Comments on: Debating the Silmarillion http://poliblogger.com/?p=7879 A rough draft of my thoughts... Mon, 08 May 2024 18:53:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.2 by: RepublicFan http://poliblogger.com/?p=7879#comment-204814 Mon, 12 Sep 2024 01:51:52 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=7879#comment-204814 The Silmarillion, in my mind, is a collection of Elven legends. I think we should pardon the stylistic differences between it and LOTR and allow it to be something which captivates our wonder in its own unique way. Tolkien himself mentioned that he desired others with similar wonder to write stories based off of the Silmarillion. It seems to me that those who REALLY want to see more of the Ainur and the Elves would be able to "go there" and bring back the things in more detail. I think CS Lewis has mentioned how the summary of a myth can be enough to grip our souls, because they are potent even without much detail. Phrases like "the light of Aman was in her face, like an unclouded mirror." Perhaps some things are too good and beautiful to be put into words. Again, I think we should give some grace and let the Silmarillion be what it is. Furthermore, the Ainulindale perhaps is as good as a creation myth can be! It may be well-crafted because there is an appropriate attempt to communicate such high things. What do you think? The Silmarillion, in my mind, is a collection of Elven legends. I think we should pardon the stylistic differences between it and LOTR and allow it to be something which captivates our wonder in its own unique way.

Tolkien himself mentioned that he desired others with similar wonder to write stories based off of the Silmarillion. It seems to me that those who REALLY want to see more of the Ainur and the Elves would be able to “go there” and bring back the things in more detail.

I think CS Lewis has mentioned how the summary of a myth can be enough to grip our souls, because they are potent even without much detail. Phrases like “the light of Aman was in her face, like an unclouded mirror.”

Perhaps some things are too good and beautiful to be put into words. Again, I think we should give some grace and let the Silmarillion be what it is.

Furthermore, the Ainulindale perhaps is as good as a creation myth can be! It may be well-crafted because there is an appropriate attempt to communicate such high things.

What do you think?

]]> by: turin http://poliblogger.com/?p=7879#comment-188200 Tue, 30 Aug 2024 15:42:39 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=7879#comment-188200 Maybe the Sil is a different kind of story, one painted in broad strokes, like a history rather than a novel. RE a Silmarillion movie:bite your tongue! It wouldn't be easy but the Sil could be transformed for the big screen with quite a bit of compression and some re-imagining. It would probably be best as a series rather than theatrical movies (they said for years LOTR couldn't be adapted for the screen, and Bakshi and Rankin/Bass proved this theory before Peter Jackson proved it wrong). I found reading the Books of Lost Tales helped my grasp of the Sil--provides a lot of the narrative structure the Sil is missing. Maybe the Sil is a different kind of story, one painted in broad strokes, like a history rather than a novel. RE a Silmarillion movie:bite your tongue! It wouldn’t be easy but the Sil could be transformed for the big screen with quite a bit of compression and some re-imagining. It would probably be best as a series rather than theatrical movies (they said for years LOTR couldn’t be adapted for the screen, and Bakshi and Rankin/Bass proved this theory before Peter Jackson proved it wrong). I found reading the Books of Lost Tales helped my grasp of the Sil–provides a lot of the narrative structure the Sil is missing.

]]> by: PoliBlog: Politics is the Master Science » Proving the Worth of the Silmarillion http://poliblogger.com/?p=7879#comment-173278 Thu, 18 Aug 2024 15:09:48 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=7879#comment-173278 [...] on, but I got at least one hit for someone Googling: The Silmarillion movie. So, I guess my previous post was worth the effort. Filed under: Pop Culture, Movies, Bloggin [...] […] on, but I got at least one hit for someone Googling: The Silmarillion movie. So, I guess my previous post was worth the effort.

Filed under: Pop Culture, Movies, Bloggin […]

]]> by: Unlocked Wordhoard http://poliblogger.com/?p=7879#comment-171061 Wed, 17 Aug 2024 01:52:22 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=7879#comment-171061 <strong>Dr. Taylor Joins the Fellowship</strong> The saga over my "boring" comment regarding The Silmarillion continues with Steven Taylor joining our fellowship (in which I appear destined to play Boromir). Dr. Taylor comes to my defense here, shouting "Gondor! ... er, Troy!", to which I can onl... Dr. Taylor Joins the Fellowship

The saga over my “boring” comment regarding The Silmarillion continues with Steven Taylor joining our fellowship (in which I appear destined to play Boromir). Dr. Taylor comes to my defense here, shouting “Gondor! … er, Troy!”, to which I can onl…

]]> by: Brett http://poliblogger.com/?p=7879#comment-171060 Wed, 17 Aug 2024 01:26:06 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=7879#comment-171060 I must say I did read the Silmarillion before the Hobbit and LOTR. I actually liked it quite a lot. But I do find the middle section a bit tedious. My favoite part has always been Akallabeth, about the rise and fall of Numenor, because it seems to have the best plot out of the whole work. I must say I did read the Silmarillion before the Hobbit and LOTR. I actually liked it quite a lot. But I do find the middle section a bit tedious. My favoite part has always been Akallabeth, about the rise and fall of Numenor, because it seems to have the best plot out of the whole work.

]]> by: Steven L. http://poliblogger.com/?p=7879#comment-170925 Tue, 16 Aug 2024 20:44:45 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=7879#comment-170925 Largely agree. Though you have to give props for the fight between Felagund (helping Beren) and the werewolf: "Felagund put forth all his power, and burst his bonds; and he wrestled with the werewolf, and slew it with his hands and teeth." YEAH! Um. That's about the only passage in the entire book I really remember, though. Largely agree.

Though you have to give props for the fight between Felagund (helping Beren) and the werewolf: “Felagund put forth all his power, and burst his bonds; and he wrestled with the werewolf, and slew it with his hands and teeth.”

YEAH!

Um. That’s about the only passage in the entire book I really remember, though.

]]> by: Arguing with signposts… » QotD, academic/sci-fi geek edition http://poliblogger.com/?p=7879#comment-170922 Tue, 16 Aug 2024 20:23:10 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=7879#comment-170922 [...] onferences): it is possible for an activity to be simultaneously fascinating and boring. - Steven Taylor Yup. Even though I&#8217;ve never heard of the Silmarillion. [...] […] onferences): it is possible for an activity to be simultaneously fascinating and boring. - Steven Taylor Yup. Even though I’ve never heard of the Silmarillion.

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