Gondor - Tumblr Posts
Legolas saying βthis city needs more treesβ is actually so valid. Not only from an environmental and social well-being point of view, but Gondor has one very important tree with very few fellows and therefore restricted access to nutrients, so the extended mycorrhizal network more trees would provide actively enhances the welfare of the white tree and symbolically the spirit of the nation. In this essay I will
Edit: I wrote the essay
hey does anyone wanna run a mediocre funny lotr discord with me
basically we just chat as if weβre the characters but they have discord
no in-depth knowledge required, just a desire for dumb and potentially hilarious lotr shenanigans
at least nine people would be ideal
Here is my next 8 batch of Fantobers from Oct. 16-23rd. I did two versions of Geralt because I liked both Henry and Doug's interpretation of him.
commission for a birthday gift.
(all pencil and paint π¨ work)
This is my main criticism about Tolkien's works (of which I am otherwise the biggest fan): the timescales he's working with are just absolutely absurd. By the time of the War of the Ring, Gondor has existed as a state for 3,140 years. The only thing on earth that comes close to that is Japanese throne's 1700+ years of historically verifiable existence. Before that, NΓΊmenor existed even longer, for 3,287 years.
And what gets me is how LITTLE seems to happen during this time. Tolkien gave himself oceans and oceans of time and simply didn't fill it. It's why his world can feel like there's almost no one living in it; so little of note happens for so long between the main events that it makes the world feel empty, when it really shouldn't.
starting an elite paramilitary black ops group who sneak into the homes of authors and cut one to three zeroes off any number of years given in a fantasy or sci-fi novel
On the authenticity of movie Faramir
Faramir is one of my favorite characters in the Lord of the Rings. So, when I first saw The Two Towers, I remember being outraged when he appears to claim the Ring. In the books, he stands out for his steadfast determination not to do so, and for helping Frodo and Sam once he learns about the Quest. Jackson's Faramir seemed like a critical misunderstanding of Tolkien's.
More recently, I realized that this isn't the case. We can probably blame the cutting of some of Faramir's scenes for the fact that his character arc isn't as thoroughly sketched, but there are a few key lines that do, in fact, show us the truth. First, in a voice-over, Galadriel tells Elrond/the audience that "the young captain of Gondor has but to extend his hand, take the Ring for his own--and the world will fall."
When we reach the critical scene, and Faramir confronts Frodo about the Ring, he faces the temptation to claim it. And it is here, as in the book, that Faramir passes the test--not later in Osgiliath, where he decides to release Frodo and company (he passes a different test there). Faramir doesn't claim it for himself, as Boromir did ("It could be mine. It should be mine. Give it to me!). Instead, he says, "the Ring will go to Gondor."
...He says he's claiming it for Gondor, which makes sense: both he and his brother are devoted to protecting the kingdom and its people. However, I think Faramir is misleading himself here, because he doesn't truly believe that the Ring will save Gondor*. Boromir did--but both he and Faramir are basing that belief on Denethor's assertions.
This leads into the real struggle for Faramir's character: how his actions right now will affect his relationship with his father. The issue is much clearer in the flashback of Osgiliath. Denethor tasks Boromir with the journey to Rivendell (I will refrain from enumerating book/movie differences here--I'd like to, but I'll restrain myself), and when both his sons protest, he shuts them down. "I trust this mission only to your brother," he says. "The one who will not fail me." He implies that Faramir is worthless to him because he is less capable (he isn't), and less devoted to his father's wishes.
Denethor is partly correct: Faramir will not put his father's orders above his own moral standards, or before the well-being of Gondor. However, he deeply desires his father's regard. He struggles to choose between them until the danger of the Ring is made quite clear. In the movie, Sam angrily reveals that Boromir died because "he tried to take the Ring from Frodo, after swearing an oath to protect him; he tried to kill him! The Ring drove your brother mad!" Almost immediately after this, Frodo starts acting possessed, nearly gets nabbed by the NazgΓ»l, and almost kills Sam.
Faramir witnesses all of this. He hears how the Ring warped his noble, stalwart brother into a murderous traitor, and gets a bonus demonstration! After that, he (and we) can picture the Ring in the hands of Denethor. Considering Denethor's character, it's terrifying to imagine how his actions in the Return of the King would be compounded by the One Ring.
It's clear now that the Ring absolutely must not go to Gondor. After saving Frodo, Faramir makes what, for him, was the more difficult choice: to countermand his father's will. He lets the Ring go. When the consequences are highlighted--his father may demand his life in forfeit--he accepts them (with a little hesitation...though I think 'my father, who is ill-tempered and likely insane now, may literally kill me for not doing what he wanted' is grounds for queasiness from anyone). Once his goals are set and his mind is made up, he stands steadfast by his decisions.
Considering that, I see now that movie!Faramir is much more true to Tolkien's Faramir than I originally gave him credit for.
As for the fallout in The Return of the King, book!Denethor doesn't actually command a pointless, suicidal charge from Faramir and his soldiers. He does hit him with the customary disdain and comparisons to Boromir, with the latter now colored by bitterness and grief (which appears in another deleted/extended edition scene, I think).
It's tragic how Denethor and his sons struggle to understand and support each other, and to manage their weighty obligations. Denethor's inflexibility and pride (exacerbated by Gondor's dire circumstances) leads one son to his destruction, and alienates the other. Thanks to Faramir, Denethor never obtains the Ring, but Sauron finds another way to undermine him (the palantΓr). He destroys himself in the end, and nearly takes his remaining son with him.
If you're especially fond of Faramir, Boromir, or Denethor (or if you too want to whack him energetically with a staff), I suggest having a look at the analyses of the characters by Megan N. Fontenot. She talks about how the characters evolved as Tolkien wrote the Lord of the Rings. For example, it seems that at one point, Boromir (and Gandalf) were the only Fellowship members who weren't hobbits (good luck with that)!
*In an extra/extended edition scene, while Faramir regards him uneasily, Frodo assures Faramir that "the Ring will not save Gondor--it has only the power to destroy." At that point, he's still undecided about taking the Ring to Gondor. In the book, however, Faramir asserts that he "would not take [Isildur's Bane], if it lay by the highway. Not were Minas Tirith falling in ruin and I alone could save her, so, using the weapon of the Dark Lord for her good and my glory." When he learns that the weapon Frodo carries is the Ring, he is briefly tempted, but knowing and respecting the inherent peril, he rejects it.
Book!Faramir is more secure in his own identity and values, and less tormented than movie!Faramir by his father's annoyance that he isn't an obedient tool.
Bowynn Gods: Gorto
GortoΒ (Gor-toe)Β The Gorto are Kii of forges and kilns. The Gorto are the helpful spirits of potters and blacksmiths. These Kii are said to be some of the small servants to brothers Kalen, Gondor and their wives. The Gorto try to assure that pottery will not shatter while baking and metal wares will not overheat or bend wrong while being forged. The Gorto will take residence most of the time in blacksmith's and potter's shops, close to the forges and ovens. Gorto often work hand in hand with The Abbonna.
Smithies, will have images of Gorto carved in their anvils and hammers, and Potters with have their images on the sides of their kilns. Potters and Blacksmiths will make the first object they create devoted to the Gorto or in the shape of a Gorto, this is a way of asking the Gorto to bless the crafter in all they make there-after.
The Gorto (left and right in the 2nd row) working hard in the home of Gondor
BATTLE OF THE WEEK 2
Team MULAN
VS
Team TOLKIEN
Great Wall (China) VS Alarm fires (Gondor)
Mulan's sword VS AndΓΊril (Flame of the West)
Mulan, the warrior VS Aragorn, the ranger
Imperial army VS Gondor/Rohan
Huns VS Rohimms
Mountain pass VS Mordor
Forbidden City VS Minas Tirith
It is useless to meet revenge with revenge: it will heal nothing.
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
but a Melody to sing.
β§ Legolas + blue β§
one that we all must take.
β§ Legolas + red β§
and need of Vittles.
J.R.R. Tolkien
β§ Legolas + fireworks β§