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08-01-2002, 01:43 PM | #1 |
Pile O'Bones
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 14
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The Silmarillion
I've read the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings books, and i was wondering if I should read the Silmarillion
I heard that it is quite complicated!
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~Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm schizophrenic and I am too~ |
08-01-2002, 01:54 PM | #2 |
Cornus Caliga
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If you can understand the older style of writing, I find it is a great book. I just finished it about a week ago, and I enjoyed it thoroughly and found that I was much more learned in the lore of Middle-earth. In my opinion, it is a necessary read for people who want to understand the meanings behind some of the things that are mentioned in LotR (for example the line at the end of Galadriel's lament and the constant references to "the Ancient West") and some of the references made around the Downs about certain characters and concepts. I really recommend you read it. It is sort of complicated, but not to the point where you;re all mixed up and can't comprehend anything. It is a great book.
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That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. .................William Wordsworth |
08-01-2002, 01:56 PM | #3 |
Pile O'Bones
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 14
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thanx, I think I'll read it then
[img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
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~Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm schizophrenic and I am too~ |
08-01-2002, 02:19 PM | #4 |
Shade of Carn Dūm
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Posts: 337
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I think that too many people read the Silmirilion to explain the small refernces in the LoTR. If you do it for this then you will most probabily be disapointed. If you plan to enjoy the book for itself then you will have a wonderful read, but if you are on the constant look out for references to Entwives and such you will be better off not reading the book, partly because many questions wont be answered and partly because it spoils the depth of the LoTR somewhat.
I am not saying this to stop you reading the books, because it is an amazing book in all respects provided you have a good imagination. A love for the old style of writing is also good. But it will help you a lot if you read it for itself and not as a resource for LoTR.
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Utślie'n aurė! Aiya Eldaliė ar Atanatįri, utślie'n aurė! The day has come! Behold people of the Eldar and Fathers of Men, the day has come! |
08-01-2002, 02:20 PM | #5 |
Ghost of a Smile
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I would most definitly recommend it, but only if you feel you can manage it. Don't do what I did and read it when I wasn't ready and be totally put off.
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Do not tamper with the affairs of wizards, they are not all that subtle - Terry Pratchett To write is to make dreams, to make dreams is to awaken the fantasy of the mind, to awaken the mind is to be a master. |
08-01-2002, 03:12 PM | #6 |
Shade of Carn Dūm
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 252
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how were u not ready?
its more like a history than a story. |
08-01-2002, 04:21 PM | #7 |
Animated Skeleton
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: England
Posts: 40
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Personally, I love The Silmarillion, despite the complexity and the Old-Testament style of writing. It seems... vivid, somehow. *Sigh* I know what I mean.
Yeah, I'd definitely recommend it. I read it because I wanted to know absolutely everything I could find out about Middle-earth, and The Silmarillion was the first book I found. It explains several things in Lord of the Rings, but it's wonderful in itself as well.
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08-01-2002, 08:05 PM | #8 |
Hidden Spirit
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 1,424
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Yes. Everyone who says that it is hard is lying to you.
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What's a burrahobbit got to do with my pocket, anyways? |
08-01-2002, 08:07 PM | #9 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 829
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Yeah, listen to burrahobbit, I feel the same way. It's not hard at all. It's such an awesome book! I like it as much as I like LotR.
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Si vanwa na Romello vanwa Valimar!~*~ ~*~Now lost, lost to those from the East is Valimar! My LotR page |
08-02-2002, 12:10 PM | #10 |
Wight
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The first few chapters are very religious in feel but persevere and you will find not only a great story but a mine of information on Middle Earth. After the Noldor rebel things get very interesting indeed.
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08-02-2002, 02:16 PM | #11 | |
Ghost of a Smile
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Its not hard, there is just a lot to take in if you want to understand it properly.
Quote:
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Do not tamper with the affairs of wizards, they are not all that subtle - Terry Pratchett To write is to make dreams, to make dreams is to awaken the fantasy of the mind, to awaken the mind is to be a master. |
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08-03-2002, 11:05 AM | #12 | |
Hostess of Spirits
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08-03-2002, 03:14 PM | #13 |
Shade of Carn Dūm
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Posts: 337
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If you want to truely understand the Silmirilion, read it (dont worry if it doesn't all go in). Then read all the histories (or 1-5 10-12). Then re-read the Silmirilion. You will have a very deep and 'from the ground up' understanding of the mythology, as you will know how it came to be and the ideas arose, as well as the facts.
You will also better understand the beauty of the works, as you will see the stories from all angles and understand all of the charactors in more depth than the the other books, and you will still have echos of the lays and poems and naratives in the books echoing in your mind.
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Utślie'n aurė! Aiya Eldaliė ar Atanatįri, utślie'n aurė! The day has come! Behold people of the Eldar and Fathers of Men, the day has come! |
08-05-2002, 04:04 PM | #14 | |
Shade of Carn Dūm
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The shoulder of a poet, TX
Posts: 388
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Quote:
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"'You," he said, "tell her all. What good came to you? Do you rejoice that Maleldil became a man? Tell her of your joys, and of what profit you had when you made Maleldil and death acquainted.'" -Perelandra, by C.S. Lewis |
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