seven times the years...

mallondwen · 01-21-2005, 07:26 PM

Quote:

The Voice of Saruman
'The Watchwood we will call it. Not a squirrel will go here, but I shall know of it. Leave it to the Ents! Until seven times the years in which he tormented us have passed, we shall not tire of watching him [Saruman].

ok, I am wondering, why 'seven times the years in which he tormented us?' I mean, I know that Saruman had been cutting down the trees for about eight months by then, cause he started about the time that he imprisoned Gandalf which was in July, it was now March. It hasn't even been a year yet. So I guess my question is: Is this just a metaphor Treebeard is using to imply 'a very long time' or, is it literal? If so, why this time period, 'seven times the years in which he tormented us'...?

Any thoughts are most welcome.

Embladyne · 01-21-2005, 09:41 PM

I always assumed that was some sort of entish ideosyncracy. arg...cannot spell.
However, it is similar wording to the phrase seventy times seven, which is used in the bible to refer to a very large amount of things, or time. And, so, perhaps, Tolkien drew inspiration from that phrasing...

Wayfarer · 01-21-2005, 11:39 PM

Saruman had already began cutting down trees before gandalf was captured - he had simply left the trees within Isengard itself standing in order to maintain the illusion of normalcy until he was ready to spring his plans.

Bombadillo · 01-22-2005, 03:31 AM

Maybe, since random numbers were placed in ancient dialogue in key parts of the Bible that could not possibly have been quoted accurately, Tolkien decided to do something similar to emphasize the legendary proportions of the Ents' glory (or he intended it to sound like Frodo making this distinction while recording his journey). I doubt it, but that would be cool.

ItalianLegolas · 01-22-2005, 01:24 PM

probably just implying a very long time, annd to ents, a long time is a very looooooooooooooooooong time indeed

Manveru · 01-23-2005, 02:40 PM

well in the book of revelations in the bible 4 signifies the world, 6 imperfection, 7 totality or perfection, 12 israels tribes or the apostles, and 1000 is immensity.

01-21-2005, 09:41 PM	#2
Embladyne Honourary Elitist Inklette Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: between the mountains and the sea Posts: 704	I always assumed that was some sort of entish ideosyncracy. arg...cannot spell. However, it is similar wording to the phrase seventy times seven, which is used in the bible to refer to a very large amount of things, or time. And, so, perhaps, Tolkien drew inspiration from that phrasing... __________________ Even on the pinnacle of a palace a crow does not become an eagle. My DA page

01-21-2005, 11:39 PM	#3
Wayfarer The Insufferable Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,333	Saruman had already began cutting down trees before gandalf was captured - he had simply left the trees within Isengard itself standing in order to maintain the illusion of normalcy until he was ready to spring his plans. __________________ Disgraced he may be, yet is not dethroned, and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned

01-22-2005, 03:31 AM	#4
Bombadillo "The Bomb" Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: all over the place Posts: 1,601	Maybe, since random numbers were placed in ancient dialogue in key parts of the Bible that could not possibly have been quoted accurately, Tolkien decided to do something similar to emphasize the legendary proportions of the Ents' glory (or he intended it to sound like Frodo making this distinction while recording his journey). I doubt it, but that would be cool. __________________ Could it be that one path to enlightenment leads through insanity?

01-22-2005, 01:24 PM	#5
ItalianLegolas Tolkien-aholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: somewhere in the solar system... more specifically NJ... Posts: 712	probably just implying a very long time, annd to ents, a long time is a very looooooooooooooooooong time indeed __________________ What was lost is now found.

01-23-2005, 02:40 PM	#6
Manveru Elven Warrior Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 256	well in the book of revelations in the bible 4 signifies the world, 6 imperfection, 7 totality or perfection, 12 israels tribes or the apostles, and 1000 is immensity. __________________ Earendel arose where the shadow flows At Ocean's silent brim; Through the mouth of night as a ray of light Where the shores are sheer and dim He launched his bark like a silver spark From the last and lonely sand; Then on sunlit breath of day's fiery death He sailed from Westerland

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