo helmet which has a dragon placed front to back on top.

The Sutton Hoo helmet and its reconstruction.

Tolkien describes Turin as already marked with grief.  It’s as if this is a Greek tragedy, from which there is no escape from fate.

When Thingol no longer hears any news from Morwen and Nienor, he agrees for Turin to leave Doriath with Beleg Cuthalion (“Strongbow” his drink weapon of choice), his Elf friend, to fight orcs.  He wears the Dragon Helmet.  This goes on for three years.  When Turin returns, he is taunted by Saeros for looking dishevelled and specifically refers to women running like deer ie prey, dressed only in their hair which is a pre-echo of what is to come.  Turin makes Saeros’ punishment fit the crime and chases Saeros naked until he falls to his death, which is not an outcome that Turin foresaw or wanted.  He feels guilty and refuses to return to Doriath despite Beleg telling him that Thingol has forgiven him and joins a band of outlaws. It’s as if he wants to be punished.

Turin is now calling himself Neithan, “the Wronged” even though he is the one that brought about Saeros’ death and has been forgiven.  It’s as if he can only be identified by misery.    When Beleg looks for Turin again and finds him, Tolkien writes (translates from the Elvish!) “….and Turin forswore thenceforward war or plunder against all save the servants of Angband.”  Does this mean that he and the outlaws were attacking anyone before this decision?

Tolkien uses the poetic expression “But in the pride of his heart, Turin refused the pardon of the King….”  As if he wants to be unhappy.  This is reminiscent of the Anglo-Saxon word “ofermod”  – a selfish type of pride, used about Beorhtnoth in the poem, the Battle of Maldon and used by Tolkien to criticise his battle strategy.  (Unfairly!)

Turin tells Beleg to look for him on Amon Rudh (Bald Hill), which feels like a prophecy.

When Beleg returns to Doriath, he is given a sword by Thingol called “Anglachel” (iron flame?) made from meteorite iron and made by Eol, the Dark Elf.  Melian says the sword is cursed because of the cruel nature of Eol.   Tolkien later writes of the sword that “..Anglachel rejoiced to be unsheathed..” as if it had feelings.  Perhaps this is a nod to the Anglo-Saxon poem The Rood in which Christ’s Cross speaks about the Crucifixion.

Readers of Terry Pratchett will know that he pokes gentle fun at the concept of named magical swords by describing them as two a penny in Discworld while unnamed, ordinary swords are rare!

Is this this first time we come across lembas?  The description of the packaging around the waybread is beautiful, underlining the fact that these are not ordinary biscuits/cakes and that the baker and/or giver is a Maia.  It is a great honour to receive them from a Queen and that it is the first time that Men might be allowed to eat them.  This is a similar situation to Galadriel giving lembas to Aragorn and his company on the way to Mordor.

In another of his hints about the doom-laden future, Tolkien writes about Beleg:  “..and he came to them (his friends) no more.”

The next event in this tragic unfolding is when Turin and the outlaws chase three Petty Dwarves – their name being translated from Sindarin so I don’t think it has anything to do with mean-mindedness although later, Tolkien writes that they literally became diminished in stature when the Elves pushed them out of their lands and even hunted them until there are only a few left.

It is not clear why the outlaws had to chase the dwarves; this seems to be against the decision that Turin took earlier.   One is caught and another is hit by an arrow. The captured dwarf, Mîm, takes them to where they live inside Amon Rudh in order to save his life.   Tolkien inserts a bit of irony here when Mim bitterly says:  “…Amon Rudh is that hill called now, since the Elves changed all the names.”   So say all races that are either conquered or overwhelmed by other races.  Trip up the Brecon Beacons anyone?  Or Bannau Brycheiniog.

Again there is another pre-echo/prophecy when one of the outlaws describes the red flowers on top of Amon Rudh as blood on the hill-top.

They discover that the dwarf, Mim’s son, who was hit by the arrow, has died.  Turin feels remorse and regrets what happened.  He offers to pay “weregild” for the son’s death, at which Mim describes him as speaking like a dwarf-lord of old.  Although there seems to be admiration by Mim, perhaps there is an element of the dwarvish greed for gold.  Although the Anglo-Saxon system was in order to avoid violence and constant revenge.

Fulfilling Turin’s prophecy, Beleg finds Turin on Amon Rudh during winter snows.  He arrives dressed in white which makes me think of those scenes in Ice Station Zebra when commandos arrive in white camouflage on skis!

Turin is referred to as a leader of a petty (!) company.  There is no background regarding how he became leader, presumably through his literal strength and his personality, rather than any democratic voting.

Turin still refuses to return to Doriath despite Beleg bringing the Dragon Helm to lift his spirits.  Morgoth’s spies are still gathering intelligence and he learns of the terror caused by The Helm and The Bow ie Turin and Beleg.  Turin gives himself another name:  Gorthol, the Dread Helm.  His name badge has grown long indeed.

When Mim and his remaining son are foraging for food, they are captured by orcs.  Mim asks them not to kill Turin to which the orc captain agrees although we know that there is probably a nasty fate Morgoth has in store for him.  The dwarves guide the orcs to the Men’s hideout in the mountain and all are killed except for Turin, who is captured and Beleg who is wounded.  Beleg looks for Turin and comes across Gwindor who has been changed terribly because of his imprisonment by Morgoth.  He was able to tell Beleg that he had seen Turin and they both set off after him. They find the unconscious Turin in the orc camp tied to a tree after the orcs have tortured him by throwing knives around him in the trunk.  This is close to St Edmund’s torture and martyrdom when Danes tied him to a tree and shot him with arrows.  They are able to rescue him but, tragically, when Turin comes round, finds Beleg cutting his fetters with his sword and not knowing immediately who he is, kills him with the sword.  Tolkien writes:  “… fate that day was more strong…”

A storm arises and the orcs run away believing it to be an attack from the West.  The lightning allows Turin to see what he has done and of course, he is devastated and cannot be comforted by Gwindor.  They bury Beleg with his bow but Gwindor keeps Anglachel.

Gwindor leads Turin to the springs of Eithel Ivrin which, when Turin drinks, lift him out of his fugue state.  The waters are guarded by Ulmo who also gives protection and guidance to Turin’s cousin, Tuor.  Gwindor is able to tell Turin that there are rumours of his father being held in Angband and that Morgoth has cursed the whole line of Men.

Turin and Gwindor come to Nargothrond, the realm of Orodreth.  Turin is calling himself Agarwaen, the son of Umarth (the Bloodstained, the son of Ill-fate) and that he is a lost hunter.  The King and his Elves take to Turin because of his good looks and bearing.  They reforge Anglachel and it gets a new name, Gurthang, Iron of Death.  Turin also acquires another name, this time given to him by the Elves, Mormegil, the Black Sword.  He wears a dwarf mask when he fights against the orcs, presumably the same style mentioned in the previous chapter.

Sadly, Gwindor was in love with Finduilas, the King’s daughter, before his capture and he knows that she has fallen in love with Turin.  He warns her that Elves and Men should not marry particularly because of Men’s short lives and that Turin is not of the same stamp as Beren; he is doomed.  Gwindor tells her Turin’s identity.  Turin is furious as he hopes to escape Morgoth’s curse by remaining hidden.

Because of his identity, Orodreth holds Turin in even higher regard and starts taking his advice including building a bridge so that the Elves could go out to battle in better order rather than skirmishing.  Two Elves arrive to pass on a warning from Ulmo himself that he can no longer protect their river and that they must destroy their bridge.  “Cast the stones of your pride into the loud river that the creeping evil may not find the gate.”  Again there is reference to blind pride.  Although Orodreth is troubled by this instruction, Turin in his pride will not let the bridge be destroyed, choosing to ignore a Valar.

Morgoth’s forces come closer to Nargothrond, including Glaurung.  Orodreth and Gwindor are killed in the ensuing battle.  Gwindor forcefully tells Turin to rescue Finduilas.  He says:  “..she stands between thee and thy doom..”

Sadly, because the Elves had not destroyed the bridge, the orcs and Glaurung are able to enter Nargothrond and kill and loot and take prisoners, including Finduilas.  When Turin arrives, Glaurung literally stupefies his mind and body preventing him from rescuing Finduilas.  Glaurung’s superpower of mesmerising is like the concept that snakes can hypnotise their prey.  Of course, the dragon can also speak and see into people’s minds.  Glaurung taunts him and lies about his mother and sister (who are in Doriath) that they are in poverty because of him.  Turin believes the lies.  This is like Hurin being forced to see the world through Morgoth’s eyes.   When Glaurung de-hypnotises him, the dragon does not kill him but frees him in the cruel sense that he has to choose between rescuing Finduilas or his mother and sister.

After Turin has gone, Glaurung gives in to his dragonly nature and settles in Nargothrond on piles of treasure.

Turin tries to track down Morwen and Nienor; he gets as far as their home with the Easterlings.  When he learns the truth, he kills all the Easterlings although they are not at fault.  Turin then tries to rescue Finduilas, falling in with other Men.  At this point, he calls himself Wildman of the Woods.  The Men tell him that they found Finduilas, savagely murdered by the orcs.  Her death is reminiscent of that of St Edmund and the Crucifixion.  Turin is carried to Ephel Brandir where Brandir is ruler, whose strategy is for his people to remain in secrecy.  When Turin is brought to him, Brandir recognises him, and in another hint of what is to come, Tolkien writes:  “….a cloud of foreboding lay on his heart.”  When Turin recovers he takes on another name:  Turambar, “Master of Doom” although he does not seem to be a master of his fate at all.

Thingol discovers where Turin is and tells Morwen who sets off alone to find him.  A group of elves (“march-wards” – a wonderful description of the Border Agency!) is sent after her.  Nienor has disguised herself as one of them in the hope of finding her mother.  This is a similarity to Eowyn disguising herself as Dernhelm.  The group catch up with Morwen, Nienor is revealed and Mablung, the leader, puts a watch on them while he reconnoitres the surrounding lands.  Tragically, Glaurung knows what they are doing and he manages to separate the group by turning the river Narog waters into steam.  Tolkien writes:  “Thus the ladies were lost….”.  The use of the word “ladies” seems odd in this context and I’m not sure if Tolkien has used it before.  Morwen and Nienor are separated and, horrifically, the daughter stumbles upon Glaurung and cannot escape his gaze.  He causes her to lose her memory including her own identity.  Mablung finds her and takes her towards Doriath.  They are attacked by orcs and Nienor escapes.  Tolkien describes her running as a deer, tearing off all her clothing.  This act seems bizarre but I presume she is temporarily insane.  This of course is a clear reference to Saeros’ insults and how Turin dealt with him.  Thingol and Melian are told that both Nienor and Morwen are missing, separately.

Poetically, ironically and tragically, Nienor comes to Finduilas’ grave and lies down on the mound where Turin finds her.  When she comes round, she feels a connection with him and that he will protect her.  For a second I was thinking of Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker but only for a second.  Turin, with his superpower of giving names, calls her Niniel, Tear-Maiden, as she does not know who she is.  Again a tragic name for her when there could have been more positive ones. (Answers on a postcard!)  After some time and when Niniel is recovered, although still without memory, she and Turin marry despite the forebodings of Brandir who tries to dissuade her.  Turin tells her who he is and she then feels a sense of doom.

Turin takes up fighting orcs again and Glaurung hears that the Black Sword is nearby.  Glaurung comes to the borders of Brandir’s land and Turin volunteers to fight him as it will take cunning to defeat him, not just physical strength.  There are two volunteers who want to go with him.  Brandir, who is actually lame, is taunted for not volunteering.   Niniel also sets off after Turin and Brandir sets off after her.

Turin plans to climb into a gorge and when Glaurung passes over it, will stab upwards in his less armoured body and kill him.  One volunteer runs away and the other is killed by a falling rock.  Turin’s plan succeeds partially in that he deals the fatal blow but Glaurung does not die immediately.  When retrieving his sword, poisoned blood falls onto his hand.  Glaurung opens his eyes and stares at Turin “with such malice” that he passes out.

Brandir comes across Niniel, who has fallen into semi-consciousness after nearing the dragon scream.  He leads her away but she runs away to find her husband, tragically finding him lying near the dragon.  Glaurung speaks to her before he dies revealing that Turin is her brother and extremely cruelly, says:  “But the worse of all his deeds thou shall feel in thyself”  ie that they are having a baby.  As the dragon dies, Nienor/Niniel remembers everything about her early life and throws herself into the river.  This stretch of the gorge was called “The Leap of Dreadful Doom”.

Brandir, who witnessed this, returns to his home and tells everyone that the dragon, Turin and Niniel are dead and reveals Turin’s identity.  He says that the deaths of the dragon and Turin are good events.    However, Turin recovers and also returns to Brethil, looking for Niniel.   Brandir tells him that Niniel was his sister and that she is dead. Turin does not believe him and mocks him for his disability.  Brandir repeats Glaurung’s words that Turin is cursed so Turin kills him and runs away to Finduilas’ grave.  Mablung finds him and tells him that Morwen and Nienor/Niniel are missing, making Turin realise that the dragon told the truth about their relationship so he runs on to where she died.

Turin uses his sword to commit suicide, and eerily the sword speaks:  “…I will drink thy blood gladly, that so I may forget the blood of my master Beleg, and the blood of Brandir slain unjustly, I will slay thee.”  It’s as if the sword carries out the last act of revenge.

The attack on the dragon is like Fafnir being killed by Sigurd, by hiding in a pit below the dragon, using the sword Gram and by the dragon’s blood burning him.   Also the battle with the dragon in Beowulf when the hero, accompanied by one volunteer, kills the dragon but dies himself.

The unwitting incest has been borrowed from the Finnish myth of Kullervo which influenced Tolkien.  Kullervo has a one-night stand (putting it nicely) with his unknown sister (although they are twins!) and she drowns after finding out.

November

SOUTHFARTHING TOLKIEN READING GROUP

11 November 2023

Lynn, Tim, Monique, Eileen, Laura

The Silmarillion

Chapter 20   Of the Fifth Battle:  Nirnaeth Arnoediad

 

This chapter is about the terrible defeat of the combined forces of Elves, Men and Dwarves by Morgoth.  There are descriptions of failed communication and treachery as well as the return of monsters created by Morgoth.  This is balanced by hints of what may happen in the future for the survival of the allies.  As one of the officers responsible for communications in WWI, Tolkien would have been well aware of the need for accurate communications and working equipment, even under fire.  Tim said that commanders in WWI would have had log books with accounts from different platoons etc ie Dwarves, Elves and Men.

The first paragraph is a completion of the story of Beren and Luthien.  The poetic phrase “the winter of Thingol” describes not just his sadness but perhaps that he is nearing his end.  Luthien gives birth to Dior, the first person who is part Elf, part Man and part Maia, whose wife, Nimloth, gives birth to Elwing who marries Earendel.   Monique was intrigued that Tolkien used the name of a haute couture designer! Lynn explained that he might have been using an Anglo-Saxon name:  Déor, a name given to a poem about misfortune.  Also Lynn reminded us that there were many versions of the Silmarillion until Christopher edited the final printed one.  Dior may not have been the original name.

There was a discussion about why the first paragraph was in this chapter and not at the end of the previous one.  Lynn felt that what happened to Beren and Luthien provided the motivation for the battle and was appropriately placed.

Monique said that Tolkien’s prose is so near to poetry eg when Huor speaks to Turgon “with the eyes of death”, and prophesies that a new star shall be born from their two families.   The book is similar to the Chanson de Rolande:  heroism, treachery, defeat and revenge. Tim said there was a difference between a poetic description of war and war poetry like that of Sassoon.  Tolkien’s work is a literary depiction.

Maedhros, one of the sons of Fëanor, tries to unite Elves against Morgoth, inspired by Beren and Luthien’s successful attack on him.  His attempt fails because of distrust brought about by the workings of the oath.  A small group of Elves make a sortie against Morgoth and, with Tolkien’s poetic alteration of word order, describes their sad end.  “….and they came never back, save one.”  Who was that one?  A messenger to bring the bad news?

Thingol continues to keep the Silmaril and Celegorm and Curufin are determined to kill him and his people.

Maedhros works with Dwarves to make weapons and also to fight against Morgoth.  They attack too soon and, although there are some territorial gains, Morgoth is alerted to the danger.

Maedhros plans a pincer movement with the combined forces of Elves, Men and Dwarves, one half led by himself and the other led by Fingon.  Maedhros is delayed by the treachery of Uldor the Accursed, son of Ulfang the Black, who has always planned to betray the Elves.  However, Turgon joins the battle.

Against good advice, the Elvish army under Fingon is drawn away from their defences because of great cruelty shown by the Orcs to a captured prisoner, brother of one of the Elves, Gwindor.  Their fury takes them into Angband itself and everyone is killed except for Gwindor.  The battle proper takes place in front of Angband.  The forces of Turgon and Maedhros could have beaten the Orc army but wolves, balrogs and Glaurung, now adult,  emerge from Angband and then Uldor’s Men change sides rather like Lord Stanley betraying Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth. Morgoth has nurtured the traitors to this stage.  Uldor’s Men are only one tribe of the race; the others support the Elves and Dwarves.  Fëanor’s sons are matched against those of Ulfang.  Eileen said she had liked the name of the Easterlings as it appeared to have Christian overtones but these Men are traitors.  We do not know if all the Easterlings were traitors.

Lynn reminded us of the betrayal of Beren and Luthien by Daeron and that all runic characters were derived from his first runes.  Elves developed them for their own language.

It was always Morgoth’s aim to split the different tribes of Men to achieve his aim of domination.  He is jealous of Men as they have the gift of mortality.

The motion of the battle is vivid.   Even though it is short, it is a fast paced chapter.

Dwarves are fighting against Morgoth too.  They are described as being able to withstand fire better than Men or Elves, perhaps because of personal protective equipment in the forges!  They also wear hideous masks, perhaps made of leather rather than metal; last time we compared this with masks worn by the Samurai.  Lynn wondered if they were wearing masks and armour made of mithril which would have been stronger than that worn by any of the other armies.  Their axes are stronger than Glaurung’s hide and stronger than Elvish armour.

For interest!

The bizarre horned and bespectacled parade helmet given to Henry VIII by the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I, in 1514.

The Dwarves manage to encircle Glaurung but he kills their king, Azaghal, but not before he manages to stab upwards at the dragon, a pre-echo of Glaurung’s meeting with Turin.  Unfortunately, the Dwarves leave, taking their king’s body, presumably out of respect.  This is in contrast to the Anglo-Saxon approach which would expect huscarls to fight the enemy to the death.

Fingon is killed by Gothmog and another unnamed balrog.  Only the forces of Hurin, Huor and Turgon remain.  Hurin persuades Turgon to return to Gondolin to ensure that it remains secret and safe but in another one of Tolkien’s enigmatic speeches, Huor says to Turgon: “…………..out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men.  ……………  from you and from me a new star shall arise.”  Tragically, Maeglin, Turgon’s nephew, overhears this.  (Spoiler alert!)

The remaining Men are killed except for Hurin who Morgoth captures.  Huor dies, like Harold, with an arrow through his eye.  Hurin still has the strength to mock Morgoth and is held on the side of a mountain so that he can see what Morgoth wishes him to see.

Eileen asked do we have to go to war over insults?  Insults are part of the action; insulting the enemy to other people. It happens now.

Lynn reminded us that we are reading a mythology, written by the Elves, the eventual victors; this is not reality.  Followed by shocked silence!  Tim said:  “There is a sense of geo-politics in Beleriand.”

At the end of the battle “….a great storm of wind came out of the West.”  Is this from the Valar?  The battle is a triumph for Morgoth not just because of the fighting but because of treachery and infighting.  Some Elf leaders did not come and there was a split between Men.

Morgoth reneges on his promise to the Men who betrayed their kind and does not let them have the better lands in Beleriand.

Morgoth attacks the Havens and kills many of Cirdan’s people.

Some actions, even if unsuccessful in themselves, go to fulfilling the future like the seven ships travelling west but only one sailor returning, Voronwe.

Morgoth decides to concentrate on Turgon as he is a descendant of Fingolfin and apparently now the King of the Noldor.  He feels that Turgon could destroy him.

The bodies of the Elves, Dwarves and Men are made into a hill by the orcs.  It is called the Hill of the Slain or the Hill of Tears.  Grass grows over it and none of Morgoth’s people walk on it.  It is said that, after the guns fell silent at the end of WWI, the birds started to sing again.  The description is like the mounds of cherry stones in the LOTR that are left in the grass to the annoyance of people mowing, compared by Tolkien to skulls heaped by conquerors.

Richard Armitage, the actor who played Thorin, appeared on the programme “Between the Covers” and said he was distraught as an 11year old when he had finished reading Lord of the Rings as he wanted more.

Next meeting of the core group:

Saturday, 9 December 2023 – Chapter 21 Of Túrin Turambar.  A long chapter so it might take us into the New Year!  Laura sends her apologies but Happy Christmas and New Year!

After that, Saturday, 13 January 2024.

Maxi moot, Saturday, 27 January 2024 for lunch!

September and October

Apologies for the missing reports, I will check to discover why I have not posted those I have received from Laura. Meanwhile, these are the reports for the last 2 months, with further apologies for being unable to transfer the pictures included in the original document.

9 September and 14 October 2023

The Silmarillion
Chapter 19 Of Beren and Lúthien
Christopher Tolkien edited a collection of Tolkien’s writings about Beren and Lúthien,
starting with the Lay of Leithian. The characters and names were so important to
Tolkien that he had the names engraved on his and Edith’s gravestone.

In The Lord of The Rings, Aragorn sings about his ancestors, Beren and Lúthien
(Tinuviel – nightingale), on Weathertop before the attack by the Nazgül. He
describes their love story and their doom which is highly poignant as he and Arwen
are in the same situation 6,500 years later i.e. a Man and Elf in love in which the Elf
chooses to become mortal.
Tolkien writes, through the medium of the Elves’ writing!, that the story of Beren and
Lúthien is a light in all the darkness, first told as a poem, the Lay of Leithian, Release
from Bondage. (Christopher Tolkien edited and published all his father’s writings on
B&L in one book, including the poem.)

This story, which can almost be separated from the rest of the book except for its
part in the oath and for its effect on the future of Men and Elves, can be read as a
fairy story: a tyrant father; a fairy mother; an heroic nobody and a beautiful princess
in love; two evil wizards; talking animals; a curse and a clever, twisting, impossible
task.
Lynn said that Tolkien would have been familiar with Romances. In a letter he writes
about Men, he’s bringing in Romance. Before then, Elvish stories belong in the
Mythic period. A different literary phase. Mythic literature is written differently. In
B&L, there is a melding of Romance and Mythic.
Tim said that this chapter is focussed on two people with a small “r” and a big “R”
romance in a mythical context.
Monique loves Tolkien’s language in this chapter; it reminds her of Balzac and the
human comedy. It is a window on humanity.
Lynn pointed out that all the different forms of Beren and Luthien are found in the
Lays of Beleriand, Volume 3 of the Tales of Middle-earth. He rewrote and rewrote
the story and poems; the final version is the one in the Silmarillion although for
Tolkien, the story was always evolving. The story is like a medieval chanson de
geste; story telling. Lays and gests are types of medieval song but this is the 19 th
century version like Tennyson and Keats. Tolkien and the Romantic spirit. The
Charge of the Light Brigade.
In the first paragraph, Tolkien writes that the Lay of Leithian is the longest poem
except for one other song. Which one is he talking about?

We discover early on why Gorlim the Unhappy is so-called. He is one of Barahir’s
companions and is cruelly tricked by Sauron into thinking his wife is still alive,
persuading him to give up Barahir’s location so that he can join her. Which Sauron
does by having him killed. This is rather reminiscent of Richard III saying that he so
loved his brother, he would shortly send his soul to Heaven.

Beren is away from camp when Sauron’s orcs murder Barahir and his men but he
has a supernatural dream about carrion birds. When he returns to camp, he
discovers that his dream is true. He retrieves his father’s hand and ring from the
orcs which could be a pre-echo of what will happen to him. The Ring of Barahir
eventually comes to Aragorn. We did not know from where the design of the ring
came nor the importance of the two snakes. The Ring of Barahir is a strange design.
Why snakes? And why a crown of flowers? Is there symbolism? Is it like Celtic art
with the zoomorphic entwining animals? But it comes from Valinor. Are snakes
baby dragons but they come from Morgoth?
We had a discussion on the nature of mythological snakes such as Ourobouros and
their possible relatives, dragons including the differences in Eastern and Western
cultures. Anglo-Saxon snakes are wise but dragons are bad.

Monique said that this story is like Ancient Egypt in that things have lasted like the
sword, Narsil. Aragorn’s crown of Numenor. Monique said that it was like the
combined crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt which includes a cobra, the uraeus.
This is a symbol of Wadjet, the oldest deity.

Tolkien writes of Beren that: “He did not fear death, but only captivity….”
reminiscent of Eowyn’s fear of a cage.
Sauron sends werewolves to catch Beren. These creatures are described as “fell
beasts inhabited by dreadful spirits that he had imprisoned in their bodies.” Does
this mean that the wolves and the spirits were forced into this symbiosis? And who
were the spirits?
Mysterious forces put into Beren’s heart that he should go to Doriath. Is this a
message from the Valar who in fact are involving themselves in combatting Feanor’s
oath. He also manages to break through Melian’s barrier which must come from
greater powers that a Maia.
When Beren is in Doriath’s woods, he sees Luthien dancing. This scene was
inspired by Tolkien watching Edith dancing in the woods at Roos, East Yorkshire in
1917, just back from the Somme, a contrast to the hardships and losses he suffered.
Luthien has some power over nature with her singing and flowers grow where she
walks. Her mother, Melian, was Yavanna’s companion helping her with growing
plants and trees; it is possible she has passed on some of this skill to her daughter.
Flowers also grew beneath Yavanna’s feet. Beren Luthien “Tinuviel”, Nightingale.
Beren and Luthien falling in love is ironically similar to that of Thingol and Melian, in
that both males are literally enchanted and lose the sense of time.

Tolkien describes the anguish for both of them: “….and in his fate, Luthien was
caught, and being immortal she shared in his mortality, and being free received his
chain…”
Thingol is furious that Beren should have dared to love Luthien although Melian can
see the future. He does not seem to question how Beren managed to get into
Doriath. He repeats Beren’s statement about rock and steel and the fires of
Morgoth. He is not swayed by Beren showing him the Ring of Barahir, a gift from
Finrod Felagund. Although Beren is overawed by Thingol at first, Melian is able to
plant in his mind self-confidence to continue to challenge the King.
Thingol sets Beren an impossible task in order to marry Luthien. He is to retrieve a
Silmaril from the Iron Crown of Morgoth and bring it back in his hand. Thingol
believes that he will not be able to achieve this of course. If he does, Feanor’s oath
that anyone having one of the Silmarils will be killed by those that swore by it.
Melian warns Thingol: “And now is Doriath drawn within the fate of a mightier
realm.” What is the mightier realm?
Beren goes to Nargothrond, the kingdom of Finrod Felagund. Finrod decides to help
Beren with his quest although he knows that Feanor’s curse will punish him.
Celegorm and Curufin will not help, hoping that Beren and Finrod will both be killed.
Beren and Finrod set off with ten companions. They disguise themselves as orcs
but are captured by Sauron who has seen through their disguise as they did not
report in as a normal company of orcs would do, an example of military efficiency.
Finrod and Sauron sing songs of power at each other but Sauron wins and all of
them are put in prison. Each night, a werewolf eats one of the companions like the
story of Odysseus and the Cyclops. Finrod eventually dies in the prison.
Luthien finds out that Beren is imprisoned by Sauron via Melian’s power and intends
to go and help him. She is betrayed by Daeron, who loves her, to Thingol. He
imprisons her in a tree house but she escapes by putting a spell on her hair which
grows like that of Rapunzel.
Celegorm and Curufin are out hunting “some orc” because of Sauron’s increased
activity. This is another example of Tolkien hinting that things are not by chance.
They take with them Huan, their wolfhound, who originally came from Valinor, a gift
from Orome to Celegorm, thereby also coming under the curse of Feanor. It was
foretold, although we are not told by whom, that he would die but not before he met
the greatest wolf who ever lived. He understood speech but was only allowed to
speak three times before his death.

Seamus, the mascot of the Irish Guards! Huan is mostly painted as a giant
wolfhound. Tim said that, if Huan is an Irish Wolfhound, he should be called Sean!

Huan finds Luthien and brings her to Celegorm and Curufin who said they would
take her to Nargothrond but did not say that they knew about Beren. They imprison
her, hoping to persuade Thingol to marry her to Celegorm so that they would
become more powerful than any other Elvish kings. However, Huan transfers his
loyalty to Luthien and helps her escape. He has a good moral compass. She
arrives at Sauron’s tower and sings a song of power which Beren hears and also
responds in song. Tim said it is like Sam singing to find Frodo in Cirith Ungol.
Sauron sends wolves to capture Luthien but Huan kills them all except for Draugluin
who tells Sauron that Huan from Valinor has arrived. Sauron turns himself into a
werewolf which even Huan cannot face but Luthien casts a spell on him which gives
Huan the opportunity to attack him. Sauron takes on various forms including his
own accustomed one which was still handsome; he did not become ugly until after
the Fall of Numenor. Sauron is a lurking presence in LOTR but here he is present.
Tim said that this scene recalls Gothic novels particularly Bram Stoker and Dracula
as Sauron is also a shape changer.
There is much in this chapter about the power of song: Luthien, Beren, Sauron,
Finrod Felagund and its use as a counterpoint to someone else singing which is an
echo of Morgoth’s singing at the very beginning. The power is in the music and the
words such as Sam calling on Elbereth Gilthoniel. Also Tolkien drops heavy hints
that people are not in charge of their own fate but that their doom is already set out.

The outcome of captured elves returning to Nargothrond is that Celegorm and
Curufin are ejected and the curse is working against them. Curufin smiles in a
sinister way recalling the line from Hamlet, describing Claudius, stating that one can
smile and smile and be a villain. Huan went with the two elves but the relationship
was not as close.
Beren and Luthien are attacked by Curufin and Celegorm but are rescued by Huan
who is now faithful to them. Beren takes Curufin’s named knife, Angrist, and horse
which is the ultimate degradation for a prince. Even so, Curufin curses Beren and
shoots back and hits him. Huan attacks but returns with a herb to cure Beren which
might be Athelas. We recalled Lynn’s description of the Anglo-Saxon poem about
the Nine Herbs that can be used to ward off elfshot! Old knowledge contains some
truth such as the curative properties in yew, willow and foxglove. There was a brief
discussion about the King’s Healing Hands such as in England against scrofula;
Monique did not think there was such a tradition in France except for St Louis whose
reputation for healing the sick came about because of his sainthood rather than
kingship.
Beren leaves Luthien in the care of Huan and sets off for Angband. He sings and
she finds him.
Beren dismisses his horse so that it can avoid the horrors to come, like Gandalf
persuading Sam to let Bill loose as he would never cope with Moria.
Is Thuringwethil dead with reference to her bat-fell? Lynn thought that it might be a
cloaking device to give her the vampire bat shape over what ever she is so she is not
necessarily dead.
Huan speaks, as is his fate, to say their dooms are linked.
“And horror was in his glance as he saw upon his flank a bat-like creature clinging
with creased wings.” This is a vivid description of Beren’s loathing even though he
knows that the bat is Luthien. Monique was taken with the description of Beren that,
despite his ugly and frightening shape, he still has human eyes.
Carcharoth is Morgoth’s guard dog. Possibly of interest is that Carcharhinidae –
requiem sharks cf Carcharoth the wolf (red maw/fang). Great white is Carcharadon
carcharias. (Greek for sharp tooth.) Monique found the description of the wolves
being fed on living flesh highly disturbing.
Luthien casts a spell over the wolf – she has “some power, descended from of old
from divine race..” Her singing and dancing causes all of Morgoth’s court to fall
asleep. This scene is quite disturbing because of Morgoth’s thoughts about Luthien.
“…suddenly he fell like a hill sliding in avalanche..” Did Tolkien ever see this in
Switzerland? Oddly, Beren seems to keep his disguise whilst Luthien loses hers.
Perhaps this was deliberate so that Morgoth would not notice him.
Luthien shows a high level of power; she is linked with Galadriel through Melian.
There is also Maia blood in Arwen through Deor, son of Luthien.

Beren uses Curufin’s knife to cut out a silmaril. It came into Beren’s mind to take
another…. Where did this thought come from? Was it Curufin’s treachery being
transmitted to his knife?
There was a discussion about how the Silmarils might have looked including a brief
foray in the mining and cutting of this world’s diamonds. Lynn reminded us that the
light that Fëanor captured in the gems came originally from the two Trees in Valinor
whose light came from the stars. One tree had dark green leaves with silver light on
the underside and the other had light green leaves with gold light. Therefore the light
in the Silmarils was a combination of gold and silver contained in a casing invented
by Fëanor. We thought that this was akin to capturing the Big Bang like the Hadron
Collider! Monique was reminded of beautiful ancient Egyptian jewellery especially
glittering scarabs.
Carcharoth is like Ungoliant – wants to eat all including the Silmaril. B&L are saved
by eagles followed by Huan. There is no reason given how the eagles knew but
Lynn and Tim felt it was the power of Manwë at work.
Beren One Hand is a pre-echo Frodo of the Nine Fingers. Towards the end of
LOTR, Sam says that people will be making up songs about Frodo of the Nine
Fingers.
The rejected lover and someone who is overlooked, Daeron, who betrayed Luthien
twice to her father, disappears.
Melian tells Thingol that the doom must be worked through. Celegorm has told them
that Beren is dead and he is to marry Luthien which Thingol cannot stomach either.
Carcharoth runs mad in Doriath because of the agonising pain in his stomach
caused by the Silmaril.
The confrontation between Beren and Thingol – a dramatic scene showing that he
doesn’t have the Silmaril but it is in his hand! Thingol recognises that the love of
Beren and Luthien is unstoppable and fated.
Huan kills Carcharoth after the wolf fatally bites Beren. Tim said that this battle was
an epic scene. Huan says goodbye to Beren as the third and final time that he can
speak. Mablung gives Beren the Silmaril to hold. This is an epic final scene. We
wondered what happens to Huan; Lynn suggested that his spirit returned to Oromë
in Valinor.
Beren and Luthien go to the Halls of Mandos. She sings to Mandos cf her singing to
Morgoth, about the sorrow suffered by Elves and Men. Mandos asks up the
management chain. Luthien could go to Valimar but without Beren or both return to
Middle-earth both mortal – she chooses the latter.
There is a prediction in the last paragraph that Luthien will appear in future
generations and it would be interesting that she reappears as Arwen.
We had a discussion about Tolkien’s role as Father of Fantasy although we felt his
work was beyond fantasy because there is so much detail in it of our own world
raising our discussions on life, death, the universe etc. Lynn is reading Charles

Williams’ book, Many Dimensions (1930) about an artefact. We know that the Inklings
bounced ideas off each other. Tolkien wrote about time in the Notion Club Papers; C
S Lewis wrote about space travel in his trilogy; Williams also wrote about time travel
in a more esoteric way. (Laura has just bought The Literary Lives of the Inklings.
Still sitting on the shelf!)

Next time, we will be looking at Chapter 20 – Of The Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth
Arnoediad. (AKA the Battle of Unnumbered Tears.)

Coda:
On travelling home, Tim and Laura saw a huge double rainbow. There was a
discussion about rainbows in Tolkien’s work and whether (pun intended) or not there
was a Vala or Maia responsible for rainbows. Tim suggested as it was light being s
refracted through airborne water droplets, it could be Manwë as Lord of the Airs
perhaps supported by Yavanna with daylight needed for growing things.

****

And posting on behalf of Julie, she has read the discussion above and comments:

“One can spot echoes in “The Lord of the Rings” – Frodo and Sam disguise themselves as Orcs and find themselves in the horrible prison at Minas Ungol, reminiscent of the ordeal of Beren and Finrod – Galadriel does not come to save them as Luthien does (Sam survives: Finrod did not) but her Phial helps them to escape and continue their mission (in the extended version of Peter Jackson’s film Frodo has a direct flashback to their time with Galadriel in Lothlorien, shortly before this point). No direct parallels but applicabilities…”

****

March

With the usual apology for not being able to transfer the images Laura includes in her original notes. The captions to them indicate where and what was included. SOUTHFARTHING READING GROUP 9 March 2024 Lynn, Eileen, Monique, Ian, Tim, Laura Chapter 24 Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath Monique continues to…

by Lynn Forest-Hill April 10, 2024

February

With thanks to Laura and Tim for keeping up the reports of the meetings, this is the one Laura has sent for February. It comes with my apologies yet again that in spite of my best efforts I have not been able to transfer the pictures she has included. However, the post is rich with…

by Lynn Forest-Hill March 5, 2024March 5, 2024

Updates for December 2023 and January 2024

Laura has kindly sent notes which include Tim’s notes from last December at the end: SOUTHFARTHING READING GROUP 13th January 2024 Ian, Tim and Laura These notes are to be read in conjunction with Laura’s notes dated 9th December 2023. Chapter 21 Of Túrin Turambar Laura has just treated herself to the Silmarillion audiobook read…

by Lynn Forest-Hill February 5, 2024

Laura’s preparatory notes for Chapter 21

SOUTHFARTHING READING GROUP 9th December 2023 Thoughts from Laura on Chapter 21 Of Túrin Turambar……. Apologies for trying to sell my Silmarils instead of coming to the group!   Also apologies for lack of accents on proper nouns – it was all too much! I’d forgotten Mandos had cursed the Noldor:  “Tears unnumbered ye shall shed;…

by Lynn Forest-Hill December 7, 2023

November

SOUTHFARTHING TOLKIEN READING GROUP 11 November 2023 Lynn, Tim, Monique, Eileen, Laura The Silmarillion Chapter 20   Of the Fifth Battle:  Nirnaeth Arnoediad   This chapter is about the terrible defeat of the combined forces of Elves, Men and Dwarves by Morgoth.  There are descriptions of failed communication and treachery as well as the return of…

by Lynn Forest-Hill December 5, 2023

SOUTHFARTHING TOLKIEN READING GROUP11 March 2023

Eileen, Monique, Ian, Tim and Laura. We all felt that our visit to the Poetry Reading Group had been successful although Tolkien was not everyone’s cup of tea! Thank you to Sandy for accommodating our passion! All were reminded that the Tolkien Society were holding the annual Reading Day on 25 March 2023 (the day…

by Laura Taylor November 17, 2023

Catching up reports

These 2 reports come from Laura who has kindly taken notes of the meetings since I have not been attending. I am posting them on her behalf, and will continue to do this with subsequent reports, at least for now. SOUTHFARTHING TOLKIEN READING GROUP 14 January 2023 Eileen, Tim and Laura. Apologies from Ian. Our…

by Laura Taylor February 20, 2023March 27, 2023

January Supermoot

While the report of the December small-group meeting is in preparation, this report covers the first ‘supermoot’ of 2023. 28.1.23 This afternoon was the first ‘supermoot’ of the new year for the Southfarthing/Tolkien Reading Group and it was lovely to be together again. Five of us braved chilly weather, uncertain trains, potential traffic jams due…

by Lynn Forest-Hill January 29, 2023

November

12.11.22 Our November meeting was sadly depleted but 3 of us shared our thoughts on Chapter 9 of The Silmarillion, and at the risk of a spoiler – we didn’t finish the chapter because we found so much to discuss. We also spent a bit of time discussing the way forward because it is close…

by Lynn Forest-Hill November 14, 2022November 14, 2022

January Supermoot

While the report of the December small-group meeting is in preparation, this report covers the first ‘supermoot’ of 2023.

28.1.23

This afternoon was the first ‘supermoot’ of the new year for the Southfarthing/Tolkien Reading Group and it was lovely to be together again. Five of us braved chilly weather, uncertain trains, potential traffic jams due to local road works, and the equally potential disruptions caused by hordes of football fans to meet in a local café for lunch and additional refreshments throughout the afternoon.

Being a ‘supermoot’ we had no assigned reading to discuss, but spent pleasant time catching up before the conversation swung inevitably towards Tolkien. This blog update is not intended to give an in-depth account of our discussions, which focussed much of its attention on Ian’s current research, about which I will say no more, except that we all found it fascinating in the way it intersects and probably expands some of our own individual work past, present, and ongoing.

We considered the state of the current Tolkien Society publications and some of the material included. As part of this topic, we discussed the relative merits of hard copy and online access. Some of us felt that online access saves cluttering up our bookshelves, there being no great merit in giving space to the publications. For some people, of course, hard copy is the only option.

The matter of Oxonmoot and its 50^th anniversary drew more positive responses as more than half of those present will be attending on some way. One of the few benefits resulting from Covid is the continuing option to attend ‘blended’ conferences and other events, and the Zoom option is enabling me to join in, although it was pointed out that Oxonmoot has a social side that is not accessible in the same way unless you attend in person.

Our other discussions ranged from considerations of Aragorn’s response to the loss of Gandalf, to problems of translation. We acknowledged that some approaches to Tolkien seem to stretch the bounds of applicability, and we once again deplored the problem of misreading and misrepresentation which seems to afflict some Tolkien publications even today when so much excellent critical work has been done.

As the afternoon drew on we sadly faced the problems of unreliable transport rather than making our way, as in previous pre-pandemic years, to local hostelries and restaurants to continue our discussions in even more convivial surroundings. It may be a more inconvenient and demanding world now, but Tolkien still brings us together to enjoy fellowship and good conversation, and our next ‘supermoot’ will be on 29^th April.

November

12.11.22

Our November meeting was sadly depleted but 3 of us shared our thoughts on Chapter 9 of The Silmarillion, and at the risk of a spoiler – we didn’t finish the chapter because we found so much to discuss. We also spent a bit of time discussing the way forward because it is close to that time of year when we need to think about booking for next year. We are considering options at present.

When we finally got into the text Laura noted Fëanor’s dramatic claim that destroying the silmarils would kill him thereby causing the first death, and Mandos’s sinister response that it would not be the first.

Tim observed that in spite of Fëanor’s claims, he did not make the light in the silmarils.

Laura remarked that Fëanor makes more fuss over losing the silmarils than the death of his father.

These observations led me to comment on what I saw as the limitation of power in Arda. Up to this point the reader has been made aware of this through the way Míriel is drained of strength by the birth of Fëanor and never recovers. Then Yavanna grieves over the fact that she does not have the power to recreate the Two Trees, and after their destruction Fëanor reiterates a similar inability to create anew the silmarils. This limitation of power becomes thematic, although in different ways, and I proposed that the logical consequence of this is that Sauron will grow progressively weaker. We know that after the Fall of Númenor he is unable to regenerate in corporeal form. My point was that Tolkien declared that evil would rise again in Middle-earth after his defeat, presupposing his eventual return, but in diminished form.

Laura and Tim both qualified this point. Laura observed that it would be part of the thematic pattern of diminishment as exemplified in Tolkien’s statement that the Elves diminished from tall and dangerous to the little creatures of modern fairy story. Tim remarked that Sauron’s evil dissipates into other life forms so that good and evil are present in all people.

We moved on to consider the narratorial statement that Melkor grows ‘less because of the power that had gone out of him’. Tim remarked that Ungoliant on the other hand had gorged on light and grown greater.

I noted the reference to Melkor’s great cry and its everlasting resonance, and Laura commented that Ungoliant ‘comes for’ Melkor, and that his cry is reminiscent of the cry of the Nazgûl in the Woody End and elsewhere, and speculated that Tolkien had heard echoes in Cheddar Caves during his honeymoon visit there with Edith.

Staying with Melkor, we considered the statement that he ‘spent his spirit’ while hidden away in Angband, dominating his slaves and inspiring them with the lust for evil. Laura remarked that without this they were unmotivated, and recalled the sudden lack of direction depicted in ‘The Return of the King’ film after Barad Dûr fell.

We returned to Ungoliant as Tim noted the way she devoured herself, and noted the parallel with the description of Melkor whose hatred devoured him. Tim observed that this construction makes it look as though this hatred was a separate entity. We did not pick up the potential in this for further discussion, but Tim remarked Tolkien’s tightly crafted prose.

I suggested that Tolkien’s works themselves are being represented these days in various kinds of language, including that of the film genre, and Tim observed that film serves as a kind of shorthand.

We went on to consider the Oath sworn by Fëanor and his sons. Laura remarked that it was spurred not only by the loss of the silmarils and the death of Finwë, but also by Melkor’s lies about the coming of Men.

Laura and Tim added that while Fëanor’s oath binds everyone, Galadriel will not take it – because she has her own agenda. Tim added that the reference to ‘unguarded’ lands is reminiscent of the attitude to land in the nineteenth-century American West. Laura commented that Galadriel actually want her own kingdom.

With that we ran out of time and agreed that we would simply continue reading for next time, although we still have to finish this chapter.