Isn't that sweet? Love in Middle-Earth - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 12-26-2004, 07:38 AM

"What's your favorite...?" topics are placed on the Novices and Newcomers forum, so I'm moving this thread there. I hope many will post their opinions and enjoy reading what others write!

You might also enjoy reading similar threads such as:

Marriage in Middle-earth (happy)
Marriage in Middle-earth (unhappy)
Tolkien love stories - sources
Love stories in Middle Earth
Hope-lessly in love
..to name only a few.

Linnahiril Tinnufinwen · 01-05-2005, 02:24 PM

I would have to say that my favorite romance is between Eowyn and Faramir. These were two rather unhappy souls (Eowyn because of her love for Aragorn, and Faramir because of his father's disapproval), but both honorable and brave people, who each ended up discovering someone who would be able to empathize with them. I believe that they share a lot of common values, and that they are nearly perfect for each other.

Kitanna · 01-05-2005, 03:19 PM

Huzzah! Someone finally answered!

But anywho I totally agree about Eowyn and Faramir, but also despite it all they found each other. Even though things were their worst those two people managed to fall in love.

AbercrombieOfRohan · 01-05-2005, 03:31 PM

I love Earendil and Elwing, mostly just because their story ends happily, and they still were key players in a major part of the silmarillion (as apposed to say.. Ingwe and whoever his spouse was.) Earendil was noble and valiant and Elwing was brave and heroic. When she cast herself into the sea she was strong-hearted and resistent but then when she came to Earendil's ship, Vingilot, she collapsed onto the deck into the arms of a strong leading man. It seems appropriate that Tolkien should show her as such because she was a descendent of Luthien who also was strong and then collapsed into Beren's arms when she didn't have any strength left. It's the perfect mixture of heroism and wimpy heroinism. A perfect parallel. I love it.

elfearz1 · 01-06-2005, 02:36 PM

oooh so many to choose from!

I'd have to say either Eowyn and Faramir or Beren and Luthien.

tar-ancalime · 01-06-2005, 03:00 PM

Well, I don't know what this says about me, but my two favorite Tolkien romances both end badly.

I am fond of Aldarion and Erendis. Their story is so rich and so human.

I also really like the romance between Eowyn and Aragorn. (*cringes and waits for the Faramir brigade to descend from the ceiling*) Even though it happens largely in Eowyn's mind, and even though she later professes that she loved "a shadow and a thought," her love is real at the time she feels it. And who can blame her? The only men she knows of her own rank are her brother and her uncle; her only "suitor" is the despicable Grima; and suddenly this man shows up who is the embodiment of all she's ever wanted. He represents escape, strength (in opposition to her downtrodden uncle), loyalty, and hope. Of course she attaches all of her hopes to him, and that must include love. Tolkien's characters never fall in love willy-nilly; their marriages and even their unrequited desires always serve a purpose. Aragorn must marry Arwen because she complements his lineage and his importance. Rosie must wait for Sam to reinforce the homely virtues of the Shire. Likewise, Eowyn must fall in love with Aragorn. It makes real her spirit and her anguish, as well as pointing out (as the story does again and again) that he is irresistible--not only to her as a woman, but to everyone he encounters, as a leader. Everyone looks to him.

Formendacil · 01-06-2005, 04:37 PM

Look out for the newbie!!!

(But only new on this forum... Well-experienced Tolkien freak er.. fan... coming through).

My favourite romance, such as it is, would probably be Thingol and Melian.

Why?

It's stately, it's successful, it didn't involve crazy dangers or insane lunacy. It lasted QUITE a while too...

And unless you think that the Valar would never give Thingol rebirth, which I think is VERY unlikely, then it's still going on today.

Another interesting thing about it, to my mind, is that is shows the ELF as the one reaching up to a "higher" being, namely a Maia. In all the other mixed-race romances, it's the Men reaching up to the Elves. It's kind of nice to see the Elf as the one reaching up for a change (if the first recorded romance can be called a "change").

Of course, all the successful love stories have their place in my heart. And the unsuccessful ones make the best reading, sadly enough.

I mean, face it. Which would you rather read: Aldarion and Erendis, or Aragorn and Arwen?

Reading only what Tolkien wrote, that is. Tolkien tends to treat the good romances with very little detail. It's the sad stories that we know a lot about.

Evisse the Blue · 01-06-2005, 07:12 PM

Yeah...
My pick would be Eowyn and Faramir. There's something very touching about this story and cute. You as the reader know them for a while, and hope they'll be well in the end and worry about their safety, and in the end - voila, they end up with each other. Those who say Tolkien was just matching them randomly to get a happy end for Eowyn are wrong! Eowyn needed a gentle person like Faramir to make her see life with different eyes. And I guess Faramir too needed a 'proud shieldmaiden' of the North to tame.

12-26-2004, 07:38 AM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	"What's your favorite...?" topics are placed on the Novices and Newcomers forum, so I'm moving this thread there. I hope many will post their opinions and enjoy reading what others write! You might also enjoy reading similar threads such as: Marriage in Middle-earth (happy) Marriage in Middle-earth (unhappy) Tolkien love stories - sources Love stories in Middle Earth Hope-lessly in love ..to name only a few. __________________ '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...'

01-05-2005, 02:24 PM	#2
Linnahiril Tinnufinwen Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: California Posts: 77	I would have to say that my favorite romance is between Eowyn and Faramir. These were two rather unhappy souls (Eowyn because of her love for Aragorn, and Faramir because of his father's disapproval), but both honorable and brave people, who each ended up discovering someone who would be able to empathize with them. I believe that they share a lot of common values, and that they are nearly perfect for each other. __________________ The world is a great book, of which they who never stir from home read only a page

01-05-2005, 03:19 PM	#3
Kitanna Child of the West Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Watching President Fillmore ride a unicorn Posts: 2,132	Huzzah! Someone finally answered! But anywho I totally agree about Eowyn and Faramir, but also despite it all they found each other. Even though things were their worst those two people managed to fall in love. __________________ "Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." - Mark Twain

01-06-2005, 02:36 PM	#5
elfearz1 Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Mirkwood Posts: 259	oooh so many to choose from! I'd have to say either Eowyn and Faramir or Beren and Luthien. __________________ I didn't eat Merry, i just ate his waistcoat!-Horse maidens dream 915/920 miles. On my way to Lothlorien! ^^Elfearz^^

01-06-2005, 03:00 PM	#6
tar-ancalime Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: abaft the beam Posts: 303	Well, I don't know what this says about me, but my two favorite Tolkien romances both end badly. I am fond of Aldarion and Erendis. Their story is so rich and so human. I also really like the romance between Eowyn and Aragorn. (cringes and waits for the Faramir brigade to descend from the ceiling) Even though it happens largely in Eowyn's mind, and even though she later professes that she loved "a shadow and a thought," her love is real at the time she feels it. And who can blame her? The only men she knows of her own rank are her brother and her uncle; her only "suitor" is the despicable Grima; and suddenly this man shows up who is the embodiment of all she's ever wanted. He represents escape, strength (in opposition to her downtrodden uncle), loyalty, and hope. Of course she attaches all of her hopes to him, and that must include love. Tolkien's characters never fall in love willy-nilly; their marriages and even their unrequited desires always serve a purpose. Aragorn must marry Arwen because she complements his lineage and his importance. Rosie must wait for Sam to reinforce the homely virtues of the Shire. Likewise, Eowyn must fall in love with Aragorn. It makes real her spirit and her anguish, as well as pointing out (as the story does again and again) that he is irresistible--not only to her as a woman, but to everyone he encounters, as a leader. Everyone looks to him. __________________ Having fun wolfing it to the bitter end, I see, gaur-ancalime (lmp, ww13)

01-05-2005, 03:31 PM	#4
AbercrombieOfRohan Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 311	I love Earendil and Elwing, mostly just because their story ends happily, and they still were key players in a major part of the silmarillion (as apposed to say.. Ingwe and whoever his spouse was.) Earendil was noble and valiant and Elwing was brave and heroic. When she cast herself into the sea she was strong-hearted and resistent but then when she came to Earendil's ship, Vingilot, she collapsed onto the deck into the arms of a strong leading man. It seems appropriate that Tolkien should show her as such because she was a descendent of Luthien who also was strong and then collapsed into Beren's arms when she didn't have any strength left. It's the perfect mixture of heroism and wimpy heroinism. A perfect parallel. I love it.

01-06-2005, 04:37 PM	#7
Formendacil Dead Serious Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Perched on Thangorodrim's towers. Posts: 3,328	Look out for the newbie!!! (But only new on this forum... Well-experienced Tolkien freak er.. fan... coming through). My favourite romance, such as it is, would probably be Thingol and Melian. Why? It's stately, it's successful, it didn't involve crazy dangers or insane lunacy. It lasted QUITE a while too... And unless you think that the Valar would never give Thingol rebirth, which I think is VERY unlikely, then it's still going on today. Another interesting thing about it, to my mind, is that is shows the ELF as the one reaching up to a "higher" being, namely a Maia. In all the other mixed-race romances, it's the Men reaching up to the Elves. It's kind of nice to see the Elf as the one reaching up for a change (if the first recorded romance can be called a "change"). Of course, all the successful love stories have their place in my heart. And the unsuccessful ones make the best reading, sadly enough. I mean, face it. Which would you rather read: Aldarion and Erendis, or Aragorn and Arwen? Reading only what Tolkien wrote, that is. Tolkien tends to treat the good romances with very little detail. It's the sad stories that we know a lot about. __________________ I prefer history, true or feigned.

01-06-2005, 07:12 PM	#8
Evisse the Blue Brightness of a Blade Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: wherever I may roam Posts: 2,685	Yeah... My pick would be Eowyn and Faramir. There's something very touching about this story and cute. You as the reader know them for a while, and hope they'll be well in the end and worry about their safety, and in the end - voila, they end up with each other. Those who say Tolkien was just matching them randomly to get a happy end for Eowyn are wrong! Eowyn needed a gentle person like Faramir to make her see life with different eyes. And I guess Faramir too needed a 'proud shieldmaiden' of the North to tame. __________________ And no one was ill, and everyone was pleased, except those who had to mow the grass.

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