Ancients

[Tirned Tinnu]

When I read Tolkien I see Faery-tales retold as well as History retold. Things that come to mind off the top of my head:

1. Luthien's escape via her hair: Very Rapunzel, don't you think? And Beren's misery after gaining the Silm, very like the Prince in Rapunzel. He is blinded and is cured by her tears. Also, Rapunzel has two children in the lands of enchantement - Rapunzel and The Prince enjoy a sort of life after life, as Beren and Luthien do. Wierd...

2. The Ainur and the Valar: Nordic Gods stuff (not to mention the Finnish Sagas, which I'm just reading.)

3. The Dead Marshes: English Folk Tale Will O'The Wisp

4. Aragorn: sort of Arthurian, The Man Who Would be Kingish

5. The Alkallabeth: Tir na n'Og, Atlantis-like

6. Ulmo: Manannan Mac Lir-ish to be sure

7. Earendil: Almost Leif Ericksen-like

Oh, I give up! I could spend days trying to take apart every legend, but I wont. You can see where this is leading! That's why I love Tolkien. He took ancient legends and shook them by the shoulders, waking them up so that they could be learned by new generations!
Hurrah for Faery-tales. Hurrah for JRR!

(By the way, there is a wonderful site that has the Finnish and Nordic Sagas up for your reading pleasure, it's even got Beowulf there...check it out at:
Sacred Texts Related To Tolkien's Works Site
I hope you like it. I love it! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[ September 08, 2002: Message edited by: Tirned Tinnu ]