Last week, we talked about the big five Tolkien books. This week, let’s discuss your favorite Tolkien book or story that is NOT The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, or Silmarillion. Take the poll and share your thoughts in the comments. If you haven’t read Tolkien’s other books, see the list of them on Tolkien’s Amazon profile page.
Note that I did not include the books from the History of Middle Earth since they are not written by Tolkien himself, but are a history of his creative process put together by his son Christopher.
Definitely Mythopoeia. While being a short poem it serves as a limitless source of quotes. It also helps to understand Tolkien’s belief system which is critical for understanding the subtext and structure of his major works. This time though I’ll quote this part:
I’m torn between “Bilbo’s Last Song” and “Mythopoeia” (written for his dear friend, C. S. Lewis).
The first was my eulogy for my best friend, who died in 2019. We shared a deep love of Tolkien and actually met playing The Lord of the Rings Online. He loved the authentic sounding name I created for my PvP Uruk-hai and wanted to know the person who came up with it. A wonderful 11 year friendship followed, thanks to Tolkien.
Lay of Leithian, I love that poem and was inspired by it to write my song of Fealandvil from it (and by my dog), and I honestly love epic poems and think Tolkien should have really finished the Epic Poem version of his Beren & Luthien story!
I don't know what is my favorite, but since it isn't being mentioned, I'm going to bring up Leaf by Niggle. That's a good one, one of the three stories narrated together by Darek Jacobi, apologies if I spelled that wrong.
"The poem comprises three stanzas, each containing four rhyming couplets.[T 2] It is a dramatic lyric that the hobbit Bilbo Baggins is supposed to have composed as he contemplated his approaching death – a nunc dimittis that could have been, but was not, incorporated into the final chapter of The Lord of the Rings.[7] The context of Bilbo's making of the poem is that he, the hobbits Frodo and Sam and the elves Elrond and Galadriel have travelled to Mithlond, the Grey Havens, where they have been met by the elvish shipwright Círdan and the wizard Gandalf.[7] Bilbo, Frodo, Elrond, Galadriel and Gandalf are preparing to board the elven ship that will carry them magically away from the mortal world of Middle-earth to the Undying Lands beyond the sunset.[7] Bilbo's verses acknowledge the ending of his day and the dimming of his eyes, bid farewell to the friends whom he will leave behind and look forward to the Lonely Star's guiding him to "west of West", "where night is quiet and sleep is rest".[T 2]"
Here is the text of the poem:
---------------------------
Day is ended, dim my eyes,
but journey long before me lies.
Farewell, friends! I hear the call.
The ship's beside the stony wall.
Foam is white and waves are grey;
beyond the sunset leads my way.
Foam is salt, the wind is free;
I hear the rising of the Sea.
--------------------------
Farewell, friends! The sails are set,
the wind is east, the moorings fret.
Shadows long before me lie,
beneath the ever-bending sky,
but islands lie behind the Sun
that I shall raise ere all is done;
lands there are to west of West,
where night is quiet and sleep is rest.
----------------------------
Guided by the Lonely Star,
beyond the utmost harbour-bar
I'll find the havens fair and free,
and beaches of the Starlit Sea.
Ship, my ship! I seek the West,
and fields and mountains ever blest.
Farewell to Middle-earth at last.
I see the Star above your mast!
------------------------------
Definitely Mythopoeia. While being a short poem it serves as a limitless source of quotes. It also helps to understand Tolkien’s belief system which is critical for understanding the subtext and structure of his major works. This time though I’ll quote this part:
I will not walk with your progressive apes,
erect and sapient. Before them gapes
the dark abyss to which their progress tends
if by God's mercy progress ever ends,
and does not ceaselessly revolve the same
unfruitful course with changing of a name.
I will not treat your dusty path and flat,
denoting this and that by this and that,
your world immutable wherein no part
the little maker has with maker's art.
I bow not yet before the Iron Crown,
nor cast my own small golden sceptre down.
I never heard of that, thank you very much for sharing it. I like it. 👍🏻
I’m torn between “Bilbo’s Last Song” and “Mythopoeia” (written for his dear friend, C. S. Lewis).
The first was my eulogy for my best friend, who died in 2019. We shared a deep love of Tolkien and actually met playing The Lord of the Rings Online. He loved the authentic sounding name I created for my PvP Uruk-hai and wanted to know the person who came up with it. A wonderful 11 year friendship followed, thanks to Tolkien.
my deepest condolences to you on the loss of your friend. God rest his soul. And thank you for sharing your personal experiences here.
Lay of Leithian, I love that poem and was inspired by it to write my song of Fealandvil from it (and by my dog), and I honestly love epic poems and think Tolkien should have really finished the Epic Poem version of his Beren & Luthien story!
I don't know what is my favorite, but since it isn't being mentioned, I'm going to bring up Leaf by Niggle. That's a good one, one of the three stories narrated together by Darek Jacobi, apologies if I spelled that wrong.
Good choice, bravo!
Thanks!
Never heard of that! Bad ass.
https://www.tolkien.ro/text/JRR%20Tolkien%20-%20Mythopoeia.pdf
I voted for Bilbo's Last Song, here is some information about it if you aren't familiar with it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilbo%27s_Last_Song
This part is helpful to know:
"The poem comprises three stanzas, each containing four rhyming couplets.[T 2] It is a dramatic lyric that the hobbit Bilbo Baggins is supposed to have composed as he contemplated his approaching death – a nunc dimittis that could have been, but was not, incorporated into the final chapter of The Lord of the Rings.[7] The context of Bilbo's making of the poem is that he, the hobbits Frodo and Sam and the elves Elrond and Galadriel have travelled to Mithlond, the Grey Havens, where they have been met by the elvish shipwright Círdan and the wizard Gandalf.[7] Bilbo, Frodo, Elrond, Galadriel and Gandalf are preparing to board the elven ship that will carry them magically away from the mortal world of Middle-earth to the Undying Lands beyond the sunset.[7] Bilbo's verses acknowledge the ending of his day and the dimming of his eyes, bid farewell to the friends whom he will leave behind and look forward to the Lonely Star's guiding him to "west of West", "where night is quiet and sleep is rest".[T 2]"