Thread: Sorcery
View Single Post
Old 10-09-2006, 11:43 AM   #18
Raynor
Eagle of the Star
 
Raynor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Sarmisegethuza
Posts: 1,058
Raynor has just left Hobbiton.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boromir88
I don't know about Men being able to 'Master' Sorcery, however it is clear that Men were able to learn it.
Hm, I disagree; to quote the last paragraph from the letter you reffered to:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Letter #155
Anyway, a difference in the use of 'magic' in this story is that it is not to be come by by 'lore' or spells; but is in an inherent power not possessed or attainable by Men as such. Aragorn's 'healing' might be regarded as 'magical', or at least a blend of magic with pharmacy and 'hypnotic' processes. But it is (in theory) reported by hobbits who have very little notions of philosophy and science; while Aragorn is not a pure 'Man', but at long remove one of the 'children of Luthien'
Tolkien is aware of the pesky subject of the supposedly magical numenorean blades, but then again, a solution to that problem might be that the blades were made by a descendant of elves, therefore having inherent magic; interestingly enough, there is this statement by Erendis in Unfinished Tales, The further course of the narative:"Men in Numenor are half-Elves, especially the high men; they are neither the one nor the other", [or of Imrazor of Dol Amroth and of Mithrellas as Legolas recognizes in the Last debate, RotK:"at length they came to the Prince Imrahil, and Legolas looked at him and bowed low; for he saw that here indeed was one who had elven-blood in his veins." - but this is rather unlikely, since their line started only in 1980 Third Age, according to the Unfinnished Tales, Amroth and Nimrodel, and the blades could not have gotten into the barrow downs after their infestation by wights around 1600]. It could also be possible that the blades were made in collaboration with elves (or dwarves, but that is less likely).
Raynor is offline   Reply With Quote