I thought that for this week’s post, I’d talk a little bit of Tolkien. I’ve read the entirety of The Lord of the Rings a few times now, making sure to read it once every year for the past 5 years.
I could literally go on and on about these books, the films, the Appendices, and the rest of Tolkien’s works for ages and ages, but I won’t do so now. I selected a couple of my favourite quotes from the first installment of The Lord of the Rings, aka The Fellowship of the Ring.
Fun fact about the way these were originally published: Tolkien had written all of LOTR, “the trilogy,” and wanted to publish it all in one go, as one book. But his publisher thought it would be better to bring them out as installments, and that’s what they did. So, they’re not truly a trilogy at all; they were just published as such!
*There are some minor spoilers here as I elaborate a little over each quote, so if you’ve not seen the films or read the books, and want to experience them without that, be warned!!*
Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.
Gandalf the Grey
Gandalf says this to Frodo in the mines of Moria, as Frodo questions why his uncle Bilbo didn’t take the life of Gollum many years before. These words ring true today and always. It often seems that the hands of Justice are tied, and those who deserve death or other consequences are not dealt with properly. Other times, those who seem undeserving of a swift end to life are brought to it, and their youth, health, vigor, and strength are cut off. Life often seems out of control, but if we know where to place our hope, then we rest in that knowledge.
…the sun is merry in the woodland under leaves of gold!
Legoalas Greenleaf
On a ~somewhat~ lighter note, Legolas exclaims this to Haldir when the Fellowship is surrounded by the elves of Lothlorien. The fullness of this quote shows Leggy putting up a little bit of a fight that they must be blindfolded as they walk through Lothlorien for the sake of Gimli. However, Tolkien, time and time again throughout the book, uses incredibly vivid and beautiful imagery to paint a picture of the many glorious places and scenes of Middle Earth. This reminds me of Summer and Autumn simultaneously, and I can picture the Sun dancing and shining through the golden leaves of an ethereal forest.
The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.
Meriadoc Brandybuck
Merry expresses that if he had known the world was so full of danger, he might not have ever left the Shire. While Haldir assents to the reality of risk, he tells Merry that there is still beauty, and perhaps because “love is now mingled with grief” it is even more elevated and treasured than before. The world has and always will be like this since the Fall of Man, and the bittersweet truth that we face is this: love, good, and kindness mean all the more in the face of evil, hatred, and selfishness.
I could have chosen quite a few more quotes, but I thought I’d stick to three. Tolkien is a literal KING; his beautiful way with words, his indelible imagination, and his linguistic genius will live on until time ends.
Have you read The Lord of the Rings? Watched the movies? Both?!?!? Let me know in the comments! If so, what book/film was your favourite and why? If you’re a fellow LOTR lover, I’d love to chat 😉 Thanks for reading!!