The 2017 Tolkien Blog Party Tag!

Family mine!  Hamlette's fifth annual Tolkien Blog Party is starting today! 


I realize I haven't put a button on my sidebar yet, but I have been thinking about this and wondering what I could contribute other than my tag answers.  I still don't know, but I'll keep thinking. :-P  In the meantime, here are my answers to Hamlette's tag!  [And also, guys, her giveaway this year is PHENOMENAL.  My inner fangirl is, like, almost drooling.  (But not really.  'Cause that's gross.  My inner fangirl is Quite Excited, let's say.)  Click here to check it out!]

On to zee questions!

1. How long have you been a Tolkien fan? 

I don't remember how many years it's been since my family first showed me the movies, but I know it wasn't that long ago.  Also *sheepish grin* I didn't become a fan right away.  (You can read more about that in this post, if you wish.)  But yes, I am now thoroughly, completely, and firmly Ensconced in diehard love for Middle-earth.


2. Has your love of Middle-earth affected your life? 

I'd say so.  As I mention here (look at me, just doing all the shameless plugs today), I'm pretty sure it's my ultimate fictional story (although there's also Narnia . . . ).  It's not necessarily my favorite in terms of how often I watch/read it (all the emotions are too much for regular consumption, my love), but I think it sort of subconsciously influences how I view all of the other books I read and movies I watch (usually positively!).  I'm not sure how to explain how it does it, but it does, I think.  I guess you could say that it's the ultimate epic, for me, so I tend to compare and contrast other stories' genres/similarities/dissimilarities/how they hold up to the caliber of LotR on a "message" level, even if they hold up in a completely different way due to differences in genres. Does that make any sense?  Does anybody else relate?  


Also, it's a story that I think every member of our immediate family has at least some level of affection/respect for.  So that's nice. :)

*gasp*  Oh!  And,  I think my love for it was a large part of why I got into blogging, so THERE'S THAT.  THAT'S KIND OF A BIG EFFECT 'CAUSE I'VE GOTTEN TO MEET YOU ALL AND GROW IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND SUCH.  *huggles you all*


3. If you had to take the One Ring to Mordor, which character would you choose for your sole companion?  

*pointed looks*  For real?!?!  *sighs*  Okay, if I HAD to . . . I dunno, honestly.  Probably either Sam or Gandalf or Aragorn.  


4. Which is scarier, Shelob or the Balrog? 

Shelob.  No thank you.  

5. Which two towers do you think Tolkien was referring to in the title The Two Towers? (i.e. Orthanc, Barad-dûr, Cirith Ungol, Minas Morgul, or Minas Tirith)

I've always kind of assumed it was Orthanc and Barad-dûr.  

6. Whose wardrobe would you like to have?
 

*foolish grin*  Arwennnnnnn's. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3


7. What do you think an Ent Draught would taste like? 

At first I was going to say cool and deep and fresh, and I thought I'd quite like it, but then I thought that it might well be more of a beery taste.  I don't know; it's an intriguing question!  I don't remember Ent Draughts, but I'm assuming they're in the book Two Towers?


8. Where in Middle-earth would you like to live?  

I toss and turn over this question (not really) soooo often!  I mean, the question of which location is my favorite.  Either Lothlorien, Rivendell, Hobbiton, or Ithilien is my favorite, and I'd probably like to live in either Rivendell or Hobbiton.  Perhaps Hobbiton. :) 


This may sound strange, but I feel like my feelings would be too much in Rivendell, especially in the autumn?  Like, there's just so much nostalgia and elvishness and books and etherealness but not, and I just don't know if my emotions could handle it?!  I'm very, very susceptible to nostalgia and the longing for "otherness," as Lewis put it, so . . . yeah.  There's my overly-philosophic answer. :-P


9. Do you have any Tolkien-related opinions that surprise other people?

Hmm . . . people are sometimes surprised when they hear that my favorite character is Faramir, and that I like Boromir as much as I do. 

THAT'S MY BOO <3

I have been known to amuse people with the virulence of my hatred for A Certain Man. *glares*  [Although I will say that I have -- brace yourselves -- come to a modicum of okay-ness with him in the book.  In the movie I'm still just like "Die."  (But then I almost feel like sorry/guilty when he dies, 'cause he and Faramir have that look and I feel like I should be more merciful?  But I'm also still very okay with it?  I DON'T KNOW.  I'M CONFUSED.)] 

I also don't think that the dwarves' quest in The Hobbit is an epic quest, which is part of the problem with the movies, in my opinion (but I also still kind of like the movies).  That may surprise people . . . ?  I'm not entirely sure. :-P

10. List up to ten of your favorite lines/quotations from the books or movies.

Oh, boy. *stretches hands*





. . . . . Okay so this actually kind of stresses me (I KNOW IT SHOULDN'T), because how do I pick?!?!?!  *sigh*  Okay.  Up to ten OF my favorites, not necessarily my ten favorites, right?  Right.  Okay.  

Haldir's "but still there is much that is fair" quote and Sam's TT speech are both favorites, of course, as is the part in Mordor when he sees the single star "above the cloud-wrack." <3  I also love this Arwen quote from the appendices: "Dark is the Shadow, and yet my heart rejoices;".


Next up we have the song that Sam sings (in the tower of Cirith Ungol, I think?) in the book Return of the King.  It has one of the strongest encouragements towards hope that I've ever read, and it means a lot to me, as it's helped me. <3 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 



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.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 


Now we come to one of my faaaaaavorite things in all the trilogy: the "The Steward and the King" chapter in The Return of the King (also like one of my top favorite 45 seconds in the extended movie :-P).  I just reread the Eowyn/Faramir parts for this post and legit almost cried, guys.  It's so beautiful. :')  (And then at the end there's Aragorn's coronation and Arwen comes back and it's happy!!! :D)  All right, here are three highlights of the chapter.  (This'll be long.  I'm sorry.  My favorite part in the chapter is lengthy and One Does Not Simply Abridge It.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

And in the fair evening Faramir and Merry walked in the garden, but she did not come. 
        But in the morning, as Faramir came from the Houses, he saw her, as she stood upon the walls; and she was clad all in white, and gleamed in the sun. And he called to her, and she came down, and they walked on the grass or sat under a green tree together, now in silence, now in speech. And each day after they did likewise.   


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

And Eowyn did not go, though her brother sent word begging her to come to the field of Cormallen. And Faramir wondered at this, but he saw her seldom, being busy with many matters; and she dwelt still in the Houses of Healing and walked alone in the garden, and her face grew pale again, and it seemed that in all the City she only was ailing and sorrowful. And the Warden of the Houses was troubled, and he spoke to Faramir.
      Then Faramir came and sought her, and once more they stood on the walls together, and he said to her: 'Eowyn, why do you tarry here, and do not go to the rejoicing in Cormallen beyond Cair Andros, where your brother awaits you?'
      And she said: 'Do you not know?'
      But he answered: 'Two reasons there may be, but which is true, I do not know.'
      And she said: 'I do not wish to play at riddles. Speak plainer!'
      'Then if you will have it so, lady,' he said: 'you do not go, because only your brother called for you, and to look on the Lord Aragorn, Elendil's heir, in his triumph would now bring you no joy. Or because I do not go, and you desire still to be near me. And maybe for both these reasons, and you yourself cannot choose between them. Eowyn, do you not love me, or will you not?'
      'I wished to be loved by another,' she answered. 'But I desire no man's pity.'
      'That I know,' he said. 'You desired to have the love of the Lord Aragorn. Because he was high and puissant, and you wished to have renown and glory and to be lifted far above the mean things that crawl on the earth. And as a great captain may to a young soldier he seemed to you admirable. For so he is, a lord among men, the greatest that now is. But when he gave you only understanding and pity, then you desired to have nothing, unless a brave death in battle. Look at me, Eowyn!'
      And Eowyn looked at Faramir long and steadily; and Faramir said: 'Do not scorn pity that is the gift of a gentle heart, Eowyn! But I do not offer you my pity. For you are a lady high and valiant and have yourself won renown that shall not be forgotten; and you are a lady beautiful, I deem, beyond even the words of the elven-tongue to tell. And I love you.  Once I pitied your sorrow. But now, were you sorrowless, without fear or any lack, were you the blissful Queen of Gondor, still I would love you. Eowyn, do you not love me?'
      Then the heart of Eowyn changed, or else at last she understood it. And suddenly her winter passed, and the sun shone on her. 
      'I stand in Minas Anor, the Tower of the Sun,' she said; 'and behold! the Shadow has departed! I will be a shieldmaiden no longer, nor vie with the great Riders, nor take joy only in the songs of slaying. I will be a healer, and love all things that grow and are not barren.' And again she looked at Faramir. 'No longer do I desire to be a Queen,' she said. 
      Then Faramir laughed merrily. 'That is well,' he said; 'for I am not a king. Yet I will wed with the White Lady of Rohan, if it be her will. And if she will, then let us cross the River and in happier days let us dwell in fair Ithilien and there make a garden. All things will grow with joy there, if the White Lady comes.'
      'Then must I leave my own people, man of Gondor?' she said. 'And would you have your proud folk say of you: "There goes a lord who tamed a wild shieldmaiden of the North! Was there no woman of the race of Numenor to choose?"'
      'I would,' said Faramir.  And he took her in his arms and kissed her under the sunlit sky, and he cared not that they stood high upon the walls in the sight of many. And many indeed saw them and the light that shone about them as they came down from the walls and went hand in hand to the Houses of Healing. 

This gif is everything. <3

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Then the King welcomed his guests, and they alighted; and Elrond surrendered the sceptre, and laid the hand of his daughter in the hand of the King, and together they went up into the High City, and all the stars flowered in the sky. And Aragorn the King Elessar wedded Arwen Undomiel in the City of the Kings upon the day of Midsummer, and the tale of their long waiting and labours was come to fulfillment.  




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

I MEAN.  FAM.  *wipes tears*  

Okay.

Wow.  That was very long.  Abject 'pologies and all that.  Do be sure to check out Hamlette's blog to find the tag, enter the giveaway, and generally join in the festivities!  *confetti showers*

'Till next we meet, friends!


P.S.  Also, what think you of the new autumn look?  It's not completely finished yet, and I'm not totally satisfied with the background, but it's proving difficult to find one that fits.  Thoughts? :)







Comments

  1. Yay, another Faramir fan! :) I'm with you on Shelob. And yes, LOTR has forever changed how I view other books/movies. Especially fantasy films

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    1. Oh, yay! Always great to find someone else who shares my love for Faramir. :) Is he your favorite? Yeah, Shelob is a gigantic 'No.' YES! Glad someone else can relate!

      I love your name, by the way. :) Thanks for commenting!

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  2. I MUST REWATCH LOTR NOW (because I haven't seen it in ages and I miss it like crazy). I would without a doubt live in Hobbiton (then again, my life goal is to become a Hobbit, soo...). :)

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    1. OH! YOUR NEW HEADER IS LOVELY OKAY BYE.

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    2. Evangeline, I KNOW RIGHT. Haha! Well, you know how it is: "If more of us valued [so-forth] above hoarded gold [like a hobbit], it would be a cheerier world." ;)

      Awwww! THANK YOU MY DEAR.

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  4. Livvy Livvy Lulu!!!!! All the feels ... we have exactly the same attitude towards LOTR being the BESTEST but also too intense for watching/reading as much as we would otherwise like. Also, I'd take Samwise or Strider to Mordor with me if I had to be the Ring-bearer. In real life though, I'll pick my Zackie-boy <3

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    1. SISSY!!!!! :D :D Yaaassss, but one mind and one manner of thinking in this regard. ;) Thanks so much for commenting! :D <3

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  5. Gahhhh you changed your blog design!!! I'm so torn because WOW THIS IS STUNNING. But I loved the last one, too. :( But this is so beautiful......and very autumnal. I approve. <3

    Wow really?? I had no clue you weren't a Tolkien fan right from the get go. I'm going to have to read that post now...

    The "ultimate epic". TOTALLY AGREE. And yessss, while there are so many different genres and "kinds" of good books, the Lord of the Rings kind of is the highest standard for literary excellence. At least, that's kind of how I think of it. :)

    AWWW. I'M SO HAPPY YOU'RE A LOTR FAN, THEN. Not that I already wasn't. But you get it. Reasons. :)

    THAT SONS OF FORGOTTEN KINGS PICTURE THOUGH.

    Ahhh you make me appreciate Faramir's character more than I would naturally, I think. So thank you for that. I love it when people make me see a character in a different light. :)

    Ugh. Yes. That Certain Man. I just......I get so angry whenever he's around. :P

    Ok so I can't recall whether Éowyn and Faramir's moment in RotK book made me cry, but reading it this time....awwwwwwww. I shed some tears. :') THEY ARE SO SO SO PRECIOUS. <3333

    (Haaa. I just saw what I did there. I promise that was NOT intended. xD)

    Okay I was just staring at your header again.....TIS SO BEAUTIFUL. I looove the rich reds and browns....and the Anastasia picture. ;) Also, what is the picture next to it from?

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    1. Daaaaawwwww!! Thank you, Natalie!!! I really liked the last one, too, but . . . I like changing with the seasons so I decided to try a more autumnal one. :))

      Haha, you wouldn't think it to look at me now, would you? ;-P

      YASS EXACTLY. I'm so glad you relate! :)

      DITTO *all the hugs*

      I KNOW RIGHT. I was like *awestruck eyes emoji*

      Aww, thanks! I'm glad! Yes, I like that, too. :)

      Just . . . yes. No. Precisely.

      RIGHT?!?!??! I don't think it made me cry, either, but re-reading it for this post? I was like, "OKAY BUT YOU'RE ACTUALLY MAKING MY NOSE/EYES TINGLE WITH THAT PRE-CRYING THING." So glad you liked it, too!! :D

      (Hahaha! Ah, I probably wouldn't have caught that! Sneaky hobbit. ;))

      AWWWW! *blushes* The picture to the right of the Anastasia picture (<3 I know) is from the movie version of The Book Thief. Have you ever watched that movie? I know you weren't a fan of the book (for VERY legitimate reasons!), but they actually kind of resolve most of those issues in the movie. So I feel like you might like it more? I haven't seen it in a long while, so I can't remember exactly how much language the movie has, but I remember it's a GREAT deal less than the book. I think Jesus' name is used in vain at least once, and I'm sure God's name is, too (but I don't thiiiiink it was much more than the average period drama). Anyway, just an idea! :) Like I said, I can't vouch for exactly how much there is; I just remember there's a significant difference. :)

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    2. I understand. :D I'm hoping/planning to redo my design sometime soon. :)

      ^^Everything you said. Agreed. :)

      Ohhhh that's why he looked vaguely familiar! Max! Yes, I have seen the movie version of The Book Thief. I remember liking it well enough (and YES. It's much cleaner than the book, which was a relief. :)). I'd have to watch it again to revisit my opinion. On the whole, I think it's too sad to be a favorite of mine, but I do remember loving certain moments and the CHARACTERS, of course. :)

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    3. AND WHAT A REDO IT WAS! It's beautiful. :D <3

      :D :D

      Yep! Gotcha. Yeah, I'm not sure that I could call the movie a favorite, either -- the jury's still out on the book. I've read it a few times now and I love it, but I still don't know if I can technically classify it as a FAVORITE?? But, like you say, the CHARACTERS are definitely some of my favorite characters ever, at the very least. :)

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  6. So... that first collage you posted? Ouch. All the feels.

    I think I would like to vacation in Rivendell, but I don't know if I could live there. Too many emotions and such a weight of history and such -- a restful place, but not one I want to stay in a long time, I think. Even though it's my fave place in Middle-earth.

    Your favorite character is my favorite character's little brother. I find this oddly appropriate.

    And yes, it says ten *of* your favorite lines, because choosing absolute favorite lines would be much too awful and hard and sad and impossible.

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    1. OKAY FOR REAL THOUGH. I was like, "No. *sniffles*" (But also "Yes" because I love feelsy collages. :-P)

      YOU UNDERSTAAAAAAAAND!!!! I'm so glad I'm not alone in that! "Too many emotions and such a weight of history and such" << EXACTLY. Everything you said, totally agree. It's one of my favorite places, too. :)

      Haha, awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! Yes, I find it oddly appropriate, too. <3 <3

      Precisely. *nods*

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  7. Faramir's one of my favorites, too! I can't describe how nice it is to see someone else appreciate him.

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    1. RM, AAAHHH! Yes, I know, right?! It's always so wonderful to find someone else who really loves him. :) Thanks for commenting!

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  8. Yeah, I can relate to a lot of these. I consider LOTR to be the ultimate story - I think it has EVERYTHING that a story should have.

    And YES! I feel like Rivendell would hold such emotion and nostalgia I wouldn't be able to cope. I'd get too lonely. I'd need the social, jovial company of hobbits. ;D

    FARAMIR FOREVER. <3 <3 <3

    .... no, scratch that.

    FARAMIR AND EOWYN FOREVER. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

    It's just, oh my goodness, such a rollercoaster ride of emotion that story. I love it so.

    Your new blog look is beautiful. :D And I recognize all the pictures for once! (The Anastasia one made me squeal. :D)

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    1. Amen!! ;D

      Oh, good! I'm so glad you and Hamlette both agree and understand about Rivendell. :)

      FARAWYN YUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSS <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

      So, so true. <3

      Awww, thank you so much! Ahh, that's always fun. :) (Eeeeek, yes!! Derek and Christy are just <3)

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  9. The feels in this post, though. :))))

    I typically reread The Lord of the Rings once a year... Never gets old. I love how you said it's always kind of THERE in the back of your mind for you to compare other stories to. Like the golden standard or something.

    I mean, doesn't it have to be Barad-Durd and Orthanc??? At least, in the movies???? Saruman basically says so...

    I WANT TO LIVE IN LORIEN OR ITHILIEN YESSSS PLEASE!!

    Adgjjhfsdfhkkjgfddfghjjkkkkkgffdsasf you know how I feel about Eowyn and Faramir. <33333333333333

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  10. Aaaackk, thanks, Kate! I'm so sorry this reply is so late. *facepalm*

    Wonderful tradition! My brothers usually rewatch the movies at least once a year, too. YES, exactly! "Like the golden standard."

    Okay that's what I thought??? 'Cause yeah, doesn't Saruman explicitly say that??? *confusion*

    THEY'RE BOTH SO STINKING BEAUTIFULLLLLL <333

    YAAAAAASSSSS <33333333

    Thanks for the comment, Kate! Again, sorry for my rather perpetual lateness. :-P

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