If you will, let us look at where Men went and of their becoming vassals of the
Elves. We know from the Chapter that Beor is the first to become a vassal of
the Firstborn.
In this way he got his name, Beor, whereas his name before had been Balan; for
Beor signified ‘Vasal’ in the tongue of his people.
Q1: We know of several instances where characters from Middle-earth are given a
new name (or another name). In some religious traditions, naming (or
name-change) is often associated with re-birth.
- Do you consider this name-change a rebirth, for Beor? for his house? for
Men?
- You might recall that in the narrative of this Chapter, the Beor is
introduced to us using his ‘new’ name. Why do you think that is?
Soon after the departure of Felagund the other Men of whom Beor had spoken came
also into Beleriand. First came the Haladin; but meeting the unfriendship of
the Green-elves they turned north and dwelt in Thargelion, in the country of
Caranthir son of Feanor….and the people of Caranthir paid little head to them.
Q2: Why do think the people of Caranthir paid little heed to Men? Did they
think that Men were not of much use to them? Or was the arrogance of Feanor’s
blood that caused this?
In the next year Marach led his people over the mountains; they were a tall and
warlike folk, marching in ordered companies, and the Elves of Ossiriland hid
themselves and did not waylay them. But Marach, hearing that the people of Beor
were dwelling in a green and fertile land….settled in the country south and
east of the dwellings of Baran son of Beor; there was great friendship between
those peoples.
Q3: Compare the spirit with which Tolkien describes of the Marach and Haladin.
The former fled from the unfriendliness of the Green-elves; the Green-elves did
not waylay the latter. To me, the Haladin appear a little less courageous than
the Marach. Do you agree? Or do you think the large number of the Marach
positively(?) influenced their behavior?
There are still some Edain in Estolad.
The Edain did not long dwell content in Estolad, for many still desired to go
westward; but they did not know the way. Before them lay the fences of Doriath,
and southward lay Sirion and its impassable fens. Therefore the kings of the
three houses of the Noldor, seeing hope and strength in the sons of Men, sent
word that any of the Edain that wished might remove and come to dwell among
their people In this way the migration of the Edain began….The people of Beor
came to Dorthonian and dwelt in the land ruled by the house of Finarfin. The
people of Aradan (for Marach his father remained in Estolad…) for the most part
went on westward.
Q4: The Edain desire to go into the West. Do you think they know that cannot go
thither? Do the Elves know that? If both don’t know, do you think that there is
miscommunication between the Men and Elves going on here: the Men think that
expect the Firstborn to teach them the way West?
Q5: The Elves see hope and strength in the sons of Men. Hope for what? To fight
Morgoth? If so, what does this tell you about the Firstborn?
~Eowyn.
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"How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on when in your heart you begin to understand there is no going back."
--Frodo
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