The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

Guinevere · 07-24-2002, 01:54 PM

Hail and well met !

I have just finished reading the Silmarillion. The beginning was rather difficult and laborious- I had to read every page 2-3 times and was forever consulting the genealogies and the maps. It also took me some time to get used to the writing style which is quite different from LotR - more in the mode of ancient legends and myths. Having got so far, it was quite fascinating to read and in any case worth while. But I can`t exactly say that I ENJOYED it. I felt partly like the Silver-shod muse wrote. I read the Silm because I was so spellbound by LotR, and there were so many intriguing allusions to the earlier ages , I just wanted to know more about the background to LotR.

My main problem with the Silmarillion is that it is so terribly sombre and pessimistic! The stories are all tragic (even if some are touching and beautiful, like Beren and Luthien) I feel the characters are all doomed from the beginning, however bravely they fight against evil. Most important are the disastrous oaths and curses which seem to lead inescapably to the bitter end.
The story which depressed me most is the one of Turin Turambar. It ends in complete despair and hopelessness.(No pity or mercy from the gods for Hurin, whose only fault was that he was valiant and faithful and refused to give away Turgon. Why???)

It strikes me that the atmosphere (or mood) in LotR is quite different. There I have the comforting feeling, that however terrible the adventures, there is a meaning behind it all, a merciful providence that will guide everything to the best. There is a balance of melancholy and hope. The sacrifices that are made are not meaningless, courage and loyalty and pity are rewarded and misdeeds punished.

How is this difference to be explained?

07-24-2002, 01:54 PM	#18
Guinevere Banshee of Camelot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Switzerland Posts: 5,830	Hail and well met ! I have just finished reading the Silmarillion. The beginning was rather difficult and laborious- I had to read every page 2-3 times and was forever consulting the genealogies and the maps. It also took me some time to get used to the writing style which is quite different from LotR - more in the mode of ancient legends and myths. Having got so far, it was quite fascinating to read and in any case worth while. But I can`t exactly say that I ENJOYED it. I felt partly like the Silver-shod muse wrote. I read the Silm because I was so spellbound by LotR, and there were so many intriguing allusions to the earlier ages , I just wanted to know more about the background to LotR. My main problem with the Silmarillion is that it is so terribly sombre and pessimistic! The stories are all tragic (even if some are touching and beautiful, like Beren and Luthien) I feel the characters are all doomed from the beginning, however bravely they fight against evil. Most important are the disastrous oaths and curses which seem to lead inescapably to the bitter end. The story which depressed me most is the one of Turin Turambar. It ends in complete despair and hopelessness.(No pity or mercy from the gods for Hurin, whose only fault was that he was valiant and faithful and refused to give away Turgon. Why???) It strikes me that the atmosphere (or mood) in LotR is quite different. There I have the comforting feeling, that however terrible the adventures, there is a meaning behind it all, a merciful providence that will guide everything to the best. There is a balance of melancholy and hope. The sacrifices that are made are not meaningless, courage and loyalty and pity are rewarded and misdeeds punished. How is this difference to be explained? __________________ Yes! "wish-fulfilment dreams" we spin to cheat our timid hearts, and ugly Fact defeat!