The Fall of Númenor (chapter): Difference between revisions
(Finished summary of the first version) |
|||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
There are no details about the history of Númenor till its Downfall, except describing how the Númenóreans are the greatest mariners, and that they explored all the seas, being so powerful that they were even confused as gods by the peoples of Middle-earth. Unlike the mature version, here is told that they did can visit [[Tol Eressëa]], and even the kings could go beyond before their coronation. But the Gods forbade them to sail beyond the Isle, and although their lifes were longer thanks to the closeness to Valinor, they murmured against this decree and tried to prolong their lives and sent spies to Valinor. | There are no details about the history of Númenor till its Downfall, except describing how the Númenóreans are the greatest mariners, and that they explored all the seas, being so powerful that they were even confused as gods by the peoples of Middle-earth. Unlike the mature version, here is told that they did can visit [[Tol Eressëa]], and even the kings could go beyond before their coronation. But the Gods forbade them to sail beyond the Isle, and although their lifes were longer thanks to the closeness to Valinor, they murmured against this decree and tried to prolong their lives and sent spies to Valinor. | ||
During the reign of Angor and his wife Istar, [[Sauron|Sûr]] (called [[Thû]] by the [[Gnomes]]) came to Númenor in the likeness of a great bird and preached about the second coming of [[Morgoth]]. This coming did happen, but only in spirit, as a shadow upon the mind and heart, for Morgoth was expelled out of the World. The monarchs and most of the people believed Sûr, and a temple was built in the midst of the land, where Sûr dwelt. When Angor felt the oncoming of age, Sûr convinced him that the only way to obtain undying life was mastering the West. Therefore | During the reign of Angor and his wife Istar, [[Sauron|Sûr]] (called [[Thû]] by the [[Gnomes]]) came to Númenor in the likeness of a great bird and preached about the second coming of [[Morgoth]]. This coming did happen, but only in spirit, as a shadow upon the mind and heart, for Morgoth was expelled out of the World. The monarchs and most of the people believed Sûr, and a temple was built in the midst of the land, where Sûr dwelt. When Angor felt the oncoming of age, Sûr convinced him that the only way to obtain undying life was mastering the West. Therefore great fleets were made that sailed West without wind, surpassed Tol Eressëa and began the attack against [[Taniquetil]]. | ||
After Manwë's prayer, Ilúvatar gave power to the Gods, who changed the shape of the World: Valinor was sundered from the earth and the Middle-earth was bent back and made into a globe. The whole fleet felt into the abyss, and the mortal warriors would lie in the [[Caves of the Forgotten|Forgotten Caves]] untill the [[Last Battle]], but the king and the queen felt like stars into the darkness. Christopher notices that the rift that sinks the fleet, separating Valinor, seems to destroy Tol Eressëa, of which is said that "remained only as a shape of the past", but this is quite improbable.<ref name=First></ref>{{rp|21}} | After Manwë's prayer, Ilúvatar gave power to the Gods, who changed the shape of the World: Valinor was sundered from the earth and the Middle-earth was bent back and made into a globe. The whole fleet felt into the abyss, and the mortal warriors would lie in the [[Caves of the Forgotten|Forgotten Caves]] untill the [[Last Battle]], but the king and the queen felt like stars into the darkness. Christopher notices that the rift that sinks the fleet, separating Valinor, seems to destroy Tol Eressëa, of which is said that "remained only as a shape of the past", but this is quite improbable.<ref name=First></ref>{{rp|21}} | ||
| Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
Númenor was destroyed, but a remnant of Númenóreans escaped the ruin, specially those who still revered the Lords of the West and didn't belive Sûr. In Middle-earth they became lords and kings, some were evil and others of good will, but all of them became obsessed with death, building better houses for the dead than for the living. Therefore the Old World became a place of tombs and later Men began to bury their deads in ships and set them in pomp to the western seas, hoping their spirits could find the land of the Gods. However, the survivors kept trying to find the West, exploring all the seas and new lands, but they realised that the world was now round indeed. But knowing about the [[Straight Road]], some built ships that could sail among the airs, but even those failed and tried to forget any legend about the Gods. | Númenor was destroyed, but a remnant of Númenóreans escaped the ruin, specially those who still revered the Lords of the West and didn't belive Sûr. In Middle-earth they became lords and kings, some were evil and others of good will, but all of them became obsessed with death, building better houses for the dead than for the living. Therefore the Old World became a place of tombs and later Men began to bury their deads in ships and set them in pomp to the western seas, hoping their spirits could find the land of the Gods. However, the survivors kept trying to find the West, exploring all the seas and new lands, but they realised that the world was now round indeed. But knowing about the [[Straight Road]], some built ships that could sail among the airs, but even those failed and tried to forget any legend about the Gods. | ||
Nevertheless, some Númenóreans remained faithful and the old knowledge was preserved, knowing that the [[Fate of Men]] was beyond the roundness of the World and the Straight Path. And they always fought against the shadow and Thû, destroying his temples. The lands inhabited by those Númenóreans and the Elves were still called Beleriand, and their king was Amroth, who allied with [[Elrond]] and fought Thû. Amroth died against him, but Thû was defeated and hide himself in a [[Dol Guldur|dark forest]]. But this war hastened the fading of the Eldar and their place in the world came to an end. | Nevertheless, some Númenóreans remained faithful and the old knowledge was preserved, knowing that the [[Gift of Men|Fate of Men]] was beyond the roundness of the World and the Straight Path. And they always fought against the shadow and Thû, destroying his temples. The lands inhabited by those Númenóreans and the Elves were still called Beleriand, and their king was Amroth, who allied with [[Elrond]] and fought Thû. Amroth died against him, but Thû was defeated and hide himself in a [[Dol Guldur|dark forest]]. But this war hastened the fading of the Eldar and their place in the world came to an end. | ||
==The second version of The Fall of Númenor== | ==The second version of The Fall of Númenor== | ||
Revision as of 21:10, 24 September 2019
| The Lost Road and Other Writings chapters |
|---|
|
The Fall of Númenor is the second chapter of the first section of The Lost Road and Other Writings. As explained in "The Early History of the Legend", the texts presented here are Tolkien's personal retelling of the story of Atlantis in relation with The Lost Road, that later became the Akallabêth.
The original outline
The first text of the legend was written with such speed that many words are unreadable and is full of corrections and marginal notes. As an outline, it only provides the main ideas that later will be used in the narratives below. Therefore there is no mention of any character except Thû and Amroth (struck out "Agaldor"), whose fight against Thû with help of the Elves is an antecedent of Elendil and the Last Alliance.
Near the beginning it is included a basic sketch of the World Made Round, being a forerunner of the Diagram III of the Ambarkanta maps. This idea and the Straight Path were set down for first time in this outline.
The first version of The Fall of Númenor
The first narrative of the Fall of Númenor is found right after The Lost Road manuscript is interrupted, and Christopher is quite sure that it was written in the same time.[1] Although it follows the outline, it is also full of corrections made at the time of composition and others for the second version.
The narrative begins telling the afterwards of the Great Battle: the Elves were called to Valinor and the Men who fought against Morgoth were given a great land in the middle of Belegaer, raised by Ossë, established by Aulë and enriched by Yavanna. The island was called Númenor (Westernesse), Andúnië (the Sunsetland), and later Atalantë (the Ruin); and its main city was Númar or Númenos. However, an early correction of the passage concerning the names explains that the Valar named it Andor (the Land of Gift), while the population called it Vinya (the Young) among them, and Númenor among the Men of Middle-warth, being Andúnië the chief city.[2]:19
There are no details about the history of Númenor till its Downfall, except describing how the Númenóreans are the greatest mariners, and that they explored all the seas, being so powerful that they were even confused as gods by the peoples of Middle-earth. Unlike the mature version, here is told that they did can visit Tol Eressëa, and even the kings could go beyond before their coronation. But the Gods forbade them to sail beyond the Isle, and although their lifes were longer thanks to the closeness to Valinor, they murmured against this decree and tried to prolong their lives and sent spies to Valinor.
During the reign of Angor and his wife Istar, Sûr (called Thû by the Gnomes) came to Númenor in the likeness of a great bird and preached about the second coming of Morgoth. This coming did happen, but only in spirit, as a shadow upon the mind and heart, for Morgoth was expelled out of the World. The monarchs and most of the people believed Sûr, and a temple was built in the midst of the land, where Sûr dwelt. When Angor felt the oncoming of age, Sûr convinced him that the only way to obtain undying life was mastering the West. Therefore great fleets were made that sailed West without wind, surpassed Tol Eressëa and began the attack against Taniquetil.
After Manwë's prayer, Ilúvatar gave power to the Gods, who changed the shape of the World: Valinor was sundered from the earth and the Middle-earth was bent back and made into a globe. The whole fleet felt into the abyss, and the mortal warriors would lie in the Forgotten Caves untill the Last Battle, but the king and the queen felt like stars into the darkness. Christopher notices that the rift that sinks the fleet, separating Valinor, seems to destroy Tol Eressëa, of which is said that "remained only as a shape of the past", but this is quite improbable.[2]:21
Númenor was destroyed, but a remnant of Númenóreans escaped the ruin, specially those who still revered the Lords of the West and didn't belive Sûr. In Middle-earth they became lords and kings, some were evil and others of good will, but all of them became obsessed with death, building better houses for the dead than for the living. Therefore the Old World became a place of tombs and later Men began to bury their deads in ships and set them in pomp to the western seas, hoping their spirits could find the land of the Gods. However, the survivors kept trying to find the West, exploring all the seas and new lands, but they realised that the world was now round indeed. But knowing about the Straight Road, some built ships that could sail among the airs, but even those failed and tried to forget any legend about the Gods.
Nevertheless, some Númenóreans remained faithful and the old knowledge was preserved, knowing that the Fate of Men was beyond the roundness of the World and the Straight Path. And they always fought against the shadow and Thû, destroying his temples. The lands inhabited by those Númenóreans and the Elves were still called Beleriand, and their king was Amroth, who allied with Elrond and fought Thû. Amroth died against him, but Thû was defeated and hide himself in a dark forest. But this war hastened the fading of the Eldar and their place in the world came to an end.
The second version of The Fall of Númenor
The further development of The Fall of Númenor
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part One. The Fall of Númenor and The Lost Road: I. The Early History of the Legend", p. 9
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part One: II. The Fall of Númenor, (ii) The first version of The Fall of Númenor"
