Were Balrogs winged? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

***Mithadan*** · 02-13-2001, 01:08 PM

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Re: Whoa! Letters!

Some have suggested that the quote cited above is "out of context" and that JRRT is criticizing Z(immerman if I recall) at Disney for suggesting that the Balrog was silent by nature. Supporting this position is LoTR itself. Look at the section of "the Bridge of Khazad-Dum" where the duel on the bridge is described. It says:

<blockquote>Quote:<hr> "With a terrible cry the Balrog fell forward, and its shadow plunged down and vanished." <hr></blockquote>

Letters is a great source of information but we don't have the correspondence that JRRT is answering so we don't always know the context. Usually it doesn't matter, but here it apparently does.

--Mithadan--
"The Silmarils with living light
were kindled clear, and waxing bright
shone like stars that in the North
above the reek of earth leap forth." </p>Edited by: <A HREF=http://www.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile&u=00000004>Mithadan </A> at: 3/12/01 8:54:14 am

02-13-2001, 01:08 PM	#13
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,397	<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Spirit of Mist Posts: 599</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE> Re: Whoa! Letters! Some have suggested that the quote cited above is "out of context" and that JRRT is criticizing Z(immerman if I recall) at Disney for suggesting that the Balrog was silent by nature. Supporting this position is LoTR itself. Look at the section of "the Bridge of Khazad-Dum" where the duel on the bridge is described. It says: <blockquote>*Quote:<hr> "With a terrible cry the Balrog fell forward, and its shadow plunged down and vanished." <hr></blockquote> Letters is a great source of information but we don't have the correspondence that JRRT is answering so we don't always know the context. Usually it doesn't matter, but here it apparently does. --Mithadan-- "The Silmarils with living light were kindled clear, and waxing bright shone like stars that in the North above the reek of earth leap forth." </p>Edited by: <A HREF=http://www.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile&u=00000004>Mithadan </A> at: 3/12/01 8:54:14 am* __________________ Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land.