Journal of the American Tolkien · Bake in 400° F oven 30 minutes. Serve immediately with roast....

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Transcript of Journal of the American Tolkien · Bake in 400° F oven 30 minutes. Serve immediately with roast....

page

24

Min

as T

irith

Eve

ning

-Sta

r

Yule

Din

ner

This

issu

e, w

e’re

con

side

ring

reci

pes f

or H

obbi

tish

favo

urite

s for

Yul

e D

inne

r. R

emem

ber:

Yul

e is

a tw

o da

y ho

liday

falli

ng b

etw

een

Fore

yule

30

and

Afte

ryul

e 1.

(H

obbi

ts

are

very

sens

ible

abo

ut th

eir c

alen

dar!

) H

owev

er, Y

ulet

ide

in

full

is si

x da

ys lo

ng, b

egin

ning

For

eyul

e 29

and

con

tinui

ng

thro

ugh

Afte

ryul

e 2.

The

re sh

ould

be

plen

ty o

f tim

e fo

r the

se

and

othe

r rec

ipes

in a

six-

day

holid

ay g

iven

ove

r to

feas

ting!

Roa

st Be

ef wi

th S

hire

Pud

ding

Pl

ace

four

pou

nd b

eef r

ib r

oast

, fat

side

up,

in a

sh

allo

w r

oast

ing

pan.

Sea

son

with

salt

and

pepp

er.

Inse

rt m

eat t

herm

omet

er, a

void

ing

bone

. R

oast

, unc

over

ed, i

n a

325°

F

oven

abo

ut 2

.5 h

ours

or t

ill m

eat t

herm

omet

er re

gist

ers 1

40°

F fo

r rar

e, th

ree

hour

s or 1

60° F

for m

ediu

m, a

nd 3

.25

hour

s or

170°

F fo

r wel

l don

e. R

emov

e m

eat t

o he

ated

serv

ing

plat

ter;

keep

war

m.

Res

erve

0.2

5 cu

p dr

ippi

ngs.

Incr

ease

ove

n to

40

0° F

. Com

bine

four

egg

s, tw

o cu

ps m

ilk, 2

cup

s flo

ur a

nd

one

teas

poon

salt

in a

bow

l (a

mix

er is

han

dy fo

r thi

s).

Bea

t fo

r 1.5

min

utes

. Po

ur h

alf o

f the

rese

rved

drip

ping

s int

o ea

ch

of tw

o 9

X 9

X 2

inch

bak

ing

pans

. Po

ur h

alf t

he b

atte

r int

o ea

ch p

an.

Bak

e in

400

° F o

ven

30 m

inut

es.

Serv

e im

med

iate

ly

with

roas

t. M

akes

eig

ht se

rvin

gs.

(Con

tinue

d on

pag

e 23

)

Zin

nia

Sto

ok’s

From

the L

arde

r H

obbi

t C

uis

ine

Sh

aron

Hel

ms

Win

ter 2

007

page

1

Volu

me 3

6, N

umbe

r 3

W

inter

200

7

Jour

nal o

f the

Am

erica

n T

olkien

™ S

ociet

y

ISSN

106

3-08

48

page

2

Min

as T

irith

Eve

ning

-Sta

r

Am

eric

an T

olki

en S

ocie

ty

P.O

. Box

97

Hig

hlan

d M

I 483

57-0

097

Am

alie

A. H

elm

s E

xecu

tive

Dir

ecto

r an

d E

dito

r Ph

ilip

W. H

elm

s, E

dito

r E

mer

itus

http

://w

ww

.am

eric

anto

lkie

nsoc

iety

.org

©

Cop

yrig

ht th

e A

mer

ican

Tol

kien

Soc

iety

, 200

7 IS

SN 1

063-

0848

Vol

ume

36, N

umbe

r 3

W

inte

r 20

07

Tabl

e of

Con

tent

s T

olki

en in

Aca

dem

ia #

6 ....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

. pag

e 3

D

avid

L. D

ettm

an

Shir

etal

k ....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.. pag

e 9

In

the

Hal

l of F

ire .

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.. pag

e 10

A

n A

mer

ican

Tol

kien

Soc

iety

Poe

try F

eatu

re (a

lso

on p

age

22)

M. A

nish

, S. B

owm

an, D

. LaB

ranc

he, T

. Rile

y, J.

Sve

ndse

n D

ior

Rec

eive

s the

Silm

aril

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

. pag

e 15

Fi

ctio

n by

Sus

an D

orm

an

Hug

o’s B

ooks

helf

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

... p

age

20

An

Am

eric

an T

olki

en S

ocie

ty N

ews a

nd R

evie

w F

eatu

re

Zin

nia

Stoo

k’s F

rom

the

Lar

der .

......

......

......

......

......

......

.. pag

e 24

H

obbi

t Cui

sine

by

Shar

on H

elm

s C

over

: Art

by W

ojci

ech

Kle

j M

inas

Tir

ith E

veni

ng-S

tar:

Jou

rnal

of

the

Am

eric

an T

olki

en S

ocie

ty i

s pr

oduc

ed fo

r the

Am

eric

an T

olki

en S

ocie

ty b

y W

ereW

olf P

ublic

atio

ns a

nd is

pr

ovid

ed to

all

mem

bers

with

out f

urth

er c

harg

e. A

lso

avai

labl

e by

e-m

ail i

n PD

F fo

rmat

and

in R

TF fo

rmat

on

disk

ette

or b

y e-

mai

l. A

TS a

nnua

l due

s are

$1

0.00

US

for

e-m

ail;

$12.

50 U

S in

side

U.S

. (in

clud

ing

zip

code

s in

Pue

rto

Ric

o), C

anad

a an

d M

exic

o; $

15.0

0 U

S in

oth

er n

atio

ns.

Due

s in

clud

e Fi

rst

Cla

ss h

andl

ing

insi

de U

.S.,

Air

Mai

l to

othe

r nat

ions

. Po

tent

ial c

ontri

buto

rs,

send

self-

addr

esse

d, st

ampe

d en

velo

pe fo

r gui

delin

es.

TO

LKIE

N is

a tr

ade

mar

k of

The

J R

R T

olki

en E

stat

e Li

mite

d

and

is u

sed

with

kin

d pe

rmis

sion

.

Jour

nal o

f the

Am

erica

n T

olkien

™ S

ociet

y

Win

ter 2

007

page

23

Bell

Good

child

Gam

gee’s

Plu

m P

uddi

ng

Soak

four

slic

es b

read

, tor

n in

to p

iece

s in

one

cup

milk

and

bea

t to

brea

k up

. St

ir in

six

ounc

es g

roun

d su

et, o

ne

cup

pack

ed b

row

n su

gar,

two

slig

htly

bea

ten

eggs

, 0.2

5 cu

p or

ange

juic

e an

d on

e te

aspo

on v

anill

a. I

n a

bow

l, co

mbi

ne

two

cups

rai

sins

, one

cup

snip

ped,

pitt

ed d

ates

, 0.5

cup

di

ced

mix

ed c

andi

ed fr

uits

and

pee

ls, a

nd 0

.5 c

up c

hopp

ed

wal

nuts

. St

ir to

geth

er o

ne c

up fl

our,

two

teas

poon

s gro

und

cinn

amon

, one

teas

poon

gro

und

clov

es, o

ne te

aspo

on

grou

nd m

ace,

one

teas

poon

bak

ing

soda

and

0.5

teas

poon

sa

lt. A

dd d

ry m

ixtu

re to

the

mix

ed fr

uits

and

mix

wel

l. S

tir in

br

ead-

suet

mix

ture

. Po

ur in

to w

ell-g

reas

ed tw

o-qu

art m

old

(do

not u

se ri

ng m

old

or tu

be p

an!)

. C

over

with

foil

and

tight

ly ti

e fo

il on

usi

ng st

ring.

Pl

ace

the

mol

d on

rack

in d

eep

kettl

e; a

dd b

oilin

g w

ater

to

the

kettl

e to

a d

epth

of o

ne in

ch.

Cov

er a

nd st

eam

the

pudd

ing

3.5

hour

s; a

dd m

ore

boili

ng w

ater

if n

eede

d. C

ool t

he

pudd

ing

abou

t 10

min

utes

bef

ore

rem

ovin

g fr

om th

e m

old.

Se

rve

the

pudd

ing

with

har

d sa

uce.

Mak

es 1

6 se

rvin

gs.

The

Gaf

fer’s

Favo

urite

Har

d Sa

uce

In a

bow

l cre

am to

geth

er (t

hat m

ixer

will

be

hand

y ag

ain)

two

cups

sift

ed p

owde

red

(con

fect

ione

r’s)

suga

r an

d 0.

5 cu

p bu

tter

, sof

tene

d. B

eat i

n on

e be

aten

egg

yol

k an

d on

e te

aspo

on v

anill

a. S

et a

side

. W

ash

beat

ers.

Bea

t one

egg

w

hite

till

stiff

pea

ks fo

rm.

Gen

tly fo

ld in

to b

utte

r mix

ture

. C

over

; chi

ll. M

akes

1.7

5 cu

ps.

Serv

e ov

er p

lum

pud

ding

. Th

ese

Shire

favo

urite

s, pa

rticu

larly

the

pudd

ings

, are

le

ss fa

mili

ar to

Am

eric

an re

ader

s tha

n m

any

food

s men

tione

d,

and

we

hope

any

who

try

the

reci

pes w

ill e

njoy

them

.

Hap

py Y

ule!

page

22

Min

as T

irith

Eve

ning

-Sta

r

revi

ews a

nd m

eetin

g no

tices

. N

umbe

r 308

(Nov

embe

r) h

as a

ne

w e

dito

r and

a n

ew lo

ok.

Gin

ger M

cElw

ee is

the

new

edi

tor,

and

has r

esol

ved

thei

r iss

ues o

ver p

osta

ge o

n an

inte

rim b

asis

by

mai

ling

the

8.5

X 7

(inc

hes)

pub

licat

ion

fold

ed in

hal

f, to

4.

25 X

7 (i

nche

s), t

abbe

d as

a se

lf-m

aile

r. C

onte

nts i

nclu

de

revi

ews a

nd m

eetin

g no

tices

. w

ww

.myt

hsoc

.org

W

e ha

ve re

ceiv

ed fi

ve is

sues

of B

eyon

d B

ree.

Aug

ust

is c

hief

ly o

ccup

ied

with

revi

ews,

lette

rs, a

nd in

form

atio

n on

ev

ents

. Se

ptem

ber r

etai

ns a

sim

ilar f

ocus

. O

ctob

er is

sim

ilarly

re

liabl

e, w

ith th

e ad

ditio

n of

som

e an

ime-

styl

e ar

t by

Oct

o K

wan

. N

ovem

ber i

nclu

des a

n es

say,

“A

rago

rn a

nd th

e A

rnor

Pl

ot”

by G

ene

Har

grov

e. D

ecem

ber i

nclu

des “

Kni

ghth

ood

in

Mid

dle-

earth

” by

Nan

cy M

arts

ch (c

onde

nsed

from

a p

aper

pr

esen

ted

at M

ythc

on).

http

://w

ww

.cep

.unt

.edu

/bre

e.ht

ml

Dar

k Sea

t

The

Dar

k Lo

rd w

ants

to ru

le fo

reve

rmor

e.

Wou

ldn’

t you

, in

his d

ark

seat

, fee

l the

sam

e?

Full

of im

mor

tal a

nd im

pres

sive

lore

, Th

e D

ark

Lord

wan

ts to

rule

fore

verm

ore.

H

is g

olde

n yo

uth

he’s

eag

er to

rest

ore.

H

e’s s

erio

us a

bout

his

evi

l gam

e.

The

Dar

k Lo

rd w

ants

to ru

le fo

reve

rmor

e.

Wou

ldn’

t you

, in

his d

ark

seat

, fee

l the

sam

e?

- Tom

Rile

y

The

Shi

re

Whe

n al

l go

odne

ss is

gon

e th

ere’

s alw

ays t

he m

orse

l no

gre

edy

hand

can

reac

h do

wn

at

bag’

s end

. - S

haw

n B

owm

an

Win

ter 2

007

page

3

Tol

kien

in /

Tol

kien

an

d A

cad

emia

D

avid

L. D

ettm

an

I t is

com

mon

plac

e kn

owle

dge

that

Tol

kien

wro

te T

he

Lord

of

the

Rin

gs t

o be

a “

Myt

holo

gy f

or E

ngla

nd.”

B

ut t

his

apoc

ryph

al q

uota

tion

(no

one

can

prov

ide

the

orig

inal

cita

tion)

, mak

es a

set

of c

laim

s fo

r The

Lor

d of

th

e R

ings

tha

t do

n’t

real

ly h

old

wat

er.

And

ers

Sten

strö

m

orig

inal

ly p

oint

ed th

is o

ut1 –

that

the

quot

atio

n w

as im

agin

ary

and

he q

uest

ione

d w

heth

er T

olki

en w

ould

hav

e re

ally

thou

ght

of h

is w

ork

as a

cyc

le o

f myt

holo

gy.

I agr

ee w

ith S

tens

tröm

’s

sugg

estio

n an

d th

ink

it is

hig

hly

unlik

ely

that

Tol

kien

, who

was

im

mer

sed

in t

he v

ario

us m

edie

val

genr

es a

ll hi

s lif

e, w

ould

ha

ve th

ough

t of T

he L

ord

of th

e R

ings

or T

he S

ilmar

illio

n as

m

ytho

logy

.

He

wou

ld

have

pl

aced

th

em

in

Lege

nds

or

Rom

ance

, not

eith

er M

yth

or E

pic.

2 But

this

is a

dis

cuss

ion

for

anot

her

colu

mn.

To

day

I w

ant

to t

alk

abou

t on

e of

the

bes

t bo

oks

I hav

e re

ad in

a c

oupl

e of

yea

rs.

It is

a s

tudy

of E

nglis

h ro

man

ce m

otifs

fro

m th

e en

d of

the

Ang

lo-S

axon

era

to S

tuar

t En

glan

d –

Hel

en C

oope

r’s

The

Eng

lish

Rom

ance

in

Tim

e:

Tran

sfor

min

g m

otifs

fro

m G

eoff

rey

of M

onm

outh

to

the

deat

h of

Sha

kesp

eare

(O

xfor

d U

nive

rsity

Pre

ss, 2

004)

. Th

e

1.

Sten

strö

m,

And

ers,

1995

, A

M

ytho

logy

? Fo

r En

glan

d?

In

Proc

eedi

ngs

of t

he J

. R

. R

. Tol

kien

Cen

tena

ry C

onfe

renc

e, e

d. P

. R

eyno

lds a

nd G

. H. G

oodk

nigh

t, M

ythl

ore

v. 8

0 pp

. 310

-314

.

2. P

arts

of

The

Silm

arill

ion

are

myt

hic

and

parts

are

epi

c, b

ut t

he

maj

ority

of t

he w

ork

falls

into

the

cate

gory

of r

oman

ce.

page

4

Min

as T

irith

Eve

ning

-Sta

r

reas

on it

is p

ertin

ent t

o th

ose

of u

s th

at th

ink

abou

t Tol

kien

is

that

she

doe

sn’t

real

ly s

top

with

the

deat

h of

Sha

kesp

eare

, but

co

ntin

ues

the

narr

ativ

e an

d an

alys

is t

hrou

gh J

ohn

Bun

yan’

s Pi

lgri

m’s

Pro

gres

s to

the

Twen

tieth

Cen

tury

and

Tol

kien

. Th

e bo

ok tr

aces

the

maj

or m

otifs

of m

edie

val r

oman

ce

and

show

s ho

w th

ey c

hang

ed th

roug

h tim

e.

Coo

per

disc

usse

s ‘m

emes

’ –

maj

or p

lot

elem

ents

tha

t re

cur

in r

oman

ce,

are

fam

iliar

to

mos

t re

ader

s an

d le

ad to

a s

et o

f ex

pect

atio

ns a

nd

expe

cted

out

com

es.

The

way

in w

hich

thes

e pl

ot e

lem

ents

are

tre

ated

from

the

Elev

enth

Cen

tury

to th

e Tw

entie

th C

entu

ry c

an

show

su

rpris

ing

cont

inui

ty,

give

n th

e ch

ange

s in

En

glis

h so

ciet

y ac

ross

tha

t tim

e.

And

yet

cha

nges

did

occ

ur a

s in

divi

dual

writ

ers

mod

ify m

emes

, the

rea

sons

to r

ead

rom

ance

ch

ange

d, r

oman

ce r

eade

rs’

soci

al s

tatu

s ch

ange

d, a

nd n

ew

disc

ussi

ons

of

soci

al

issu

es

deve

lope

d in

ro

man

ce

text

s.

Coo

per

cove

rs m

otifs

in

thes

e br

oad

area

s: t

he q

uest

and

pi

lgrim

age;

tra

vel

acro

ss t

he s

ea a

nd b

eing

los

t/aba

ndon

ed a

t se

a; m

agic

and

how

it

exis

ts i

n th

e ro

man

ce w

orld

; el

ves,

fairi

es, a

nd F

aërie

; lov

e an

d se

xual

des

ire; w

omen

acc

used

and

on

tria

l (fo

r ad

ulte

ry);

rest

orin

g th

e rig

htfu

l hei

r to

a k

ingd

om;

and

the

happ

y en

ding

. Th

e w

riter

s of

thes

e w

orks

use

som

e or

m

any

of th

ese

them

es u

npro

blem

atic

ally

or t

hey

may

con

tradi

ct

the

expe

ctat

ions

est

ablis

hed

by th

e ap

pear

ance

of a

mot

if.

It is

fas

cina

ting

to s

ee h

ow t

hese

mot

ifs a

ppea

r an

d re

plic

ate

thro

ugh

time.

Som

e ar

e st

ill g

oing

stro

ng, s

uch

as th

e qu

est a

nd th

e rig

htfu

l kin

g in

Tol

kien

or

C. S

. Lew

is.

Oth

ers

have

fade

d fr

om o

ur re

adin

g of

rom

ance

. C

oope

r’s

book

ope

ns

with

the

fam

ous

stag

e di

rect

ion

in S

hake

spea

re’s

Win

ter’

s Ta

le, “

Exit,

pur

sued

by

a be

ar.”

Thi

s lin

e is

not

able

bec

ause

a

mod

ern

read

er o

f th

e pl

ay i

s co

mpl

etel

y un

prep

ared

for

it.

Th

ere

is n

o di

scus

sion

or

even

men

tion

of b

ears

by

any

char

acte

r up

to th

at p

oint

in th

e pl

ay.

Late

r we

hear

of t

he b

ear

crue

lly d

evou

ring

Ant

igon

us, b

ut th

e su

dden

firs

t app

eara

nce

of

a be

ar in

a st

age

dire

ctio

n is

a su

rpris

e. I

t was

not

a su

rpris

e fo

r th

e El

izab

etha

n au

dien

ce w

ho f

irst s

aw th

e pl

ay.

Ant

igon

us is

in

Boh

emia

to a

band

on a

chi

ld in

the

wild

erne

ss.

In m

any

the

popu

lar

rom

ance

s of

the

tim

e, b

ears

and

wild

erne

ss a

nd c

hild

ab

ando

nmen

t w

ere

very

stro

ngly

ass

ocia

ted.

C

oope

r’s

book

Win

ter 2

007

page

21

Publ

icat

ions

Rec

eive

d W

e ha

ve re

ceiv

ed th

ree

issu

es o

f Am

on H

en, B

ulle

tin

of th

e To

lkie

n So

ciet

y. N

umbe

r 206

mar

ked

“70

Yea

rs o

f The

H

obbi

t.” C

onte

nts i

nclu

de se

vera

l sho

rt es

says

and

a lo

nger

on

e, “

Elvi

sh a

nd H

eroi

c: C

an W

e Lo

ve T

he S

ilmar

illio

n?”

by

Lin

Dav

ies;

revi

ews o

f the

mus

ical

, and

of T

he P

lant

s of

Mid

dle-

earth

, and

info

rmat

ion

on u

pcom

ing

Soci

ety

even

ts.

Num

ber 2

07 in

clud

es “

a G

ondo

rian

faer

y ta

le”

by S

ally

En

glan

d, “

Rea

ding

Tol

kien

: The

Sen

sory

and

Mor

al

Topo

grap

hy o

f Mid

dle-

earth

” by

Efe

Lev

ent,

“Tol

kien

The

Fa

scis

t?”

by D

avid

Dou

ghan

, “Th

e Fu

nctio

ns o

f Dre

am in

The

Lo

rd o

f the

Rin

gs”

by D

avid

Gra

yson

, a d

eal o

f rat

her g

ood

art,

som

e po

etry

, and

a lo

ng le

tter.

Num

ber 2

08 a

nnou

nces

Hen

ry

Gee

as n

ew e

dito

r of M

allo

rn.

Oth

er c

onte

nts i

nclu

de “

Fles

h an

d St

one:

Dua

lism

and

the

Dru

edai

n” b

y M

icha

el

Cun

ning

ham

and

a n

umbe

r of r

epor

ts.

Als

o re

ceiv

ed: T

olki

en

Soci

ety

Trad

ing

Ltd.

Cat

alog

ue.

http

://w

ww

.tolk

iens

ocie

ty.o

rg/

We

have

rece

ived

thre

e is

sues

of L

emba

s fro

m T

olki

en

Gen

oots

chap

Unq

uend

or.

Num

ber 1

30 (A

ugus

t) in

clud

es a

re

view

of “

Shad

ows o

f Ang

mar

,” a

mas

sive

ly m

ultip

laye

r on

line

role

pla

ying

gam

e (M

MO

RPG

) and

repo

rts o

n w

hat

seem

to h

ave

been

seve

ral e

vent

s. N

umbe

r 131

(Oct

ober

) has

a

new

cov

er d

esig

n: “

Turin

slay

s Gla

urun

g” b

y Jo

hn H

owe.

C

onte

nts i

nclu

de a

repo

rt on

the

Indo

nesi

an so

ciet

y, E

orlin

gas;

an

arti

cle

whi

ch se

ems t

o su

gges

t mun

dane

wor

ld p

aral

lels

to

Mid

dle-

earth

site

s, re

view

s and

repo

rts.

Num

ber 1

32

(Dec

embe

r) re

peat

s the

Hoe

w c

over

. C

onte

nts i

nclu

de “

In d

e vo

etsp

oren

van

Hob

bits

? ee

n an

alys

e va

n de

keu

ze v

oor h

et

Kw

aad

onde

r de

Hob

bits

” by

Joer

i Pac

olet

. Th

is lo

oks l

ike

a ve

ry in

tere

stin

g es

say,

but

lack

ing

the

lang

uage

, one

can

not s

ay

muc

h m

ore.

Thi

s iss

ue d

oes i

nclu

de th

ree

revi

ews i

n En

glis

h!

(Lem

bas i

s nor

mal

ly in

Dut

ch.)

Als

o re

ceiv

ed: 2

007-

2008

di

rect

ory

and

2007

ann

ual r

epor

t. w

ww

.unq

uend

or.n

l W

e ha

ve re

ceiv

ed th

ree

issu

es o

f Myt

hpri

nt, t

he

mon

thly

bul

letin

of t

he M

ytho

poei

c So

ciet

y. N

umbe

r 305

(A

ugus

t) an

noun

ces t

he M

ytho

poei

c A

war

d w

inne

rs a

nd

incl

udes

mee

ting

notic

es a

nd re

ports

on

Myt

hcon

. N

umbe

r 306

-307

(Sep

tem

ber/O

ctob

er) i

nclu

des i

nfor

mat

ion

on M

ythc

on,

page

20

Min

as T

irith

Eve

ning

-Sta

r

Hug

o’s B

ooks

helf

An A

mer

ican

Tolk

ien™

So

ciety

New

s and

Rev

iew

Feat

ure

edite

d an

d se

lect

ed b

y

Phili

p W

. Hel

ms

The

Hob

bit F

ilm N

ews

In a

n ar

ticle

by

Jake

Coy

le, t

he A

ssoc

iate

d Pr

ess

repo

rts th

at P

eter

Jack

son

has a

gree

d to

pro

duce

two

film

s ba

sed

on T

he H

obbi

t. N

o di

rect

or h

as b

een

nam

ed a

t thi

s w

ritin

g. Th

e tw

o fil

ms w

ill b

e sh

ot si

mul

tane

ousl

y, a

s Jac

kson

di

d w

ith T

he L

ord

of th

e R

ings

. It

was

repo

rtedl

y Ja

ckso

n’s

idea

to d

ivid

e th

e st

ory

into

two

film

s. T

here

has

bee

n no

in

dica

tion

whe

re h

e w

ill c

hoos

e to

div

ide

the

plot

. Pr

oduc

tion

will

tent

ativ

ely

begi

n in

200

9, w

ith fi

lms t

o be

rele

ased

in 2

010

and

2011

. N

o w

riter

s hav

e be

en n

amed

yet

, and

pro

duct

ion

may

be

dela

yed

by th

e cu

rren

t writ

ers’

strik

e.

The

film

s will

be

prod

uced

and

dis

tribu

ted

in N

orth

A

mer

ica

by N

ew L

ine

Cin

ema

(Tim

e W

arne

r, In

c.) a

nd

dist

ribut

ed in

tern

atio

nally

by

Met

ro-G

oldw

yn-M

ayer

(MG

M; a

co

nsor

tium

incl

udin

g So

ny a

nd C

omca

st).

The

two

firm

s will

re

porte

dly

split

fina

ncin

g an

d di

strib

utio

n co

sts.

This

ann

ounc

emen

t was

mad

e po

ssib

le b

y th

e D

ecem

ber 1

8, 2

007

settl

emen

t of t

he la

wsu

it by

Jack

son

agai

nst N

ew L

ine

rega

rdin

g th

e am

ount

he

rece

ived

for T

he

Fel

low

ship

of t

he R

ing.

w

ww

.The

Hob

bitB

log.

com

h

ttp://

tbhl

.theo

nerin

g.ne

t

Win

ter 2

007

page

5

wor

ks to

rest

ore

“lite

rary

com

pete

nce”

to th

e m

oder

n re

ader

of

med

ieva

l ro

man

ce,

to

help

us

re

ad

thes

e w

orks

w

ith

an

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

so

me

of

the

assu

mpt

ions

an

d co

mm

on

know

ledg

e th

at m

edie

val

and

early

mod

ern

read

ers

had.

Sh

e do

es a

n ex

celle

nt jo

b an

d I c

an s

ee m

ysel

f re-

read

ing

this

boo

k ev

ery

few

yea

rs a

s I

try t

o di

gest

med

ieva

l an

d ea

rly m

oder

n w

riter

s. R om

ance

is h

ard

to d

efin

e pr

ecis

ely

and

Coo

per h

as

a ni

ce d

iscu

ssio

n of

som

e of

the

pro

blem

s in

ar

ticul

atin

g a

defin

ition

. Sh

e ev

entu

ally

con

clud

es

that

rea

ders

of

rom

ance

s kn

ew w

hat t

hey

are

and

coul

d ea

sily

rec

ogni

ze t

hem

bec

ause

of

thei

r co

mm

on m

otifs

. Sh

e dr

aws

an a

nalo

gy w

ith f

amily

res

embl

ance

s; t

here

are

m

any

sim

ilarit

ies

in a

ppea

ranc

e of

ind

ivid

ual

mem

bers

of

a fa

mily

, as

wel

l as

man

y di

ffer

ence

s. T

here

is u

sual

ly n

o si

ngle

fe

atur

e th

at is

iden

tical

and

est

ablis

hes

fam

ily re

sem

blan

ce, b

ut

a va

ryin

g gr

oup

of o

verla

ppin

g si

mila

ritie

s. “

The

rom

ance

ge

nre

– an

y ge

nre,

inde

ed –

is b

est t

houg

ht o

f as

a lin

eage

or a

fa

mily

of t

exts

, rat

her t

han

as a

ser

ies

of in

carn

atio

ns o

r clo

nes

of a

sin

gle

Plat

onic

Ide

a”3

Rom

ance

is

a ge

nre

that

rea

ders

re

cogn

ize

by t

he p

lot

and

subj

ect

mat

ter.

Writ

ers

prod

uce

rom

ance

by

inte

ract

ing

with

prio

r w

orks

in th

e ge

nre.

So

if a

w

ork

has

a qu

est,

a tru

e lo

ve, a

true

kin

g to

be

rest

ored

, and

a

happ

y en

ding

it is

cle

arly

a r

oman

ce.

It is

impo

rtant

to n

ote,

ho

wev

er, t

hat a

ny (o

r man

y) o

f the

mot

ifs c

omm

on to

rom

ance

ca

n be

abs

ent o

r con

trave

ned

in th

e st

ory

and

the

wor

k re

mai

ns

solid

ly i

n ro

man

ce t

errit

ory.

C

oope

r, al

thou

gh s

he l

imits

her

de

taile

d di

scus

sion

to

wor

ks p

rior

to t

he M

id-S

even

teen

th

Cen

tury

, doe

s hav

e a

num

ber o

f thi

ngs t

o sa

y ab

out T

olki

en a

nd

the

mod

ern

desc

enda

nts

of th

e m

edie

val r

oman

ce, F

anta

sy a

nd

Scie

nce

Fict

ion.

Tho

se a

re w

hat I

will

con

cent

rate

on

here

, but

I’

ll re

itera

te h

ere

that

I w

ould

who

lehe

arte

dly

reco

mm

end

this

bo

ok t

o an

yone

who

wan

ts t

o ge

t a

gras

p of

the

pop

ular

and

fa

ntas

tic li

tera

ture

of t

he M

iddl

e A

ges.

She

portr

ays

Tolk

ien

and

C.

S. L

ewis

as

the

brid

ge

3. C

oope

r, p.

8

page

6

Min

as T

irith

Eve

ning

-Sta

r

betw

een

mod

ern

fant

asy

and

the

rom

ance

s so

com

mon

up

thro

ugh

the

Seve

ntee

nth

Cen

tury

. R

oman

ce fa

ded

sign

ifica

ntly

in

the

Eigh

teen

th a

nd N

inet

eent

h C

entu

ries,

until

the

genr

e w

as

revi

ved

by T

olki

en a

nd L

ewis

. B

oth

wer

e sc

hola

rs o

f rom

ance

an

d to

ok r

oman

ce s

erio

usly

, re

cogn

izin

g th

at,

for

over

600

ye

ars,

rom

ance

was

the

veh

icle

tha

t au

thor

s us

ed t

o di

scus

s cr

itica

l m

oral

and

soc

ial

issu

es.

Tol

kien

did

the

sam

e –

addr

essi

ng i

n st

ory

high

ly u

nfas

hion

able

top

ics

such

as

duty

, ho

nor,

war

time

sacr

ifice

, and

ser

vice

to o

ther

s. T

his

stru

ck a

st

rong

cho

rd i

n re

ader

s of

the

las

t ha

lf of

the

Tw

entie

th

Cen

tury

, but

ear

ly T

olki

en c

ritic

s m

isse

d th

e po

int

and

didn

’t se

e th

e se

rious

ness

of h

is li

tera

ture

.4 Rom

ance

was

not

sim

ple

esca

pist

lite

ratu

re a

nd, a

s we

know

wel

l, ne

ither

is T

olki

en’s

(or

Lew

is’)

writ

ing.

On

an in

tere

stin

g si

de n

ote,

Coo

per p

oint

s ou

t th

at

the

mos

t fa

ntas

tic

of

rom

ance

s w

ere

still

st

rong

ly

conn

ecte

d to

the

real

wor

ld.

If a

kni

ght t

rave

ls in

the

real

m o

f Fa

ërie

, he

even

tual

ly c

omes

hom

e ha

ving

lea

rned

a l

esso

n or

pr

oved

his

wor

th.

He

retu

rns

to th

e kn

own

wor

ld to

repo

rt hi

s ex

perie

nces

, gi

ving

the

aut

hor

and

read

ers

a ch

ance

to

talk

ab

out

wha

t th

ey m

ean.

H

ere

is o

ne a

rea

whe

re F

anta

sy a

nd

Scie

nce

Fict

ion,

w

ith

thei

r ot

herw

orld

ly

setti

ngs,

may

be

di

verg

ing

sign

ifica

ntly

from

rom

ance

. Q

uest

ing

is h

ugel

y im

porta

nt i

n bo

th T

olki

en a

nd i

n ro

man

ce.

Ther

e ar

e m

any,

man

y va

riant

s on

the

ques

t and

, lik

e m

edie

val a

utho

rs o

f rom

ance

, and

Tol

kien

pla

ys w

ith v

aria

tions

on

the

que

st m

otif.

Fr

odo

and

the

fello

wsh

ip a

re q

uest

ing

to

disp

ose

of s

omet

hing

, no

t fin

d it.

To

lkie

n al

so a

dopt

s an

im

porta

nt f

eatu

re o

f m

edie

val

Arth

uria

n ro

man

ces,

inte

rlace

. A

s ch

arac

ters

mul

tiplie

d in

the

que

stin

g kn

ight

tal

es,

thei

r st

orie

s be

gan

to b

e to

ld s

imul

tane

ousl

y w

ith t

he n

arra

tive

mov

ing

back

and

forth

bet

wee

n di

ffer

ent c

hara

cter

s. T

he L

ord

of t

he R

ings

fits

ver

y co

mfo

rtabl

y in

the

int

erla

ced

fram

e.

Que

stin

g w

estw

ard

is

also

a

stro

ng

them

e in

m

edie

val

rom

ance

s, w

here

the

wes

tern

oce

an h

eld

isla

nds

of w

onde

rs.

One

exa

mpl

e is

the

voy

age

of B

rend

an,

who

was

gui

ded

by

4. A

s dis

cuss

ed b

y To

m S

hipp

ey in

the

afte

rwor

d to

J. R

. R. T

olki

en

Aut

hor o

f the

Cen

tury

.

Win

ter 2

007

page

19

his n

eck,

and

cry

ing,

flun

g it

ther

e to

val

iant

Rúm

il (h

e fo

r w

hom

it w

as p

erm

itted

to h

ave

a na

me

whi

ch h

onor

ed o

f the

ba

rd o

f Val

inor

). C

ried

Dio

r: “T

ake,

Rúm

il! F

etch

Elw

ing

and

go to

Cird

an.

Kee

p sa

fe th

e br

ide

pric

e of

my

mot

her f

air!

Let

it

not o

ff th

y pe

rson

!!”

And

the

valia

nt R

úmil

flew

. H

e fle

d do

wn

the

pass

age

twis

ting,

wen

t thr

ough

the

laby

rinth

to fi

nd

the

secr

et g

ate.

B

ut i

t ha

ppen

ed t

hat

Fean

or's

sons

did

ove

rtake

the

R

oyal

s, a

nd f

ound

the

nob

les

hast

enin

g th

ither

with

the

ir sp

ouse

s. A

nd t

hey

pray

ed t

he c

hild

ren

in n

urse

ries

got

them

sa

fely

out

with

gua

rds.

Shr

ieke

d an

d sc

ream

ed th

e fo

lk, c

ried

the

sons

of

Fean

or, a

nd h

orse

s’ n

eigh

ing

fille

d th

e ha

lls.

For

thes

e ba

ttler

s he

wed

fro

m s

teed

s; t

hey

stru

ck t

he h

elpl

ess

with

out

mai

l. A

nd t

he g

uard

s an

d w

arrio

rs o

f th

e K

ingd

om

foug

ht th

em in

the

pass

ages

of M

eneg

roth

, mar

ring

all t

he w

alls

w

ith b

lood

. Y

et D

ior,

sing

ing,

fou

ght b

efor

e hi

s da

me

with

sw

ord.

Sa

ng H

e: Sh

e le

t her

flyi

ng ra

imen

t sw

eep

enm

eshe

d w

ith w

oven

spel

ls o

f sle

ep

as ro

und

the

dark

voi

d sh

e ra

nged

and

reel

ed.

From

wal

l to

wal

l she

turn

ed a

nd w

heel

ed.

[L 3

01]

[S]o

bef

ell t

he se

cond

slay

ing

of E

lf by

Elf.

Th

ere

fell

Cel

egor

m b

y D

ior's

han

d.

and

ther

e fe

ll C

uruf

in,

and

dark

Car

anth

ir; b

ut D

ior

was

sla

in

also

, and

Nim

loth

his

wife

, and

the

crue

l ser

vant

s of

Cel

egor

m s

eize

d hi

s yo

ung

sons

and

lef

t th

em t

o st

arve

in

the

fore

st.

Of

this

Mae

dhro

s in

deed

re

pent

ed, a

nd s

ough

t for

them

long

in th

e w

oods

of

Dor

iath

; bu

t hi

s se

arch

was

una

vaili

ng, a

nd o

f th

e fa

te o

f Elu

red

and

Elur

in n

o ta

le te

lls.

Thus

was

Dor

iath

des

troye

d, a

nd n

ever

ro

se a

gain

. B

ut th

e so

ns o

f Fea

nor g

aine

d no

t wha

t th

ey s

ough

t; fo

r a re

mna

nt o

f the

peo

ple

fled

befo

re

them

, and

with

them

was

Elw

ing

Dio

r's d

augh

ter,

and

they

esc

aped

, an

d be

arin

g w

ith t

hem

the

Silm

aril

they

cam

e in

tim

e to

the

mou

ths

of th

e R

iver

Siri

on

by th

e se

a. [S

236

-7]

page

18

Min

as T

irith

Eve

ning

-Sta

r

upon

the

side

s of

Tha

ngor

odrim

. So

me

days

he

felt

ther

e hi

s ha

nd s

till;

and

the

agon

y of

Fin

gon

cutti

ng f

or t

o sa

ve h

im.

Mig

hty

Mae

dhro

s, w

hose

hai

r be

shot

with

gra

y, s

et fa

ggot

s on

th

e fir

e. H

e w

as th

ousa

nds

old

as if

they

had

bee

n co

unte

d by

th

e Su

n.

He

had

stat

ure

som

e sl

ight

er t

han

a m

an's,

yet

was

ta

ll. H

e lo

oked

as

wou

ld a

man

of m

ayha

p fo

rty w

inte

rs.

And

gr

aven

was

his

face

with

sor

row

s, su

ffer

ings

, of t

he y

ears

. A

nd

his o

ath,

it w

eigh

ed o

n hi

m.

Then

, as

fires

rose

in th

e ha

ll (a

nd s

mok

e di

d is

sue

out

the

hole

abo

ve),

Mae

dhro

s lo

oked

in th

e bl

aze.

. .

and

saw

the

swan

shi

ps b

urni

ng.

He

saw

thei

r tim

bers

cra

ckin

g, li

cked

with

fla

me.

A

nd h

is f

athe

r do

wn

ther

e la

ughi

ng.

Mae

dhro

s in

sh

ame

and

drea

d di

d w

onde

r on

him

thin

king

, 0 w

hy m

ust w

e ou

r frie

nds d

eser

t? W

hy le

ave

on fa

rther

shor

e th

ose

who

stoo

d by

us?

And

Fea

nor k

new

his

thou

ghts

and

laug

hed.

N

ow M

aedh

ros

starin

g in

the

fla

mes

tho

ught

, W

hy?

W

hy p

assio

n an

d su

ch g

rief a

s we

here

kno

w?

Pas

sion

s suc

h do

ha

rm u

s. 0

, my

brot

hers

, o.

But

he

wai

ted

in th

e ha

ll, u

pon

the

Lone

ly H

ill, f

or h

is

brot

hers

to a

ppea

r. N ow

, in

havi

ng u

pstre

am f

orde

d th

e El

ven

Riv

er,

the

thun

derin

g ho

rses

of

Fean

or’s

son

s do

cro

ss

the

ston

e gr

eat b

ridge

. A

nd th

eir

serv

ants

clim

b th

e do

ors t

o br

eak

apar

t the

latti

ce (t

hrou

gh w

hich

ni

ghtin

gale

s of

Mel

ian

had

upon

a ti

me

ente

red

in a

nd o

ut th

e ha

lls o

f Thi

ngol

). A

nd n

ow th

e ba

ttler

s sw

arm

the

trans

om a

nd

do e

nter

in to

figh

t. A

nd, w

ithin

, the

y op

en u

p th

e po

rtals

. A

nd

ente

r al

l th

e ho

st u

pon

thei

r m

ount

s, a

nd c

latte

r do

wn

fair

pass

ages

(w

hich

gle

amed

with

inl

aid

met

als

and

cut

prec

ious

st

ones

). A

nd th

e ru

shes

bla

zing

on

the

wal

ls d

o fli

cker

in th

eir

pass

ing.

Th

e hu

e an

d cr

y de

scen

d, s

o th

at w

ith h

aste

the

folk

do

gird

for

war

with

in.

And

oth

ers

see

to l

ittle

one

s, if

they

m

ight

per

chan

ce to

save

them

. A

nd it

hap

pene

d th

at D

ior E

luch

il an

d N

imlo

th th

e be

aute

ous

hast

ened

tow

ard

pass

ages

from

thro

nes w

here

on th

ey g

over

ned.

A

nd th

e Si

lmar

il di

d co

olly

shin

e fro

m th

e br

east

of B

eren

's so

n,

as D

ior y

et ra

n. A

nd h

e to

ok th

e N

augl

amir

with

has

te fr

om o

ff

Win

ter 2

007

page

7

God

to

a la

nd f

ull

of m

arve

ls,

and

then

ord

ered

to

retu

rn t

o Ir

elan

d af

ter o

nly

a fe

w d

ays i

n th

is p

arad

ise.

The

isla

nds t

o th

e w

est a

re m

agic

al a

nd h

oly,

if th

ey c

an b

e fo

und.

I

had

neve

r re

aliz

ed th

at th

ere

was

suc

h a

larg

e lit

erat

ure

on w

ande

rers

at

sea

and

the

prov

iden

tial

assi

stan

ce o

f G

od.

Cle

arly

the

re a

re

broa

d pa

ralle

ls i

n To

lkie

n’s

wor

k.5

The

echo

of

Chr

istia

n re

surr

ectio

n th

at s

ome

read

ers

see

in t

he t

rave

l to

Tol

kien

’s

Wes

tern

Isl

es h

as p

rece

dent

in

med

ieva

l ro

man

ce a

nd i

n Sh

akes

pear

e’s T

he T

empe

st.

A no

ther

sur

pris

e w

as th

at m

agic

is r

elat

ivel

y ra

re in

m

edie

val

rom

ance

. M

agic

is

ofte

n a

kind

of

embe

llish

men

t or

deco

rativ

e th

emat

ic m

ater

ial,

but

it do

es n

ot p

lay

a si

gnifi

cant

rol

e in

the

plot

or

the

solu

tion

to t

he p

robl

em.

In

mos

t ro

man

ces

it is

the

her

o or

he

roin

e w

ho m

akes

dec

isio

ns a

nd f

ollo

ws

thro

ugh

with

act

ion

that

lea

ds t

o th

e so

lutio

n.

I w

ould

arg

ue t

hat

this

is

also

the

ca

se f

or T

olki

en’s

wor

k.

Mag

ic i

s pr

esen

t, bu

t pe

riphe

ral

- es

peci

ally

in

The

Lord

of

the

Rin

gs,

whe

re a

lmos

t al

l th

e m

agic

al it

ems

coul

d be

don

e w

ithou

t. T

he R

ing

is im

porta

nt a

s a

plot

dev

ice,

of

cour

se, b

ut i

t is

not

to

be u

sed

by t

he g

ood

char

acte

rs.

Wha

t el

se i

s th

ere?

Pa

lant

iri,

lem

bas,

the

elvi

sh

cloa

ks, G

anda

lf’s

mag

ic fl

ashl

ight

, the

oth

er ri

ngs,

the

crea

tion

of o

rcs

as a

rac

e.

Thes

e ar

e us

eful

, yes

, but

rea

lly r

elat

ivel

y m

argi

nal t

o th

e co

re o

f the

plo

t, in

whi

ch m

en, h

obbi

ts a

nd th

e ot

her f

ree

peop

les j

oin

toge

ther

in a

mor

al a

nd m

ilita

ry st

rugg

le.

It is

dec

isio

n an

d ac

tion

that

res

olve

the

prob

lem

. In

this

way

th

e w

orks

are

ver

y si

mila

r to

med

ieva

l rom

ance

. To

lkie

n’s

treat

men

t of

wom

en h

as r

ecei

ved

a lo

t of

at

tent

ion.

Th

ere

are

man

y pa

ralle

ls b

etw

een

his

wom

en a

nd

thos

e of

med

ieva

l ro

man

ce.

Coo

per

note

s th

at,

espe

cial

ly i

n En

glis

h ro

man

ce, t

here

is v

ery

little

sex

in s

torie

s of

rom

antic

lo

ve.

Mos

t rom

ance

s re

quire

d fa

ithfu

lnes

s on

the

part

of b

oth

5. C

oope

r not

es th

at L

ewis

’ Voy

age

of th

e D

awn

Trea

der h

as st

rong

pa

ralle

ls w

ith a

num

ber o

f ear

ly m

edie

val w

orks

whe

re th

e se

a vo

yage

w

as to

exp

erie

nce

won

ders

, not

for p

erso

nal o

r im

peria

l gai

n. A

s tim

e w

ent o

n th

e fo

cus o

f the

wes

tern

sea

ques

t cha

nged

, loo

king

mor

e lik

e im

peria

l exp

ansi

on in

Eliz

abet

han

times

.

page

8

Min

as T

irith

Eve

ning

-Sta

r

mal

e an

d fe

mal

e pr

otag

onis

ts.

Con

tinen

tal

rom

ance

s w

ere

mor

e to

lera

nt o

f ad

ulte

ry, b

ut in

Eng

lish

text

s pr

e-m

arita

l se

x w

as u

sual

ly j

ust

that

, pr

e-m

arita

l. T

olki

en i

s tru

e to

for

m i

n le

avin

g se

x ou

t of h

is te

xt.

Rom

ance

lean

s hea

vily

on

true

love

, su

rviv

ing

test

s of

loya

lty, t

o be

eve

ntua

lly r

ealiz

ed in

the

end.

Th

e w

omen

of

rom

ance

did

not

just

sit

pass

ivel

y an

d pi

ne f

or

thei

r kn

ight

, how

ever

- th

ey to

ok a

ctio

n, o

ften

as a

par

t of

an

inte

rlace

d pl

ot.

The

trian

gle

of A

rago

rn, A

rwen

, and

Eow

yn fi

t a

little

unc

omfo

rtabl

y in

to th

is p

atte

rn, b

ut s

ome

of th

e th

emes

of

rom

ance

can

be

seen

: loy

alty

to a

nd s

acrif

ice

for

true

love

, th

e te

stin

g of

the

man

, wai

ting

for o

ne to

pro

ve w

orth

ines

s, an

d a

wom

an d

isgu

ised

as a

war

rior i

n ba

ttle.

F ai

ry l

and,

Faë

rie, i

s se

t ap

art

from

our

wor

ld a

nd

the

bord

er b

etw

een

the

two

is h

azar

dous

. T

he

natu

re o

f fai

ries

and

thei

r wor

ld is

a to

pic

of m

uch

disc

ussi

on i

n ro

man

ce.

In

som

e te

xts

elve

s an

d fa

iries

wer

e a

four

th o

rder

of

bein

gs, n

ot a

ngel

ic, o

r de

mon

ic

(i.e.

falle

n an

gels

) and

not

hum

an.

They

inha

bite

d a

fifth

pla

ce,

not h

eave

n, h

ell,

purg

ator

y or

our

ear

th.

They

als

o se

em to

sit

outs

ide

Chr

istia

n th

eolo

gy.

This

set

-apa

rt w

orld

for

imm

orta

l be

ings

has

obv

ious

par

alle

ls in

Tol

kien

’s le

gend

ariu

m.

Ano

ther

rom

ance

fea

ture

tha

t To

lkie

n in

corp

orat

es i

s th

e qu

est f

or th

e tru

e ki

ng.

Rom

ance

alm

ost a

lway

s su

bscr

ibed

to

the

notio

n th

at th

ere

is o

ne tr

ue h

eir

to th

e ol

d ki

ng.6

The

legi

timac

y of

the

true

heir

is e

ndor

sed

by G

od.

In ro

man

ce th

is

mos

t ofte

n be

cam

e a

plot

ele

men

t whe

n th

e cr

own

was

unj

ustly

se

ized

or t

here

was

con

tent

ion

for t

he th

rone

. In

that

cas

e on

e ha

d on

ly to

find

and

brin

g th

e tru

e he

ir ba

ck fr

om e

xile

; a s

ign

from

God

will

pro

ve w

ho i

s to

be

king

. I

n th

ese

stor

ies

the

chal

leng

e is

fin

ding

the

cha

ract

er o

r ge

tting

him

bac

k to

the

ki

ngdo

m.

In

The

Lord

of

the

Rin

gs,

the

true

king

is

also

hi

dden

and

ther

e is

con

tent

ion

for

the

thro

ne.

Thro

ugh

hero

ic

deed

s th

e rig

htfu

l ki

ng i

s m

ade

obvi

ous.

Lin

eage

and

wor

th

wer

e he

ld se

cret

, but

nev

er re

ally

in q

uest

ion.

6. O

ne e

xcep

tion

was

in E

lizab

etha

n En

glan

d, w

here

this

mot

if fa

ded

due

to th

e ve

ry q

uest

iona

ble

legi

timac

y of

the

Tudo

r cla

im to

the

thro

ne.

Win

ter 2

007

page

17

the

door

and

look

ed o

ut f

or G

reen

Elf,

but

he

was

gon

e.

Said

he

to B

ar, “

May

thou

retu

rn n

ow to

thy

post

, with

than

ks.”

And

he

shut

the

door

. In

to t

he b

edch

ambe

r w

ent

he,

whe

rein

Nim

loth

lay

dr

eam

ing.

H

e lo

oked

on

her

but

a m

omen

t, as

she

lay

in

beau

ty.

But

he

took

him

to th

e he

arth

side

sto

ol, y

et h

oldi

ng th

e ca

sket

. A

nd h

e st

udie

d th

e bo

x:

’Tw

as b

ound

with

tw

igs,

livin

g tw

igs;

and

livi

ng le

aves

did

gro

w th

ere.

’Tw

as o

f api

ece

with

thin

gs G

reen

Elv

en, a

nd D

ior

knew

the

wor

k. H

e w

aite

d bu

t a m

omen

t, in

rev

eren

ce, t

o op

en it

. H

e to

ok h

old

then

of

the

twig

s w

hich

sta

yed,

and

lifte

d up

the

clas

p, c

atch

ing

of h

is

brea

th a

s th

e co

ffer

ope

ned.

Fo

rth c

ame

radi

ance

! S

pilli

ng in

th

e ro

om. And

the

drea

m o

f Nim

loth

wen

t to

Am

an; a

nd s

he s

tood

ga

zing

upo

n w

hich

she

neve

r gaz

ed: u

p, u

pon

Two

Tree

s. B

ut i

n th

at c

offe

r la

y th

e ne

ckla

ce o

f th

e D

war

ves,

whe

rein

was

set

the

Silm

arils

; an

d D

ior

look

ing

upon

it

knew

it

for

a si

gn t

hat

Ber

en

Erch

amio

n an

d Lu

thie

n Ti

nuvi

el h

ad d

ied

inde

ed,

and

gone

whe

re g

o th

e ra

ce o

f Men

to a

fate

bey

ond

the

wor

ld. Lo

ng d

id D

ior

gaze

upo

n th

e Si

lmar

il,

whi

ch h

is f

athe

r an

d m

othe

r ha

d br

ough

t be

yond

ho

pe o

ut o

f the

terr

or o

f Mor

goth

; and

his

grie

f was

gr

eat t

hat d

eath

had

com

e up

on th

em s

o so

on.

But

the

wise

hav

e sa

id t

hat

the

Silm

aril

hast

ened

the

ir en

d; f

or t

he f

lam

e of

the

bea

uty

of L

uthi

en a

s sh

e w

ore

it w

as to

o br

ight

for m

orta

l lan

ds.

Then

Dio

r ar

ose,

and

abo

ut h

is n

eck

he

clas

ped

the

Nau

glam

ir; a

nd n

ow h

e ap

pear

ed a

s th

e fa

irest

of

all

the

child

ren

of t

he w

orld

, a t

hree

fold

ra

ce:

of t

he E

dain

, an

d of

the

Eld

ar,

and

of t

he

Mai

ar o

f the

Ble

ssed

Rea

lm.

[S 2

36]

T w

as n

ow f

ull w

inte

r, an

d in

one

rud

e ha

ll of

sto

ne

upon

Am

on E

reb.

With

in s

tood

Mae

dhro

s, a

mig

hty

Elf

and

dark

, the

eld

est

of F

eano

r. H

e fe

d th

e fir

e w

here

it b

laze

d in

the

mid

st o

f th

is c

old

ston

e ha

ll.

Pow

erfu

l his

sho

ulde

rs, a

rms,

yet o

ne a

rm w

as m

ight

y m

ore,

by

reas

on o

f its

han

d. H

e ha

d bu

t the

one

han

d, h

avin

g lo

st t’

othe

r

page

16

Min

as T

irith

Eve

ning

-Sta

r

And

he

look

ed l

ong

on g

reat

sha

dow

ed p

orta

ls w

here

in o

nce

the

outla

w B

eren

ent

ered

. Th

at o

ne h

ad a

sked

for

Lut

hien

, to

have

her

for h

is m

arria

ge.

Now

, so

thin

king

, wat

ched

this

rain

y El

f. A

nd h

e he

ld h

idde

n in

his

bre

ast a

cur

ious

sm

all c

aske

t.

He

finge

red

of it

s liv

ing

leav

es a

nd tw

igs

with

his

han

d.

Yet

no

w, h

e ad

vanc

ed to

the

door

. In

his

cha

mbe

r th

ere

with

in t

he T

hous

and

Cav

es,

sat

Dio

r El

uchi

l. A

nd d

ream

ing

Nim

loth

lay

upo

n hi

s be

d (a

s th

ough

a b

loss

om w

hite

with

in t

he s

hado

ws

of t

he c

urta

ins)

. Q

uite

stil

l sa

t th

e Lo

rd o

f D

oria

th,

wai

ting

for

he k

new

not

w

hat.

He

sat

wat

chin

g th

ose

flick

erin

gs o

f th

e fir

elig

ht f

rom

th

e he

arth

of

mor

tare

d st

one.

H

e ha

d sa

t ju

st s

o fo

r m

any

nigh

ts, w

aitin

g fo

r he

knew

not

wha

t. A

t la

st t

hen

cam

e th

at g

entle

kno

ckin

g, s

igni

fyin

g so

meo

ne w

ho k

new

the

hour

and

was

loat

h to

dist

urb

his

lord

. W

ent

now

thi

s so

n of

Ber

en t

o th

e ou

ter

cham

ber.

He

was

ca

refu

l the

n to

clo

se th

e do

or b

etw

een,

lest

Nim

loth

sho

uld

be

disc

ompo

sed.

And

Dio

r Ara

nel w

as n

ow w

ithin

the

oute

r doo

r. So

he

open

ed.

The

re b

owed

one

who

sto

od b

y a

man

tled

Elf,

and

drip

ping

. “

Pard

on m

e th

is l

ate

intru

sion

, lo

rd,”

sai

d th

e es

quire

. “Y

et h

ere

is o

ne, a

lord

of

Gre

en, w

ho

wish

es s

peec

h w

ith th

ee.

He

desir

ed n

ot a

cha

mbe

r w

arm

, nor

ga

rmen

ts dr

y, s

uch

as w

e w

ould

giv

e, if

he

but s

o w

illed

. A

nd

he w

ould

not

.”

Said

Dio

r, “

’Tw

ill d

o th

en,

Bar

. T

hou

may

sta

y w

ithou

t the

doo

r, as

we

can

yet h

ave

need

of t

hee.

” Th

en B

ar b

owed

, and

ste

pped

aw

ay.

Cam

e th

e G

reen

El

f in

the

door

, whi

ch th

en D

ior s

hut.

He

look

ed n

ow u

pon

the

mes

seng

er,

and

knew

him

. S

aid

Ara

nel

to h

im,

“You

com

e fr

om a

far,

Lor

d B

arad

. A

nd I

hav

e b

een

a’w

aitin

g.

Som

ethi

ng’s

doi

ng; I

can

not s

ay w

hat.”

N

ow s

wift

ly a

nd i

n si

lenc

e th

at o

ne d

rew

the

cas

ket

forth

from

his

bos

om.

Sayi

ng n

augh

t, he

gav

e it

into

the

hand

s of

Elu

chil.

Y

et, a

gain

in s

ilenc

e, b

owed

that

one

and

left

the

cham

ber

(leav

ing

naug

ht to

sho

w h

e ha

d be

en, s

ave

the

cask

et

in D

ior’

s han

ds, a

nd a

poo

l upo

n th

e fla

gs).

The

lord

sto

od b

ut a

mom

ent l

ooki

ng o

n th

e po

ol a

nd

puzz

ling,

the

cask

et k

nobb

y in

his

han

ds.

Now

he

open

ed u

p

Win

ter 2

007

page

9

Shire

talk

An A

mer

ican

Tolk

ien

Socie

ty L

etter

Colu

mn

I’m

afr

aid

this

surv

ey h

as d

evol

ved

into

a si

mpl

e lis

ting

of p

aral

lels

. G

iven

the

spac

e he

re th

ere

isn’

t the

opp

ortu

nity

to

be m

ore

expa

nsiv

e.

But

I w

ill e

ncou

rage

you

to

do s

ome

expl

orin

g yo

urse

lf.

C

oope

r’s

book

is

a

trem

endo

us

intro

duct

ion

and

deta

iled

surv

ey o

f rom

ance

mot

ifs.

Whi

le s

he

does

n’t

talk

abo

ut T

olki

en v

ery

muc

h, h

er d

etai

led

traci

ng o

f m

otifs

and

the

ir tre

atm

ent

unde

r va

rious

aut

hors

giv

es u

s a

glim

pse

of a

wor

ld th

at T

olki

en k

new

intim

atel

y. R

eadi

ng o

ne

of t

he c

hapt

ers,

and

thin

king

abo

ut t

he p

aral

lels

in

Tolk

ien’

s M

iddl

e-ea

rth l

eads

to

spec

ulat

ion

on h

ow T

olki

en v

iew

ed t

he

impo

rtant

soc

ial

issu

es d

iscu

ssed

in

rom

ance

. H

ow d

oes

Tolk

ien

com

men

t on

thes

e sa

me

issu

es in

the

plot

of T

he L

ord

of th

e R

ings

? T

his

is a

n op

portu

nity

to li

sten

in o

n To

lkie

n’s

dial

ogue

with

the

liter

atur

e of

the

Mid

dle

Age

s. Th

is c

olum

n co

nclu

des

the

six-

part

ser

ies

Dr.

Det

tman

or

igin

ally

agr

eed

to

prov

ide.

Th

e co

lum

n w

ill g

o on

hia

tus,

and

may

ret

urn

on a

n ir

regu

lar

basi

s. M

eanw

hile

, if

you’

ve

mis

sed

any

inst

allm

ents

, al

l ar

e av

aila

ble

onlin

e at

w

ww

.am

eric

anto

lkie

nsoc

iety

.org

I rec

eive

d th

e Su

mm

er-A

utum

n is

sue

of M

inas

Tir

ith

Eve

ning

-Sta

r and

enj

oyed

it, e

spec

ially

the

poem

“Fr

odo’

s D

eliri

um”

by S

arah

Dec

kard

. Sh

e re

ally

wro

te a

wel

l-cra

fted,

rh

ymed

poe

m.

The

first

line

of m

y po

em sh

ould

read

“W

ield

ing

a m

ight

y ax

e,”

not “

Wie

ldin

g a

mig

ht a

xe.”

- M

atth

ew A

nish

Br

ookl

yn N

Y

page

10

Min

as T

irith

Eve

ning

-Sta

r

In th

e H

all o

f Fire

An

Am

erica

n T

olkien

™ S

ociet

y

Poetr

y Fe

atur

e

Thr

ough

Fire

and

Fla

me

I h

ave

falle

n Th

roug

h Fi

re

and

flam

e.

Dow

n to

the

abys

s O

f dar

knes

s, B

ut b

y no

des

ign

of m

ine.

I f

ough

t val

iant

ly,

Aga

inst

foul

C

reat

ure

of sh

eer d

arkn

ess.

It to

ok m

e do

wn,

A

s the

brid

ge b

roke

fr

om b

enea

th m

e.

I fel

l with

it,

Figh

ting

still

, I r

efus

e to

rele

nt.

It w

ill n

ot a

vail

me!

Win

ter 2

007

page

15

Dior

Rec

eives

th

e Silm

aril

Su

san

Dor

man

T w

as a

nig

ht o

f aut

umn,

full

of fa

lling

leav

es a

nd ra

in;

in D

oria

th.

Yet

now

, sin

ce t

he s

layi

ng o

f he

r lo

rd

and

Mel

ian'

s de

partu

re, ’

twas

no

mor

e th

at L

and

of

the

Fenc

e en

chan

ted.

Th

is l

and

was

cha

nged

and

m

ade

to d

win

dle.

And

Mab

lung

, too

, had

die

d in

def

endi

ng th

e ho

ly g

ems

whi

le f

ight

ing

Dw

arve

s in

dee

p M

eneg

roth

, whi

ch

said

Dw

arve

s th

en b

ore

away

. (I

s no

t all

this

tol

d in

Ber

en's

stor

y, a

nd, t

oo, o

f ho

w h

e sl

ew th

e N

augr

im to

gai

n ag

ain

the

Silm

aril?

) Th

us n

ow w

as D

ior E

luch

il, m

eani

ng T

hing

ol's

heir

(who

was

son

of L

uthi

en th

e fa

ir), s

eate

d on

its t

hron

e. T

hus h

e ru

led

in D

oria

th w

ith N

imlo

th, a

prin

cess

of

the

Sind

ar.

And

El

win

g w

as th

eir d

augh

ter.

Now

upo

n th

is n

ight

, with

out

the

Thou

sand

Cav

es, i

t ra

ined

; it r

aine

d. A

nd th

e le

aves

of g

reat

Hiri

lorn

now

ran

with

ra

in, i

n w

hose

bou

ghs

once

dw

elt T

hing

ol's

daug

hter

. R

ain

fell

in r

unni

ng E

sgau

ldui

n, w

here

onc

e D

aero

n, a

nger

ed,

left

his

little

boa

t ben

eath

the

brid

ge.

Rai

n sh

one

in la

mp-

lit p

uddl

es

ther

e up

on t

he b

ridge

and

upo

n th

e ea

ves

of s

tone

on

high

; po

urin

g, p

ourin

g do

wn

the

slat

es.

Thro

ugh

the

se c

old

rai

ns c

ame

one

Elf,

nei

ther

w

eath

ered

nor

way

wor

n (b

eing

lon

g us

ed t

o ra

in a

nd t

rave

l).

He

glis

tene

d w

ith th

e fa

lling

rain

s, as

one

who

dw

elt o

utdo

ors.

E’

en s

o, h

e w

as w

ith q

uive

r, ar

row

s, co

vere

d in

sof

t rai

men

t; a

man

tle b

row

n an

d gr

een.

And

he

felt

the

rain

eve

n th

roug

h hi

s ve

stur

e, a

nd w

as n

ot d

isco

urag

ed.

He

stoo

d up

on s

aid

brid

ge o

f st

one

in p

ools

of

wat

er.

page

14

Min

as T

irith

Eve

ning

-Sta

r

who

is d

isgu

ised

as

Ran

ger i

s per

fect

fo

r thi

s mis

sion

: he

does

not

trus

t hi

mse

lf.

Alth

ough

his

mar

ksm

ansh

ip

is u

nmat

ched

, Leg

olas

co

nced

es: F

rodo

is M

iddl

e-ea

rth’s

be

st sh

ot.

The

rest

kn

ow th

at th

ey c

an

chan

ge th

ings

at e

very

turn

, th

ings

cha

nge.

The

rest

kno

w th

at th

ey c

an

not r

est.

All

know

fr

iend

s sho

uld

liste

n,

and

talk

to e

ach

othe

r, ou

t lou

d, b

ecau

se th

e I c

an b

e de

ceiv

ed.

- Sha

wn

Bow

man

Dwi

mor

berg

Dee

p do

wn

in th

e ca

vern

s of

our

mou

ntai

nous

soul

s al

l men

hav

e ta

ken

an o

ath

to li

fe

- Sha

wn

Bow

man

Win

ter 2

007

page

11

I pos

sess

the

secr

et fi

re!

This

bea

st w

ill n

ever

win

. A

nd so

I sm

ote

it.

And

, now

I la

y. .

. Ex

haus

ted

and

so w

eary

. B

ut n

ow I

feel

my

Stre

ngth

retu

rn.

I’m

now

bei

ng re

fined

. Th

ere’

s mor

e to

do,

M

y ta

sk is

inco

mpl

ete.

- Jon

atho

n Sv

ends

on

Stor

y

Haw

ks ri

de th

e w

ind

abov

e th

e m

ount

ain

Muc

h as

the

eagl

es I

rem

embe

r who

rode

Th

e m

ist t

hat h

ung

to th

e lip

of A

utum

n B

ack

in th

e da

ys o

f the

Thi

rd A

ge.

Chi

ldre

n be

g m

e to

tell

the

stor

y so

on

Then

gat

her i

n ci

rcle

s of t

heir

own

mak

ing

Aro

und

the

appe

tizer

tale

s:

They

test

them

selv

es a

s sto

ryte

llers

W

ith g

uita

rs, f

lute

s, an

d ke

yboa

rds

For b

alla

ds a

bout

tree

s tha

t tal

k

Or s

ongs

in p

rais

e of

a h

earty

pin

t Te

ll us

the

stor

y no

w?

They

’ll h

ave

to w

ait u

ntil

othe

r C

once

rns a

re p

ut a

side

: Th

e di

shes

cle

aned

and

stac

ked

Floo

rs sw

ept,

fires

safe

page

12

Min

as T

irith

Eve

ning

-Sta

r

Then

it’ll

be

dow

n to

the

stat

ues a

t the

wel

l In

the

cent

er o

f tow

n W

here

one

and

all

wai

t, itc

hy a

nd a

nxio

us,

Tell

us th

e st

ory

now

, Gre

at-U

ncle

? H

ere

is h

ow th

e Ri

ng o

f Pow

er c

ame

At la

st to

Fro

do a

nd h

ow h

e an

d G

radf

athe

r Sam

H

ad a

gre

at a

dven

ture

bec

ause

of i

t Is

how

I’ll

begi

n an

d th

e lo

ng n

ight

W

ill ta

ke th

e sh

ape

of a

stor

y A

nd th

e ha

wks

will

atte

nd to

it a

s the

y hu

nt

Abo

ve th

e m

ists

that

han

g O

n th

e ve

ry li

p of

Aut

umn,

A

s in

thos

e da

ys a

t the

end

of t

he A

ge.

- Don

ald

LaB

ranc

he

Ren

uncia

tion

‘I pa

ss th

e te

st,’

she

said

, ‘I w

ill d

imin

ish,

an

d go

into

the

Wes

t, an

d re

mai

n G

alad

riel

.’

“Gal

adrie

l was

wro

ng.

Ren

unci

atio

n Is

not

the

way

to fu

ture

s we

can

bear

. Ex

pans

ion

and

dete

rmin

ed e

xplo

itatio

n A

re h

ow w

e sh

ow th

e st

ubbo

rn w

orld

we

care

. Th

e w

orld

just

doe

sn’t

care

. Y

ou h

ave

to st

are

It

dow

n, a

nd, i

f it s

tare

s bac

k, k

ick

its fa

ce.

If o

f the

se si

mpl

e tru

ths y

ou a

re a

war

e,

Ren

unci

atio

n fin

ds in

you

no

plac

e.

Onw

ard

to b

igge

r, be

tter t

hing

s you

race

. B

igge

r and

bet

ter y

et m

ust y

ou b

ecom

e.

Pret

ty so

on y

ou e

mbr

ace

the

endl

ess c

hase

A

nd se

e th

e lim

ited

as p

retty

dum

b.

Sure

, she

’d h

ave

ceas

ed to

be

Gal

adrie

l. B

ut is

n’t f

ixed

iden

tity

shee

r hel

l?”

- Tom

Rile

y

Win

ter 2

007

page

13

The

Dar

k Kin

g “A

ll bl

ades

per

ish

that

pie

rce

the

Dar

k K

ing.

Rin

gwra

ith -

Mor

gul L

ord

Vei

led

in sh

adow

R

idin

g on

a d

ark

blac

k st

eed

Pris

oner

of h

is o

wn

desi

re fo

r pow

er

He

has b

ecom

e a

slav

e of

Mor

dor

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e pr

oud

lead

ers o

f mor

tal m

en

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nine

ring

s dre

w th

em to

the

Nec

rom

ance

r N

ow th

ey m

ust d

o hi

s bid

ding

Th

e m

ost p

ower

ful o

f the

nin

e rid

es fo

rth

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ing

the

One

W

hich

thei

r sha

dow

y m

aste

r is

sear

chin

g fo

r N

ine

wal

kers

sent

out

aga

inst

th

e N

ine

Rid

ers

The

lead

er o

f the

Dar

k R

ider

s is a

wra

ith tw

iste

d by

lu

st fo

r pow

er

The

nine

wal

kers

hav

e on

e w

ho re

sist

ed te

mpt

atio

n w

ho si

ll so

on b

e dr

esse

d in

whi

te

The

dark

ness

ver

sus t

he li

ght

Thus

it is

now

Th

us it

has

eve

r bee

n - M

atth

ew A

nish

The

Fell

owsh

ip

G

anda

lf kn

ows t

he p

ower

of

pow

er fo

r evi

l. Th

e go

od w

izar

d tru

sts a

ll to

a

hobb

it.

The

Kin

g