The Lay of Earendil - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Petty Dwarf · 03-08-2003, 01:38 PM

Do you think the Lay of Earendil was still part of the legendarium by the time of Tolkien's later writing?

I've been thinking about this after Aiwendil's comment that it's a tale we'll never have and re-reading Bilbo's Song (Earendil was a mariner...). Right off the similarities between those verses and some of the deatils laid out in HoME II hit you in the face.

By HoME X Tolkien states the Atanatarion consisted of the tales of Beren, Tuor, and Turin. So where does Earendil fit in? Did Tolkien even intend for an extant telling of his early journey anymore?

The only reason I can think of why the Atanatarion wouldn't include Earendil's story is because he wasn't a Father of Men, being truly half-elven. But the mention of this Lay in the Silm proves that it was an extant writing in the legendarium, even if it was lost. Any thoughts?

[ March 08, 2003: Message edited by: Petty Dwarf ]

[ March 08, 2003: Message edited by: Petty Dwarf ]

03-08-2003, 01:38 PM	#1
Petty Dwarf Animated Skeleton Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nulukkhizdīn Posts: 41	The Lay of Earendil Do you think the Lay of Earendil was still part of the legendarium by the time of Tolkien's later writing? I've been thinking about this after Aiwendil's comment that it's a tale we'll never have and re-reading Bilbo's Song (Earendil was a mariner...). Right off the similarities between those verses and some of the deatils laid out in HoME II hit you in the face. By HoME X Tolkien states the Atanatarion consisted of the tales of Beren, Tuor, and Turin. So where does Earendil fit in? Did Tolkien even intend for an extant telling of his early journey anymore? The only reason I can think of why the Atanatarion wouldn't include Earendil's story is because he wasn't a Father of Men, being truly half-elven. But the mention of this Lay in the Silm proves that it was an extant writing in the legendarium, even if it was lost. Any thoughts? [ March 08, 2003: Message edited by: Petty Dwarf ] [ March 08, 2003: Message edited by: Petty Dwarf ] __________________ Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul?