ENGLISH LITERATURE : Thomas P.
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J.R.R Tolkien, Poem’s of the ring.
Reading of ‘Country of Home’ :
In western lands beneath the Sun
the flowers may rise in Spring,
the trees may bud, the waters run,
the merry finches sing.
Or there maybe 'tis cloudless night
and swaying beeches bear
the Elven-stars as jewels white
amid their branching hair.
Though here at journey's end I lie
in darkness buried deep,
beyond all towers strong and high,
beyond all mountains steep,
above all shadows rides the Sun
and Stars for ever dwell:
I will not say the Day is done,
nor bid the Stars farewell.
In this article, we will present a piece of the great work of J.R.R Tolkien. Philologist, poet,
writer, Tolkien was one of the best writer of his century. Friend of C.S Lewis, he wrote a
book which was by many, considered as the best book of the 2Oth century, The Lord of the
Ring.
But, if this book had a great influence on the litterature since it was published, we will not
present it, we will look at Tolkien’s work in poetry, and moreover, within his middle-earth
work. (the middle earth is the place where his stories take place).
If you want understand all of Tolkien’s work, you have to know one thing. Tolkien invented
several languages , and the most of the appear in the lord of the ring trilogy, it is to say that,
Tolkien wrote the book, in the way to have the opportunity to use his languages.
Reading these poems, we noticed Tolkien loved the nature. All his poems are teinted by his
deep love of the sea and the trees. He used to like both the sky and the mountains, but it is
not so often that he speak about mankind, which seams to despair him.
In all the poem’s from the Lord of the ring, Tolkien try, with succes to draw the life of those
who lived here. You can see, in some poems, the life of the elves, or the life of the hobbits.
He used his poems to describe his character, as Gil Galaad, Frodo, Bilbo, Mithrandir (aka
Gandalf) and so on. So by reading these poems, you can learn more about the universe of
the middle earth, his legends, his characters.
He painted the land he made, telling us his history, and the legend of his earth. Yet, it would
be false to say that it is pure imagination. Because, what Tolkien did, is a magical thing that
not so many before him successed to do. He made his world breath and leave, like a fire in
his hearth, burninf forever, because he will be forever remainded.
Tolkien in his poems brought emotions, like sadness and love, he used to draw farewells
between his character, with such a strengh that all the readers can be cach in his words.
This an exemple of it, the poem is call Gil-Galaad, who was the last king of the elves :
Gil-galad was an Elven-king.
Of him the harpers sadly sing:
the last whose realm was fair and free
between the Mountains and the Sea.
His sword was long, his lance was keen,
his shining helm afar was seen;
the countless stars of heaven's field
were mirrored in his silver shield.
But long ago he rode away,
and where he dwelleth none can say;
for into darkness fell his star
in Mordor where the shadows are.
All the poems are writed in an English which is simple enough to be understood, but in a
style sometime hard, which mean you need to look for some words.
There is no real collection published of Tolkien’s poetry, so, if you want to read some, you
have to look at the Lord of the Ring, a huge word was made to bring, and gather all his work
by his son Christopher Tolkien.
My last words would be for you, who read this. I hope I gave you the will to read some
poems, you have to no it is not so hard, and moreover it bring you a lot of vocabulary,
which is quiet a nice thing. I will advice at all the lover of the Lord of Ring to read these
poems, but I even advice it to all the people who love read pretty things in english, because
Tolkien was, before being the writer of the trilogy, one of the greatest poets in the world.
Some links for you :
http://allpoetry.com/J-R-R-Tolkien
http://www.tolkiendil.com/arts/traductions/poemes_du_seigneur_des_anneaux
http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Index:Poems_by_J.R.R._Tolkien