Suicidal tree? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Orofarne · 08-16-2010, 11:08 AM

As a born and bred mountain girl, I know that small fires are actually beneficial to the forests. They burn out leaf litter and dead pinecones and things (called mast) and give all the trees more room to grow. The bottoms of many forest trees have really thick bark, so that the fires don't hurt the important insides of the tree. As long as the fire doesn't get way out of control and start jumping from treetop to treetop, it is very good for the forest.
Maybe the orcs did some amatuer firefighting and snuffed out the little fires before they could get rid of the mast and this tree was looking forward to a nice little (emphasis on little) forest fire.

Nerwen · 08-16-2010, 11:25 AM

You know, it really is quite amusing when someone (or some bot, quite often) revives one of these ancient threads, and proves that the Downers of yore were all completely bonkers (along with the trees, and Gimli).

Eönwë · 08-16-2010, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nerwen

the Downers of yore were all completely bonkers (along with the trees, and Gimli).

Not much has changed then!

Folwren · 08-16-2010, 08:01 PM

I saw this thread title and I just had to read it. It turned out to be quite entertaining. I'm glad I bothered to look.

But what do you think - some of the topics I've seen brought up at times (this one, for instance) just seem really...superficial. Do you think Tolkien really thought about this at all when he wrote it? He was drawing a picture, and a very vivid one...did he think about the fact that the fire was made out of the same stuff the tree was made of? I highly doubt it. My guess was that he wrote it and didn't think about it again, as is likely the case with many things in the book. As Lord of Agmar said above, it was likely "a bit of exposition to give life and humanity to the elderly Wood."

alatar · 08-26-2010, 08:08 PM

Methinks he was just trying to show that the trees were nice, liking the fire just like our three, and so was 'on the same side.' Also, having built many a fire in the woods, it does appear that trees waves their leafy hands over my campfires, and I pretend that this is due to their entishness and not thermal air currents...

Bêthberry · 08-26-2010, 08:24 PM

Perhaps it was humming "Light my fire"?

alatar · 08-26-2010, 08:28 PM

It does seem a little cannibalistic...

08-16-2010, 11:08 AM	#1
Orofarne Pile O'Bones Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dancing alone in the madness Posts: 19	As a born and bred mountain girl, I know that small fires are actually beneficial to the forests. They burn out leaf litter and dead pinecones and things (called mast) and give all the trees more room to grow. The bottoms of many forest trees have really thick bark, so that the fires don't hurt the important insides of the tree. As long as the fire doesn't get way out of control and start jumping from treetop to treetop, it is very good for the forest. Maybe the orcs did some amatuer firefighting and snuffed out the little fires before they could get rid of the mast and this tree was looking forward to a nice little (emphasis on little) forest fire. __________________ ____________ Look my friends, here's a pretty Hobbit skin to wrap an Elven princeling in!

08-16-2010, 11:25 AM	#2
Nerwen Wisest of the Noldor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ˙˙˙ssɐןƃ ƃuıʞooן ǝɥʇ ɥƃnoɹɥʇ Posts: 6,694	You know, it really is quite amusing when someone (or some bot, quite often) revives one of these ancient threads, and proves that the Downers of yore were all completely bonkers (along with the trees, and Gimli). __________________ "Even Nerwen wasn't evil in the beginning." –Elmo.

08-16-2010, 08:01 PM	#4
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	I saw this thread title and I just had to read it. It turned out to be quite entertaining. I'm glad I bothered to look. But what do you think - some of the topics I've seen brought up at times (this one, for instance) just seem really...superficial. Do you think Tolkien really thought about this at all when he wrote it? He was drawing a picture, and a very vivid one...did he think about the fact that the fire was made out of the same stuff the tree was made of? I highly doubt it. My guess was that he wrote it and didn't think about it again, as is likely the case with many things in the book. As Lord of Agmar said above, it was likely "a bit of exposition to give life and humanity to the elderly Wood." __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis

08-26-2010, 08:08 PM	#5
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	Methinks he was just trying to show that the trees were nice, liking the fire just like our three, and so was 'on the same side.' Also, having built many a fire in the woods, it does appear that trees waves their leafy hands over my campfires, and I pretend that this is due to their entishness and not thermal air currents... __________________ There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.

08-26-2010, 08:24 PM	#6
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Perhaps it was humming "Light my fire"? __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

08-26-2010, 08:28 PM	#7
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	It does seem a little cannibalistic... __________________ There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.

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