Remember The Lost
Favorite Romance Novel
While I don't have a favorite romance novel per se there are two romantic stories penned by the same author that do come to mind that I am not ashamed to admit. While both tales are written by J.R.R. Tolkien, the stories occur at two different time periods in the history of the world and, interestingly, contain the same elements--the love of a mortal man for an Elvin princess.
Beren is a war hero of sorts, and Luthien is the daughter of King Thingol. Beren fell in love the moment he saw Luthien dancing in a glade. Enraptured with her grace and beauty, he called out to his "Nightingale" and she in turn, fell in love with him. King Thingol disapproved of the matter and sent Beren on an errand to prove his worth--retrieve three Simirils, jewels once stolen from the elves. Beren does not complete the errands but his dedication causes King Thingol to change his mind and permits Luthien's marriage to Beren.
Not long after, Beren is killed and Luthien mourns her lover with a grief so deep that her immortality breaks and she too dies. Mandar (keeper of the house of the dead) is so greatly moved that he returns life to the lovers who both live a long life and die natural deaths.
The second tale (much like the first) is most well-known thanks to The Lord Of The Rings movies--being the love story of Aragorn and Arwen. Some critics say the story of Beren and Luthien was the model for Aragorn and Arwen's story but one might consider the evidence that shows such a fantastic love story occuring twice in Tolkien's long history. After all, it is fantasy.
My understanding is that a stand-alone book telling the tale of Beren and Luthien will be released May of 2017.
Not long after, Beren is killed and Luthien mourns her lover with a grief so deep that her immortality breaks and she too dies. Mandar (keeper of the house of the dead) is so greatly moved that he returns life to the lovers who both live a long life and die natural deaths.
The second tale (much like the first) is most well-known thanks to The Lord Of The Rings movies--being the love story of Aragorn and Arwen. Some critics say the story of Beren and Luthien was the model for Aragorn and Arwen's story but one might consider the evidence that shows such a fantastic love story occuring twice in Tolkien's long history. After all, it is fantasy.
My understanding is that a stand-alone book telling the tale of Beren and Luthien will be released May of 2017.
Popular posts from this blog
The Smooth-flowing Life
Legend has it that the astronomer Ptolemy (1st century A.D.) suggested that falling stars were caused by the gods moving in the heavens, thus knocking stars out of their places. Somehow people reasoned that that if the gods were moving, they must be getting close to earth so they would lift their "prayers" or "wishes" (literally, "desires") whenever they saw the stars falling in hopes the gods would notice and grant a favorable answer. But how does one wish on falling star? Once you see it, it's gone before the wish or prayer can be made! The answer is simple: meteor shower. That's how to get your wish. Mrs. Ann Hodges had a wish fall right into her lap. Sort of. In 1954 Mrs. Hodges was sleeping on the couch when a 8 1/2 pound meteorite fell through her house and into her living room where it bounced off the radio and struck her left hip leaving her with a bruise. Not sure what she was wishing, but that's not how to do it. Epictetus hel
A Reflection in Plato’s “Republic” Book 2
Early in Book 2 of Plato’s “Republic,” the discussion turns into the story of a man named Gyges who finds a ring that makes him invisible. Using the powers of the ring, he reports to the court of his king, seduces the queen “and with her help conspired against the king and slew him, and took the kingdom.” What would happen if there were two rings, one worn by an unjust man and the other by a just man? The story attempts to make the case that a just man will act unjustly if given the opportunity to think he is doing right, if only by himself. But what if he doesn’t? What if there was no ring, and what if there was a perfectly unjust man and a perfectly just man and both had everything they needed in life? The unjust man must cover his steps in order to be distinguished and succeed. In the eyes of others, he appears to be just. But what about the just man, who appears to be unjust? “They will tell you that the just man who is thought unjust will be scourged, racked, bound-will have hi
Three New Additions To My Desk
Actually, it’s an ad-duck-tion. I missed the perfect opportunity to say, “and they’re in a row, too!” Silly goose.