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| Eight Elven Cloaks by Virtuella | 5 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/14/2008 |
| That gave me chills. That was beautiful and the foreshadowing was perfect. This was lovely. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/11/2008 |
| The chapter I've been waiting for! :) I actually read this two days ago and didn't have time to write a review. More lovely blessings and sorely needed and certainly come to pass if peace could be found which we have to believe it was in his new home. Very nice. You had balked at considering God's Presence in the tale in one of my other reviews. Well we must remember who wrote this tale first, that the Professor translated, a hobbit unaware of his Creator so He wouldn't be mentioned directly, but truly God is everywhere, “that one ever-present Person who is never absent and never named" as one admirer said when the story was first published. (Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, p. 253). There is ample evidence throughout of that Presence of which I will not go into here or it will be longest review of all time! If you are intrigued to learn more about this "fundamentally religious and Catholic work" as the professor himself termed it, I highly recommend The Battle for Middle-earth by Fleming Rutledge, The Gospel According to Tolkien by Ralph Wood, Following Gandalf by Matthew Dickerson, The Philosophy of Tolkien by Peter Kreeft and *ahem* my own paper on the topic that is here on SOA, The Fiat of Iluvatar's Children During the War of the Ring, that I wrote for the 2008 Tolkien Society Seminar. I am writing a whole book on the spirituality contained in the Red Book and if you are so inclined to pray for it and for me, I'd be most appreciative! Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Oh, I am fully aware that the story is infused with Christian values and motifs. But I also know that Tolkien was not too keen for people to read any "meaning" into LOTR, and that unlike the Narnia novels, LOTR wasn't meant to be a Christian allegory. Any reference to Iluvatar would be extrapolated from the Silmarillion rather than LOTR itself. I would exclude such an interpretation, but I wouldn't take it for granted, either. Author Reply: Sorry, I meant "I wouldn't exclude..." | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/10/2008 |
| Oh my! I love Faenchiriel! Yes, she is right--all of the other gifts are gifts Frodo already has in abundance: endurance, determination, inner strength, luck--those are what he has to accomplish his task. Why bless him with more of the same, unless his task is the only important thing about him? But she sees beyond the quest, realizes that he is meant to be a sacrifice, and so she counters it all with just the right blessing. It will not prevent his wounding, nor his spirit being scoured, but it will return him to life and healing. It reminds me a little of the story of Sleeping Beauty--the evil fairy's curse of death turned into an enchanted sleep by the good godmother. Evil may not be wholly abated, or made as if it had never been--that would cheapen the sacrifice which conquers it. But when you think that all of the Great basically expected Frodo to die on his task (and I think Frodo expected that as well) then perhaps Faenchiriel's blessing was what caused the Valar to have mercy and send the Eagles... It's possible. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/10/2008 |
| I will wish him healing, when all is over. May he find peace, and wholeness, and a lasting home. This is perfect. What a wonderful story you're weaving! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/9/2008 |
| Indeed the gift he will need. A stranger in a strange land not intended for such as he, but one where he will be embraced and know such love and caring as can be given him. Alas for Frodo and what he must sacrifice.... | |