[ilistine]

I was wondering if anyone had any idea what the "candles" represent in the dead marshes. I know the movie seemed to make that whole walking through the dead marshes a bit more "Hollywood", and since my LoTR's book is lent out and I don't have any of the middle earth history books (They are on my Christmas list though) to look it up, can someone help me out here. Am I correct that the dead are the people who fought in the battle with Isildur and Gil-Galad (did I spell that right???), what is this whole thing from the movie that Gollum says, "little Hobbits go down and light little candles"? I am confused, if the candles are their spirits then do the spirits stay trapped in the marshes and not go to their resting places? Did this even happen in the book? I have been watching Two Towers, my latest obsession, and it is bugging me, everytime it comes to that scene I wonder about it. Any help, would really put this nagging question to rest. Thanks

[NancyBrooke]

Okay, I'll go first ... yes, it happened in the book pretty much the way it happened in the movie, only with more detail. Still, my memory is that the 'candles' were never explained in specific. But I always understood them to be the same lights one might see over any bog or marsh, haunted or not haunted (!!) -- i.e. marsh gas, natural methane, will o' the wisps.

Check this out: http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/folklore/will_o_the_wisp.html

Strange lights seen over bogs and marshes have ever been explained as spirits or lights of the dead. Will o' the Wisps are sometimes mischievous and can lead followers astray, to treasure, or to death. When seen in churchyards they can be "corpse lights" and presage death. I think Tolkien just sort of mixed the common place myths with his own much more complicated one.

OK - now I've had to go look it up. Sam sees the lights first and questions Gollum about them who says "Tricksy lights. Candles of corpses, yes, yes. Don't you heed them! Don't look! Don't follow them!" They are not otherwise explained.

In the Complete Guide to Middle Earth they say the Dead Marshes expanded all through the third age and engulfed the graves of those who died during the Battle of Dagorlad which was, as you thought, the site of the great battle between Sauron and the Last Alliance of Men and Elves (Elendil (father of Isildur) led the men and Gil-Galad led the Elves).

Do not confuse this battle with what we see in the opening minutes of FOTR, however -- that battle takes place on the slopes of Mt. Orodriun eleven years after the Battle of Dagorlad and after a long siege of Barad-dur. In that final battle Gil-galad and Elendil are killed, Sauron is overthrown and Isildur takes the ring.

And we all know what happens after that!!

I hope that helps. ~N