Frodo’s pensive look gets me every time. It’s a dangerous business falling for such perfect beauty. Oh I can’t help it, so I must live with it.
Quote from the song ‘You’re Beautiful’ by James Blunt
…But it's time to face the truth, I will never be with you.
But a lass can always dream and fantasise :D
That was a wonderful essay Mechtild very thought provoking. I have never read that poem before. It is so terribly melancholy to me and it hits me even more how Frodo must have suffered. Thank Eru it is only fiction I would not want anyone to suffer in that way.
I'm so glad you liked the manip, Este. Yes, the face is very beautiful.
As for the melancholy poem, well, you can always say Frodo never thought those things in the poem, since Tolkien himself, as the tongue-in-cheek writer of his preface would not come out and clearly say Frodo had done so.
But, when I read it for the very first time, I felt a moment of recognition. I haven't been able to shake the poem since, "hearing" it when I read of Frodo's last year in the Shire.
Interesting essay - and very plausible. I've always loved this poem. It is decidedly 'hobbity' though dark, and I can see Tolkien reworking it for Frodo too. He had lots of repeating themes in his work.
You make a very interesting point. I can very much see Frodo finding a poem Bilbo started about Earendil and reworking it, putting his own dark dreaming into it unconsciously as he went. Very interesting point. It sounds like fanfic material! *nudges Mectild*
Very interesting point. It sounds like fanfic material! *nudges Mectild*
Hey, angst is your department (well, it's a lot of people's "department"s).
Yes, the fingers. Bronzino did the other portrait in which you pointed out the hands, super-long, tapered fingers. It must have been a social necessity in those days. I browsed through a lot of portraits of the period by other artists, and such hands were so common in them, I decided that the subjects must have openly or implicitly insisted on being depicted with them. Sort of like people now wanting to be made to look slimmer.
"Frodo may not be able to go home again, but, like Earendil, he will be lifted up by the Great as a guiding light. Not just to Middle-earth but to earth-dwellers through the ages who find themselves living in dark times, whether in themselves or in the world. And his small, true light will illuminate their minds, fire their spirits, and burn in their hearts" I feel I should quote Gandalf here ~ "And that is an encouraging thought". But to be honest, I feel more like quoting Sam ~ "I don't know why, but it makes me sad". Whatever Frodo's ultimate fate was when he sailed into the West, I will never get over the fact that he was unable to stay in his beloved Shire - it breaks my heart
( ... )
Not alone, I thought about it driving to the store, this "light thing" and the Elves and Frodo. It occurred to me that while theirs seemed almost to be the remnants of the light of Aman, still reflected from their faces, as a sign of where they once lived, and of the grace they still carry with them. But Frodo's pointedly was said to come from within. The light of the High Elves always reminds me of a biblical passage, when Moses comes down from the mountain top in Exodus, after he has seen God face to face. The Israelites described his face as shining, almost difficult to look upon when he first came down
( ... )
Thanks, Not Alone. I agree that Frodo's departure is terribly sad. Don't I always sob over it? But over the years I've conme to see the good of it, good for him, and, as a reader, for me. I know a lot of fans think the ending would have been improved if Tolkien had given Frodo the happy ending he so deserved, but I think it would have lessened the book. It would not be the book that moves me so. The theme that there are always those who are sacrificed that others may live is a powerful one for me, and Frodo's bittersweet ending underscores that.
Yes, your icon is from the "portrait" series. And what a beaut! I have used it for an old manip which should be redone, the "insert" is technically so poor. But I didn't know how to do it properly then.
This icon is from that series, too. (Ooops, clicked the wrong one; have to re-do that.)
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Fascinating - thank you! :-)
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Quote from the song ‘You’re Beautiful’ by James Blunt
…But it's time to face the truth,
I will never be with you.
But a lass can always dream and fantasise :D
That was a wonderful essay Mechtild very thought provoking. I have never read that poem before. It is so terribly melancholy to me and it hits me even more how Frodo must have suffered. Thank Eru it is only fiction I would not want anyone to suffer in that way.
Reply
As for the melancholy poem, well, you can always say Frodo never thought those things in the poem, since Tolkien himself, as the tongue-in-cheek writer of his preface would not come out and clearly say Frodo had done so.
But, when I read it for the very first time, I felt a moment of recognition. I haven't been able to shake the poem since, "hearing" it when I read of Frodo's last year in the Shire.
Reply
Interesting essay - and very plausible. I've always loved this poem. It is decidedly 'hobbity' though dark, and I can see Tolkien reworking it for Frodo too. He had lots of repeating themes in his work.
You make a very interesting point. I can very much see Frodo finding a poem Bilbo started about Earendil and reworking it, putting his own dark dreaming into it unconsciously as he went. Very interesting point. It sounds like fanfic material! *nudges Mectild*
Reply
Hey, angst is your department (well, it's a lot of people's "department"s).
Yes, the fingers. Bronzino did the other portrait in which you pointed out the hands, super-long, tapered fingers. It must have been a social necessity in those days. I browsed through a lot of portraits of the period by other artists, and such hands were so common in them, I decided that the subjects must have openly or implicitly insisted on being depicted with them. Sort of like people now wanting to be made to look slimmer.
Reply
I feel I should quote Gandalf here ~ "And that is an encouraging thought". But to be honest, I feel more like quoting Sam ~ "I don't know why, but it makes me sad". Whatever Frodo's ultimate fate was when he sailed into the West, I will never get over the fact that he was unable to stay in his beloved Shire - it breaks my heart ( ... )
Reply
Reply
Reply
Yes, your icon is from the "portrait" series. And what a beaut! I have used it for an old manip which should be redone, the "insert" is technically so poor. But I didn't know how to do it properly then.
This icon is from that series, too. (Ooops, clicked the wrong one; have to re-do that.)
Reply
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