Eagles: Great Heros Of Middle Earth - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Evisse the Blue · 08-15-2003, 02:08 PM

Måns, there are no worship rituals in LOTR, not even for Illuvatar. I think there is a passing reference to such rituals in Silmarillion, though. But then, one could also argue that elves worshipped Varda - they made hymns in her honor, didn't they? However, I think you make a mistake in drawing parallels with Roman Catholicism; even though Tolkien was a devout believer - I agree on that - he specifically insisted that there is no explicit religious 'system' in ME to whom elves, hobbits, etc would adhere to. In my opinion, he made a world after his own rules, even though he was inspired from many sources.

Back to the eagles: the famous phrase "The eagles are coming" does seem to be the major trigger for eucatastrophe in LOTR, the Hobbit and Silm. This phrase seems to have miraculous powers in itself - regenerating health of mind and body, restoring hope of those who had been defeated or hopeless- precisely because they know from stories or personal experience, the coming of the eagles is associated with miraculous happenings and the 'turn of the tide.'

08-15-2003, 02:08 PM	#17
Evisse the Blue Brightness of a Blade Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: wherever I may roam Posts: 2,685	Måns, there are no worship rituals in LOTR, not even for Illuvatar. I think there is a passing reference to such rituals in Silmarillion, though. But then, one could also argue that elves worshipped Varda - they made hymns in her honor, didn't they? However, I think you make a mistake in drawing parallels with Roman Catholicism; even though Tolkien was a devout believer - I agree on that - he specifically insisted that there is no explicit religious 'system' in ME to whom elves, hobbits, etc would adhere to. In my opinion, he made a world after his own rules, even though he was inspired from many sources. Back to the eagles: the famous phrase "The eagles are coming" does seem to be the major trigger for eucatastrophe in LOTR, the Hobbit and Silm. This phrase seems to have miraculous powers in itself - regenerating health of mind and body, restoring hope of those who had been defeated or hopeless- precisely because they know from stories or personal experience, the coming of the eagles is associated with miraculous happenings and the 'turn of the tide.' __________________ And no one was ill, and everyone was pleased, except those who had to mow the grass.