Tolkien Blog Party Tag, 2020

“A time may come soon,” said he, “when none will return. Then there will be need of valour without renown, for none shall remember the deeds that are done in the last defence of your homes. Yet the deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised.“

Aragorn to ewoyn, in the return of the king, by j.r.r. Tolkien

Hamlette over at The Edge of the Precipice is currently hosting a Tolkien blog party until the end of the week (including a giveaway you should check out at her site, which is amazing, by the way). And she has graciously welcomed any one who is interested in answering her ultra-fun questions (or just posting about Tolkien in general) to join in!

Here goes my batch of answers:

1. What Tolkien character do you think you’re the most like?

This is that quiet, humbling moment when one realizes that one – in truth – is not half as good as any of the main characters.

Personality-wise, I favor Gandalf and Ewoyn. And sometimes I’m a bit like Smaug (yep, I’m sure you were thinking about that…).

2. What Tolkien character do you wish you were more like?

Frodo for his resilience against temptation and ability to see and believe the good in others (I’m looking at you, Gollum). Sam for his infinite loyalty and trust in Master Frodo. Boromir for his honesty and repentance (because honestly, how many of those do we have in literary history? Very, very few, darling.) Faramir for his fortitude and courage (with Denethor for a father? This guy is seriously underrated). Aragorn for his leadership. Arwen for her steadfastness and love (she’s the embodiment of hope and patience – I mean, she spends the majority of the story waiting for Aragorn). Legolas for his archery abilities – and just his use of weapons in general. Gandalf for his wisdom. Ewoyn for her courage and learning that renown and fame are not things of importance, but humility is the pathway to true life and love.

If I can be as half good as any of these wonderful people, I think I’d be changed a lot for the better.

These days I think I need it would do me much good to focus on Ewoyn. Many things I do rightly are unpraised, yet I do wish to be recognized (since that’s a major way I feel valued), so I must learn to recognize my deeds as good in themselves and not require renown so much. (Oh, you pitiful glory-seeker!)

3. What would your dream home in Middle-earth be like?

This is an impossible question to answer. You’re asking me to choose among: The Shire, Rivendell, Lothlorien, Rohan, Gondor. Can I just spend several months in each of those places?

I’d probably prefer the country – Shire or Rivendell. Lothlorien would be awesome, but a bit too blue for me. Rohan seems to be too, well, plains/desert (and I wonder where they grow their food?). Gondor is a city, and I tend to dislike crowded spaces. But as I said, visiting people (i.e., the King of Gondor, Queen of Rohan, etc. etc.) would be very lovely indeed.

4. You get to make a movie of the story of Beren and Luthien!  Who do you cast as the leads?

Thanks to Olivia, and my recent re-watch of In the Heart of the Sea (great movie by the way), Chris Hemsworth would be my ideal Beren: he possesses the rugged looks, height, voice, general personality and air. Honorable mention: Richard Madden. (And probably some others but I can’t recall their faces.)

There Beren came from mountains cold,
And lost he wandered under leaves,
And where the Elven-river rolled
He walked alone and sorrowing.

Luthien would be more difficult, though I am inclined towards Lily Collins.

He peered between the hemlock-leaves
And saw in wonder flowers of gold
Upon her mantle and her sleeves,
And her hair like shadow following.

… and the smile is so sweet. 🙂

Aside: Dear Hollywood – Please do make a film or TV miniseries adaptation of this story. Please note that it is dearly beloved so please do not disappoint us.

5. Have you ever marathoned the LOTR or Hobbit movies?

Yes. All of them. Not in a single day that I recall though. But back to back watched them, utilizing most the my waking hours that is not spent eating and cleaning house. 😀

6. Do you have a favorite song or track from the movie soundtracks by Howard Shore?

There are so many. You’re asking me to pick my favorite child.

“The Shire” theme is my all-time favorite – especially when I’m down. I love how Shore scatters it in a lot of the soundtrack to remind us of Frodo and Sam’s home. “Lothlorien” and “Evenstar” are hauntingly chilling. Enya’s “May It Be” is the perfect ending song for Part I. And I love when they included the Misty Mountains song actually sung by the dwarves.

Something that is truly worth listening to (but not from Howard Shore, or official soundtrack):

Remember the Song of Beren and Luthien Aragorn chants/sings to the hobbits? The vocals are so worth it here…

7. Which of Tolkien’s characters would you like to be best friends with?

Goodness me, this type of question is always so hard to answer since I love and admire each of Tolkien’s characters uniquely and respectively. The first names that come to my mind are: Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Ewoyn, Sam, Bilbo, Galadriel, Elrond…. And really, to be able to meet Beren and Luthien would be epic.

Click image for original link source.

8. Who of the people in your real life would you want in your company if you had to take the ring to Mordor?

I’m quite certain I’d take certain, ahem, people from the MARVEL and DC universe: Captain America, Spiderman, having Iron Man handy would also be a really cool too , oh – and GROOT! (Just imagine him meeting the Ents!) Logan/Wolverine. Wonder Woman, etc. etc. You get the idea.

(I’m sorry if it appears that I am not taking this question seriously, I am. But the hard part is I can’t really say I’d change a thing about the Fellowship as Tolkien had it.)

9. Have you read any of Tolkien’s non-Middle-earth works?

“On Fairy-Stories” and “Mythopoeia.” Every one who reads or watches anything Middle-Earth related must read this essay and poem.

Though all the crannies of the world we filled

with elves and goblins, though we dared to build

gods and their houses out of dark and light,

and sow the seed of dragons, ’twas our right

(used or misused). The right has not decayed.

We make still by the law in which we’re made.

~ From “Mythopoeia”

In Paradise they look no more awry;

and though they make anew, they make no lie.

~ From “Mythopoeia”

Eucatstrophe is a revolutionary idea for literature and art. And Tolkien is a true apologetic for fantasy.

[Eucatastrophe] denies (in the face of much evidence, if you will) universal final defeat and in so far is evangelium, giving a fleeting glimpse of Joy, Joy beyond the walls of this world, poignant as grief…. [I]n the ‘eucatastrophe’ we see in a brief vision that the answer may be greater — it may be a far-off gleam or echo of evangelium in the real world…. It is a serious and dangerous matter. It is presumptuous of me to touch upon such a theme, but if by grace what I say has in any respect any validity, it is, of course, only one facet of a truth incalculably rich…. I would venture to say that… the Gospels contain a fairy-story, or a story of a larger kind which embraces all the essence of fairy-stories.

From “On Fairy-stories”

10. Is there a book by Tolkien you haven’t read yet, but want to?

Yes, actually. Yours truly has not yet finished reading the LotR. Ever since I’ve learned of the Extended Edition of the films recently thanks to Hamlette’s blog party, I vowed to myself to finish reading all the books, and watch the Extended Edition for a marathon this fall. (Honestly, being able to see 2+ hrs. of extra material is a dream.)

I do have a mind to read everything Middle-Earth related of his before my dying breath.

Thanks for Reading!

Well, that was gloriously fun to do – I hope it was just as fun for you my dear readers to read my take on Hamlette’s amazing questions!

And can I just say how pleasantly surprised I was by the fact that so many of the blogs I was following have participated in this party? Shout out to:

Meanwhile, in Rivendell – Tag

Middle- earth Locations: Aesthetics (Olivia) Totally worth checking out people!

Sixty-Something Trees: In Which Frodo and Sam Are Friendship Goals, Gollum Is Pitied, and I Offend Every Sam Gamgee Fan Ever

Kendra @ Story Full (Private blog, so leave a comment and I shall see if I can’t help you get in. :)\

Although I may not have had the time to comment on all of them, I love and enjoy reading all of your posts/responses, and you are the reason why I’m joining in. 🙂

What would your responses be to these questions? (If you have a blog, feel free to participate in this, even if you may be a bit late, as I am!)

And who would you cast for Beren and Luthien?

My brain usually stops when it comes to dream casting: because I’d watch a movie, admire this or that actor/ress, and then promptly forget about them until I see them again. xD So let me know!