Broken Lines and Blades - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Elianna · 11-02-2004, 06:30 PM

In RotK, when Aragorn is debating with the King of the Dead, they cross swords, Aragorn blocking with Andúril. The King of the Dead exclaims "That line was broken." Aragorn: "It has been remade."

The first several times I watched the movie I thought the King of the Dead said "That blade was broken." It wasn't until I read the subtitles that I learnt it was 'line.' (And not until I saw it at councilofelrond that I believed it.)

The line being remade doesn't make sense. Aren't they speaking of a geneological line? And don't those stay broken when broken? That the King of the Dead thought the royal line of Gondor was broken is understandable, but won't a better come back to that be "No it wasn't."

This is way my mind heard 'blade.' He's blocking with Andúril, which is his proof that he is Isildur's heir, which had been broken, and which had been remade.

If it's not a geneological line they're talking about, then what? If it is a geneological line, why does that make sense?

Sapphire_Flame · 11-03-2004, 09:18 AM

Perhaps he meant "line" as in the family line of Isildur. Only the heir of Isildur could wield Narsil, and it could very well have been the belief that the line of Isildur died with him and his sons at the Gladden Fields.

But, of course, we know better. ^_~

Abedithon le,

~ Saphy ~

dancing spawn of ungoliant · 11-03-2004, 10:50 AM

I noticed that too and I think it's a bit weird line that Aragorn has (ehh...no pun intended

).

Quote:

"No it wasn't."

Lol! I can imagine that. Aragorn is peeved about the doubt of the King of the Dead and with a frustrated tone and a pout he replies: "No it wasn't!"

But seriously, I wonder if there's going to be something between those lines in the EE. I can't imagine, what it could be, though.

**The Saucepan Man** · 11-03-2004, 11:26 AM

Surely it's simply a play on the connection between the Sword that was Broken being remade and the line of the Kings that was broken being renewed. Narsil reforged as Anduril is a symbol (the symbol in the films) of Aragorn's right to the throne. Hence Elrond's words to him at Dunharrow.

Elianna · 11-03-2004, 02:19 PM

Ahh, good point SpM, renewed. That makes so such more sense.

But then why not use renewed instead of remade? Renewed blades and lines make sense, but not remade blades and lines.

Nimrodel_9 · 11-06-2004, 06:18 PM

I always thought it was the blade was broken. Must look into that.

Quote:

Aren't they speaking of a geneological line? And don't those stay broken when broken?

Perhaps what he means when he says the line was broken, is that Aragorn was to believed to be dead, thus breaking the line of kings. Hmm...

11-02-2004, 06:30 PM	#1
Elianna Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ad finem itineris Posts: 384	Broken Lines and Blades In RotK, when Aragorn is debating with the King of the Dead, they cross swords, Aragorn blocking with Andúril. The King of the Dead exclaims "That line was broken." Aragorn: "It has been remade." The first several times I watched the movie I thought the King of the Dead said "That blade was broken." It wasn't until I read the subtitles that I learnt it was 'line.' (And not until I saw it at councilofelrond that I believed it.) The line being remade doesn't make sense. Aren't they speaking of a geneological line? And don't those stay broken when broken? That the King of the Dead thought the royal line of Gondor was broken is understandable, but won't a better come back to that be "No it wasn't." This is way my mind heard 'blade.' He's blocking with Andúril, which is his proof that he is Isildur's heir, which had been broken, and which had been remade. If it's not a geneological line they're talking about, then what? If it is a geneological line, why does that make sense? __________________ Enyale cuilenya, ú-enyale mandenya.

11-03-2004, 09:18 AM	#2
Sapphire_Flame Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The World That Never Was Posts: 1,232	Perhaps he meant "line" as in the family line of Isildur. Only the heir of Isildur could wield Narsil, and it could very well have been the belief that the line of Isildur died with him and his sons at the Gladden Fields. But, of course, we know better. ^_~ Abedithon le, ~ Saphy ~ __________________ The Hitchhiking Ghost

11-03-2004, 11:26 AM	#4
The Saucepan Man Corpus Cacophonous Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: A green and pleasant land Posts: 8,390	Surely it's simply a play on the connection between the Sword that was Broken being remade and the line of the Kings that was broken being renewed. Narsil reforged as Anduril is a symbol (the symbol in the films) of Aragorn's right to the throne. Hence Elrond's words to him at Dunharrow. __________________ Do you mind? I'm busy doing the fishstick. It's a very delicate state of mind!

11-03-2004, 02:19 PM	#5
Elianna Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ad finem itineris Posts: 384	Ahh, good point SpM, renewed. That makes so such more sense. But then why not use renewed instead of remade? Renewed blades and lines make sense, but not remade blades and lines. __________________ Enyale cuilenya, ú-enyale mandenya.