. . . many have gone into how Tolkien sought to bring these two ideals
together, and I won't go into it here. These scenes seem to me to be one
of the best examples of a bit of 'grating' as Tolkien attempted to fit the two
together. The former demands that the enemy be beyond reproach, while the
latter calls for forgiveness and compassion. The rehabilitation of the
Wild Men excepted, Helm's Deep veers more towards the
heroic.
* * *
“. . . And all the Deep was filled with cheer
As down like fire flew Mithrandir,
And laughing, smote the dark away;
A lord of men; a child at play.”
