On Sad Stories

jssjrdm:

From J.R.R. Tolkien’s, ‘The Lord of the Rings’

‘I will tell you the tale of Tinúviel,’ said Strider, ‘in brief - for it is a long tale of which the end is not known; and there are none now, except Elrond, that remember it aright as it was told of old. It is a fair tale, though it is sad, as are all the tales of Middle-Earth, and yet it may lift up your hearts.’ He was silent for some time, and then he began not to speak but to chant softly: …

Aragorn perfectly sums up a very important part of story telling here. Sad stories - those full of darkness, loss, and melancholy - can paradoxically inspire hope and uplift the spirit. The Tale of Tinúviel is the favorite of the Elves because its power lies in the heartbreak within it. The sorrowful story has always been the most beautiful and impacting to me.

"It chanced on a time that Elwë came alone to the starlit wood of Nan Elmoth, and there suddenly he heard the song of nightingales. Then an enchantment fell on him, and he stood still; and afar off beyond the voices of the lómelindi he heard the voice of Melian, and it filled all his heart with wonder and desire. He forgot then utterly all his people and all the purposes of his mind, and following the birds under the shadow of the trees he passed deep into Nan Elmoth and was lost. But he came at last to a glade open to the stars, and there Melian stood; and out of the darkness he looked at her, and the light of Aman was in her face.
She spoke no word; but being filled with love Elwë came to her and took her hand, and straightway a spell was laid on him, so that they stood thus while long years were measured by the wheeling stars above them; and the trees of Nan Elmoth grew tall and dark before they spoke any word."

J.R.R. Tolkien, writing in Quenta Silmarillion This passage describes Elwë falling in love with Melian.

In Tolkien’s work, there are many more instances of two characters falling in love, and they all follow this type. There is a beautiful woman singing and/or dancing in the woods. Then, a man happens to stumble upon her and is cast into a spell, enchantment, swoon, etc., and then they stand around looking at each other for a very long time.

This type of falling in love is seen with Beren and Lúthien as well as Aragorn and Arwen. It is also exactly the way in which Tolkien describes himself falling in love with his wife Edith.

(via jssjrdm)

"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom"

J.R.R. Tolkien, writing in The Lord of the Rings. This quote hits on a similar idea as my previous post, in regards to scientific ethics. (via jssjrdm)

"Faerie is a perilous land, and in it are pitfalls for the unwary and dungeons for the overbold … The realm of fairy-story is wide and deep and high and filled with many things: all manner of beasts and birds are found there; shoreless seas and stars uncounted; beauty that is an enchantment, and an ever-present peril; both joy and sorrow as sharp as swords. In that realm a man may, perhaps, count himself fortunate to have wandered, but its very richness and strangeness tie the tongue of a traveller who would report them. And while he is there it is dangerous for him to ask questions, lest the gates should be shut and the keys be lost."

J.R.R. Tolkien, in his lecture ‘On Fairy-Stories’. (via jssjrdm)

"I find I become less cynical rather than more - remembering my own sins and follies; and realize that men’s hearts are not often as bad as their acts, and very seldom as bad as their words."

J.R.R. Tolkien, regarding religious cynicism.

Taken from The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien; #250

(via jssjrdm)

On the Title

This is a new blog. Its purpose will be to document my reading of Tolkien’s work.

I’ve decided to steal the title from my main blog, jssjrdm.com. This blog will now be titled “Akallabêth,” while my main blog returns to its original title of “jssjrdm.”

Below you’ll find an old post of mine explaining why the titular word is so significant to me.

So, welcome to Akallabêth; enjoy. 

jssjrdm:

For a while the title of my Tumblog was simply ‘JSS JRDM.’ My name without vowels. I recently changed it. Here’s why.