09-26-2001, 09:37 AM | #21 |
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Arcadia, CA
Posts: 221
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Um, if Tolkien was born in South Africa, would he always metaphorise the Black Lands to be Africa?
Hey wait...he experienced a World War there, right? |
09-26-2001, 05:12 PM | #22 | |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: California
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I'm not sure what you mean Selwythe.
In response to fatclown: Quote:
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09-27-2001, 01:38 PM | #23 |
Hobbit
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Manila, Philippines
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Middle-earth of course means the world we live in (Old English middan-geard, Old Norse Midgard). Remember these lines?
Éala Earendel, engla beorhtast, ofer middan-geard monnum sended, and sôðfæsta sunnan leoma torht ofer tunglas, þu tida gehwane of sylfum þe symle inlîhtes! O Earendel, brightest of angels, over Middle-Earth sent to men, and (the) true light of the sun radiant above the stars, which thou of thyself ever enlighteneth! Note the first line: Aiya Eärendil elenion ancalima! Anyway, has anyone noticed that the place-name Minhiriath ("between the rivers") is etymologically equivalent to Mesopotamia?
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09-28-2001, 04:42 PM | #24 |
Elf Lord
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Fascinating! Didn't know that. I wonder if that was an accident. Tolkien made a few very remarkable linguistic accidents, you know.
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Falmon -- Dylan |
09-29-2001, 06:09 AM | #25 |
Elven Warrior
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I was saying that Tolkien probably metaphored Africa as Mordor/Harad/evil lands because he fought in World War 1 there.
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09-29-2001, 07:22 PM | #26 |
Elf Lord
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But there were 'good'* people living in the far South, and Nurn was a free land after the destruction of Sauron. Why, in the First Age it was the North that had an evil name.
I think Tolkien selected Mordor/Harad/evil lands (as you put it) as the abode of Sauron and many of his subjects by geographical necessity. *I use the word here to express people allied against the Dark Lord.
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