Happy Birthday Tolkien!!!



Today is Tolkien’s 127th birthday!!!

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Saruman and his Technicolor Dreamcoat

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  Those of you who read The Lord of the Rings will remember Gandalf and Saruman’s confrontation on the steps of Orthanc before Gandalf fully realizes that Saruman has abandoned his wisdom. Here is the passage: “’I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker, Saruman of Many Colors!’” ‘I looked then and saw that his robes, which had seemed white, were not so, but were woven of all colours, and if he moved, they shimmered and changed hue so that the eye was bewildered.’ ‘I liked white better,’ I said. ‘White!’ he sneered. ‘It serves as a beginning. White cloth may be dyed. The white page can be overwritten; and the white light can be broken.’ ‘In which case it is no longer white,’ Said I. ‘and he that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom.’ (FOTR, Book II: The Council of Elrond)             Gandalf’s last retort seems very wise and readers will likely agree with him, but is it really? I...
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A Token of Wisdom from the Silmarillion

       I am back after a long continuous voyage through the Histories of Middle Earth and a couple of writing courses.  I've had some insights I would love to share with all of you over the next few months including a very lengthy analysis of Feanor (let's pretend the accent's there) and a short essay on whether Elves are funny. But before we begin, here's some words of wisdom I copied up a couple of months back from the Tale of the Fall of Gondolin (let's also pretend the spoiler in the title doesn't exist here).    “Love not too well the work of thy hands and the devices of thy heart."          This quote comes from Ulmo the Ainu (god) of all water. Don't worry, you're not the only one thinking of Poseidon: more on that in a post to come. He is warning of impending doom—the fall of Gondolin—that is inevitable if the city isn't abandoned.      ...
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Why Boromir Was Not a Bad Guy

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We all know about the tragedy that takes place at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring; Boromir’s betrayal of the Fellowship’s trust and his mission. Although we start catching glimpses of the catastrophe that will come to the Fellowship and the Quest long before, I think it still comes somewhat as a surprise to the reader.       However, should this really be a surprise? Considering the pull of the Ring, someone was bound to bend under its influence. Does the fact that the someone was Boromir make him evil? I know that his betrayal is a sore blow to the Quest, but was it necessary for its completion? I think it might not only have been necessary but the essential element that propelled the Quest to the finish line. The Ring’s Effects       From the very beginning, even as far back as Chapter 1 “A Long-Expected Party”, the Ring’s pull is evidenced in the confrontation between Bilbo and Gandalf. When Gandalf requests that Bilbo leave...
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