Seasonal Symbolism - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 10-24-2002, 02:18 PM

As I was out walking today, seeing the trees gradually losing their coloured leaves, I thought about the mallorn-trees in Lothlórien. When the Fellowship arrived there, it was winter. The golden autumn leaves still hung on the trees, since they only fell off in spring when the new leaves grew. It occurred to me that this reference to the season is symbolic of the fading of the Elves. Tolkien shows us their kingdom not in spring or summer, but in that season that makes the end of their time in Middle-earth clear to us.

I think this could well have been intentional, a wonderful literary device – do you agree? Have you seen other references to seasons in LotR that struck you as being meaningful?

10-24-2002, 02:18 PM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Seasonal Symbolism As I was out walking today, seeing the trees gradually losing their coloured leaves, I thought about the mallorn-trees in Lothlórien. When the Fellowship arrived there, it was winter. The golden autumn leaves still hung on the trees, since they only fell off in spring when the new leaves grew. It occurred to me that this reference to the season is symbolic of the fading of the Elves. Tolkien shows us their kingdom not in spring or summer, but in that season that makes the end of their time in Middle-earth clear to us. I think this could well have been intentional, a wonderful literary device – do you agree? Have you seen other references to seasons in LotR that struck you as being meaningful? __________________ '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...'