Unfinished Tales Discussion Project

[Earniel]

Last Updated 2012: On indefinite hiatus due to insufficient interest

STILL LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS!

For those who haven’t been able to participate in the previous chapter-discussions, the idea of this discussion is for everyone to re-read the chapter before stepping into the discussion. People will post an intro to a previously chosen chapter, after which the discussion is opened for everyone. A bit like a book-club, really. But as this is a book-discussion, keep references to the movies to an absolute minimum. The movies have their own forum after all!

How you decide to write your chapter-intro is entirely up to you. [edit: Please include 'UT discussion' in the thread title] You do not have to focus too much energy on the intro itself, as long as you get enough together to get a good discussion started. If you’re entirely clueless how to start, let me give you some suggestions that might get you a bit further. This is how the other chapter discussions were run but this method isn’t always applicable for all the UT chapters as they do not always form one narrative.

• You can start by giving us a short description what the chapter is about. What are the main events, interesting twists, etc..
• Tell us what you liked about the chapters, what were your favourite part, scenes that were particularly funny, scary, descriptive, what stands out to you in the chapter.
• Tell what, if anything, you disliked or think could have been different, criticisms of Tolkien’s writing, as well as what might have gone differently in the story (there are always some good “what ifs” to spark discussion).
• You can list some ‘additional reading’: other instances of Tolkien’s writings in which the topic of the discussion occurs. The focus of the discussion, however, should naturally lie on the texts from UT. Pictures or maps that can help enlighten and/or broaden the discussion are of course also welcome.
• Finally, list some questions or comments for discussion, content-based or otherwise.

[NOTE on the dates: The dates are guestimates, so the actual dates may fall later.]

CHAPTERS:

PART I: THE FIRST AGE

1. Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin by Varnafindë

[The Túrin chapters 2, 3 & 4 will be skipped. They can be referenced if we ever do a Children of Húrin chapter discussion.]

PART II: THE SECOND AGE

5. A Description of the Island of Númenor by Voronwen

6. Aldarion and Erendis by Eärniel

7. The Lines of Elros: Kings of Númenor by hectorberlioz

8. The History of Galadriel and Celeborn by jammi567
Tentative deadline: 7th of June 2010


PART III: THE THIRD AGE

9. The Disaster of the Gladden Fields by Valandil
Tentative deadline: 21th of June 2010

10. Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan by…
Tentative deadline: 5th of July 2010

11. The Quest of Erebor by Coffeehouse
Tentative deadline: 19th of July 2010

12. The Hunt for the Ring by Gordis
Tentative deadline: 2nd of August 2010

13. The Battles of the Fords of Isen by…
Tentative deadline: 16th of August 2010


PART FOUR

14. The Drúedain by Eärniel (unless others would like to do this chapter)
Tentative deadline: 30th of August 2010

15. The Istari by hectorberlioz
Tentative deadline: 13th of September 2010

16. The PalantÃ*ri by…
Tentative deadline: 27th of September 2010

Do not forget to look at and include the material in the introduction, notes or appendices attached to your chapter!

You can go ahead and now request what chapters you want to intro. [EDIT 1/12/2009: People can now do more than one chapter-intro]. It will be first ask, first pick. Some of you have already shown an interest in a specific chapter, but I'd like you now to confirm that choice, if you please.

Usually chapter discussion last between 2 through 3 weeks to give anyone the opportunity to participate. The longer chapters such as Tuor or Aldarion & Erendis have so far been given 3 weeks, the other two. I’ve given tentative deadlines dates. These dates, naturally are open for change in case of delays and such.

If you know in advance that you will be unable to do your chapter, please post that here or PM me, so that we can reassign it. If you decide to leave/ take a break from Entmoot, please show us the courtesy of letting us know you won’t be here to put up your chapter.

Obviously a lot of what we discuss will have been discussed in other threads. That's okay. This is a separate project, and the other threads are for going into greater depth for a particular aspect of the books. Repetition is okay here.

HAVE FUN!