The Valar

[Child of the 7th Age]

But I do think there is another legitimate question here.

Yes, we know that Tolkien thought of them as "angelic beings." But,if you look at their functions, they also have similarities with gods and godesses (with a small "g"). Tne angels of most traditional religions or mythologies do not actually do the physical creation of the world, yet that is one of the roles of the Valar. (Take a look--what they do in terms of perfection seems to me to be an element of creation!)

Also, people do invoke the Valar in a way that they wouldn't normally ask the angels for help. Perhaps that part could also be a bit like a Catholic saint? It would also fit in with the role of a god or goddess.

So, are they REALLY angelic beings, or do they have aspects which go beyond this? I feel that Tolkien purposely minimized these things in his writings, because of his desire not to lead people to a stance that would be directly opposed to Catholicism. And there was a Letter where Tolkien explicitly says the people of Middle-earth do not "pray" the the Valar. Yet, when I read LotR, some of the invocations sound like praying to me. Plus, in his late writings, like the notes in the Road Goes Ever On, he seems to be willing to go a bit further down this road, and describes one of the songs as a "hymn" to Elbereth and refers to her watching out over the world to help her people.

So, is "angel" really a totally accurate analogy, or not?

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

[ July 17, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]