It resides mostly in Appendix A of Lord of the Rings, yet the story it tells reveals key parts of Aragorn’s character in The Lord of the Rings.
It is, of course, The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen — the Hall of Fire topic for later today.
‘For a moment Aragorn gazed in silence, but fearing that she would pass away and never be seen again, he called to her crying, Tinúviel, Tinúviel! even as Beren had done in the Elder Days long ago.
Then the maiden turned to him and smiled, and she said: “Who are you? And why do you call the by that name?”
The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen
Aragorn is only two years old when his father, Arathorn II, is slain by orcs. His mother, Gilraen, takes the heir of Isildur into hiding in Rivendell where Elrond Half-elven fosters him. And it is there, years later, that he meets Arwen Undomiel and falls in love. It is a meeting that will shape his life, the fate of Middle-earth, and eventually doom Arwen to a bitter parting from her father and her kin.
To what extent does this estrange Aragorn and Elrond? We think of the price that Arwen pays. Does Aragorn make sacrifices too?
Aragorn and Arwen reign for many years in Gondor and Arnor, but at last Aragorn grows weary and lays down his life. For the first time Arwen understands fully mortality. Cold and grey she seems to her people when she sets out from Minas Tirith and finally lays herself to rest on Cerin Amroth.
Tolkien uses beautiful imagery in this text. We shall look at how he particularly uses the twilight and the stars. Why does he liken Arwen to a White Tree? What do you think is meant by Arwen being the ‘Evenstar’ of her people? What does this tale tell us about the ordeals of Aragorn? Do you think Arwen loses all hope in the end?
And what of her gift to the Ringbearer?
Join us in the Hall of Fire today at 6pm EST when we’ll chat about The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen.
Recommended reading
* Appendix A: the tale of Aragron and Arwen
* The Return of the King Book VI Ch VII Many Partings
Time zone conversions
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