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''A great battle long ago...''

DaughterofLaketown
Gondor


Aug 17 2014, 10:06pm

Post #1 of 5 (863 views)
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''A great battle long ago...'' Can't Post

When Frodo and Sam go through the Midgewater Marshes Gollum says the dead faces are ''from a great battle long ago.'' What does he mean by this? Does anyone have any idea what battle he may be referring too?




Arannir
Valinor


Aug 17 2014, 10:25pm

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It is the Dead Marshes... [In reply to] Can't Post

... Midgewater Marshes are East of Bree.

And Gollums referrs to the the Last Alliance... before Sauron was defeated at the slopes of Mount Doom Mordor and the Free Peoples fought each other on the lands before the Black Gate... the Dagorlad. Part of these lands became the Dead Marshes (very much influenced by the mud and water filled trenches and shell holes of the WWI wastelands).

"I am afraid it is only too likely to be true what you say about the critics and the public. I am dreading the publication for it will be impossible not to mind what is said. I have exposed my heart to be shot at." J.R.R. Tolkien

We all have our hearts and minds one way or another invested in these books and movies. So we all mind and should show the necessary respect.



(This post was edited by Arannir on Aug 17 2014, 10:30pm)


Silverlode
Forum Admin / Moderator


Aug 17 2014, 10:39pm

Post #3 of 5 (642 views)
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Yes, it was the battle of the Last Alliance... [In reply to] Can't Post

the great battle we see in the Prologue of FOTR. The armies of Gil-Galad and Elendil fought on the plains before the Black Gates and then eventually broke in and laid siege to Barad-dur for seven years before Sauron came out to fight and was defeated.

From "The Passage of the Marshes", The Two Towers:

Quote

"Yes, yes,' said Gollum. "All dead, all rotten. Elves and Men and Orcs. The Dead Marshes. There was a battle long ago, yes, so they told him when Smeagol was young, when I was young before the Precious came. It was a great battle. Tall Men with long swords, and terrible Elves, and Orcses shrieking. They fought on the plain for days and months at the Black Gates. But the Marshes have grown since then, swallowed up the graves; always creeping, creeping."

"But that is an age and more ago," said Sam....


From "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age", The Silmarillion:

Quote

Now Elendil and Gil-galad took counsel together, for they perceived that Sauron would grow too strong and would overcome all his enemies one by one, if they did not unite against him. Therefore they made that League which is called the Last Alliance, and they marched East into Middle-earth gathering a great host of Elves and Men; and they halted for a while at Imladris. It is said that the host that was there assembled was fairer and more splendid in arms than any that has since been seen in Middle-earth, and none greater has been mustered since the host of the Valar went against Thangorodrim.

From Imladris they crossed the Misty Mountains by many passes and marched down the River Anduin, and so came at last upon the host of Sauron on Dagorlad, the Battle Plain, which lies before the gate of the Black Land. All living things were divided in that day..... The host of Gil-galad had the victory, for the might of the Elves was still great in those days, and the Numenoreans were strong and tall, and terrible in their wrath.
....
Then Gil-galad and Elendil passed into Mordor and encompassed the stronghold of Sauron; and they laid siege to it for seven years..... There in the valley of Gorgoroth Anarion son of Elendil was slain, and many others. But at last the siege was so strait that Sauron himself came forth....


Silverlode



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DaughterofLaketown
Gondor


Aug 17 2014, 11:10pm

Post #4 of 5 (622 views)
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sorry [In reply to] Can't Post

I had a mixup there. But thank you both for your help. I have a better understanding now.




Bracegirdle
Valinor


Aug 18 2014, 3:37am

Post #5 of 5 (677 views)
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Gil-galad's pre-war chant [In reply to] Can't Post

Death to the yrch, maim and slash.
Slit their bellies and watch 'em thrash!

Grin and parry, then feint and thrust
We'll cleave and hack with slayings lust!

We'll slice 'em up like Yuletide turkey,
And hang 'em high for smoked Orc-jerky!

“Uva uvam vivendo varia fit."

 
 

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