Good morning everyone. Luinaelin is without access to a computer today and
tomorrow, so I'll be posting her discussions for her. Here we go.
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It seems the Valar are mightily scared of Morgoth, so they set about
making more of a fortress for themselves:
"Threfore at that time they fortified
their land anew, and they raised up
the mountain-walls of the Pelóri to
sheer and dreadful heights, east,
north, and south. . . ."
1) What about the west? Are they not vulnerable to attack from that
direction? Does this fortification seem the best they can do?
"A sleepless watch was set upon them
[the mountains], and no pass led through
them, save only at the Calacirya: but that
pass the Valar did not close, because of
the Eldar that were faithful, and in the
city of Tirion upon the green hill Finarfin
yet ruled the remnant of the Noldor in
the deep cleft of the mountains. For all
those of elven-race, even the Vanyar
and Ingwë their lord, must breathe at
times the outer air and the wind that
comes over the sea from the lands of
their birth; and the Valar would not
sunder the Teleri wholly from their kin."
2) If the Valar are so concerned for their safety, why do they make
this concession to a group of elves?
3) And what are we to make of this statement about the elves' right to
freely feel the breeze? Is this more important than security?
Not only do the Valar reinforce their dwelling, but now also come the
Enchanted Isles:
"and all the seas about them were
filled with shadows and bewilderment.
And these isles were strung as a net
in the Shadowy Seas from the north
to the south, before Tol Eressëa, the
Lonely Isle, is reached by one sailing
west. Hardly might any vessel pass
between them, for in the dangerous
sounds the waves sighed for ever
upon dark rocks shrouded in mist. And
in the twilight a great weariness came
upon mariners and a loathing of the
sea; but all that ever set foot upon the
islands were there entrapped, and
slept until the Change of the World."
4) Does it sound like Tolkien had been reading about Ulysses? Or about
Avalon? What else do these islands remind you of? Is this another
example of Faery? And what of those who sleep there -- what will they
awaken to?
5) Is the kind of shadowing that is done here the same kind of
shadowing that evildoers use? To what extent is the hiding of Valinor
like the hiding of Morgoth? What are they each hiding from?
Luinaelin
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Koru: Maori symbol representing a fern frond as it opens. The koru reaches towards the light, striving for perfection, encouraging new, positive beginnings.
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TORN 101
TORN Calendar
