In Chapter 12 of The Silmarillion, the Second Children of Ilúvatar – the Atani, or Men – awake, and we quickly learn precisely what the Elves think of them. We revisit the differences that Tolkien created between Elves and Men in both life and death, along with the ominous portent this new race holds for the Firstborn. Plus, the monotony of Manwë’s wardrobe.
For photos of the Carfax Tower, the Martyr’s Memorial, and other sites likely passed by young Tolkien on his late-night bus ride, visit this page highlighting a number of tourist attractions in Oxford.
Recommended Reading:
Tolkien, J. R. R. The Silmarillion (Mariner Books, paperback) pp. 103-105, “Of Men”
Carpenter, Humphrey, ed. The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien (Mariner Books, paperback)
Man, that stuff about the waning of the Elves nearly made me weep just like it always does. I’m just too sentimental about them.
And with every new podcast I admire more and more how you emphasise the beauty of Tolkien’s language and descriptions. He was a great master of word beauty.
“He was a great master of word beauty.” Indeed he was, Olga — no matter how many times I read The Silmarillion (or any of his works, for that matter), I always find myself discovering new bits of beauty… one of the big reasons why I enjoy Tolkien so much!
At the beginning of this episode, you guys discussed Tolkien’s collegiate exploit with the bus. Something that came to my mind was, imagine years later, the students who were on that bus with him who maybe hadn’t heard from him since that night with the bus, hearing that he published a fantasy book. I can just hear them saying, “Wait a moment, wasn’t that the kid who drove us around Oxford in the bus and gave a speech? He wrote a fiction novel?” Made me chuckle.
Hey guys I was listening to this episode and I had one comment about the angels in the Judaeo-Christian tradition. (I am coming at this from a Roman Catholic point of view.) Someone said that the angels aren’t so much warriors of God as messengers, which I think is true. However, I do believe that they have a lot of power in the world- for instance, it is a traditional belief on Catholicism that each planet, nation, person- even church! has its own personal guardian angel that moves and protects it. I’d just like to push back on the idea that the Ainur have a lot more power than the angels. However, I could be wrong and I am ready to stand corrected.
Love the podcast.
At around 1hr15, you suggest that Sam sings a song of the Shire in The tower of Cirith Ungul. I disagree with the suggestion that it’s a song about the Shire. The song is ‘In Western Lands’. He makes references to elven stars within the branching hair of beech trees. I think it’s tied closely to his vision of Eärendil’s Star and the realisation that light and high beauty exists. “Hope smote his heart”. Fundamentally, it’s about hope and faith, and the duty to hold on to radical hope and trust which is central to Tolkien’s faith, and the hobbits’ mission. All that he encapsulates in the word ‘estel’.
Thanks for listening, Che –
You’re 100% correct that Sam sang ‘In Western Lands’ and your comments on that are spot-on. But our referring to him singing a song of the Shire is also founded in the text: “He murmured old childish tunes out of the Shire, and snatches of Mr. Bilbo’s rhymes that came into his mind…. And then suddenly new strength rose in him,” and that’s when he sang ‘In Western Lands’.
Singing those simpler songs built something in Sam, leading him eventually to sing a song whose words he did not previously know.