Why is it so difficult? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

ArathorofBarahir · 01-03-2007, 02:55 PM

I loved reading the Silmarillion. I have always been a history buff and reading the history of Tolkien's world was rather enjoyable for me.

Elmo · 01-25-2007, 10:25 AM

Come on the Silmarillion is brilliant - the image of Fingon's speech at the Battle of Unnumbered Tears 'Night is Over' stirs my heart, so does Hurin's stand against the trolls 'Day Will Come Again!' , the Shakespearien tragedy of Turin, the beautiful love story of Luthien and Beren 'Tinuviel, Tinuviel', Earendil's final voyage... I've found a book so full packed full of brilliance.
The only fault is I'd wish CT had added more detail to the actual Silmarillion that was in the Unfinished Tales like the tale of Tuor and I found his description of hurin's defiance of Melkor magic!

The Sixth Wizard · 01-28-2007, 04:16 AM

I first read the Sil a while ago, but only after reading about the various gods and stories elsewhere, like in the Encyclopaedia of Arda. This probably gave me some background to decipher the more complex texts and I had it read in a fortnight or maybe less. I was 13 at the time.

Much of it is beautiful, the Last Stand of Dor-Lomin stirs my heart. Hurin is my favourite character, over Turin and Fingolfin. I imagine vividly Earendil returning with a star upon his brow, can see the fire in Feanor's eye as he pursues Gothmog and Morgoth's forces. I like how Men are not considered pure, but easily tempted, and free to choose their own path. I also like how it isn't the goodies who get away with it, it's not predictable like most stories. One of my favourite things about it is that Aragorn's son (can't remember his name) is so far down the line he has a strain of Maiar, Teleri, Noldor, Vanyar and Dunedain (check it you'll see). I positively like the Silmarillion. It probably is a difficult book for most teenagers but I found it very intriguing.

Bye!

Kath · 01-28-2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Pick up a copy of the Mabinogion and you will experience the same style, slightly distant and 'high', a sense that the text was not written in the same century which produced The Hobbit.

That's exactly right, and reading that book was the only way I got through the Silmarillion. I went from The Hobbit to LotR and from there I tried to go straight onto the Sil but got bogged down by the 347 names beginning with F somewhere in the middle. I moved on to Arthur and those stories and finally returned to the Sil many years later. It was still a struggle to get through it and it certainly warrants a re-read as I remember little of it, but many of the stories were excellent and I personally greatly enjoyed the beginning.

Lalwendë · 01-28-2007, 10:58 AM

I was looking at Waterstone's in-shop magazine yesterday (didn't buy it because it's £1.99 and I'm tight) and there was a tiny paragraph about The Children of Hurin - it said something about "anyone who's ever struggled with The Silmarillion...."

Way to go Waterstone's! Not. I think that might put a few prospective buyers off Children... and judging by the amount of Harry Potter advertising all over the shop it looks like there will be no Children Of Hurin release date midnight opening....

Durelin · 01-28-2007, 11:03 AM

I do think we're rather convinced of what should be "entertaining" and what shouldn't be, as well as what should be difficult...and if it isn't difficult, then you're a loser nerd with no friends.

And I see people have been assuming that I'm the one complaining - I'm not; I was just asking why others find it difficult, because I hear a lot about it being "work" for people. Personally, I have only not read the Silmarillion yet (though I've read pieces) because I have not found the time, sadly. Too many books to read, too little time...perhaps that's the real difficulty.

The Sixth Wizard · 01-28-2007, 02:06 PM

It comes down to what I heard on a different thread, there's those who like the LOTR story and those who like the LOTR world. If you like the story but not the millions of place-names and dates, don't read the Silmarillion. If you're over the story (like me) but still want to learn about the world, by all means read it.

01-03-2007, 02:55 PM	#1
ArathorofBarahir Wight Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Crickhallow Posts: 247	I loved reading the Silmarillion. I have always been a history buff and reading the history of Tolkien's world was rather enjoyable for me. __________________ King of the Dead: The dead do not suffer the living to pass. Aragorn: You will suffer me.

01-25-2007, 10:25 AM	#2
Elmo Pittodrie Poltergeist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: trying to find that warm and winding lane again Posts: 633	Come on the Silmarillion is brilliant - the image of Fingon's speech at the Battle of Unnumbered Tears 'Night is Over' stirs my heart, so does Hurin's stand against the trolls 'Day Will Come Again!' , the Shakespearien tragedy of Turin, the beautiful love story of Luthien and Beren 'Tinuviel, Tinuviel', Earendil's final voyage... I've found a book so full packed full of brilliance. The only fault is I'd wish CT had added more detail to the actual Silmarillion that was in the Unfinished Tales like the tale of Tuor and I found his description of hurin's defiance of Melkor magic! __________________ As Beren looked into her eyes within the shadows of her hair, The trembling starlight of the skies he saw there mirrored shimmering. Last edited by Elmo; 05-19-2009 at 10:45 AM.

01-28-2007, 10:58 AM	#5
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	I was looking at Waterstone's in-shop magazine yesterday (didn't buy it because it's £1.99 and I'm tight) and there was a tiny paragraph about The Children of Hurin - it said something about "anyone who's ever struggled with The Silmarillion...." Way to go Waterstone's! Not. I think that might put a few prospective buyers off Children... and judging by the amount of Harry Potter advertising all over the shop it looks like there will be no Children Of Hurin release date midnight opening.... __________________ Gordon's alive!

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01-28-2007, 04:16 AM	#3
The Sixth Wizard Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stuck under a rock in Valinor with Ar-Pharazon. Posts: 480	I first read the Sil a while ago, but only after reading about the various gods and stories elsewhere, like in the Encyclopaedia of Arda. This probably gave me some background to decipher the more complex texts and I had it read in a fortnight or maybe less. I was 13 at the time. Much of it is beautiful, the Last Stand of Dor-Lomin stirs my heart. Hurin is my favourite character, over Turin and Fingolfin. I imagine vividly Earendil returning with a star upon his brow, can see the fire in Feanor's eye as he pursues Gothmog and Morgoth's forces. I like how Men are not considered pure, but easily tempted, and free to choose their own path. I also like how it isn't the goodies who get away with it, it's not predictable like most stories. One of my favourite things about it is that Aragorn's son (can't remember his name) is so far down the line he has a strain of Maiar, Teleri, Noldor, Vanyar and Dunedain (check it you'll see). I positively like the Silmarillion. It probably is a difficult book for most teenagers but I found it very intriguing. Bye!

01-28-2007, 11:03 AM	#6
Durelin Estelo dagnir, Melo ring Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,063	I do think we're rather convinced of what should be "entertaining" and what shouldn't be, as well as what should be difficult...and if it isn't difficult, then you're a loser nerd with no friends. And I see people have been assuming that I'm the one complaining - I'm not; I was just asking why others find it difficult, because I hear a lot about it being "work" for people. Personally, I have only not read the Silmarillion yet (though I've read pieces) because I have not found the time, sadly. Too many books to read, too little time...perhaps that's the real difficulty.

01-28-2007, 02:06 PM	#7
The Sixth Wizard Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stuck under a rock in Valinor with Ar-Pharazon. Posts: 480	It comes down to what I heard on a different thread, there's those who like the LOTR story and those who like the LOTR world. If you like the story but not the millions of place-names and dates, don't read the Silmarillion. If you're over the story (like me) but still want to learn about the world, by all means read it.