Can you think of any other instances where Tolkien
weaves a somber line into an otherwise glorious or joyful scene? Do these lines
tend to stand out, or do they subtly add to foreshadowing/drama?
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Heightened Drama of Departure
One event that I wrote about on Thursday was Húrin’s departure. I
noticed that light is emphasized in many of the descriptions (i.e. “bright
morning” and “the sun glittered on fifty blades”), but beneath the apparent
glory of Húrin’s
departure lies a foreboding undercurrent. The chapter closes with him passing
out of sight of his house, perhaps never to see it again.
2 comments:
I think it is more of a subtle undercurrent which aids in the development of the stage Tolkien is attempting to set and portray. So many times as readers, we are so dazzled by our perception of a scene (perhaps cinematically so?) that it is easy to forget about the power of Tolkien's prose. He was truly a master of his craft.
I can't specifically recall sorrow in a scene of joy, but, to flip that on its head, there is definitely a sort of joy - or at least beauty - in many scenes of sorrow in Tolkien's works. The first one that comes to mind is the Rohirrim's arrival at the Pelennor Fields. But there are really countless moments of piercing beauty in the midst of sorrow, and vice versa, throughout Tolkien's works. I think the contrast between sorrow and joy in these sorts of moments is usually subtle enough that you don't notice it as much as you feel it.
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