LotR --- Appendix A: I, (v) -- The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen

[Estelyn Telcontar]

This is perhaps the most important part of the appendices, since it tells the story of Aragorn and Arwen that is missing in the book. Tolkien wrote that he left it out of LotR reluctantly, but felt that it would not have fit in there. Do you agree? If he had put it in, where could it have fit without slowing down the story too much?

First we read of Aragorn's background - he was such an important figure in the history of the Kingdoms that his grandmother urged his parents to marry early. Her foresight even gives Aragorn his Elvish name! "If these two wed now, hope may be born for our people."

What significance does his Elvish upbringing have? Unlike film Elrond, his book foster father loves him dearly. Do you think there is any significance to the fact that he received the tokens of his heirship along with the information as to his true name and lineage when he was twenty? That was very young, considering that Elves came of age much later than that, and even in Tolkien's day, a young man was not yet of age at 20.

We know so little about Arwen from the book itself - did reading this change your opinion of her? Why do you think that Elrond's family and household did not speak of her to Aragorn in all those years previous to their meeting? We know she stayed in Lothlórien, but you'd think she would have been mentioned even though absent. Did Elrond foresee and fear what would happen when they met?

Gilraen also had foresight of her son's fate - there is a lot of foresight involved in this tale! What do you think of her advice to lovelorn Aragorn, what of Elrond's stipulations?

The two met again in Lothlórien - do you think Galadriel was matchmaking when she had Aragorn clothed like an Elven lord?

What do you think her watching over him from afar involved - some form of osanwë? What significance does the sewing of the banner have?

"Hope" is a central word in this story; how does Gilraen's loss of hope affect you? Is her death misuse of the Gift? Aragorn and Arwen give each other hope - when one of them loses it, the other encourages.

We then jump to the end of Aragorn's life - and Arwen's. Is he right to use his gift of choice in ending his life voluntarily? Why does Arwen despair without him, not even wishing to stay longer to be with her children and grandchildren? Her passing ends the "days of old".

Which are your favourite passages and quotes in this section? I find it very emotional and love much of what is said by the characters, and obviously it was important enough to me that I chose my nick from it...