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Tolkien's Lore: the Songs of Middle-Earth by Diana Marchesani

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Tolkien's Lore: the Songs of Middle-Earth by Diana Marchesani Volume 7 Number 1 Article 1 3-15-1980 Tolkien’s Lore: The Songs of Middle-earth Diane Marchesani Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore Part of the Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons Recommended Citation Marchesani, Diane (1980) "Tolkien’s Lore: The Songs of Middle-earth," Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: Vol. 7 : No. 1 , Article 1. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol7/iss1/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Mythopoeic Society at SWOSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature by an authorized editor of SWOSU Digital Commons. An ADA compliant document is available upon request. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To join the Mythopoeic Society go to: http://www.mythsoc.org/join.htm Mythcon 51: A VIRTUAL “HALFLING” MYTHCON July 31 - August 1, 2021 (Saturday and Sunday) http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-51.htm Mythcon 52: The Mythic, the Fantastic, and the Alien Albuquerque, New Mexico; July 29 - August 1, 2022 http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-52.htm Abstract Examines and categorizes the over sixty examples of folk-songs and poems in Middle-earth—songs of lore, ballads, ballad-style, and nonsense songs. Additional Keywords Folk song; Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings—Songs; Annalee Peoples This article is available in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol7/iss1/1 TOLKIEN'S LORE: THE SONGS OF MIDDLE-EARTH BY DIANA MARCHESANI This paper examines Tolkien's songs as the folk­ own people, the Eldar. He was not only a master of lore of Middle-earth. By defining folklore and cat­ healing but the only living being who remembered the egorizing the verse from the trilogy I hope to show ancient ballads completely as they had been. The that the songs are an integral part of the narrative, wizard's specialty was hobbit-lore. Gandalf Mith- a small though colorful segment of the vast scheme randir, the Grey Pilgrim, was the only one of the of histories and cultures that Professor Tolkien de­ wise, the Istari, to take up such an obscure subject. vised for his creation. One need only explain to His interest extended beyond it, however. He was what purpose these sixty-odd poems are included in the most powerful wizard living. "I once knew every the narrative. spell in all the tongues of Elves or Men or Orcs Folkways and traditions can provide invaluable that was ever used," (for opening doors), he says of insights into the culture and attitudes of a civ ili­ himself. He spoke to all men and other folk in zation. In older and less progressive societies their native languages. than ours one often finds ancient, unbroken customs, Deep knowledge of ancient lore proved as devas­ some of which govern every important step of the tating through some as it was beneficial when emp­ people's lives from birth to death. The habits, loyed by Elrond and Gandalf. Sauron, the Enemy, traditions of long standing, are generally referred whose evil enabled him to create the One Ring—an to as folklore. More specifically, folklore con­ attempt to conquer the world—was finally overthrown sists of: 10 myths, legends, stories: 2) riddles, by his greatest achievement. Yet the destruction he proverbs; 3) charms, spells, omens; 4) ballads; 5) had already caused was enough to bring to a close plant lore and customs. Folklore of a less techni­ the Third Age of Middle-earth. Saruman the White, cal society involves its members actively, while a another of the Istari, had at one time been as pow­ culture such as ours affects a sophistication that erful and learned as Gandalf. His research centered holds such in contempt. Traditionally, a people on the East, where he had often traveled, and later transmit their lore orally from generation to gener­ turned to Sauron. Intensive study of evil and the ation. It serves, if sometimes inaccurately, to re­ Enemy e v e n tu a lly tw is te d h is m ind. cord their history. Besides Aragorn Elessar, heir of the last of J. R. R. Tolkien, in his epic trilogy, presents the kings, the most learned mortal was Denethor, a civilization with,a folklore as alive and complex Steward of Gondor. "There lie in his hoards many as any we know. The Lord of the Rings reveals an records that few now can read, even of the lore mas­ entire wbrld which extends over thousands of years, ters, for their scripts and tongues have become dark beyond three ages. Its folklore appears in the to later men". Like Saruman, Denethor, who lived verse of its folk, taking different forms. Elves, too near the borders of Mordor, succumbed to evil, Men, Hobbits, and other beings call upon the rhymes while Aragorn conquered to reign as the first king of their forefathers for knowledge, aid and enter­ of the Fourth Age. Bilbo was quite a student of tainment. In fact, there are as many different lore in his own right. Evidences of his life's work types of folklore in Tolkien's world as there are in are the narrative of his journey into the East, our own. Tales from history, such as those found in There and Back Again, and the three volumes of the Red Book of Westmarch, and songs reporting great Translations from the Elvish affixed to the Red Book. deeds, from the ancient Fall of Gil-Galad translated Songs and singing were a very serious affair to by Bilbo to his own Song o f Eärendil. are fine exam­ the Eldar or High Elves, the Edain or Fathers of Men, ples of preserved stories, myths and legends. The and their descendants in Middle-earth. Songs had a Hobbit contains some marvelous riddles, and proverbs soothing virtue. Those who sang felt their troubles are frequent in the trilogy. Gandalf's spells, the lifted from them. The verse of the Dunedain and dream prophecy of Faramir and his brother, the in­ Elves often took the form of high praise to deserv­ cantation of the barrow-wight, all fit into the ing heroes or even prayer to their protectors over third category—charms, spells, and omens. Both ly­ the Sea. The most beautiful of these is the Refrain ric and narrative ballads are sung or chanted after to ELbereth which is used no less than four times. the fashion of their composers. We are even allowed Elbereth Gilthoniel was the queen of the Valar, an­ a glimpse of customs in the funeral rites of fallen gelic guardians of Middle-earth. She set as a star fighters, and of plant lore in the Houses of Healing. a Silm aril, a precious-stone, in the sky through These song-poems record the past experiences and be­ which she watched over the lands. All who prayed to l i e f s o f th e p eo p le who made them. L ike tr u e f o lk her for help were answered. At a painful time, when rhymes, they are held in memory and sung as learned two of his companions had been captured by a war- from others. Bilbo's parting request of Frodo in party of Orcs, Legolas the Elf sang as he paced R iv e n d e ll i l l u s t r a t e s t h i s : "Take as much care o f through the night. "And as he sang the white stars yourself as you can, and bring back all the news you opened in the black vault above" and the light which can, and^any old tales or songs you can come by". pierced the darkness brought comfort. Noble, learned folk who studied the traditions Not all the peoples of Middle-earth had such a of Middle-earth were known as lore-masters. Of high regard for song, or people who studied lore. these the greatest was Elrond Half-elven, and with Beregond of the Tower Guard in Gondor praised his him Gandalf the Grey. Both were ageless and infin­ captain in these words: 'He is bold, more bold than itely knowledgeable. Rivendell, home of Elrond, was many deem; f o r in th e s e days men a re slow to b e lie v e well-stocked with books of history and verse. His that a captain can be wise and learned in scrolls of main interest was, understandably, the lore of his lore and songs, as he is, and yet a man of hardihood and swift judgement in the field. But such is Fara­ This essay is a condensation. D iane m ir. ’ M a r c h e s - ani died M ay 20, 1978, at the age of Hobbits often went as far as ridicule. The el­ 2 3 . O u r thanks to her parents, M arie and John vish strain in Bilbo (from his Fallowhide ancestors), Marchesani, for permission to publish. the part that made him turn out odd bits of verse 3 sind read p o e tr y a t b an q u ets (when e v e r y o n e knows touches on many moments of consequence in Tolkien'S eating is the first order of business), was what led narrative.
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