[ Daily Tolkien ] A Tolkien Virgin: Of the coming of Men into the West

Tolkien Online ^ | January 26, 2000 | Mark-Edmond

[JameRetief]

A Tolkien Virgin: Of the coming of Men into the West
by Mark-Edmond

The Journey Continues

And so the stage is set. We have Elves, whose story this has been primarily for the last 150 some odd pages. We have the Dwarves, who dwell primarily in the mountains in the East. And now, we have Men added to the mix. Let's not forget the common threat in the far North, Morgoth and his armies of Orcs, Balrogs, and fire-drakes.

To be honest, this chapter didn't strike me as particularly interesting aside from the general introduction of Men to the story. We get a feel for how the Eldar relate to Men and vice-versa. Some notable men are mentioned that we will hear more about later.

The most interesting part of the chapter came at the end (that happens a lot, huh?) when Beor dies of old age. We're reminded just how foreign the concept of death is to the Elves. Tolkien does a good job emphasizing how short Men's lives are in comparison to Elves who don't die of natural causes. This brings to mind that Tolkien is doing something with Elves that most authors can't do. Tell an epic history that spans thousands and thousands of years with some of the same characters throughout the whole thing. If Tolkien is the father of the modern Fantasy genre, it makes me wonder why this kind of story-telling hasn't caught on. These days, the only way to tell a story about a person who is even just hundreds of years old is to utilize the "Vampire" plot device. On the other hand, maybe I haven't read enough Fantasy; maybe an undying species is more common than I'm familiar with. Have any of you come across this in other books or series? Just wondering.

Author: Mark-Edmond
Published on: January 26, 2000

The next Tolkien Virgin article covers: The Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin

[JameRetief]

The Daily Tolkien articles by various authors	The Tolkien Virgin articles by Mark-Edmond
ARTICLES 01-10	ARTICLES 01-10
ARTICLES 11-20	11) Of the Sindar
ARTICLES 21-30	12) Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor
ARTICLES 31-40	13) Of Men
ARTICLES 41-50	14) Of the Return of the Noldor
51) And Now for the Other Love Story	15) Of Beleriand and its Realms
	16) Of the Noldor in Beleriand
	17) Of Meglin
	18) Of the coming of Men into the West

[JameRetief]

Your Tolkien Virgin Ping!

Read along with a Tolkien Virgin as he discovers and comments on the history of Middle Earth as he reads it for the first time.  These articles start with The Silmarillion, journeys through The Hobbit, and finishes with the epic Lord Of The Rings.  At the pace of 2 articles per week (Mondays and Fridays) the articles will wrap up about the same time that the final movie of the Lord Of The Rings story is released. 

If anyone would like for me to ping them directly when I post the Tolkien Virgin articles or my Daily Tolkien articles let me know. I hope that you enjoy them!

[ecurbh]

Ring Ping!!

[Mudboy Slim]

Good Morning, my fellow DenizonsOfMiddleEarth...MUD

[Samwise]

If Tolkien is the father of the modern Fantasy genre, it makes me wonder why this kind of story-telling hasn't caught on.

Well, my take is that Tolkien fathered the genre and "mastered it." None of the other fantasy writers I've read come close to the epic genius of LotR. Some authors have written decent stories, but Tolkien created a real world. I truly believe LotR transcends literature.

[Mudboy Slim]

"The Wait!!"
(To be sung to The Band's "The Weight")

I pulled into DeeCeeTown...met Dubyuh 'bout half past ten...
"Patriot, help US, please"..."Sir, I'll do my best!!"
"Hey Mudboy, can you tell me, how to counteract The Left?!"
MUD just grinned )8^D!! and shook his hand, "Yep!!" was all I said!!

Take the load off, Dubyuh, leave Ol' Slick fer ME!!
Take the load off, Ashcroft...and...and...and...
You put the load...put the load...Right on ME!! (ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-aheee...)

Gathered up my facts...Willie Clinton gots no place to hide!!
Folks saw MUD's karma...and James Carville walkin' side by side...
MUD said, "Hey Carville...come on, you/me throwin' down!!"
James said, "NO...I fear ya, bro...but Mary'll stick aroun'!!"

Take the load off, Fuzzball...I'll do Slick fer FRee!!
Take the load off, Limbaugh...and...and...and...
You hand the ball...PASS the damn BALL to ME!! (ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-aheee...)

Stalkin' down McAuliffe...US FReeper Boyz, we don't play!!
Left fears the Truth...next election is RAT's Judgement Day!!
The Truth, my FRiends...we shall make the Leftists[/Med'yuh/Soc'lists] see!!
MUD says, "Country's worth savin', folks, won't you help stand against Left's Tyranny?!!"

Take the load off, Poohbah...strike a blow fer FRee!!
Take the load off, ModSquad...and...and...and...
Please put the load Right on me!!

Willie's Jesters hounded me...but I fought them with my thoughts...
Left said, "We would fix yer A$$, but MUD don't break no laws!!"
MUD said, "Wait a minute, Agent...you know MUD's a Peaceful Man."
He said, "That's Okay, Boy, I sure pray you git that pr**k!!!"

Take the load off, Country...Fer OUR Country, FReep!!
Take the load off, FReepers...and...and...and...
Just put the load, put the load, Right on ME!! (ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-aheee...)

Get your COURAGE UP...folks, let's FReep Slick fer Left's crimes!!
The Left is sinking low, and I do believe it's time...
To take back this Great Nation...y'all know we'll have some fun!!
HOO sent me here with her FReegards fer everyone!!

Take the load off, Ashcroft...INDICT SLICK WILLIE!!!
Take the load off, Congress...and...and...and...
Just Fight Dem 'Ho's, Justice knows...RE-IMPEACH!!

Mudboy Slim (26 October 2001)

My youngest brother's wife's being induced today at 6:00 am...The Prescient One says it's gonna be a Bouncin'BabyBOY!!

Boris...YOU da Man!! Becky...YOU da WO-Man!!

FReegards...MUD

1 posted on 10/26/2001 6:22 AM EDT by Mudboy Slim (Justice@int.Negotiable!!)

Nate's now a happy, healthy, and LARGE BOY...MUD