The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - LotR --- Appendix A: I, (v) -- The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen

Lhunardawen · 12-19-2005, 06:08 AM

It's a good thing in my opinion that Tolkien did not include this in the actual LotR; I think it would have been a little out of place. But by placing this in the appendices, there was a risk of it not being read by most readers. I, for one, was not interested at first to read through the appendices as I felt doing so would ruin the momentum of the story as it courses through my memory. It was only after a while that I discovered this mini-story, and only then did I realize how much I missed by not reading the appendices.

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I wonder, why was Aragorn singing a part of the Lay of Luthien which tells of her meeting with Beren in the forest of Neldoreth? I'm inclined to think that in his heart Aragorn believes that the only thing he lacks in his life is a wife to share all his happiness with - and out of the abundance of his heart, his mouth spoke. Or perhaps he was expressing his need for a "Luthien" to aid him in any way in the hard and long test Elrond warned him he will be facing?

I guess there's no need to iterate how much Arwen has (largely indirectly) affected Aragorn in his development as a king, and as a man. It's interesting to note that Aragorn met Arwen right after he found out his true identity and lineage. It was as if she was placed there just in time to provide strength, inspiration, hope, and occasional mirth for Aragorn through the coming hard times. For me, Arwen was the embodiment of Aragorn's hope - his "Estel."

12-19-2005, 06:08 AM	#6
Lhunardawen Hauntress of the Havens Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: IN it, but not OF it Posts: 2,538	It's a good thing in my opinion that Tolkien did not include this in the actual LotR; I think it would have been a little out of place. But by placing this in the appendices, there was a risk of it not being read by most readers. I, for one, was not interested at first to read through the appendices as I felt doing so would ruin the momentum of the story as it courses through my memory. It was only after a while that I discovered this mini-story, and only then did I realize how much I missed by not reading the appendices. --------------------------------------- I wonder, why was Aragorn singing a part of the Lay of Luthien which tells of her meeting with Beren in the forest of Neldoreth? I'm inclined to think that in his heart Aragorn believes that the only thing he lacks in his life is a wife to share all his happiness with - and out of the abundance of his heart, his mouth spoke. Or perhaps he was expressing his need for a "Luthien" to aid him in any way in the hard and long test Elrond warned him he will be facing? I guess there's no need to iterate how much Arwen has (largely indirectly) affected Aragorn in his development as a king, and as a man. It's interesting to note that Aragorn met Arwen right after he found out his true identity and lineage. It was as if she was placed there just in time to provide strength, inspiration, hope, and occasional mirth for Aragorn through the coming hard times. For me, Arwen was the embodiment of Aragorn's hope - his "Estel."