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Eruanna
Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Posts: 426
Location: Dor-Cuarthol, betwixt the Bow and the Helm...
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 Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 1:44 pm Post subject: New book: Unsung Heroes of Middle-earth |
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| Quote: | | Most criticism of The Lord of the Rings trilogy emphasizes the most likely heroes in the tales: Aragorn, Frodo, Gandalf, and even Sam. From popular to scholarly literature, the women and "smaller" characters often go overlooked. But our notions of what makes a hero have altered since September 11, and sometimes the most unlikely people can come to embody all that we look up to and admire in a person. Here, Lynette Porter examines what we mean when we talk about heroes, and for the first time illustrates the heroic qualities that can be found in the women and other beloved, though less-celebrated, characters in the Lord of the Rings books and movies. She takes a critical look at the importance of literary and cinematic heroes in general, emphasizing the roles of Merry, Pippin, Galadriel, Eowyn, Arwen, Legolas, and Gimli, who can all be considered heroes despite their relatively smaller roles. She shows, ultimately, that our attraction to and celebration of heroes does not have to be limited to the "leading man," but rather that women and youth often display essential characteristics of true heroes. |
Do you suppose they will include anyone from the Silm...it looks like only the Trilogy is examined... 
No mention of Beleg?
--Eruanna
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ellisk
Joined: 23 Jan 2004
Posts: 579
Location: Icon by Alassante! Wow!
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| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 1:56 pm Post subject: Re: New book: Unsung Heroes of Middle-earth |
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Oh this sounds fascinating Eruanna! I did a lot of work on the concept of the 'hero' in literature when I taught. And the main theme in my current fiction is that everyone (including all the small characters my fiction focuses on) had to be in their proper place for the Quest to be successful. Everyone played a role. I am going to love this book. Thanks for pointing it out!
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Halfwest
Joined: 20 Aug 2003
Posts: 22
Location: Ladros
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:41 am Post subject: |
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Ooooh. That looks fabulous. Anything that gives a little glory to all the characters who get ignored in favor of Legolas has my attention.
*pets her Gorlim fondly* |
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SilverMoonLady
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
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Location: Breaking in a Brandybuck... *wicked grin*
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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Nifty:) Always was rather fond of the side characters myself; I mean the 'heroes' are fine and dandy, but how much more appealing when the 'ordinary' individual does his utmost (no matter how small it is in the grand scheme of things) in the face of difficulty! 
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NancyBrooke
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Joined: 11 May 2003
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Location: In a motel 6 by the airport
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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Where did you see this, Eruanna?
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ellisk
Joined: 23 Jan 2004
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Location: Icon by Alassante! Wow!
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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| NancyBrooke wrote: | | Where did you see this, Eruanna? |
I don't know where Eruanna first saw it, but look at this site:
http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip054/2004028035.html
It gives a fairly detailed TOC for it--enough for you to know if you feel like reading it. I did buy it and I found it fascinating.
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Ultima ratio regum (The Last Argument of Kings)--engraved on all French cannons by order of Louis XIV |
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ellisk
Joined: 23 Jan 2004
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Location: Icon by Alassante! Wow!
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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| SilverMoonLady wrote: | | Nifty:) Always was rather fond of the side characters myself; I mean the 'heroes' are fine and dandy, but how much more appealing when the 'ordinary' individual does his utmost (no matter how small it is in the grand scheme of things) in the face of difficulty! |
I think you would like the comments on Merry and Pippin in this, given what I just read in some of your fan fics.
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SilverMoonLady
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 1201
Location: Breaking in a Brandybuck... *wicked grin*
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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I'm pretty disgustingly transparent that way I'm a crusader in a very *very* small group of Merry & Pippin fans that work desperately at rescuing these wonderful characters from being relegated to comedic relief, cutesy fluff (as opposed to proper fluff), or *shudder* slash/incest...
Terribly flattered you've read my little what-nots 
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Suffering an again off again connection with life...
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*local PHF union rep* *tart of the week*
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ellisk
Joined: 23 Jan 2004
Posts: 579
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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I was inspired by Cierre, Min Heorte at SoA this morning and went looking at others after that. I haven't had time to leave proper reviews because I am trying desperately to finish one of my own chapters, but I will. I loved the canon protrayals and the Tolkienesque treatment of events that you made up.
And as someone who also loves canon peeks at lesser characters, albiet normally elves, I do not blame you at all for trying to rescue poor Pippin and Merry. I must say, I have been warming up to hobbits more and more recently due to some really great writing.
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It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Ultima ratio regum (The Last Argument of Kings)--engraved on all French cannons by order of Louis XIV |
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Eruanna
Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Posts: 426
Location: Dor-Cuarthol, betwixt the Bow and the Helm...
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:02 am Post subject: Book |
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Thank you, Ellisk!
I think I recall gleaning this from www.theonering.net or something some months ago. That is all I can remember.
(There is some info on Tolkien 2005 coming up at the end of the week. This will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the trilogy.)
I am interested in the peripheral characters, too.
Speaking of heroes, as some of you know, I am exhuming my old love of the real historical figure Baldwin IV of Jerusalem. If anyone is entitled to the name of "hero," he certainly was.
He personifies guts, bravery and human courage.
http://www.answers.com/topic/baldwin-iv-of-jerusalem
--Eruanna
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