Tolkienian Heroes - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Marky Lazer · 01-25-2011, 04:01 AM

Hello all, it's been a hell of a long time since I've been here... But good to be back!

I'm about to write a dissertation on Tolkien for my English master; isn't that cool? I'm thinking about comparing some of Tolkien's heroes with old English heroes. For example Beowulf. Some of his action compare to Aragorn and Túrin, too, I think. Anyone has some hints and tips perhaps?

PrinceOfTheHalflings · 01-25-2011, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marky Lazer

Hello all, it's been a hell of a long time since I've been here... But good to be back!

I'm about to write a dissertation on Tolkien for my English master; isn't that cool? I'm thinking about comparing some of Tolkien's heroes with old English heroes. For example Beowulf. Some of his action compare to Aragorn and Túrin, too, I think. Anyone has some hints and tips perhaps?

Aragorn and Beowulf make for a good comparison.

You could do worse than to read this:

http://we-are-not-long-here.blogspot...her-essay.html

Galadriel55 · 01-25-2011, 06:25 AM

Welcome back, MarkyLazer!

You could also compare Robin Hood to Turin or some more fitting character.

Marky Lazer · 01-25-2011, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrinceOfTheHalflings

Aragorn and Beowulf make for a good comparison.

You could do worse than to read this:

http://we-are-not-long-here.blogspot...her-essay.html

Thanks for that

Pitchwife · 01-25-2011, 01:58 PM

Welcome back, Marky - pleased to meet another spectre of Elder Days!

That essay PotH linked to is indeed nice, but it fails to mention Aragorn's mental fight with Sauron via the Palantir and his passing through the Paths of the Dead, both of which I consider his greatest heroic deeds - that's where he comes into his own in my opinion and starts acting like a king even before he was crowned.

Since the essay also mentions Roland, I think he could be more fittingly compared to Boromir than Aragorn (who would then fill the role of Charlemagne), at least as far as their deaths are concerned. But as Roland is a French rather than English hero, I don't know how much help that'll be to you.

Marky Lazer · 01-26-2011, 05:30 AM

That essay has some useful information, though it comments only on the shortcomings on Beowulf and Roland (have read both), but it fails to see Aragorn's shortcomings. The Path of Dead, for example. It turned out great, but walking off from an important battle, not knowing whether you return is very unkinglike (if that's a word) in the same way Beowulf went off to fight the dragon (he was king already at that point). Beowulf was the best king "ever" and jeopardises the good fortune of his folk going off on such a dangerous feat. Even though Aragorn wasn't king yet, the people already saw him as one, and dashing off into the Path of the Dead, with chances of never returning, is dodgy still, no matter whether it was the right choice in the end (because none could have predicted that at the time he made his decision).

Estelyn Telcontar · 01-26-2011, 09:25 AM

Interesting thoughts, Marky, but there's another factor involved in the episode of Aragorn and the Paths of the Dead: the prophecy that told him to use them. He may have made a "mistake" as far as superficial military planning was concerned, but the whole War of the Ring was more a spiritual endeavour than a military one, or rather, the military effort was only one part of the whole. When a hero's story is told on a mythical level, his actions go deeper than modern thinking would perceive them.

01-25-2011, 04:01 AM	#1
Marky Lazer Haunting Spirit Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 82	Tolkienian Heroes Hello all, it's been a hell of a long time since I've been here... But good to be back! I'm about to write a dissertation on Tolkien for my English master; isn't that cool? I'm thinking about comparing some of Tolkien's heroes with old English heroes. For example Beowulf. Some of his action compare to Aragorn and Túrin, too, I think. Anyone has some hints and tips perhaps? __________________ There are two kind of people. Those who have read Tolkien, and those who are going to read Tolkien.

01-25-2011, 06:25 AM	#3
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,321	Welcome back, MarkyLazer! You could also compare Robin Hood to Turin or some more fitting character. __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera

01-25-2011, 01:58 PM	#5
Pitchwife Wight of the Old Forest Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Unattended on the railway station, in the litter at the dancehall Posts: 3,329	Welcome back, Marky - pleased to meet another spectre of Elder Days! That essay PotH linked to is indeed nice, but it fails to mention Aragorn's mental fight with Sauron via the Palantir and his passing through the Paths of the Dead, both of which I consider his greatest heroic deeds - that's where he comes into his own in my opinion and starts acting like a king even before he was crowned. Since the essay also mentions Roland, I think he could be more fittingly compared to Boromir than Aragorn (who would then fill the role of Charlemagne), at least as far as their deaths are concerned. But as Roland is a French rather than English hero, I don't know how much help that'll be to you. __________________ Und aus dem Erebos kamen viele seelen herauf der abgeschiedenen toten.- Homer, Odyssey, Canto XI

01-26-2011, 05:30 AM	#6
Marky Lazer Haunting Spirit Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 82	That essay has some useful information, though it comments only on the shortcomings on Beowulf and Roland (have read both), but it fails to see Aragorn's shortcomings. The Path of Dead, for example. It turned out great, but walking off from an important battle, not knowing whether you return is very unkinglike (if that's a word) in the same way Beowulf went off to fight the dragon (he was king already at that point). Beowulf was the best king "ever" and jeopardises the good fortune of his folk going off on such a dangerous feat. Even though Aragorn wasn't king yet, the people already saw him as one, and dashing off into the Path of the Dead, with chances of never returning, is dodgy still, no matter whether it was the right choice in the end (because none could have predicted that at the time he made his decision). __________________ There are two kind of people. Those who have read Tolkien, and those who are going to read Tolkien.

01-26-2011, 09:25 AM	#7
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,499	Interesting thoughts, Marky, but there's another factor involved in the episode of Aragorn and the Paths of the Dead: the prophecy that told him to use them. He may have made a "mistake" as far as superficial military planning was concerned, but the whole War of the Ring was more a spiritual endeavour than a military one, or rather, the military effort was only one part of the whole. When a hero's story is told on a mythical level, his actions go deeper than modern thinking would perceive them. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'