So far we have seen 'hope' in connection with persons. I have also found some interesting references to hope being given by inanimate objects.
The first is beryl, the elf-stone. It is mentioned twice, once at the bridge between Bree and Rivendell, apparently left there as a signal by Glorfindel. Strider says:
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Whether it was set there, or let fall by chance, I cannot say; but it brings hope to me.
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Later in Lothlórien, Galadriel gives Aragorn the elf-stone entrusted to her by Arwen for that purpose:
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This stone… comes to you as a token of hope.
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Interestingly, this stone gives him his name of Elessar, Elf-stone, so another of his names is connected with the word ‘hope’!
A second example is a liquid form of ‘hope’ –
miruvor. When Gandalf gives each member of the Fellowship a sip of it in the snowstorm on Caradhras, we read:
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As soon as Frodo had swallowed a little of the warm and fragrant liquor he felt a new strength of heart… The others also revived and found fresh hope and vigour.
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At Helm’s Deep Aragorn speaks twice of light as a bringer of hope:
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Yet dawn is ever the hope of men.
Nonetheless day will bring hope to me.
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Can anyone think of additional examples of this usage of ‘hope’ in LotR or Tolkien’s other books?
[ November 10, 2002: Message edited by: Estelyn Telcontar ]