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sador
Gondolin
Dec 1 2009, 9:17am
Post #1 of 4
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Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Part III - Waiting for the beacon
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So not everyone who should have been a part of the league had joined indeed. Nevertheless, Maedhros and Fingon have mustered a formidable force, and are victorious in the first skirmishes. But our historian is not happy!
But Maedhros made trial of his strength too soon, ere his plans were full-wrought; and though the Orcs were driven out of all the northward regions of Beleriand, and even Dorthonion was freed for a while, Morgoth was warned of the uprising of the Eldar and the Elf-friends, and took counsel against them. 1. What plans exactly were not full-wrought? How much communications did Himring have with Hithlum anyway? What would have been gained from waiting more?
2. The dwarf-cities of Nogrod and Belegost were working full-time in preparing weapons and arms. But how exactly could these be brought to the battlefield? Doesn’t it make sense to let logistics decide when to attack?
3. In the next chapter, the pestilence out of Angband in which Lalith (Túrin’s sister) died is mentioned. Do you think there is a connection between this and Morogth being aware of King Fingon’s plans?
Well, Morgoth takes counsel against the Eldar – and he knows just how! Counting on the treacherous sons of Ulfang, he brings more and more Easterlings secretly in his service, and prepares.
4. Wait a minute! If indeed the sons of Ulfang were deep in the counsels of Maedhros, and yet served Morgoth – wouldn’t he know already whatever has passed? What then is so wrong with Maedhros first preparations?
I might have guessed that the criticsim against Maedhros was a remnant from an early draft – but the treachery of the Easterlings was present in the first drafts, long before the League of Maedhros was written of.
Maedhros makes a simple plan: he intends to march openly over Anfauglith, in order to lure forward the armies of Morgoth. And once that happens, the idea is for Fingon to issue forth from the passes of Hithlum, falling upon Morgoth’s armies from the rear, and destroy them. A signal for this is appointed: Maedhros would fire a great beacon in Dorthonion.
5. What is Meadhros’ ultimate object? To defeat Morgoth and regain a Silmaril? To renew the Siege of Angband?
6. What is needed for such a strategy to be successful?
7. How does this compare with the attack on the Black Gate in LotR? Remember, then Imrahil asked why should Sauron bother to rise for the bait. Why should Morgoth now?
8. Where does the beacon signal come from – are therere any Historic or Mythical precedences to it? Did Tolkien use this idea elsewhere?
On the appointed day, on the morning of Midsummer, the trumpets of the Eldar greeted the rising of the sun; and in the east was raised the standard of the sons of Fëanor, and in the west the standard of Fingon, High King of the Noldor. Then Fingon looked out from the walls of Eithel Sirion, and his host was arrayed in the valleys and the woods upon the east of Ered Wethrin, well hid from the eyes of the Enemy; but he knew that it was very great. For there all the Noldor of Hithlum were assembled, together with Elves of the Falas and Gwindor’s company from Nargothrond, and he had great strength of Men: upon the right were the host of Dor-lómin and all the valour of Húrin and Huor his brother, and to them had come Haldir of Brethil with many men of the woods. 9. Ah! So we know Círdan is present. And perhaps Gil-galad, too! Why did Tolkien not mention them before?
Then Fingon looked towards Thangorodrim, and there was a dark cloud about it, and a black smoke went up; and he knew that the wrath of Morgoth was aroused, and that their challenge was accepted. A shadow of doubt falls upon Fingon’s heart; and Maedhros does not come – being who deceived by Uldor the accursed, who warns him falsely against an attack to iverturn his flank.
10. Why exactly was Uldor ‘accursed’? He was the leader in treachery. What does that mean?
11. How does the ‘shadow of doubt’ falling on Fingon compare to Théoden’s moment of doubt before the battle of the Pelennor Fields?
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Two points of interest:
In the version brought in The Children of Hurin, Fingon actually does see the dust on the Anfauglith, and knows that Maedhros has set forth.
12. Which version do you prefer? Which makes the more sense?
Another point of interest is that already in The Book of Lost Tales, the two elements of the sons of Feanor being late and the treachery of the Easterlings were present. However, they were not connected: the sons of Feanor were simply far from the battlefield, and came after the war was lost.
13. Does the story gain from connecting the two?
14. Also, I would note that in BoLT, the treachery is the lot of all Men, with only the House of Úrin keeping faith. In the later versions, we have a clear distinction between the Edain and the Easterlings (and even among the Easterlings, the sons of Bór keep faith). With which version do you feel more comfortable? Why?
”’Farewell, Lady of Dor-Lomin; we ride now with greater hope than ever we have known before...‘
...and the sun glittered on fifty blades as they leaped forth, and the court rang with the battle-cry of the Edain of the North: ’Lacho calad! Drego morn! Flame Light! Flee Night!‘
Then at last Hurin sprang into his saddle, and his golden banner was unfurled, and the trumpets sang again in the morning; and thus Hurin Thalion rode away to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.“
- The Children of Hurin, ch. 1.
For the hopes and their dashing, for valour and defeat, for the fair morning, the baleful nightfall, and the hope that Day will come again – join us in the Reading Room this week.
(This post was edited by sador on Dec 1 2009, 9:19am)
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Hamfast Gamgee
Dor-Lomin
Dec 2 2009, 12:15am
Post #2 of 4
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Dwarves. When I re-read this chapter, the thought occured that it was a bit surprising that Dwarves where there at all. What was in it for them? They haven't really appeared that much in the previous chapters have they? And relations between them and the Noldor where always a little cold.
I suspect that Maeodhras, feeling that if two people could go all the way to Angband and gain a silmaril was now thinking that surely an army of Elves and their allies would, with a little hope, cut their way to Angband, defeat Morgoth, gain the remaining jewels and live in happines in Beleriand. Feanor's oath notwithstanding!
Well, remember that in the attack on the Black Gate, there was the little matter of the Ring involved. No superweapon or devine intervention in this one. Just Morgoth thinking, 'Well, that's my enemies out there attacking me in full force. Good opportunity to get 'em!
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sador
Gondolin
Dec 2 2009, 10:21am
Post #3 of 4
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Dwarves. When I re-read this chapter, the thought occured that it was a bit surprising that Dwarves where there at all. What was in it for them?
Good thought! I hope to discuss their involvement later.
I suspect that Maeodhras, feeling that if two people could go all the way to Angband and gain a silmaril was now thinking that surely an army of Elves and their allies would, with a little hope, cut their way to Angband, defeat Morgoth, gain the remaining jewels and live in happines in Beleriand.
So was that the reason he was the leader of the enterprise, rather than Fingon?
Well, remember that in the attack on the Black Gate, there was the little matter of the Ring involved. No superweapon or devine intervention in this one. Just Morgoth thinking, 'Well, that's my enemies out there attacking me in full force. Good opportunity to get 'em!
True. Which is probably what Gandalf meant towards the end of 'The Last Debate'.
All the more reason for Morgoth to sit back and thumb his nose at the upstart Noldor. Maybe send them another pestilence.
”’Farewell, Lady of Dor-Lomin; we ride now with greater hope than ever we have known before...‘
...and the sun glittered on fifty blades as they leaped forth, and the court rang with the battle-cry of the Edain of the North: ’Lacho calad! Drego morn! Flame Light! Flee Night!‘
Then at last Hurin sprang into his saddle, and his golden banner was unfurled, and the trumpets sang again in the morning; and thus Hurin Thalion rode away to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.“
- The Children of Hurin, ch. 1.
For the hopes and their dashing, for valour and defeat, for the fair morning, the baleful nightfall, and the hope that Day will come again – join us in the Reading Room this week.
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Dreamdeer
Doriath
Dec 7 2009, 6:04pm
Post #4 of 4
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What is needed for such a strategy to be successful?
Contingency plans. No battle plan survives the first five minutes of engagement. You have to plot, every step of the way, what to do if plan A doesn't work in any part.
Life is beautiful and dangerous! Beware! Enjoy!
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