I’m thinking about starting a blog for the specific purpose of writing lengthy text posts concerning LOTR canon, particularly the histories.
Would this be of interest to anyone besides me? Any fellow fans would be welcome to contribute.
If, if I were ever to procreate, I have very specific needs.
- They must be twins, one boy and one girl.
- The boy absolutely must be the ‘older’ one.
- The boy must have blue eyes. Hair color is optional but preferably light blonde…like, bleachy white blonde.
- The girl must have golden blonde hair and green eyes.
- The boy has to be pale, but the girl needs to tan easily.
Having children this specific won’t even be the biggest challenge.
The worst part will be explaining to them that I named them after trees.
Far over the Misty Mountains cold,
To dungeons deep and caverns old,
We must away, ere break of day,
To claim our long-forgotten gold.
In that hour of trial it was the love of his master that helped most to hold him firm; but also deep down in him lived still unconquered his plain hobbit-sense: he knew in the core of his heart that he was not large enough to bear such a burden, even if such visions were not a mere cheat to betray him. The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due, not a garden swollen to a realm; his own hands to use, not the hands of others to command.
J.R.R. Tolkien and Edith Tolkien | Beren and Luthien
Highly interesting spy image of a hobbit set/set pieces from TORN. You can see obvious LOTR-style Dwarf architecture in the geometrical designs of the pillar bases, but what intrigues me are those pillars and the archway. Are they leaning away from pure geometrical designs for the Dwarves? Notice the blue chipped paint on that archway. They might be having the Lonely Mountain Dwarves be a bit more “artistic” than the Moria Dwarves…
Or it could just be bits and pieces from various sets being built, with the more flowing designs belonging to a more dilapidated section of the Elvenking’s halls or somewhere else. We shall see!
The pillars don’t look Dwarvish…it seems to me that Dwarvish architecture would be more functional and monolithic, but maybe it’s a testament to the prosperity of the Erebor Dwarves?
Also, HOLYSHITSETPIECESIT’SALLHAPPENINGGLORYHALLELUJAH
‘Have you got it here? he asked in a whisper. ‘I can’t help feeling curious, you know, after all I’ve heard. I should very much like just to peep at it again.’
‘Yes, I’ve got it,’ answered Frodo, feeling a strange reluctance. ‘It looks just the same as it ever did.’
‘Well, I should just like to see it for a moment,’ said Bilbo.
When he had dressed, Frodo found that while he slept the Ring had been hung about his neck on a new chain, light but strong. Slowly he drew it out. Bilbo put out his hand. But Frodo quickly drew back the Ring. To his distress and amazement he found that he was no longer looking at Bilbo; a shadow seemed to have fallen between them, and through it he found himself eyeing a little wrinkled creature with a hungry face and bony groping hands. He felt a desire to strike him.
The music and singing round them seemed to falter, and a silence fell. Bilbo looked quickly at Frodo’s face and passed his hand across his eyes. ‘I understand now,’ he said. ‘Put it away! I am sorry: sorry you have come in for this burden: sorry about everything. Don’t adventures ever have an end? I suppose not. Someone else always has to carry on the story.’
-The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Tolkien Reading Day was set up to encourage people to get together and explore some of Tolkien’s stories at school, university, in reading groups, or as a family; the theme for 2011 is “Tolkien’s Trees”.
This year’s theme, “Tolkien’s Trees”, is allied with the “International Year of Forests” and encourages families and library reading groups to enjoy exploring the dark confines of Tolkien’s many forests as well as focussing on individual trees.
Readers might venture into Mirkwood in “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings”; into the Old Forest on the borders of the Shire, and the Golden Wood of Lothlorien, or meet the Ents of Fangorn. Or why not read about and discuss the importance of trees and their meanings in “Leaf By Niggle”, or the ‘Two Trees’ beloved of the Elves in “The Silmarillion”, where there are more great forests and woods to discover.
If reading time is short, then the malice of Old Man Willow, or the symbolism of White Tree of Gondor offer plenty to think about and discuss.
Ideas for exploring Tolkien’s books together are available online: http://www.tolkiensociety.org/ed/tolkienreadingday.html
And add the day to your events on FB here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=186596254691742&ref=mf
I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence.
-J.R.R. Tolkien
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