Do you consider this name-change a rebirth, for Beor? for
his house? for Men?
It seems in part to mark a separation of Beor from his house; I see it more as
his own thing than his house's or that of Men. But I'm not so sure I see it as
a rebirth—it strikes me more as a change of focus, like changing your name on
marriage.
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?
Lack of editing? I found this disconcerting.
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?
It does strike me as arrogance, which can encompass your first thought too.
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?
You know, it's easy to say "less courageous," but from their point of view it
could seem simply like more sensible. It's easier perhaps to see it as a
question of courage when we read this in the context of the full legendarium,
given the strong focus on courage in the face of defeat in LOTR.
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?
At this point in the narrative, I don't see any evidence that anybody
knows this or has decreed it. I'd be happy to be corrected on this, though.
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?
Hmm. It's hard not to do the hope -> estel -> Aragorn connection here,
but there's no reason to ascribe that, except by coincidence, to the Elves as a
whole. The hope and strength derive perhaps from the intensity with which
mortal Men must live.
This whole men-as-vassals-of-elf-lords thing doesn't sit comfortably with me.
Why no Elves as vassals of Men? Are Men the perpetual sister's-sons, destined
to inherit in the long run only if the direct line
fails?
Lúthien Rising
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Reading the Sil for the first time? Getting confused? Look in the Reading Room every other weekend for the NDQ (No Dumb Questions) thread. Because there are no dumb questions.
(luthienrising at hotmail dot com)
