The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Cookie Cutter Characters--Repetition Through Ancestry

Iarwain · 02-01-2003, 11:36 AM

In this thread, I'd like to bring up the repetition of character situations compared to the problems that arose in their forefathers' lives.

The most obvious case is the similarity between Thingol, Luthien, Beren and Elrond, Arwen, Aragorn.

Each has direct ancestry with his/her corresponding figure. Elrond is Thingol's great great grandson. Arwen is Luthien's great great granddaughter. And Aragorn's family tree can be directly traced back to Beren.

There is also an extreme similarity in their situations. Thingol and Elrond refuse to allow the marriage of Luthien and Arwen until Beren and Aragorn have proven themselves through accomplishing some feat. While the surroundings of this task differ greatly, it has the same purpose.

Aragorn, in fact, meets Arwen in almost exactly the same way that Beren meets Luthien. And, in the end, Elrond allows Aragorn to marry Arwen, and Thingol allows Beren and Luthien to do the same. Also, Arwen and Luthien both choose to die as mortals and pass out of the world. Both Arwen and Luthien actually die of sorrow shortly after their husbands' deaths.

One more thing. Both Aragorn and Beren have some sort of secret sign of high power that they recieved from their fathers, for Aragorn it's Narsil, for Beren it's Felagund's ring.

I'm sure there are more cases of situation reoccurences throughout the history of middle-earth. Otherwise, comments are always open on this example! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Gathering Lillypads,
Iarwain

P.S. I hope that's easier to understand!

[ February 01, 2003: Message edited by: Iarwain ]

02-01-2003, 11:36 AM	#1
Iarwain Pugnaciously Primordial Paradox Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Birnham Wood Posts: 800	Cookie Cutter Characters--Repetition Through Ancestry In this thread, I'd like to bring up the repetition of character situations compared to the problems that arose in their forefathers' lives. The most obvious case is the similarity between Thingol, Luthien, Beren and Elrond, Arwen, Aragorn. Each has direct ancestry with his/her corresponding figure. Elrond is Thingol's great great grandson. Arwen is Luthien's great great granddaughter. And Aragorn's family tree can be directly traced back to Beren. There is also an extreme similarity in their situations. Thingol and Elrond refuse to allow the marriage of Luthien and Arwen until Beren and Aragorn have proven themselves through accomplishing some feat. While the surroundings of this task differ greatly, it has the same purpose. Aragorn, in fact, meets Arwen in almost exactly the same way that Beren meets Luthien. And, in the end, Elrond allows Aragorn to marry Arwen, and Thingol allows Beren and Luthien to do the same. Also, Arwen and Luthien both choose to die as mortals and pass out of the world. Both Arwen and Luthien actually die of sorrow shortly after their husbands' deaths. One more thing. Both Aragorn and Beren have some sort of secret sign of high power that they recieved from their fathers, for Aragorn it's Narsil, for Beren it's Felagund's ring. I'm sure there are more cases of situation reoccurences throughout the history of middle-earth. Otherwise, comments are always open on this example! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Gathering Lillypads, Iarwain P.S. I hope that's easier to understand! [ February 01, 2003: Message edited by: Iarwain ] __________________ "And what are oaths but words we say to God?"