The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen – Appendix A of the Lord of the Rings
Aragorn is only two years old when his father is slain by orcs. The
newmade heir of Isildur is taken by his mother Gilraen to dwell in the
house of Elrond in Rivendell. He is twenty years of age when one evening he meets Arwen Undomiel in the twilight woods, and falls in love. A meeting that will shape his life, and doom Arwen to a parting from her father and her kin beyond the end of the world.
After thirty years of perilous and lonely journeys, Aragorn comes to
Lorien and there he meets Arwen again. On Midsummers eve they are
trothplighted on Cerin Amroth, and together they turn away from both the shadow of the East and the twilight of the West.
Aragorn is crowned King of Arnor and Gondor after the War of the Ring. A long reign they have together in glory and bliss, but at last Aragorn grows weary of Middle Earth and lays down his life.
For the first time Arwen understands fully the bitterness of mortality. Cold and Grey she seem to her people when she set out from Minas Tirith after saying her farewells. She travels to Lorien and finally lays herself to rest on Cerin Amroth.
Tolkien uses beautiful imagery in this text. We shall look at how he
particularly uses the twilight and the stars. Why does he liken Arwen to a White Tree? What do you think is meant by Arwen being the ‘Evenstar’ of her people? What does this tale tell us about the ordeals of Aragorn? Do you think Arwen loses all hope in the end?
Join us in #thehalloffire as we take a look at the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen.
Upcoming Topics:
November 15-16: Homeward Bound – Chapter VII of the Return of the King.
November 22-23: Durins Folk – Appendix A of the Lord of the Rings.
November 29-30: The Scouring of the Shire – Chapter VIII of the Return of
the King.
Times:
Saturday Chat:
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