As a devoted student of Middle-earth lore, I can’t help but feel a shiver of excitement when delving into the enigmatic history of its inhabitants. The connections between Beren and Lúthien, Tuor and Idril, and their descendants are indeed intricate threads that weave the tapestry of Middle-earth’s past.
One captivating aspect of Middle-earth lies in its vast, enigmatic expanse, a universe skillfully crafted by J.R.R. Tolkien. The author admittedly left many details unresolved and frequently refined his work. When Peter Jackson transformed “The Lord of the Rings” into his epic trilogy in 2001, adapting, revising, and condensing Tolkien’s original work led to additional inconsistencies.
Some topics have been extensively debated, such as the reasons why the Eagles didn’t transport the Ring to Mordor – there’s not much more to add on that subject, as the author himself suggested we should stop discussing it. Similarly, while there are many aspects of Smaug’s winged lizards left unexplored, Tolkien provided enough information about the dragons to keep them from being among the top unsolved mysteries. Topics like Tom Bombadil also offer little room for further exploration because he is a complete enigma by design, and his true nature remains largely unsolvable. However, at least we know that Tom Bombadil isn’t a deity, according to Tolkien.
Instead, let’s consider some intriguing dilemmas (particularly those found in films), and examine how Tolkien’s works shed light on these issues. We’ve listed them (and we’ve made our best attempts at finding solutions) in order from most complex to most complicated. Have fun!
Where are the other palantíri?
In the “Lord of the Rings” movies, magical artifacts known as the palantíri or seeing stones from Númenor are frequently seen. Saruman (Christopher Lee) is notorious for using one to converse with Sauron, while Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) employs it to confront the Dark Lord. However, when Gandalf (Ian McKellen) first lays eyes on that glowing orb in “The Fellowship of the Ring,” he scolds Saruman for using it, as not all of these lost seeing stones have been accounted for yet.
Alright, so where are the remaining four Palantiri, or seeing stones, then? J.R.R. Tolkien notes there are seven of these magical artifacts in circulation during the Second Age. Over time, they were placed around Middle-earth and eventually lost amidst conflicts with Sauron. By the timeline of “The Lord of the Rings,” Saruman has one (which later goes to Aragorn), Sauron possesses another (used for communication with Saruman), and Denethor holds a third (leading him towards madness). So, we’ve accounted for three stones. The question remains: where are the rest?
Originally, one stone was located in the destroyed city of Osgiliath, which overlooks Minas Tirith as described in “The Return of the King.” It is thought that this particular stone now lies beneath the waters of the river flowing through the charred and shattered region. The appendices to “The Return of the King” mention that two other stones were lost at sea during a shipwreck during the Third Age. As for Elendil’s Stone, it was distinct because it faced only westward. This stone was kept in an Elven tower near the Shire until the Elves departed with it towards the Undying Lands following “The Lord of the Rings.” Given that they were heading there already, leaving it behind for others to appreciate the view of the Undying Lands over the seas seems a rather selfish decision.
Where are the Entwives?
In the detailed expanded versions of “The Lord of the Rings,” Treebeard speaks about the Entwives. However, it remains unknown where they have gone and the Ents themselves do not know their location. Unfortunately, unlike the palantíri, this mystery does not find a resolution in the story, as the whereabouts of the Entwives remain unclear.
1954 saw J.R.R. Tolkien pen a letter, where he suggested that the Entwives likely perished permanently during the War of the Last Alliance. This war reached its climax with the severing of the One Ring from Sauron’s hand (as depicted in “The Fellowship of the Ring” movie), and it is believed that the Entwives met their demise as Sauron pursued a ruthless strategy of burning their lands to hinder the Allies’ advance along the Anduin.
In that very letter, the author provides a flicker of optimism, stating, “Some might have escaped east or even been enslaved by tyrants, yet these rulers need an economic and agricultural foundation for their armies and artisans. If any managed to survive such hardships, they would undoubtedly be vastly different from the Ents.” He concluded this grim observation with a glimmer of hope that perhaps this ordeal may have brought the two Ent factions closer due to a shared rebellious spirit, which could have improved their compatibility. (Initially, these Ents parted ways because of incompatibility in lifestyle, with the wild Ents failing to mesh with the originally organized Entwives.) In closing, he expressed his hope and uncertainty, saying, “I sincerely hope so, but I am unsure.” — which is as much insight into the mystery as we can expect.
How does the One Ring work (and why does it exist in the first place)?
What exactly does the One Ring do and why did Sauron create it if destroying its power is as simple as throwing it into a volcano? This seems like an unusual weakness, doesn’t it? The Amazon Prime Video series “The Rings of Power” offers some insight into Sauron’s reasoning for crafting the rings, but we are still left wondering about the specific workings of the One Ring.
As a devoted admirer, I must say, the Ruling Ring might make you vanish from sight, but that’s more like a byproduct rather than its main attraction. The true might of this enigmatic artifact lies in its (vaguely defined) capacity to manipulate and control the minds and wills of others. The conundrum surrounding what the One Ring can do and how it functions is as puzzling as it gets, for there are numerous conflicting and unclear details that make pinpointing its secrets a near impossible task.
As a devoted fan, I’d like to point out an intriguing observation from the Lord of the Rings series: Bilbo Baggins seemed unaffected by the One Ring in the books, while Frodo (portrayed by Elijah Wood) wearing it appeared to live in a hazy, distressed world. Yet, he could perceive spiritual entities such as the Nazgûl and Sauron with startling clarity. In The Fellowship of the Ring book, Frodo also had the unique ability to see Glorfindel, a powerful Elven lord, not as a physical being but as a radiant light – a glimpse of his spirit rather than his corporeal form.
In the books, Samwise’s Ring not only makes him invisible but also enables him to comprehend Orcish language. On a deeper level, the Ring symbolizes Sauron’s power in a more subtle way. It serves as an instrument for his control over others, which is often unseen yet carries risks such as losing it or having it taken and destroyed without your knowledge.
According to J.R.R. Tolkien himself, who wrote to a fan in 1958, he characterized the Ring by stating, “The One Ring should not be overly manipulated as it is indeed a mythical component, yet the world of the tales is portrayed in somewhat historical terms.” In simpler terms, Tolkien described the ring’s essential property as being rooted in mythology, even within the realistic narrative of Middle-earth.
What is up with the half-elven stuff?
Elrond is known as Peredhel, or half-elven. Arwen, despite her immense age, opts for a human existence. Why do these beings, who seem to straddle mortality and immortality, behave this way? The key lies in a tangled web of ancestral relationships that J.R.R. Tolkien skillfully weaves back to the First Age of Middle-earth’s history, which predates “The Lord of the Rings” by several millennia. During this era, there were some extraordinary unions between Elves and Men, with two significant junctures serving as starting points.
The primary relationships involve Beren and Lúthien, who is half elf and half Maiar (essentially an angelic being), and Tuor with Idril, the she-elf. Their offspring eventually give rise to numerous well-known figures from the First Age, such as Ëarendil, Elrond, his brother Elros (the founder of Aragorn’s lineage), Elendil, Isildur, Aragorn, and Arwen. However, the decision between mortality and immortality is crucial here:
The solution lies within “The Silmarillion.” When Ëarendil and his spouse, Elwing, confront the Valar (the divine guardians of Middle-earth), their destiny is set. The chief among them, Manwë, proclaims, “As for them, I hereby grant Eärendil and Elwing, along with their offspring, the freedom to personally decide which lineage their destinies will be bound to, and under which they shall be judged.” Their children, Elrond (who chose immortality) and Elros (who opted for mortality), are examples of this. However, it’s worth noting that while Elros’ descendants were bound by his choice, Elrond’s progeny retained the ability to relinquish their immortality even after living for millennia. This seems like an aspect J.R.R. Tolkien didn’t fully develop, but at least we have a fundamental understanding of it.
Who are the Nazgûl?
The nine chilling figures known as the Ringwraiths, or Nazgûl, serve under the malevolent control of Sauron in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings.” They sow fear and devastation throughout Middle-earth during the storyline, yet their origins and identities remain shrouded in mystery. It is known that they were once mortal men who possessed Rings of Power; however, the specific mortal men who became Ringwraiths have not been definitively identified.
Here’s one way to rephrase the given text using simpler and more natural language:
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but share some intriguing insights from “The Silmarillion.” While only three of the nine ensnared by Sauron were named as being of Númenórean descent, it is hinted that most of them held positions of power before they even received their rings. They were kings, sorcerers, and warriors of old. This gives us a glimpse into the nature of the Nine, suggesting they were individuals who already wielded or had the tendency to seek power, rule, and magic.
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2024-09-11 04:00