YouTube – J.R.R. Tolkien reads …. ‘Elbereth Gilthoniel’.
It has always surprised me how “secular” Middle-earth is, but I think I said in my book (which I’m in the middle of revising) that there is no prayer in the story. I’m not the only one to make that observation, but this song keeps bothering me. Does it count as an exception to the rule?
(Has anyone else ever wondered if Stephen R. Donaldson’s first Thomas Covenant trilogy was an attempt to wrestle with questions about providence that LOTR raises?)
The religion in LOTR seemed almost non-existent to me until I read The Silmarillion. Then I began to notice how the Third Age had a definite religious inheritance. The actions of the characters almost naturally unfolded from the religious culture – though it was subtle and not complex. It also seems to me that there are several key moments that allude to divine intervention (also only noticed after reading The Silmarillion). The unlooked for deliverance at the claws of the eagles that occurs more than once brings to mind Manwe, chief of the gods (below Eru) and particularly associated with the air and eagles. And Gandalf himself, though very obscured in the LOTR and perhaps not fully defined at the time of publishing (I don’t remember) is from the godly ranks and is on assignment from them (incarnated in human(ish) form and about the business of growing in wisdom and stature to strive toward the will of Manwe – according to Unfinished Tales). Then there are a few tricks of the waterways and sea that might be explained by the influence of Ulmo, but again, this only can come to mind if you know the theology. The LOTR books by themselves (and I think it is to Tolkien’s credit that he leaves so many of the layers hidded) don’t give the necessary info to make that deduction. In fact, many times the credit is given to the Elves, but then the question is, how? And a good answer might be becasue the Elves know the religion. The magic of their boats might have a direct relationship to their relationship with the gods just like the magic of the rings ultimately has a relationship to the gods, as do the silmarils.
As for the songs, the songs the elves sing about those from over the sea seem to have a power that either builds up or repels those who participate in the song event. Very similar to songs of worship or the psalms. And I do remember Frodo making at least one exclamation that resembles a prayer or call for divine aid (I believe he is recalling the song you mention here). One is in the pitch of violence (maybe with the spider), and I think there might have been another time but I might be thinking of Galadriel and not Elbereth for that time.
Mark, do you mean the book specifically or Tolkien’s world in general? I can’t think of much off the top of my head that might count as prayer in the book, though I agree that Frodo’s cry seems to be a prayer.
Perhaps there is more in the backstory? I am trying to remember something from Unfinished Tales about Ulmo or Osse emerging from the sea to someone’s aid when called, but my memory is fuzzy and the Encyclopedia of Arda doesn’t seem to record it (have copyright issues forced them to reduce their content?). Or maybe it is not Unfinished Tales but rather a story told at Bombadil’s? I really need to reread the books! Also, Earendil’s plea (http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/e/earendil.html) counts as prayer, although it feels strange to call it that when he had to travel and make the request face to face.
I guess it’s telling that you have to dig deep to find examples. 🙂
Mark: check out my paper in the BH files. Tolkien intentionally removed all religious references in order to make LOTR conform to the Beowulf pattern (a pre-Xian story that is stripped of its paganism and given sort of a generic, “OT” monotheism). But this didn’t happen in The Silmarillion, which of course was published after his death. The only “prayer like” event is when Faramir’s men “look to the West” (a kind of grace) before they eat. But some have argued that “Elbereth Gilthoniel” is a kind of prayer.
And of course, if we can go outside LOTR, there’s the passage in Morgoth’s Ring where human prophesies about an Incarnation (of God, not of the gods) are discussed, and it is finally concluded that the Incarnation is necessary for the ultimate defeat of evil, and that Illuvatar will not abandon creation, and so there will, someday, be an Incarnation.
Is Stephen Donaldson worth reading?
If you are an angsty teen in the early 1980s, sure.
Ha! I used to see those books ALL the time in used book stores, but never read them. They were always on the border of what I was interested in. I liked people crossing over into fantasy worlds from this world (e.g., Terry Brooks’ Magic Kingdom for Sale — Sold!, Brian Daley’s Doomfarers of Coramonde), but somehow never started reading Thomas Covenant.