Favourite moment in the Silmarillion - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Elmo · 01-25-2007, 01:59 PM

Reading the thread about how difficult the Silmarillion is to read it got me thinking about how many great moments there are in that book. So what is everyone's favourite moment in that book? My favourite moment has to be when Fingon makes that speech at the Battle of the Unnumbered Tears. It s so stirring its just brilliant.

Lalwendë · 01-25-2007, 02:20 PM

For me it's when Eol sees Aredhel in the woods and entices her to him. I love that - it's just like something from the Perilous Realm, from Faerie. It reminds me of the ballad Tam Lin and is a rare incident of Tolkien creating a Byronic male. Lovely.

Mithalwen · 01-25-2007, 03:03 PM

Of the more cheerful moments, probably Thingol being transfixed by Melian. Of the less cheerful ones Glaurung's conversations with the children of Hurin linger in the memory.

And the funniest is Aule's response to Yavanna about the need for wood - Cosi fan tutti?

Lalwendë · 01-25-2007, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

And the funniest is Aule's response to Yavanna about the need for wood - Cosi fan tutti?

Oh, I love that too! Let me quote it for everyone's fun:

Quote:

Then Manwe and Yavanna parted for that time, and Yavanna returned to Aule; and he was in his smithy, pouring molten metal into a mould. 'Eru is bountiful,' she said. 'Now let thy children beware! For there shall walk a power in the forests whose wrath they will arouse at their peril.'

'Nonetheless they will have need of wood,' said Aule, and he went on with his smith-work.

I can picure him in his shed, getting on with something Important on the workbench and just ignoring her. I'm surprised he doesn't ask her for a mug of tea, too

Elmo · 01-25-2007, 03:26 PM

"Get us a cuppa love, there's a good lass"

Mithalwen · 01-25-2007, 03:28 PM

Yes and I forgot that when I postulated my theory about the Noldor being shed husbands par excellence and that the Silmarilli and Palantiri were the overdesigned responses to Nerdanel's requests to Feanor for night lights and baby monitors for the nursery ..

Lalwendë · 01-25-2007, 03:36 PM

Tolkien does quite a good line in Sheddies, actually. I wonder was he writing from experience? He was known to be pretty good at DIY after all (and I can vouch for the fact that the trellis he put up on the fence at Northmoor Road sometime in the 1930s is a sturdy construction because I poked at it), and all those late nights in his study...these characterisations of masculinity could be based on experience.

Macalaure · 01-25-2007, 03:45 PM

I'll take the scene where Beren is taken before Thingol. Amazing dialogue.

Then there's all the monologues of Fëanor.

But what I love most are the stories which are only hinted at. I especially like "the sons of Fëanor wandered as leaves before the wind" after the Nirnaeth. It's nebulous and very sad to see them like this after all the ambition and hope and valiantness they had put into that battle. And then nothing more is told about them for a long time, leaving a hoard of imaginations.

Thinlómien · 01-26-2007, 02:23 AM

I've always loved Feanor's rebellion speech, Finrod and Beren in Tol-in-Gaurhoth and the short opassage that tells how the people of Haleth fought and how Caranthir came and acknowledged their courage.

edit: Oh, and I love reading the early doings of Noldor in ME... The burning of the ships is impressive, and the rescue of maedhros, and Maedhros' yieldment (???) of power to Fingolfin.

Břicho · 01-26-2007, 03:03 PM

There are so many. The Eol and Aredhel tale always sticks in my mind. Something very primal in that story.
AS does, for some reason, Brandir randomly slaying some guy in the woods in his grief.

mhagain · 01-29-2007, 10:29 AM

I don't find it difficult to read at all, but that's besides the point. My favourite is the march from Cuivenen, with the first glimpses under the stars of the more primitive version of the Middle Earth we all know from Rings. Fingolfin leading his host into ME at the first rising of the moon is another good one, a great example of those "triumph from disaster" moments Tolkien does so well (even if, in this case, the "triumph" was to be short-lived).

The 1,000 Reader · 01-29-2007, 04:32 PM

When Sauron sent his army one by one to their deaths and then got his rear kicked by a dog. I've never, ever taken Sauron seriously whatsoever after reading that. He's pathetic. It is my favorite moment because I started a thread about it on the Mordor LOS boards and basically made all the Sauron lovers feel stupid. Crying emotes ran rampant. It was one of the happiest moments of my life.

Rumil · 01-30-2007, 03:08 PM

My favourite Silmarillion story is the duel between Fingolfin and Morgoth. I always keep hoping that Fingolfin will win each time I read it. (much like the Great Escape, surely THIS time they'll get away)

The Sixth Wizard · 02-02-2007, 07:07 PM

Quote:

"Aure Entuluva! Day shall come again!"

You have to admit there's nothing as cool as that. Especially since Hurin then kills seventy trolls single-handedly with a balrog or twenty staring down at him.

Hurin is my favourite character by far.

the guy who be short · 02-03-2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Sixth Wizard

You have to admit there's nothing as cool as that.

How about:

Quote:

Utulie'n aure! Aiya Eldalie ar Atanatari! Utulie'n Aure!

And then Turgon's army appears in all its spendour.

For my favourite moment, I'll go for Fingolfin's dual with Morgoth. Pretty darn amazing that an Elf lamed an Ainu.

Gil-Galad · 02-12-2007, 10:23 PM

mine would have to be the coming of the host of the Undying Lands during the War of Wrath, i thought that moment was splendid washing away and ending the tricky business in Beleriand

Aganzir · 02-13-2007, 09:10 AM

I am surprised to see that no one has mentioned the end of The Silmarillion. Of course, the whole book is great, but the last sentences are nothing but wonderful. If I had to choose just one moment, then it would be that one.

"In the twilight of the autumn it sailed out of Mithlond, until the seas of the Bent World fell away beneath it, and the winds of the round sky troubled it no more, and borne upon the high airs above the mists of the world it passed into the Ancient West, and an end was come for the Eldar of story and of song."

Shards of Narsil · 02-13-2007, 10:31 AM

I would say my favorite moment is when Feanor first eyed the peaks of Thangorodrim and realized that his oath would never be fulfilled by either himself or his sons. Then he continues to fight on, which shows the fire that was within him.

This is a very stirring moment that sets the stage for the next 500 or so years of First Age history. It seems to me that all the other great heroic events over the next 500 years occur in the context of that moment of realization for Feanor. My feeling is that despite his brave and heroric actions, in his mind Feanor says "What have I done? I have committed my people to this certain doom"

Sends chills down your spine eh?

mhagain · 02-13-2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gil-Galad

mine would have to be the coming of the host of the Undying Lands during the War of Wrath, i thought that moment was splendid washing away and ending the tricky business in Beleriand

"The challenge of the trumpets of Eonwe filled the sky"

Oh, YES!

The 1,000 Reader · 02-13-2007, 05:17 PM

I'd have to say that the Fall of Numenor underneath the waves was an intense moment.

01-25-2007, 01:59 PM	#1
Elmo Pittodrie Poltergeist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: trying to find that warm and winding lane again Posts: 633	Favourite moment in the Silmarillion Reading the thread about how difficult the Silmarillion is to read it got me thinking about how many great moments there are in that book. So what is everyone's favourite moment in that book? My favourite moment has to be when Fingon makes that speech at the Battle of the Unnumbered Tears. It s so stirring its just brilliant. __________________ As Beren looked into her eyes within the shadows of her hair, The trembling starlight of the skies he saw there mirrored shimmering. Last edited by hewhoarisesinmight; 01-25-2007 at 02:32 PM.

01-25-2007, 02:20 PM	#2
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	For me it's when Eol sees Aredhel in the woods and entices her to him. I love that - it's just like something from the Perilous Realm, from Faerie. It reminds me of the ballad Tam Lin and is a rare incident of Tolkien creating a Byronic male. Lovely. __________________ Gordon's alive!

01-25-2007, 03:03 PM	#3
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	Of the more cheerful moments, probably Thingol being transfixed by Melian. Of the less cheerful ones Glaurung's conversations with the children of Hurin linger in the memory. And the funniest is Aule's response to Yavanna about the need for wood - Cosi fan tutti? __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

01-25-2007, 03:26 PM	#5
Elmo Pittodrie Poltergeist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: trying to find that warm and winding lane again Posts: 633	"Get us a cuppa love, there's a good lass" __________________ As Beren looked into her eyes within the shadows of her hair, The trembling starlight of the skies he saw there mirrored shimmering.

01-25-2007, 03:28 PM	#6
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	Yes and I forgot that when I postulated my theory about the Noldor being shed husbands par excellence and that the Silmarilli and Palantiri were the overdesigned responses to Nerdanel's requests to Feanor for night lights and baby monitors for the nursery .. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

01-25-2007, 03:36 PM	#7
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Tolkien does quite a good line in Sheddies, actually. I wonder was he writing from experience? He was known to be pretty good at DIY after all (and I can vouch for the fact that the trellis he put up on the fence at Northmoor Road sometime in the 1930s is a sturdy construction because I poked at it), and all those late nights in his study...these characterisations of masculinity could be based on experience. __________________ Gordon's alive!

01-25-2007, 03:45 PM	#8
Macalaure Fading Fëanorion Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: into the flood again Posts: 2,911	This are serious thread ;) I'll take the scene where Beren is taken before Thingol. Amazing dialogue. Then there's all the monologues of Fëanor. But what I love most are the stories which are only hinted at. I especially like "the sons of Fëanor wandered as leaves before the wind" after the Nirnaeth. It's nebulous and very sad to see them like this after all the ambition and hope and valiantness they had put into that battle. And then nothing more is told about them for a long time, leaving a hoard of imaginations.

01-26-2007, 02:23 AM	#9
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	I've always loved Feanor's rebellion speech, Finrod and Beren in Tol-in-Gaurhoth and the short opassage that tells how the people of Haleth fought and how Caranthir came and acknowledged their courage. edit: Oh, and I love reading the early doings of Noldor in ME... The burning of the ships is impressive, and the rescue of maedhros, and Maedhros' yieldment (???) of power to Fingolfin. __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris Last edited by Thinlómien; 01-26-2007 at 02:27 AM.

01-26-2007, 03:03 PM	#10
Břicho Animated Skeleton Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vsetin Czech Republic Posts: 36	There are so many. The Eol and Aredhel tale always sticks in my mind. Something very primal in that story. AS does, for some reason, Brandir randomly slaying some guy in the woods in his grief. __________________ Only when you lose can you really know what it is exactly that you know

01-29-2007, 10:29 AM	#11
mhagain Wight Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The best seat in the Golden Perch Posts: 219	I don't find it difficult to read at all, but that's besides the point. My favourite is the march from Cuivenen, with the first glimpses under the stars of the more primitive version of the Middle Earth we all know from Rings. Fingolfin leading his host into ME at the first rising of the moon is another good one, a great example of those "triumph from disaster" moments Tolkien does so well (even if, in this case, the "triumph" was to be short-lived).

01-29-2007, 04:32 PM	#12
The 1,000 Reader Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: I don't know. Eastern ME doesn't have maps. Posts: 527	When Sauron sent his army one by one to their deaths and then got his rear kicked by a dog. I've never, ever taken Sauron seriously whatsoever after reading that. He's pathetic. It is my favorite moment because I started a thread about it on the Mordor LOS boards and basically made all the Sauron lovers feel stupid. Crying emotes ran rampant. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. __________________ "And forth went Morgoth, and he was halted by the elves. Then went Sauron, who was stopped by a dog and then aged men. Finally, there came the Witch-King, who destroyed Arnor, but nobody seems to remember that." -A History of Villains Last edited by Estelyn Telcontar; 01-30-2007 at 08:47 AM. Reason: language edited by moderator for family-friendliness

01-30-2007, 03:08 PM	#13
Rumil Sage & Onions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Britain Posts: 894	My favourite Silmarillion story is the duel between Fingolfin and Morgoth. I always keep hoping that Fingolfin will win each time I read it. (much like the Great Escape, surely THIS time they'll get away) __________________ Rumil of Coedhirion

02-12-2007, 10:23 PM	#16
Gil-Galad Psyche of Prince Immortal Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Above a Parapet Obvious exits are: North, South, and Dennis Posts: 4,734	mine would have to be the coming of the host of the Undying Lands during the War of Wrath, i thought that moment was splendid washing away and ending the tricky business in Beleriand __________________ Love doesn't blow up and get killed.

02-13-2007, 09:10 AM	#17
Aganzir Woman of Secret Shadow Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: in hollow halls beneath the fells Posts: 4,511	I am surprised to see that no one has mentioned the end of The Silmarillion. Of course, the whole book is great, but the last sentences are nothing but wonderful. If I had to choose just one moment, then it would be that one. "In the twilight of the autumn it sailed out of Mithlond, until the seas of the Bent World fell away beneath it, and the winds of the round sky troubled it no more, and borne upon the high airs above the mists of the world it passed into the Ancient West, and an end was come for the Eldar of story and of song." __________________ He bit me, and I was not gentle.

02-13-2007, 10:31 AM	#18
Shards of Narsil Animated Skeleton Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 33	The Beginning of the End I would say my favorite moment is when Feanor first eyed the peaks of Thangorodrim and realized that his oath would never be fulfilled by either himself or his sons. Then he continues to fight on, which shows the fire that was within him. This is a very stirring moment that sets the stage for the next 500 or so years of First Age history. It seems to me that all the other great heroic events over the next 500 years occur in the context of that moment of realization for Feanor. My feeling is that despite his brave and heroric actions, in his mind Feanor says "What have I done? I have committed my people to this certain doom" Sends chills down your spine eh?

02-13-2007, 05:17 PM	#20
The 1,000 Reader Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: I don't know. Eastern ME doesn't have maps. Posts: 527	I'd have to say that the Fall of Numenor underneath the waves was an intense moment. __________________ "And forth went Morgoth, and he was halted by the elves. Then went Sauron, who was stopped by a dog and then aged men. Finally, there came the Witch-King, who destroyed Arnor, but nobody seems to remember that." -A History of Villains