How many 'Great Tales' were there? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

gondowe · 12-01-2023, 09:59 AM

The fouth tale would be Tale of Eärendil. It is mentioned, at least, in the letter a Milton Waldman.
But the Memorandum printed in the Section I of Miths Transformed is stated that there were three mixing TFoG with the Tale of Eärendil.
With a structure mixing again the two tales of the House of Hador.

Greetings

William Cloud Hicklin · 12-01-2023, 11:24 AM

However, the Lay of Earendil was never written. Not even sketched, aside from some cryptic jottings from the Lost Tales era.

gondowe · 12-01-2023, 12:47 PM

Yes. Pity.
It would have been a great one the whole Narn en-Êl.

Arvegil145 · 12-02-2023, 12:32 PM

Yes - like I said in my original comment, Tolkien seems to have (more often than not!) considered the stories of Tuor and Earendil as two parts of one great tale.

But my original question was about Tolkien's explicit statements about the 4th 'Great Tale' (which wasn't that of Earendil!), and where to find it, because it does exist, I just...don't know where to find it, but I'm 100% sure that there is such a statement.

gondowe · 12-03-2023, 07:40 AM

The fourth Tale would be the Tale of Earendel. And is stated in the refered letter. Possibly I,m mistaken but I think is the only time the Professor wrote about.
CT possibly said something in one of his prefaces/comments but I can't find it.

12-01-2023, 11:24 AM	#2
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	However, the Lay of Earendil was never written. Not even sketched, aside from some cryptic jottings from the Lost Tales era. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

12-01-2023, 09:59 AM	#1
gondowe Wight Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 248	The fouth tale would be Tale of Eärendil. It is mentioned, at least, in the letter a Milton Waldman. But the Memorandum printed in the Section I of Miths Transformed is stated that there were three mixing TFoG with the Tale of Eärendil. With a structure mixing again the two tales of the House of Hador. Greetings

12-01-2023, 12:47 PM	#3
gondowe Wight Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 248	Yes. Pity. It would have been a great one the whole Narn en-Êl.

12-03-2023, 07:40 AM	#5
gondowe Wight Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 248	The fourth Tale would be the Tale of Earendel. And is stated in the refered letter. Possibly I,m mistaken but I think is the only time the Professor wrote about. CT possibly said something in one of his prefaces/comments but I can't find it.