Tolkien Trivia

[Merry]

A new triple crown winner, to be sure, Bruce!

I have never quite understood the origin of the mearas, myself, so I'm looking forward to this.

[Lindariel]

Bruce has correctly identified the lineage of Shadowfax; he is indeed descended from Eorl's mighty steed Felarof. But, there is also a legend concerning where the mearas originated. (Hint -- search the Appendices)

[bruce rerek]

Its is said that Orome, the Huntsman brought the Mearas from the blessed realm to Middle Earth. Although the following was never published in the appendices, I Googled the Valar Derby for the First Age and saw the card that afternoon was:
Elfin Pride: 8-1
Felarof: 5-2
Iwannabeavalar: 25-1
Nimloth: 4-1
Bregoincharge: 10-1
Sauronbegone: 6-1
Numenorian: 2-1
Lembas4U: 2:1
Orc'sbane: 3-1

Of course Felarof was something like 10 lengths ahead of the pack and it was a total chalk race.
2 dollar exacta paid 10.50 the Trifecta 22.90

[Lindariel]

Hee! I wish I could have seen that race.

You are correct, Bruce. I like the idea that Orome brought the initial mearas stock from the Undying Lands and that Shadowfax, the last of his kind, returned there with Gandalf on the White Ship.

Your turn, Bruce!

[Merry]

So Iwannabeavalar is kind of a long shot, heh?

[bruce rerek]

Any horse on any given day can have longs odds and still win a race. The trick of playing the ponies is to to know that chalk horses, those with very good odds only come in to win 40% of the time. Why do you think its gambling?
But back to our questions. Each of the fellowship had in their possesion relics from the ages. We all know about Sting, Glamdring, and Narsil, but what did Boromir have and how was it significant to the history of Gondor?

[hope]

My humble apologies to all at MEJ

I have had major problems with my ISP and have now at last just 10minutes ago again internet access again!!!!!!!! So please forgive me for my lack of reply to my question but it has tortured me not to be online.


Excellent discussion I never thought my question would lead to such illuminating stuff

[bruce rerek]

Welcome back Hope, glad to hear that you have resolved your internet problems. I know they can be really frustrating.

[bruce rerek]

I have found the the combined books of JRR Tolkien to be much like a fine gem, who's facets catch a very complex spectrum of light. The question concerning Boromir's relic has roots it a deeper past.
Let me give an example of the other members of the Fellowship's possesions to the living history of Middle Earth. Both Sting and Glamdring have origins dating back to Gondolin. The minions of Melkor destroyed the hidden kingdom and Balrogs were largely responsible for its sack. When Gandalf met the Balrog at the bridge of Kazad-dum, it was the vindication of Gondolin when Gandalf threw down the beast and came back from the darkness with Glamdring. Sting was responsible for the ruin of the spiders of Mirkwood and of defeating Shelob.
We have discussed the importance of Nasil and linked it to the work of Telchar of Nogrod. Let us also not forget Aragorn's ring of Barahir, that connects him to Beren and Luthien.
With the blades taken fro the barrow-downs Merry would hobble the Witch King Angmar. These ancient blades were recovered from the line of the Dunedain, decendants of the line of Numenorians.
Defeat, recovery, and restoration are very resonate themes in these books, so when one considers Boromir, find the lines of the Stewards and cite how the aforementioned cycle is illustrated.
Good hunting!

[Lindariel]

Boromir carried a great hunting horn created by Vorondil (Steward to King Earnil II) that had been passed down father to eldest son from Vorondil to his son Mardil who became the first Ruling Steward and so on until Denethor II passed it to Boromir II.

The horn was made from a horn of the Kine of Araw, which Vorondil was famed for hunting. It is interesting that this horn survived as the talisman of the eldest son of the Steward of Gondor until it was cut in two and destroyed during Boromir's battle with the orcs. It can be taken as a sign that the rule of the Stewards of Gondor was coming to an end and that the rightful King -- in the person of Aragorn, son of Arathorn -- would return to Gondor. Defeat, recovery, restoration.

[bruce rerek]

Excellent reply Lindariel. I would also offer that the cutting of the horn meant that in Boromir's stead Faramir would re-new the line with Eowen at Minas Ithil which had been desecrated by Angmar. So it is your go Lidariel.

[Lindariel]

Bruce, I think you must mean Faramir re-establishes his line with Eowyn in Emyn Arnen, since Minas Morgul (formerly Minas Ithil) was eventually razed to the ground during Elessar's reign because it was uninhabitable and unsalvagable. But I do like the idea that the splitting of the horn also symbolizes the change in nature of the Stewardship of Gondor. Boromir the eldest son of the Steward falls prey to the evil of the Ring, realizes his error, and redeems himself by defending Merry and Pippin from the orcs, ultimately regaining his honor but losing his life.

This is a break in the line of direct descent from father to eldest son for the Stewards. The horn is broken in half, but not utterly destroyed, and both parts of the horn are recovered.

The second son, Faramir, is also nearly lost to evil, not from his own actions, but those of his father under the influence of Sauron through the palantir. Faramir is saved by the courage of Pippin the halfling, the intercession of Gandalf the Maiar, and drawn back from the brink of death by the healing hands of the man who will be King Elessar. Through Faramir, the nature of the Stewardship changes from Ruling Steward once again to the Steward who serves the King.

Here's my level one question:

In what far time and place did he come into the world, and when would he leave it?

Who thought this about which character, where, and when?

[Merry]

Interesting discussion, Lindariel and Bruce.

Hope, just want to add my voice to say no need for an apology. I myself have been on the road and off the 'net for a week, so I think we take it for granted that this is all informal! But I hope your computer problems are over for good.

[Lindariel]

Here's my level one question:

In what far time and place did he come into the world, and when would he leave it?

Who thought this about which character, where, and when?

Since there have been no nibbles on my question so far, I thought perhaps a little hint might be in order. This thought took place in a White City.

[Merry]

Sorry, Lindariel--I've been away from computers for a week!

This is just a guess: was this Pippin thinking about Gandalf?