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The Ben · 06-01-2003, 03:52 PM

What is so interesting about a history book??

gimli7410 · 06-01-2003, 04:34 PM

it tells what happened before the lord of the rings books. it gives an insight how history had happened and how one thing leads to another

Shadowfax · 06-01-2003, 07:17 PM

I don't really consider the Silmarillion a history book exactly. Yes it's full of "history" (people and events that occured before LotR), but it's full of amazing stories about events of the past. So yeah it's history, but when I'm reading it I'm not thinking of it as a history book or a text book, but as a collection of stories from the First and Second Ages, which it is. I hope that made some sort of sense.

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 06-01-2003, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Ben
What is so interesting about a history book??

Well, in the case of this particular book, it tells how the world was created and talks in depth about the awakening of Elves and Men. It explains the differences in the two races and talks about the immortality of the Elves and the Gift of Death from Eru (God) to Men. It details the struggle of the Elves in the First Age against the first Dark Lord, Morgoth. It takes you through the War of Wrath, where Morgoth is overthrown, and through the uprising of Sauron and the creation of the Rings of Power, the destruction of Numenor, the reshaping of the world, and the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. It indeed amplifies the Lord of the Rings. It is a mavelous book.

The Ben · 06-01-2003, 08:35 PM

Ah. Maybe reading it a few hundred more times will make me understand.

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 06-01-2003, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Ben
Ah. Maybe reading it a few hundred more times will make me understand.

If you are really interested, you may want to check out the project that is going on in this forum. We are discussing the Silmarillion chapter by chapter.

The Ben · 06-02-2003, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
If you are really interested, you may want to check out the project that is going on in this forum. We are discussing the Silmarillion chapter by chapter.

Can you send me a link?

Artanis · 06-02-2003, 01:11 PM

You don't need a link. Look at the 3 sticky threads on top of the first page in this forum (the Silmarillion Forum). These are the chapter assignments and the thread for the ongoing chapter, which is chapter 8. You'll also find threads for chapter 7 and chapter 6 on the first page of this forum. Look a few pages back and you'll easily find the threads for the previous chapters.

I quite understand if you think the Sil is a hard read, because it is. But it's also very rewarding when you finally 'get' it.

Ragnarok · 06-02-2003, 03:20 PM

I consider it more of a collection of shortened stories that significantly relate with each other giving the events and history of Middle Earth as well as providing background information for LotR. Unfinished Tales is similar to the Sim as well giving brief accounts of people, places and things in Middle Earth.

markedel · 06-03-2003, 05:09 PM

The writing-more beautiful than LOTR.

Lanelf · 06-06-2003, 02:28 AM

What's so great about it??? *keels over* EVERYTHING!
Lanelf.

Maedhros · 06-06-2003, 04:21 PM

From the Book of Lost Tales I: Foreword

Quote:

The Silmarillion is commonly said to be a 'difficult' book, needing explanation and guidance on how to 'approach' it; and in this it is contrasted' to The Lord of the Rings. In Chapter 7 of his book The Road to Middle-earth Professor T. A. Shippey accepts that this is so ('The Silmarillion could never be anything but hard to read', p. 201), and expounds his view of why it should be. A complex discussion is not treated justly when it is extracted, but in his view the reasons are essentially two (p. 185). In the first place, there is in The Silmarillion no 'mediation' of the kind provided by the hobbits (so, in The Hobbit, 'Bilbo acts as the link between modern times and the archaic world of dwarves and dragons').

Quote:

There is, then, and very evidently, a question of literary 'taste' (or literary 'habituation') involved; and also a question of literary 'disappointment' -- the '(mistaken) disappointment in those who wanted a second Lord of the Rings' to which Professor Shippey refers. This has even produced a sense of outrage -- in one case formulated to me in the words 'It's like the Old Testament!': a dire condemnation against which, clearly, there can be no appeal (though this reader cannot have got very far before being overcome by the comparison). Of course, 'The Silmarillion' was intended to move the heart and the imagination, directly, and without peculiar effort or the possession of unusual faculties; but its mode is inherent, and it may be doubted whether any 'approach' to it can greatly aid those who find it unapproachable.

I guess that it's not for everyone. If people find it unapproachable then it's not for you.

Ruinel · 06-07-2003, 12:20 AM

The Sil is more than a 'history' book. The Sil is the background for the LotR stories and The Hobbit.

Interesting, I didn't need any help reading The Sil and I didn't find it a 'difficult read' at all.

I found myself drawn into it's very pages and enveloped by it's every word.

Silpion · 06-07-2003, 02:54 AM

I have never thought of The Silmarillion as just a history book

. Although the information inside of the book enriches The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, I would like to believe that The Silmarillion can be enjoyed on its own. To me, each chapter makes an impact and it engages my interest, my imagination, and my curiousity.

Attalus · 06-08-2003, 04:46 PM

IMHO, the problem arises mainly from the "Ainulindalë," which is not so much difficult as puzzling. For me, once I got into "Quenta Silmarillion" all difficulties vanished.

Kirinki54 · 06-11-2003, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Attalus
IMHO, the problem arises mainly from the "Ainulindalë," which is not so much difficult as puzzling. For me, once I got into "Quenta Silmarillion" all difficulties vanished.

I agree with you there. But one of the difficulties I think many new readers encounter, is the seemingly difficult barrier of "religion". This is not what they expected. The freedom of thought they might have expected is thus suddenly severely limited. The "new" world have a lot of built-in prerequisites.

Dreran the Green · 06-11-2003, 06:51 PM

Its a good book once you get it. The first time I read it it just confused me and I stopped before I finished the first chapter. But now I love it. And getting just a bit off topic, how did you get a custom title The Ben? You only have a hundred something posts

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 06-11-2003, 07:08 PM

Quote:

And getting just a bit off topic, how did you get a custom title The Ben? You only have a hundred something posts

His brother is an admin.

Maedhros · 06-12-2003, 04:26 PM

Quote:

His brother is an admin.

Good to know that the forums rules are applied the same to all the members.

Artanis · 06-12-2003, 04:30 PM

Hm - I doubt his title is meant as an honour.

Pardon me if I'm wrong.

06-01-2003, 03:52 PM	#1
The Ben Really Smelly Orc Join Date: May 2003 Location: i'm not going to tell you. You might locate me. Posts: 325	? What is so interesting about a history book?? __________________ The Ben is Stronger Than the Sword

06-01-2003, 04:34 PM	#2
gimli7410 the dumb stoner canuck Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: canada Posts: 2,542	it tells what happened before the lord of the rings books. it gives an insight how history had happened and how one thing leads to another __________________ -"Down with the system"-Serj tankian of system of a down -“Humans have been on the earth for millions of years, yet we don’t believe man began thinking until he started building walls. And what good have these walls ever done us?”-Serj tankian of soad -"stupid people do stupid things"-Serj tankian of soad "Trying is the first step to failure" Homer Simpson "It isn't going to be easy"-jerseydevil "only the good die young" I AM CANADIAN If the people lead, the leaders will follow.

06-01-2003, 07:17 PM	#3
Shadowfax The Fleet-Footed Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: British Columbia Posts: 913	I don't really consider the Silmarillion a history book exactly. Yes it's full of "history" (people and events that occured before LotR), but it's full of amazing stories about events of the past. So yeah it's history, but when I'm reading it I'm not thinking of it as a history book or a text book, but as a collection of stories from the First and Second Ages, which it is. I hope that made some sort of sense. __________________ Jesus saved me "To remain ignorant of things that happened before you were born is to remain a child" (Cicero, 106-43 B.C.) "Art is a lie which makes us realize the truth" (Picasso)

06-01-2003, 08:35 PM	#5
The Ben Really Smelly Orc Join Date: May 2003 Location: i'm not going to tell you. You might locate me. Posts: 325	Ah. Maybe reading it a few hundred more times will make me understand. __________________ The Ben is Stronger Than the Sword

06-02-2003, 01:11 PM	#8
Artanis Greatest Elven woman of Aman Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Having way too much fun with Fëanor's 7 Posts: 4,285	You don't need a link. Look at the 3 sticky threads on top of the first page in this forum (the Silmarillion Forum). These are the chapter assignments and the thread for the ongoing chapter, which is chapter 8. You'll also find threads for chapter 7 and chapter 6 on the first page of this forum. Look a few pages back and you'll easily find the threads for the previous chapters. I quite understand if you think the Sil is a hard read, because it is. But it's also very rewarding when you finally 'get' it. __________________ --Life is hard, and then we die.

06-02-2003, 03:20 PM	#9
Ragnarok Rohirrim Warrior Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: PA Posts: 590	I consider it more of a collection of shortened stories that significantly relate with each other giving the events and history of Middle Earth as well as providing background information for LotR. Unfinished Tales is similar to the Sim as well giving brief accounts of people, places and things in Middle Earth.

06-03-2003, 05:09 PM	#10
markedel 'Sober' Mullet Frosh Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Queen's Posts: 1,245	The writing-more beautiful than LOTR. __________________ "Earnur was a man like his father in valour, but not in wisdom"

06-06-2003, 02:28 AM	#11
Lanelf Elven Warrior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: The Second Drawer Down Posts: 407	What's so great about it??? keels over EVERYTHING! Lanelf. __________________ Hey, I'm back! resounding silence You didn't even notice I was gone, did you? Well, I'm back now anyway. Artemis Fowl must find Mulch Diggums! You'll never shut down the real Napster

06-07-2003, 12:20 AM	#13
Ruinel Banned Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: I have no idea. Posts: 5,441	The Sil is more than a 'history' book. The Sil is the background for the LotR stories and The Hobbit. Interesting, I didn't need any help reading The Sil and I didn't find it a 'difficult read' at all. I found myself drawn into it's very pages and enveloped by it's every word.

06-07-2003, 02:54 AM	#14
Silpion Elven Warrior Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 103	I have never thought of The Silmarillion as just a history book . Although the information inside of the book enriches The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, I would like to believe that The Silmarillion can be enjoyed on its own. To me, each chapter makes an impact and it engages my interest, my imagination, and my curiousity.

06-08-2003, 04:46 PM	#15
Attalus Swan-Knight of Dol Amroth Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: On the Bay of Belfalas Posts: 1,125	IMHO, the problem arises mainly from the "Ainulindalë," which is not so much difficult as puzzling. For me, once I got into "Quenta Silmarillion" all difficulties vanished. __________________ "What song the Sirens sang, or what name Achilles assumed when he hid himself among women, though puzzling questions are not beyond conjecture." - Sir Thomas Browne, Urn Burial. Last edited by Attalus : 06-08-2003 at 04:48 PM.

06-11-2003, 06:51 PM	#17
Dreran the Green Lady of Legends Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Missing. Reward if found. Posts: 1,083	Its a good book once you get it. The first time I read it it just confused me and I stopped before I finished the first chapter. But now I love it. And getting just a bit off topic, how did you get a custom title The Ben? You only have a hundred something posts __________________ The end justifies the means, thought Aziraphale. And the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.* *This is not actually true. The road to Hell is paved with frozen door to door salesmen. On weekends many of the younger demons go ice-skating down it. ~Good Omens

06-12-2003, 04:30 PM	#20
Artanis Greatest Elven woman of Aman Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Having way too much fun with Fëanor's 7 Posts: 4,285	Hm - I doubt his title is meant as an honour. Pardon me if I'm wrong. __________________ --Life is hard, and then we die.