News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| Defense Enough by Nessime | 2 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Chathol-linn | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/1/2004 |
| This short sketch has a realistic military feel to it. But there isn't much to go on, to support the ending line "That will be defense enough." This is one of the few stories that I'd like to see have more words instead of fewer. Speaking of words, I like the restrained touch in using archaic language. Many writers use reverse sentence construction way too much, or load up the dialog with archaic words. Can be very distracting but this writer has a very balanced approach and achieves a nice tone. Also, I enjoyed the reference to the research in Unfinished Tales. Good job! Author Reply: Cathol-linn, thank you for your comments. I have always remembered the comment that '...there isn't much to go on, to support the ending line "That will be defense enough," but wasn't entirely sure how to respond before. I only knew that Tolkien had written it thus, and even tho the Fords eventually fell before the all out invasion that Saruman launched against Rohan, I had faith that there was a valid reason for Tolkien to have put those words in Grimbold's mouth, and for Théodred's dying words, "Let me lie here - to keep the Fords till Éomer comes!" Recently another writer was running a story idea past me, and mentioned a scene that would include an after dinner story-telling session in Meduseld where-in one of the characters would tell the tale of Folcwine's twin sons, who fell together in the Battle at the Crossings of Poros. Reading that, it suddenly occurred to me that in describing the burial mound of Folcred and Fastred, Tolkien gives us a valid rationale for Théodred's words to Grimbold: "Let me lie here - to keep the Fords till Éomer comes!" In LotR's Appendix A re: the Stewards, Tolkien wrote: "The Riders buried them after the fashion of their people, and they were laid in one mound, for they were twin brothers. Long it stood, Haudh in Gwanûr, high upon the shore of the river, and the enemies of Gondor feared to pass it." "[The] enemies of Gondor feared to pass it." Of course. Both men would have known that story well. Is it any wonder then that they would have considered a burial mound proof against the enemies of Rohan, especially the burial mound for a scion of the House of Eorl? ~N | |
| eokat | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/23/2004 |
| This is superb and I do hope that there is going to be more. Not many people write about Theodred and also Grimbold is mentioned. Eokat. | |