Middle-earth Journeys

Thank you Gil.

Here is one of my favorites...I always feel so sad after reading this quote and passage.

Level 1

"Here is the heart of Elvendom on earth,...."

What is interesting about this quote is that Peter Jackson used several of what was uttered by Lord Aragorn to others, first Haldir, "here is the heart of Elvendom on Earth." Nope, that was Aragorn to Frodo.
We also have a heart strung Aragorn recalling his lady, "Arwen vanimelda namarie!"

Oh yes the translation, "Arwen most fair and beloved, farewell!"

You are absolutely correct Bruce. And to think that JP used Haldir to say those words to give the line a different context was a shame.

This is the trouble with adapting an epic novel to a screenplay. Yes, the overall picture of the professor's opus was captured, and it even brought across the pathos and majesty, but to hear very key quotes uttered by those who had no real context is jarring. I think I posted somewhere where in the threads it was Treebeard who said, "The world is changing I can feel it in the water.." in the third book, and PJ had Galadriel begin the first movie in Elvish. I guess she had not worked since leaving middle earth and was glad of the role, but her work in Babel was lost on me.
But seriously folks...
In the Two Towers PJ has Faramir saying over a slain Haradian, "You wonder if he was truly evil, or what lies and threats had led him on the long march from his home; and if he would not really rather have stayed there in peace."
It wasn't Faramir, who was it? Level 1.5

I guess she had not worked since leaving middle earth and was glad of the role, but her work in Babel was lost on me.

That was our Sam who said those words. Right after the men of Gondor found Frodo and Sam in Ithilien. But good ole Sam did see the fabled Oliphaunt during the same time.

It was most certainly was our dear Sam.
When I think of the professor's experience of World War One, the needless wholesale slaughter his generation, I always am brought back to this quote. The old hatreds and demagoguery never really go away, they usually morph into present fashions and urgent pressing matters of state security. Sons and daughters who were once cherished become commodities to be used or lost in the grab for power or from being the victim. Fear is unleashed and coils around rumor and old hatreds, where all that it takes is one certain and unrelenting voice to do something about - THEM.

I've read that Tolkien had a little more difficulty thinking of the Germans in both world wars as 'them' because of his own German heritage and love of things 'northern'. But he had no feeling of affinity for Hitler (as I recall, the phrase "bloody little ignoramus" was used in one of the letters!). So that line of Sam's undoubtedly was autobiographical.

I find it hard to read the description of the desolation outside Mordor and the dead marshes without thinking of the trenches in World War I.

Then there's the bit where Aragorn is leading the soldiers of Gondor towards Mordor and some of them are overcome by the horror of it all and can't go on. I feel that must have some basis in his own experience.

All well said and maybe this is why these stories have stood ever popular as they touch everyone in different ways. These stories are not just for the young but the elders who have experienced just these circumstances perhaps?

Level 1

"It is the end, ... Let us go."

Philipa, this one rings no bells at all...

Let me see if I can give a hint. The person who spoke these words was standing on steps while others where standing in water.

Is it Gandalf that says this at Orthanc as the Palantir is hurled down from the tower by Saruman, and picked up by Pippin?
I think Gandalf retrieves the Palantir and says this as the company turns to leave, leaving Saruman and Wormtongue imprisoned in the Tower.

Yes, Chrissiejane very well done.

Another level 1:

"So it ends, as I guessed it would"