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Post by Ilúvatar on Jan 8, 2004 14:36:16 GMT -5
If you've read the Sil what do you think about it. Did you find it hard reading? Did you enjoy it? What parts did you like?
What didn't you understand? (start a new thread to ask questions)
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Post by Earendur on Feb 17, 2004 17:33:47 GMT -5
there are many things i did not understand...but, i'm gonna read the hobbit...then the lotr series...and then the sil, and finnially tht unfinnished tales again, then maybe buy some of the other ME books...
what confused me the most is the place names and how there were more than one name for some things...got kinda hard.
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Post by Isthir - RifCoral on Feb 20, 2004 15:41:40 GMT -5
The reason for the duplicating of names through The Sil to LotR is that JRRT never believed that The Sil would be published and figured that the names could be used and borrowed. As well, there are multiple names for things because there are multiple languages and people surrounding that single thing.
Personally I love The Sil, but have my nose in the HoME series and learning much more than I prolly should.
-Isthir
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Post by Legolas on Feb 20, 2004 16:13:57 GMT -5
it's really confusing with all of the languages
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Post by Isthir - RifCoral on Feb 21, 2004 3:05:19 GMT -5
I thought the same thing until I started studying the languages through the notes in the back and much more became clear to me.  |
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Post by Legolas on Feb 21, 2004 16:26:53 GMT -5
oh...i haven't finished it
i guess i'll have to soon!
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vacin8r
Servant
Race - Istari
Posts: 25
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Post by vacin8r on Feb 25, 2004 22:43:27 GMT -5
the story is absolutly outstanding. gives even more of a perspective to the world of middle eart, however i feel 3 major laws of writing were broken on this one:
1)thou shalt not have more characters then you have pages in the book.
2)thou shalt not give 1 character/place/race/language/object/etc more than 1 name.
3)thou shalt not give more than 1 or 2 characters names that sound very alike.
other than that, its a great read.
-don
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Post by Ilúvatar on Feb 26, 2004 11:34:28 GMT -5
I think the reason the Sil has the "flaws" you mention is because it was not meant to be a story, but a history.
If you look back at world history you will see that places have several names, even people have many names (that still happens today). Lots of people have the same name too, especially if they are family. Thus looking at it as history means there will be lots of characters and places.
Does this make sense? I'm having trouble putting into words what I want to say.
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vacin8r
Servant
Race - Istari
Posts: 25
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Post by vacin8r on Feb 26, 2004 12:18:34 GMT -5
oh i understand, as they might be giants have said "istanbul was constantinople" i do see where it comes from, just makes it a tougher book to read.
-don
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Post by Legolas on Feb 29, 2004 15:34:25 GMT -5
when i get a chance, i'm gonna get a excel spreadsheet and list the major characters names
e.g. Melkor/Morgoth/First Dark Lord
Iluvatar/Eru/Creator
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Post by Ilúvatar on Mar 1, 2004 10:34:16 GMT -5
That's a great idea!!! Let us know how it turns out.  |
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Post by Legolas on Mar 5, 2004 9:09:24 GMT -5
okay.
actually there's one in the back of my book, so that might be good to transfer.
it's about 1/8 of the book.
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Post by starcrystal on Mar 22, 2004 21:47:16 GMT -5
The Silmarillion is a history of beginnings in Middle Earth. I think some people get disappointed when they start reading it because they've read the Hobbit and/or LOTR trilogy and are expecting a similar storyline.
The Silmarillion can be compared to the book of Genesis in the Bible. It speaks of the creation, the origin of the races, and what sets the stage for the actual stories later....
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Post by Legolas on Mar 26, 2004 22:44:49 GMT -5
yes, but in a kind of roundabout manner. it seems like some things are in the wrong place. christopher tolkien should've at least rearranged some stuff so it would be like:
exciting/boring/exciting/boring/exciting.
so many more people would read it if it were more like that.
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Post by Ilúvatar on Mar 27, 2004 23:25:49 GMT -5
I see what you mean Legolas, but if he did that then it really wouldn't be a history of Middle-earth - it would just be another story.
Also what some people think is boring others are really fascinated by it. I'm not one for geography but I know lots of other Tolkien fans who are. I like the love story of Luthien and Beren, but I know of others who do not and would prefer it didn't have such a prominent role.
So I guess what I'm saying is to each his/her own.
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