Singing is something that can strike fear in the enemy. In the korean war, greek soldiers charged downhill against the chinese and north korean storming troops, while singing, and routed them.
This - the last couple minutes of this excerpt - remains one of my favorite literary passages of all time. Certainly one of the most dramatic moments in the entire "Lord of the Rings". I am moved now hearing the final charge of Theoden, just as I was enthralled reading (and re-reading) it as a 5th grader. So, so good. Never thought I'd ever be able to hear Tolkien's voice reading it - too good to be true. Thank you for sharing!
One nice thing about having substantial recordings of JRRT reading from his works is that after listening to them a lot, one can kind of internalize his voice, and when reading to one's self, 'hear' it in one's head the way JRRT might have read it.
His students and colleagues often bemoaned his rapid mumbling, especially when he gave lectures. Imagine having an Oxford class with him in a time without easy access to audio recording and only pencil and paper to take notes!
He's much better at it than I expected ! I've heard that his friends in the Inklings used to get Christopher Tolkien to read his dad's stuff to them, as they claimed he was a much better reader...
He is capable of making independent (alone,) independent compounded, and dependent clauses, altogether. Most people only do one at a time. It's like the twilight zone, where they claim to own the verticals and horizontals of the screen: Tolkien cuts a broad swathe across 'objective,' 'predicative,' and 'subjective.' He IS god.
and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their signing that was fair and terrible came even to the city ... ‘Éowyn, Éowyn!’ (Éomer) cried at last: ‘Éowyn, how come you here? What madness or devilry is this? Death, death, death! Death take us all!’ Then without taking counsel or waiting for the approach of the men of the City, he spurred headlong back to the front of the great host, and blew a horn, and cried aloud for the onset. Over the field rang his clear voice calling: ‘Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world’s ending!’ And with that the host began to move. But the Rohirrim sang no more.
@@Yesica1993 Right? I cannot say why those lines move me so, but whenever I hear this part I feel a great welling of emotion, and I cannot help but shed a few tears.
he makes his own mythology to capture our imagination and inspire us. I believe he wanted to convey that when the pure of heart ride to battle, they will never alone
This is magical and delves straight into my soul. The movies couldn't touch the energy this man flung onto paper. Oh, to be in this world, if only for a brief time! 🥂
The blowing of the horns in that hour was like a storm upon the plane, and a thunder in the mountains! They have passed like rain on the mountain like a wind in the meadow
@@Finlandpro1 Well, that's a bit of a deep question. Don't get me wrong--I don't claim to fully know the mind of Tolkein, but the limitations of the movie format could not hope to capture the intent of the books (and Peter Jackson tried very well, with a lengthy run-time). If you read them, there is so much that is left out in the movies which inherently contributes to the story as a whole. What LotR really needs is a Game of Thrones-style show, with multiple seasons that follow the books. Then, you could capture the intent of Tolkein in some form, depicting the truly daunting, life-like timeline alongside moments which did not have enough time to build the world, in the condensed form of Peter Jackson's trilogy.
@@nickcurrant2254 My guess - he would have disliked the vulgarisation of the work, the maltreatment of Faramir, the realignment of Aragorn's motives, Gimli as comic relief and the general lower tone that the films have. He'd probably have been very bored by all the fight scenes, and disgusted by the Elves. That said, in his letters he makes a long critique of a proposed movie treatment of Rings, and some of his suggested script improvements made it into the Jackson films. I think he might have liked Gandalf very much, and the costumes, and the fact that the languages were treated so respectfully. And he would certainly have been very appreciative of the money.
The number one writer that ever existed. Purity, justice, honour, integrity, trust, duty, bravery, courage and love (real love, not lust), etc. Men were men, and women were women. No bullshit.
In the book it happens later and it's a lot more depressing. Theoden's dying and thinks both the battle and Gondor are hopeless, but he's proud of earning a glorious death by kicking ass. Then he sees Eowyn and Merry kill the Witch-king and get cursed. He'd ordered Eowyn, as the only surviving member of his House away from the battle, to govern his people. So he's dying and thinks his entire line will go extinct and his people don't have their appointed leader. He's in despair and his entire speech is ‘Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world’s ending!’ "And with that the host began to move. But the Rohirrim sang no more. 'Death' they cried with one voice loud and terrible, and gathering speed like a great tide their battle swept about their fallen king and passed, roaring away southwards."
@@theuncoveredlamp Unfortunately, he did not dictate the entire novel--in his era this would have taken up far too much of his precious time to work on the Silmarillion, as well as his family time--he was a devoted husband and father.
54 What (Tao's) skilful planter plants Can never be uptorn; What his skilful arms enfold, From him can ne'er be borne. Sons shall bring in lengthening line, Sacrifices to his shrine. Tao when nursed within one's self, His vigour will make true; And where the family it rules What riches will accrue! The neighbourhood where it prevails In thriving will abound; And when 'tis seen throughout the state, Good fortune will be found. Employ it the kingdom o'er, And men thrive all around. In this way the effect will be seen in the person, by the observation of different cases; in the family; in the neighbourhood; in the state; and in the kingdom. How do I know that this effect is sure to hold thus all under the sky? By this (method of observation).
46 When the Tao prevails in the world, they send back their swift horses to (draw) the dung-carts. When the Tao is disregarded in the world, the war-horses breed in the border lands. There is no guilt greater than to sanction ambition; no calamity greater than to be discontented with one's lot; no fault greater than the wish to be getting. Therefore the sufficiency of contentment is an enduring and unchanging sufficiency.
35 To him who holds in his hands the Great Image (of the invisible Tao), the whole world repairs. Men resort to him, and receive no hurt, but (find) rest, peace, and the feeling of ease. Music and dainties will make the passing guest stop (for a time). But though the Tao as it comes from the mouth, seems insipid and has no flavour, though it seems not worth being looked at or listened to, the use of it is inexhaustible. BOOM!
26 Gravity is the root of lightness; stillness, the ruler of movement. Therefore a wise prince, marching the whole day, does not go far from his baggage waggons. Although he may have brilliant prospects to look at, he quietly remains (in his proper place), indifferent to them. How should the lord of a myriad chariots carry himself lightly before the kingdom? If he do act lightly, he has lost his root (of gravity); if he proceed to active movement, he will lose his throne.
This is exactly why people like Tolkien and his works...because of his honesty and plain character, free of extra weight on the ego or vulgar cult of self. He is honestly quite very much into his world, very simply, like any of us fans. The prerequisite is to consider everything absolutely true, and not like a product of his own great mind, no, as that would lead to self celebration. He is lead by an honest, young love for that world. He is just so very happy to have happened to be its creator, that's all :))
Just say the word "Rohirrim" - the /r/ is MEANT to be trilled! And the word 'ere' in the speech, "A sword day, a red day, ere the sun rises!" Just saying the word you can feel your tongue trying to trill it! I think he did it on purpose :)
