Oaths & Oathbreaking - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

davem · 07-18-2004, 01:50 PM

Ok, I don't know how many of you have been following our discussion of Chapter 3 of LotR in the Chapter by Chapter section, starting at post 43.
http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthr...8&page=2&pp=43
but I seem to have started something that's sent some of us off at a tangent! Esty has suggested that we might want to take the whole thing outside where there's less chance of us doing any damage

My feeling, since being awakened to it by an essay by John R Holmes: Oaths & Oath Breaking: Analogues of Old English Comitatus in Tolkien's Myth, is that oath taking & oath breaking is a central theme, running right through the Legendarium. Feanor's oath has a terrible binding power on all those caught up in it, & as that includes virtually all the High Elves in Middle Earth, right down to the end of the Third Age, & many, if not most, of those who come into contact with them. I'm sure even a casual reader can come up with numerous examples of oath takings & oath breakings, & the more you look the more you find.

I think it may be interesting to try & look at how Tolkien uses the idea of the oath, & how he explores the effects & consequences of taking, holding & breaking them. I've thrown in some ideas on the original thread, so I don't want to repeat myself here, & I'd be interested in getting some new input before I pursue the idea any further.

07-18-2004, 01:50 PM	#1
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Oaths & Oathbreaking Ok, I don't know how many of you have been following our discussion of Chapter 3 of LotR in the Chapter by Chapter section, starting at post 43. http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthr...8&page=2&pp=43 but I seem to have started something that's sent some of us off at a tangent! Esty has suggested that we might want to take the whole thing outside where there's less chance of us doing any damage My feeling, since being awakened to it by an essay by John R Holmes: Oaths & Oath Breaking: Analogues of Old English Comitatus in Tolkien's Myth, is that oath taking & oath breaking is a central theme, running right through the Legendarium. Feanor's oath has a terrible binding power on all those caught up in it, & as that includes virtually all the High Elves in Middle Earth, right down to the end of the Third Age, & many, if not most, of those who come into contact with them. I'm sure even a casual reader can come up with numerous examples of oath takings & oath breakings, & the more you look the more you find. I think it may be interesting to try & look at how Tolkien uses the idea of the oath, & how he explores the effects & consequences of taking, holding & breaking them. I've thrown in some ideas on the original thread, so I don't want to repeat myself here, & I'd be interested in getting some new input before I pursue the idea any further. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."