|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Nov 28, 3:07pm
Post #1 of 16
(185 views)
Shortcut
|
TIME - November 29
|
Can't Post
|
|
Today in Middle-earth
  
November 29, 1971
1. The passing of Edith Tolkien.
...Born on January 21, 1889, Edith Mary Bratt Tolkien passed away on November 29, 1971 at the age of 82. Edith and J.R.R. Tolkien were wedded on March 22, 1916 and had been married 55 years at the time of her loss. They have 4 children; the most notable is Christopher Tolkien who contributed to and continued his father's work at his passing on September 2, 1973 at the age of 81.
... Edith was cherished by J.R.R and was known to be his muse and inspiration for his Middle-earth elves, Lúthien Tinúviel and Arwen Undómiel. He wrote of his admiration for his wife and her "willingness to marry a man with no job, little money, and no prospects except the likelihood of being killed in the Great War."
Children
Michael Hilary (1920–1984)
Christopher John (1924–2020)
John Francis (1917–2003)
Priscilla Anne (b. 1929)
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
(This post was edited by Ataahua on Nov 29, 7:21pm)
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Nov 29, 2:14pm
Post #2 of 16
(148 views)
Shortcut
|
Today in Middle-earth
November 28, 3019 (S.R. 1419)
1. The Gift of Galadriel
(not from the appendices)
..."The trees were the worst loss and damage, for at Sharkey's bidding they had been cut down recklessly far and wide over the Shire; and Sam grieved over this more than anything else. For one thing, this hurt would take long to heal, and only his great-grandchildren... ...would see the Shire as it ought to be.
...Then suddenly one day, for he had been too busy for weeks to give a thought to his adventures, he remembered the gift of Galadriel. He brought the box out and showed it to the other Travellers (for so they were now called by everyone), and asked their advice.
...'I wondered when you would think of it,' said Frodo. 'Open it!'
...Inside it was filled with a grey dust, soft and fine, in the middle of which was a seed, like a small nut with a silver shale. 'What can I do with this...?'
...'...Throw it in the air on a breezy day and let it do its work!' said Pippin.
...'On what?' said Sam.
...'Choose one spot as a nursery, and see what happens to the plants there,' said Merry.
...'But I'm sure the Lady would not like me to keep it all for my own garden, now so many folk have suffered,' said Sam.
...'Use all the wits and knowledge you have of your own, Sam,' said Frodo, 'and then use the gift to help your work and better it. And use it sparingly. There is not much here, and I expect every grain has a value.'
...So Sam planted saplings in all the places where specially beautiful or beloved trees had been destroyed, and he put a grain of the precious dust in the soil at the root of each. He went up and down the Shire in this labour; but if he paid special attention to Hobbiton and Bywater no one blamed him... ...at the end he found that he still had a little of the dust left; so he went to the Three-Farthing Stone... ...near to the centre of the Shire as no matter, and cast it in the air with his blessing. The little silver nut he planted in the Party Field where the tree had once been; and he wondered what would come of it. All through the winter he remained as patient as he could, and tried to restrain himself from going round constantly to see if anything was happening."
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
|
|
|
dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Nov 29, 2:21pm
Post #3 of 16
(149 views)
Shortcut
|
is so appropriate. 
I wonder if that's something that's taken care of by the cemetery groundskeepers, or do fans do a bit of planting in there?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Nov 30, 3:09pm
Post #4 of 16
(119 views)
Shortcut
|
Today in Middle-earth
November 30, 2941 (S.R. 1341)
1. Bilbo, Gandalf and Beorn depart from the Elves.
(determined from text – referencing Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth)
... "Gandalf and Bilbo rode behind the Elvenking, and beside them strode Beorn... ...and he laughed and sang in a loud voice upon the road. So they went on until they drew near to the borders of Mirkwood, to the north of the place where the Forest River ran out. Then they halted, for the wizard and Bilbo would not enter the wood, even though the king bade them stay a while in his halls. They intended to go along the edge of the forest, and round its northern end in the waste that lay between it and the beginning of the Grey Mountains... ...Moreover Beorn was going that way too.
..."Farewell! O Elvenking!" said Gandalf. "Merry be the greenwood, while the world is yet young! And merry be all your folk!"
..."Farewell! O Gandalf... ...May you ever appear where you are most needed and least expected! The oftener you appear in my halls the better shall I be pleased!"
..."I beg of you," said Bilbo stammering and standing on one foot, "to accept this gift!" and he brought out a necklace of silver and pearls that Dain had given him at their parting.
... "In what way have I earned such a gift, O hobbit...?"
... "...Well, er, I thought, don't you know," said Bilbo rather confused, "that, er, some little return should be made for your, er, hospitality. I mean even a burglar has his feelings. I have drunk much of your wine and eaten much of your bread."
... "I will take your gift, O Bilbo the Magnificent!" said the king gravely. "And I name you elf-friend and blessed. May your shadow never grow less (or stealing would be too easy)! Farewell!"
... Then the elves turned towards the Forest, and Bilbo started on his long road home."
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Nov 30, 3:23pm
Post #5 of 16
(117 views)
Shortcut
|
The groundskeepers *bows to them* who I'll bet pay extra attention for those visiting... and those visiting to pay tribute to the Tolkiens for bringing so much to our lives.
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Dec 1, 4:06pm
Post #6 of 16
(100 views)
Shortcut
|
Did you ever wonder about the Old Forest? Professor Tolkien spent a LOT of time in that Forest, so let's take a look at the Hobbits' perception during their journey as they leave Crickhollow and seek the gate in the Hedge. Here's the 1st of a 5-part Book Spoiler that describes The Old Forest… for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
From The Old Forest: The Fellowship of the Ring
... "...After riding for about an hour, slowly and without talking, they saw the Hedge looming suddenly ahead. It was tall and netted over with silver cobwebs...
... …along the Hedge.. …they came to a point where it bent inwards, running along the lip of a hollow. A cutting had been made, at some distance from the Hedge, and went sloping gently down into the ground. It had walls of brick at the sides, which rose steadily, until suddenly they arched over and formed a tunnel that dived deep under the Hedge and came out in the hollow on the other side… …[They] rode down the slope and disappeared… …into the tunnel.
... It was dark and damp. At the far end it was closed by a gate of thick-set iron bars. Merry got down and unlocked the gate, and when they had all passed through he pushed it to again. It shut with a clang, and the lock clicked. The sound was ominous.
... 'There!' said Merry. 'You have left the Shire, and am now outside, and on the edge of the Old Forest…'
... '…There are various queer things living deep in the Forest, and on the far side… …something makes paths. Whenever one comes inside one finds open tracks; but they seem to shift and change from time to time in a queer fashion.'
... …The hobbits now left the tunnel-gate and rode across the wide hollow. On the far side was a faint path leading up on to the floor of the Forest, a hundred yards and more beyond the Hedge; but it vanished as soon as it brought them under the trees. Looking back they could see the dark line of the Hedge through he stems of trees that were already thick about them. Looking ahead they could see only tree-trunks of innumerable sizes and shapes: straight or bent, twisted, leaning, squat or slender, smooth or gnarled and branched; and all the stems were green or grey with moss and slimy, shaggy growths…
...…their ponies plodded along, carefully avoiding the many writhing and interlacing roots. There was no undergrowth. The ground was rising steadily, and as they went forward it seemed that the trees became taller, darker, and thicker. There was no sound, except an occasional drip of moisture falling through the still leaves. For the moment there was no whispering or movement among the branches; but they all got an uncomfortable feeling that they were being watched with disapproval, deepening to dislike and even enmity. The feeling steadily grew, until they found themselves looking up quickly, or glancing back over their shoulders, as if they expected a sudden blow.
... There was not as yet any sign of a path, and the trees seemed constantly to bar their way. Pippin suddenly felt that he could not bear it any longer, and without warning let out a shout. 'Oi! Oi!' he cried. 'I am not going to do anything. Just let me pass through, will you..!' … but the cry fell as if muffled by a heavy curtain. There was no echo or answer though the wood seemed to become more crowded and more watchful than before.
... 'I should not shout, if I were you,' said Merry. 'It does more harm than good.'"
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
|
|
|
Otaku-sempai
Elvenhome
Dec 1, 9:15pm
Post #7 of 16
(93 views)
Shortcut
|
|
December 29 - Happy Birthday, Fili!
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Birthday greetings to Dean O'Gorman (age 49) who played Fili in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy.
“Hell hath no fury like that of the uninvolved.” - Tony Isabella
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Dec 2, 12:45pm
Post #8 of 16
(77 views)
Shortcut
|
Here is part 2 of a 5-part Book Spoiler look at the Hobbits' perception of the Old Forest… for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
From The Old Forest: The Fellowship of the Ring ... "'Well, well!' [Merry] said. 'These trees do shift. There is the Bonfire Glade in front of us (or I hope so), but the path to it seems to have moved away!'
... The light grew clearer as they went forward. Suddenly they came out of the trees and found themselves in a wide circular space. There was sky above them, blue and clear to their surprise, for down under the Forest-roof they had not been able to see the rising morning and the lifting of the mist… …The leaves were all thicker and greener about the edges of the glade, enclosing it with an almost solid wall. No tree grew there, only rough grass and many tall plants; stalky and faded hemlocks and wood-parsley, fire-weed seeding into fluffy ashes, and rampant nettles and thistles. A dreary place: but it seemed a charming and cheerful garden after the close Forest…
... …At the far side of the glade there was a break in the wall of trees, and a clear path beyond it. They could see it running on into the wood, wide in places and open above, though every now and again the trees drew in and overshadowed it with their dark boughs. Up this path they rode. They were still climbing gently… …the air began to get hot and stuffy. The trees drew close again on either side, and they could no longer see far ahead. Now stronger than ever they felt again the ill will of the wood pressing on them. So silent was it that the fall of their ponies' hoofs, rustling on dead leaves and occasionally stumbling on hidden roots, seemed to thud in their ears…
... …Frodo tried to sing a song to encourage them, but his voice sank to a murmur... ...The air seemed heavy and the making of words wearisome. Just behind them a large branch fell from an old overhanging tree with a crash into the path. The trees seemed to close in before them.
... '...I should not sing any more at present...'[said Merry].
... ...He spoke cheerfully... ...The others did not answer. They were depressed. A heavy weight was settling steadily on Frodo's heart, and he regretted now with every step forward that he had ever thought of challenging the menace of the trees... ...when things took a new turn. The path stopped climbing, and became for a while nearly level. The dark trees drew aside, and ahead they could see the path going almost straight forward... ...but some distance off, there stood a green hill-top, treeless, rising like a bald head out of the encircling wood. The path seemed to be making directly for it... ...delighted with the thought of climbing out for a while above the roof of the Forest. The path dipped, and then again began to climb upwards, leading them at last to the foot of the steep hillside. There it left the trees and faded into the turf. The wood stood all round the hill like thick hair that ended sharply in a circle round a shaven crown."
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Dec 3, 1:58pm
Post #9 of 16
(54 views)
Shortcut
|
Here is part 3 of a 5-part Book Spoiler look at the Hobbits' perception of the Old Forest… for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
From The Old Forest: The Fellowship of the Ring ... "The hobbits led their ponies up, winding round and round until they reached the top [of the green treeless hill-top]... ...they stood and gazed about them. The air was gleaming and sunlit, but hazy; and they could not see to any great distance. Near at hand the mist was now almost gone; though here and there it lay in hollows of the wood, and to the south of them, out of a deep fold cutting right across the Forest, the fog still rose like steam or wisps of white smoke.
... 'That,' said Merry, pointing with his hand, 'that is the line of the Withywindle. It comes down out of the Downs and flows south-west through the midst of the Forest to join the Brandywine below Haysend. We don't want to go that way! The Withywindle valley is said to be the queerest part of the whole wood--the centre from which all the queerness comes, as it were.'
... The sun on the hill-top was now getting hot… …the autumn haze still prevented them from seeing much in other directions. In the west they could not make out either the line of the Hedge or the valley of the Brandywine beyond it. Northward, where they looked most hopefully, they could see nothing that might be the line of the great East Road, for which they were making. They were on an island in a sea of trees, and the horizon was veiled.
... On the south-eastern side the ground fell very steeply, as if the slopes of the hill were continued far down under the trees, like island-shores that really are the sides of a mountain rising out of deep waters… …As the sun rose and passed noon they glimpsed far off in the east the grey-green lines of the Downs that lay beyond the Old Forest on that side. That cheered them greatly; for it was good to see a sight of anything beyond the wood's borders, though they did not mean to go that way, if they could help it: the Barrow-downs had as sinister a reputation in Hobbit-legend as the Forest itself…
... …The path that had brought them to the hill reappeared on the northward side; but they had not followed it far before they became aware that it was bending steadily to the right. Soon it began to descend rapidly… …it must actually be heading towards the Withywindle valley: not at all the direction they wished to take. After some discussion they decided to leave this misleading path and strike northward; for although they had not been able to see it from the hill-top, the Road must lie that way, and it could not be many miles off. Also northward and to the left of the path, the land seemed to be drier and more open, climbing up to slopes where the trees were thinner, and pines and firs replaced the oaks and ashes and other strange and nameless trees of the denser wood."
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Thu, 1:23pm
Post #10 of 16
(47 views)
Shortcut
|
Here is part 4 of a 5-part Book Spoiler look at the Hobbits' perception of the Old Forest… for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
From The Old Forest: The Fellowship of the Ring ... "At first their choice seemed to be good: they got along at a fair speed, though whenever they got a glimpse of the sun in an open glade they seemed unaccountably to have veered eastwards. But after a time the trees began to close in again just where they had appeared from a distance to be thinner and less tangled. Then deep folds in the ground were discovered unexpectedly, like the ruts of great giant-wheels or wide moats and sunken roads long disused and choked with brambles. These lay unusually right across their line of march, and cold only be crossed by scrambling down and out again… …Each time they climbed down they found the hollow filled with thick bushes and matted undergrowth, which somehow would not yield to the left, but only gave way when they turned to the right… …they had to go some distance along the bottom before they could find a way up the further bank. Each time they clambered out, the trees seemed deeper and darker; and always to the left and upwards it was most difficult to find a way, and they were forced to the right and downwards.
... After an hour or two they lost all clear sense of direction though they knew well enough that they had long ceased to go northward at all. They were being headed off and were simply following a course chosen for them--eastwards and southwards, into the heart of the Forest and not out of it.
... The afternoon was wearing away when they scrambled and stumbled into the fold that was wider and deeper than any they had yet met. It was so steep and overhung that it proved impossible to climb out of it again, either forwards or backwards, without leaving their ponies and their baggage... ...All they could do was to follow the fold--downwards. The ground grew soft, and in places boggy; springs appeared in the banks, and soon they found themselves following a brook that trickled and babbled through a weedy bed. Then the ground began to fall rapidly... ...the brook growing strong and noisy, flowed and leaped swiftly downhill. They were in a deep dim-lit gully over-arched by trees high above them.
... After stumbling along for some way along the stream, they came quite suddenly out of the gloom. As if through a gate they saw the sunlight before them. Coming to the opening they found that they had made their way down through a cleft in a high steep bank, almost a cliff. At its feet was a wide space of grass and reeds... ...in the distance could be glimpsed another bank almost as steep... ...sunshine lay warm and drowsy upon the hidden land between. In the midst of it there wound lazily a dark river of brown water, bordered with ancient willows, arched over with willows, blocked with fallen willows, and flecked with thousands of faded willow-leaves....
... '...Well, now I have at least some notion of where we are!' said Merry."
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
(This post was edited by grammaboodawg on Thu, 1:28pm)
|
|
|
Otaku-sempai
Elvenhome
Thu, 2:23pm
Post #11 of 16
(43 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Happy Birthday, Daughter of Helm
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Birthday greetings to Gaia Wise (age 26), the voice of Héra, daughter of Helm Hammerhand (The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim).
“Hell hath no fury like that of the uninvolved.” - Tony Isabella
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Fri, 2:45pm
Post #12 of 16
(39 views)
Shortcut
|
Here is part 5 of a 5-part Book Spoiler look at the Hobbits' perception of the Old Forest… for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
From The Old Forest: The Fellowship of the Ring ... [Merry] "'We have come almost in the opposite direction to which we intended. This is the River Withywindle....'
... ...there was fairly solid ground between the cliff-foot and the river; in some places firm turf went down to the water's edge. 'What's more,' he said, 'there seems to be something like a footpath winding along on this side of the river. If we turn left and follow it, we shall be bound to come out on the east side of the Forest eventually.'
... [Pippin] '...Who made the track, do you suppose, and why? I am sure it was not for our benefit. I am getting very suspicious of this Forest and everything in it...'
... ...There being nothing else for it, they filed out, and Merry led them to the path that he had discovered. Everywhere the reeds and grasses were lush and tall, in places far above their heads... ...once found, the path was easy to follow, as it turned and twisted, picking out the sounder ground among the bogs and polls. Here and there it passed over other rills, running down gullies into the Withywindle out of the higher forest-lands, and at these points there were tree-trunks or bundles of brushwood laid carefully across.
... The hobbits began to feel very hot. There were armies of flies of all kinds buzzing round their ears... ...At last they came suddenly into a thin shade; great grey branches reached across the path. Each step forward became more reluctant than the last. Sleepiness seemed to be creeping out of the ground and up their legs, and falling softly out of the air upon their heads and eyes.
... Frodo felt his chin go down and his head nod. Just in front of him Pippin fell forward on to his knees.... '...It's no good,' he heard Merry saying. 'Can't go another step without rest... ...It's cool under the willows. Less flies!'
... Frodo did not like the sound of this. 'Come on!' he cried. 'We can't have a nap yet. We must get clear of the Forest first.' But the others were too far gone to care. Beside them Sam stood yawning and blinking stupidly."
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Sat, 1:49pm
Post #13 of 16
(36 views)
Shortcut
|
Today in Middle-earth
December 6, 2941 (S.R. 1341)
1. Gandalf and Bilbo travel with Beorn along the border of Mirkwood.
(determined from text)
..."[Bilbo] had many hardships and adventures before he got back. The Wild was still the Wild, and there were many other things in it in those days besides goblins; but he was well guided and well guarded—the wizard was with him, and Beorn... ...and he was never in great danger again."
December 6, 3022 (S.R. 1422)
1. Raindrops in Valinor.
(not from the appendices - no text - a drabble)
...One rainy evening, Frodo stood looking out the window, his breath appearing on his reflection, then vanishing. His eyes followed one glimmering drop as it travelled from high on the pane. Its erratic trail occasionally brushed against some drops while coming into full contact with others, but rarely joining. Many drops would hang suspended, unchanged as the one passed by. Sometimes it caught on the glass's texture, then plummeted in freefall without choice but to travel in one direction. Finally, it reached the end and vanished. Frodo's thoughts turned to Sam. "There, but for the grace of you, go I."
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
(This post was edited by grammaboodawg on Sat, 1:54pm)
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Sun, 2:36pm
Post #14 of 16
(29 views)
Shortcut
|
Today in Middle-earth
December 7, 3018 (S.R. 1418)
1. The Hobbits rest in Rivendell.
(not from the appendices - no text - a drabble)
...Frodo and Sam often enjoyed quiet walks in the Rivendell gardens. Their travel was slow on the days they stopped to investigate flowers of unique colour or scent. Sam would study their manner of growth while Frodo sketched their likeness in his journal. More than once they came upon Bilbo and Gandalf resting on low couches quietly talking. All around them rings of coloured smoke made it appear as if they were at ease in a magical cloud. The hobbits would leave silently not wanting to disturb the old friends, never guessing the elders had done the same for them.
December 7, 3019 (S.R. 1419)
1. The Shire is reborn.
(not from the appendices)
..."The task of hunting out the last remnant of the ruffians was left to Merry and Pippin, and it was soon done. The southern gangs, after hearing the news of the Battle of Bywater, fled out of the land and offered little resistance to the Thain. Before the Year's End the few survivors were rounded up in the woods, and those that surrendered were shown to the borders."
December 7, 3020 (S.R. 1420)
1. The Shire recovers.
(not from the appendices-no text)
...Hobbiton was getting back to normal as it slowly began to look as it once did through the tireless work of the Hobbits. Sam and Rosie lived with Frodo at Bag End in the New Row, and no hobbit was ever looked after better.
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
2:37pm
Post #15 of 16
(14 views)
Shortcut
|
Here's a Book Spoiler on the ever underestimated shrewdness of Sam Gamgee when it comes to Gollum… for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
From The Passage of the Marshes: The Two Towers
..."[Gollum] led the way, and following him the hobbits climbed down into the gloom... ...There was running water at the bottom: it was in fact the bed of one of the many small rivers that trickled down from the hills to feed the stagnant pools and mires beyond. Gollum turned to the right, southward more or less, and splashed along with his feet in the shallow stony stream. He seemed greatly delighted to feel the water, and chuckled to himself, sometimes even croaking in a sort of song.
The cold hard lands
they bits our hands,
they gnaws our feet.
The rocks and stones
are like old bones
all bare of meat.
But stream and pool,
is wet and cool:
so nice for feet!
And now we wish---
... 'Ha! ha! What does we wish?' he said, looking sidelong at the hobbits. 'We'll tell you... ...He guessed it long ago, Baggins guessed it.' A glint came into his eyes, and Sam catching the gleam in the darkness thought it far from pleasant.
Alive without breath;
as cold as death;
never thirsting, ever drinking
clad in mail, never clinking.
Drowns on dry land,
thinks an island
is a mountain;
thinks a fountain
is a puff of air.
So sleek, so fair!
What a joy to meet!
We only wish
to catch a fish,
so juicy-sweet!
... These words only made more pressing to Sam's mind a problem that had been troubling him from the moment when he understood that his master was going to adopt Gollum as a guide: the problem of food. It did not occur to him that his master might also have thought of it, but he supposed Gollum had. Indeed how had Gollum kept himself in all his lonely wandering? 'Not too well... ...He looks fair famished. Not too dainty to try what hobbit tastes like, if there ain't no fish, I'll wager—supposing as he could catch us napping. Well, he won't: not Sam Gamgee for one.'"
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
|
|
|
Otaku-sempai
Elvenhome
5 mins ago
Post #16 of 16
(1 views)
Shortcut
|
December 7: A happy belated birthday to Nicholas Hoult (36), born on December 7, 1989 (couldn't post yesterday due to numerous time outs).
December 8: Birthday greetings to Dominic Monaghan (49), born on December 8, 1979.
“Hell hath no fury like that of the uninvolved.” - Tony Isabella
|
|
|
|
|
