Talk:Arkenstone

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Latest comment: 10 April 2023 by Akhorahil in topic Source of ref to "jarknasteinn" (etymology)

The Arkenstone was more important to Thorin than all that gold -- and that was a lot of dwarvish gold 'pepped up' with dragon-sickness to which Thorin was clearly not immune.

What can be so important about it? Osric

I think the fact that it was a great heirloom of the dwarves added to its "preciousness" and worth which made it financially and emotionally more important than anything else. --Hyarion 20:03, 14 November 2006 (EST)
Besides its immense significance to the Longbeards, it apparently also held an “enchantment”:
"[after describing its beauty] . . . Suddenly Bilbo’s arm went towards it drawn by its enchantment. His small hand would not close about it, for it was a large and heavy gem; but he lifted it, shut his eyes, and put it in his pocket. “Now I am a burglar indeed!” thought he. “But I suppose I must tell the dwarves about it – some time. They did say I could pick and choose my own share; and I think I would choose this, if they took all the rest!” All the same he had an uncomfortable feeling that the picking and choosing had not really been meant to include this marvelous gem, and that trouble would come of it."
Not at Home
Bilbo’s own good sense is overruled by this “enchantment”. It evidently had a lasting effect on Thorin, if you will recall his harsh words. It reminds me somewhat of the part in Stephen Lawhead’s Dragon King trilogy. In the second book, The Warlords of Nin, Lawhead writes of lanthanil (doubtless influenced by mithril). Inchkilbeth the armorer tells a story of how his father and grandfather once met a merchant who had in his possession a mysterious cup that would shine in the darkness. Entranced, his grandfather (who was also an armorer) offered twenty fine daggers for one touch for himself, and his son. Reluctantly the merchant agreed, and both felt the marvelous touch. His grandfather died years later in despair of ever touching that cup again, after trying to find it. His son was younger, and therefor less corrupted, and instead attempted to duplicate the work, and was disappointed. Though both became master armorers, the grandfather died in despair, and the father in discontent. It does remind me of this. Bilbo was uncorrupted by the treasure, and it had not the lasting effect on him it held on the dwarves (to that degree). Thorin had seen this ancient heirloom, and was “enchanted”. Remember how quickly Bilbo was entranced and refused to let it go? Thorin probably lived in its light for almost a hundred years. To him it must have been like losing the sun and coming near to finding it again only to have it given away to the storm-clouds. This is an assumption, but I think it is a relatively supported and accurate one. --Narfil Palùrfalas 21:07, 14 November 2006 (EST)

Portrayal in the 1977 cartoon[edit source]

I was thinking, the Arkenstone is not in the 1977 cartoon, but perhaps we could include that under "Portrayal and Adaptions" concerning what they did instead with the argument between Bilbo and Thorin. How do you properly cite a film? --SingingOrc 19:17, 17 September 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Movies are not cited like books. You instead include the title of the movie in bold like the other citations currently on the page. However, since this is specifically about portrayals of the Arkenstone, I am not sure that kind of thing should go here. Perhaps it would be better included in a list of differences between said adaptation and the book. Not to say that its absence should not be noted, but this page is specifically regarding the Arkenstone and not the debate between Thorin and Bilbo. Turiannerevarine 20:38, 17 September 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Fair enough. I was just thinking there should probably be some mention of what was used to replace it, something simple such as: "The Arkenstone is omitted. In place of this subplot, Bilbo voices that he wishes he were captured as soon as possible and Thorin calls him a coward." However, if that is too long, perhaps only the first sentence could be used. At any rate, this sort of description seems to be consistent with how the absence of most of the Dwarves are described in the 1966 cartoon on this site.--SingingOrc 20:43, 17 September 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I think "The Arkenstone is omitted. In place of this subplot, Bilbo voices that he wishes he were captured as soon as possible and Thorin calls him a coward." is simple enough that it can be included here. Turiannerevarine 20:54, 17 September 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I will do that then.SingingOrc 21:47, 17 September 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Source of ref to "jarknasteinn" (etymology)[edit source]

What is the source of the reference to "jarknasteinn" ? I haven't found this word in any of my document.

Well spotted, oh Queen of Númenór. I think that I found the source for most of the statements at the beginning of the etymology section in a chapter in The History of the Hobbit, although the Old Norse name there is spelled slightly differently as iarknasteinn. I have added the reference to the etymology section. --Akhorahil (talk) 14:12, 10 April 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]