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01-01-2012, 10:18 AM | #1 |
Princess of Skwerlz
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles)
Posts: 7,500
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Father Christmas Letters: 1936
This Christmas letter introduces a new character - Ilbereth, FC's Elven secretary! It would be interesting to know if there was a particular reason for his addition. Within the story it is said that a number of red and green elves have come to live with Father Christmas and help with Christmas preparations. North Polar Bear invented a system of numbers for all the children, to make present delivery more efficient. (See the bottom panel of the picture.)
However, having all the work done early precipitated (pun unintentional but too nice to remove!) the catastrophe for that year - NPB fell asleep in the bath and the water inundated the room below. That prompted his pun: "I got into hot water didn't I?" NPB also includes a sheet with the goblin alphabet in this letter - rather complex for daily use, but interesting and typically Tolkien. Ilbereth, by the way, has his own handwriting, firmer and more flowing than that of FC. He also has a more formal style of language.
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...' |
01-01-2012, 03:52 PM | #2 | |||
A Voice That Gainsayeth
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: In that far land beyond the Sea
Posts: 7,431
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Quote:
Somebody had mentioned in one of the earlier threads the possible similarity to "Elbereth" - now that is something that had never occured to me, first and foremost, probably because connecting the idea of the glorious Star-Lady, the divine power called upon when the darkness looms, with a secretary is somehow... you know. Also, even name-wise, "Ilbereth" sounds to me much closer to, say, Imrahil (or "Ioreth") and when I hear that name, I imagine some Elf very akin to Gildor, Lindir, simply those "second-class Elves" (nothing derogatory there, these characters are among my favourite, I simply mean that they are not the "tops" like Galadriel or Elrond. Also, note that they are not "third-class", either). Quote:
Quote:
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01-06-2012, 06:21 PM | #3 | |
Banshee of Camelot
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 5,830
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Well, I agree that Tolkien wanted to enhance the stories as the children grew older, he introduced new characters every now and then. And yes, certainly it must have been much easier to write in Ilbereth's handwriting than FC's elaborate, wobbly calligraphy!
But these red and green elves have really not much in common with the elves in Tolkien's legendarium.(let alone with high and lofty Elbereth) They are rather like the Quote:
Is PB's Goblin Alphabet in this letter the key to the letter from 1932 ? So the children could only decipher it after 4 years ?? Did perhaps Christopher in one of his letters enquire it of FC ? Intriguing! I have to try and see if it makes some sense...if I can spare time.
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01-07-2012, 06:07 AM | #4 |
Princess of Skwerlz
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles)
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If you do translate that letter, please post the results - I'd love to see what it means and am too short on time to do it myself!
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...' |
01-08-2012, 10:42 AM | #5 | |
Banshee of Camelot
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 5,830
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I "wasted" some time deciphering PB's 1932 letter in Goblin Alphabet.
here is the transcription: Quote:
Apparently none of the children had asked for it then (Michael was 12, Christopher 8 and Priscilla only 3) and I am sure that in 1936 it was Christopher (then 12) who asked for the alphabet!
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Yes! "wish-fulfilment dreams" we spin to cheat our timid hearts, and ugly Fact defeat! |
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01-08-2012, 11:13 AM | #6 |
Princess of Skwerlz
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles)
Posts: 7,500
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Thank you, Guinevere! That's delightful! I hadn't thought about the reason for the delay, and your conjecture sounds plausible!
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...' |
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