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Lay of Leithian

2011-11-13T18:49:32Z

Koriagin: /* True-life History */

{{lolcantos}}
The '''Lay of Leithian''' was a long [[Elvish]] lay that told the story of [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], their [[Quest for the Silmaril]], and their return from [[Mandos]]. It was said to be the second longest of all such tales (with the longest being the ''[[Narn i Chîn Húrin]]'', the story of [[Túrin]] and [[Nienor]]).

== Plot ==
[[Image:Anke Eissmann - Beren recovers a Silmaril.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Beren recovers a Silmaril'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]
The Lay tells the story of Beren's escape from [[Dorthonion]] after the loss of his father [[Barahir]]. Coming into the south, he entered [[Doriath]] and came across [[Lúthien|Lúthien Tinúviel]] in the woods. They desired to wed, but Lúthien's father [[Thingol]] set an impossible bride-price on his daughter—a [[Silmaril]] from the [[Iron Crown]] of [[Morgoth]] in the deepest pits of [[Angband]]. Beren set out on his hopeless quest with the aid of [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]], but they were captured and imprisoned by [[Sauron]]. Lúthien came to their aid through many troubles of her own, and with the help of [[Huan the Hound]] she rescued Beren. Using her magical arts, they penetrated Angband and stole one of the Silmarils, but in their escape Beren's hand, holding the Silmaril, was bitten from his wrist by the great wolf [[Carcharoth]]. Eventually, the wolf was hunted and slain, and the Silmaril recovered, but only at the cost of Beren's life. Then Lúthien, too, passed away, and pleaded before Mandos himself. Both Beren and Lúthien were returned to life, and they dwelt in the south of [[Ossiriand]] for a time. Lúthien had become mortal herself, and she passed away at last with her beloved beyond the [[Circles of the World]].

== True-life History ==
The Lay is not a mere literary invention — it does substantially exist in English, in the form of iambic tetrameter, and is contained within volume III of ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', appropriately named ''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]''. Though the extant lay runs to 4223 lines and fourteen [[Cantos of the Lay of Leithian|Cantos]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] never fully completed the poem. The fragment terminates right at one of the climactic moments of the tale, as Beren's hand is torn from the wrist by the monstrous guardian of Angband's gate, [[Carcharoth]].

The first recorded date of the writing of the Lay was at Line 557: August 23, [[1925]]. The next date is two and a half years later, 27-8 March, [[1928]], at line 1161. Over the next nine days he wrote fully 1769 lines, up to 2929. These dates are for the copying out of the manuscript, not for their writing, so Tolkien may have had many passages earlier before he put them together. In September, [[1931]], he abandoned the Lay. He sent it to [[C.S. Lewis]], who wrote back the following:
{{quote|I sat up late last night and have read the ''Geste'' as far as to where Beren and his gnomish allies defeat the patrol of orcs above the sources of the [[Narog]] and disguise themselves in the ''rëaf'' [ [[Old English|OE]]: 'garments, weapons, taken from the slain']. I can quite honestly say that it is ages since I have had an evening of such delight: and the personal interest of reading a friend's work had very little to do with it. I should have enjoyed it just as well as if I'd picked it up in a bookshop, by an unknown author. The two things that come out clearly are the sense of reality in the background and the mythical value: the essence of a myth being that it should have no taint of allegory to the maker and yet should suggest incipient allegories to the reader|The Lay of Leithian introduction}}

Later he wrote a detailed criticism, which pretends to treat the Lay as if it were a historical document. Tolkien was influenced by Lewis' comments, and made several minor changes based on them.

==Etymology==
Leithian means "''Release from bondage''" from the verb ''[[leithia]]'' "release" from verb ''[[leith]]'' "set free" ([[root]] [[LEK]])<ref>{{HM|Etymologies}}, entry LEK</ref>

The exact derivation of the word is peculiar since it is the only occurrence of a verb becoming a noun simply with the ending -n, although it could be related to the [[Primitive Quendian]] ending such as ''[[-nê]], [[-nâ]]''.{{fact}} In this case, the noun ''leithian'' is derived from an earlier [[Old Sindarin]] *''lektiane''.{{fact}}

== Title ==

The most likely meaning of the title can be found at one of the key moments in the poem, the point at which one of the Silmarils, the magical gems of [[Fëanor]], is cut from the crown of [[Morgoth]] by Beren: 

''Behold! the hope of Elvenland'' 
''the fire of Fëanor, Light of Morn'' 
''before the sun and moon were born,'' 
''thus out of bondage came at last,'' 
''from iron to mortal hand it passed.''''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]'', p. 362 

This moment is also central to the over-arching story-line of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', in which the gem is used to bring hope to the scattered peoples of Middle-Earth and is ultimately set in the heavens by the mariner [[Eärendil]] as a sign of their coming salvation.

The name of the poem is therefore likely an attempt to underscore the importance of the Lay relative to other tales from the first age. Though honor, bravery and vengeance drive the Elven hosts forward to war with [[Morgoth]], it is only love that can overcome all obstacles to wrest a [[Silmaril]] from his crown.

== Recycling the Lay ==
Tolkien recycled parts of the older version of the Lay, most notably in [[The Lord of the Rings]], where [[Gimli]] sings of [[Moria]] to the rest of the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]]. Following is a piece found in both the Lord of the Rings and the Lay:

'''Original Lay'''

<blockquote>
...There might and glory, wealth untold 
Were wielded from his ivory throne 
In many-pillared halls of stone. 
There beryl, pearl, and opal pale 
And metal wrought like fishes' mail 
Buckler and corslet, axe and sword 
And gleaming spears were laid in hoard 
All these he had and loved them less 
Than a maiden once in Elfinesse. . . 
</blockquote>

'''Lord of the Rings'''

<blockquote>
...There forged was blade, and bound was hilt; 
The delver mined, the mason built. 
There beryl, pearl, and opal pale, 
And metal wrought like fishes' mail, 
Buckler and corslet, axe and sword, 
And shining spears were laid in hoard. 
</blockquote>

== See Also ==
*[[Cantos of the Lay of Leithian]]
*[[Lay of Leithian continued]]
*[[The Lay of Leithian Adapted]]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKYq75Cc3yo Of Hunters Lore...] OpenMic Video: Excerpt of the Lay of Leithian (Canto II) by Loren & Strumstick Messiah

[[Category:Lays and Tales]]
[[Category:Quest for the Silmaril]]
[[de:Leithian-Lied]]
[[fr:encyclo/arts/chants_et_recits/lai_de_leithian]]
[[fi:The Lay of Leithian]]

Lay of Leithian

2011-11-13T18:46:52Z

Koriagin: /* True-life History */

{{lolcantos}}
The '''Lay of Leithian''' was a long [[Elvish]] lay that told the story of [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], their [[Quest for the Silmaril]], and their return from [[Mandos]]. It was said to be the second longest of all such tales (with the longest being the ''[[Narn i Chîn Húrin]]'', the story of [[Túrin]] and [[Nienor]]).

== Plot ==
[[Image:Anke Eissmann - Beren recovers a Silmaril.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Beren recovers a Silmaril'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]
The Lay tells the story of Beren's escape from [[Dorthonion]] after the loss of his father [[Barahir]]. Coming into the south, he entered [[Doriath]] and came across [[Lúthien|Lúthien Tinúviel]] in the woods. They desired to wed, but Lúthien's father [[Thingol]] set an impossible bride-price on his daughter—a [[Silmaril]] from the [[Iron Crown]] of [[Morgoth]] in the deepest pits of [[Angband]]. Beren set out on his hopeless quest with the aid of [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]], but they were captured and imprisoned by [[Sauron]]. Lúthien came to their aid through many troubles of her own, and with the help of [[Huan the Hound]] she rescued Beren. Using her magical arts, they penetrated Angband and stole one of the Silmarils, but in their escape Beren's hand, holding the Silmaril, was bitten from his wrist by the great wolf [[Carcharoth]]. Eventually, the wolf was hunted and slain, and the Silmaril recovered, but only at the cost of Beren's life. Then Lúthien, too, passed away, and pleaded before Mandos himself. Both Beren and Lúthien were returned to life, and they dwelt in the south of [[Ossiriand]] for a time. Lúthien had become mortal herself, and she passed away at last with her beloved beyond the [[Circles of the World]].

== True-life History ==
The Lay is not a mere literary invention — it does substantially exist in English, in the form of iambic tetrameter, and is contained within volume III of ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', appropriately named ''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]''. Though the extant lay runs to 4223 lines and fourteen [[Cantos of the Lay of Leithian|Cantos]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] never fully completed the poem. The fragment terminates right at one of the climactic moments of the tale, as Beren's hand is torn from the wrist by the monstrous guardian of Angband's gate, Carcharoth.

The first recorded date of the writing of the Lay was at Line 557: August 23, [[1925]]. The next date is two and a half years later, 27-8 March, [[1928]], at line 1161. Over the next nine days he wrote fully 1769 lines, up to 2929. These dates are for the copying out of the manuscript, not for their writing, so Tolkien may have had many passages earlier before he put them together. In September, [[1931]], he abandoned the Lay. He sent it to [[C.S. Lewis]], who wrote back the following:
{{quote|I sat up late last night and have read the ''Geste'' as far as to where Beren and his gnomish allies defeat the patrol of orcs above the sources of the [[Narog]] and disguise themselves in the ''rëaf'' [ [[Old English|OE]]: 'garments, weapons, taken from the slain']. I can quite honestly say that it is ages since I have had an evening of such delight: and the personal interest of reading a friend's work had very little to do with it. I should have enjoyed it just as well as if I'd picked it up in a bookshop, by an unknown author. The two things that come out clearly are the sense of reality in the background and the mythical value: the essence of a myth being that it should have no taint of allegory to the maker and yet should suggest incipient allegories to the reader|The Lay of Leithian introduction}}

Later he wrote a detailed criticism, which pretends to treat the Lay as if it were a historical document. Tolkien was influenced by Lewis' comments, and made several minor changes based on them.

==Etymology==
Leithian means "''Release from bondage''" from the verb ''[[leithia]]'' "release" from verb ''[[leith]]'' "set free" ([[root]] [[LEK]])<ref>{{HM|Etymologies}}, entry LEK</ref>

The exact derivation of the word is peculiar since it is the only occurrence of a verb becoming a noun simply with the ending -n, although it could be related to the [[Primitive Quendian]] ending such as ''[[-nê]], [[-nâ]]''.{{fact}} In this case, the noun ''leithian'' is derived from an earlier [[Old Sindarin]] *''lektiane''.{{fact}}

== Title ==

The most likely meaning of the title can be found at one of the key moments in the poem, the point at which one of the Silmarils, the magical gems of [[Fëanor]], is cut from the crown of [[Morgoth]] by Beren: 

''Behold! the hope of Elvenland'' 
''the fire of Fëanor, Light of Morn'' 
''before the sun and moon were born,'' 
''thus out of bondage came at last,'' 
''from iron to mortal hand it passed.''''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]'', p. 362 

This moment is also central to the over-arching story-line of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', in which the gem is used to bring hope to the scattered peoples of Middle-Earth and is ultimately set in the heavens by the mariner [[Eärendil]] as a sign of their coming salvation.

The name of the poem is therefore likely an attempt to underscore the importance of the Lay relative to other tales from the first age. Though honor, bravery and vengeance drive the Elven hosts forward to war with [[Morgoth]], it is only love that can overcome all obstacles to wrest a [[Silmaril]] from his crown.

== Recycling the Lay ==
Tolkien recycled parts of the older version of the Lay, most notably in [[The Lord of the Rings]], where [[Gimli]] sings of [[Moria]] to the rest of the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]]. Following is a piece found in both the Lord of the Rings and the Lay:

'''Original Lay'''

<blockquote>
...There might and glory, wealth untold 
Were wielded from his ivory throne 
In many-pillared halls of stone. 
There beryl, pearl, and opal pale 
And metal wrought like fishes' mail 
Buckler and corslet, axe and sword 
And gleaming spears were laid in hoard 
All these he had and loved them less 
Than a maiden once in Elfinesse. . . 
</blockquote>

'''Lord of the Rings'''

<blockquote>
...There forged was blade, and bound was hilt; 
The delver mined, the mason built. 
There beryl, pearl, and opal pale, 
And metal wrought like fishes' mail, 
Buckler and corslet, axe and sword, 
And shining spears were laid in hoard. 
</blockquote>

== See Also ==
*[[Cantos of the Lay of Leithian]]
*[[Lay of Leithian continued]]
*[[The Lay of Leithian Adapted]]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKYq75Cc3yo Of Hunters Lore...] OpenMic Video: Excerpt of the Lay of Leithian (Canto II) by Loren & Strumstick Messiah

[[Category:Lays and Tales]]
[[Category:Quest for the Silmaril]]
[[de:Leithian-Lied]]
[[fr:encyclo/arts/chants_et_recits/lai_de_leithian]]
[[fi:The Lay of Leithian]]

User:Koriagin

2011-08-30T13:12:12Z

Koriagin: Created page with "Jon Koriagin is the author of the web site, [http://layofleithian.blogspot.com/ http://layofleithian.blogspot.com/]. The site is a modern edition of the Lay of Leithian, an adap..."

Jon Koriagin is the author of the web site, [http://layofleithian.blogspot.com/ http://layofleithian.blogspot.com/]. The site is a modern edition of the Lay of Leithian, an adaptation of the original poem to the latest version of Tolkien's mythology.

Lay of Leithian

2011-03-13T21:41:43Z

Koriagin: /* Title */

{{lolcantos}}
The '''Lay of Leithian''' was a long [[Elvish]] lay that told the story of [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], their [[Quest for the Silmaril]], and their return from [[Mandos]]. It was said to be the second longest of all such tales (with the longest being the ''[[Narn i Hîn Húrin]]'', the story of [[Túrin]] and [[Nienor]]).

== Plot ==
[[Image:Anke Eissmann - Beren recovers a Silmaril.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Beren recovers a Silmaril'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]
The Lay tells the story of Beren's escape from [[Dorthonion]] after the loss of his father [[Barahir]]. Coming into the south, he entered [[Doriath]] and came across [[Lúthien|Lúthien Tinúviel]] in the woods. They desired to wed, but Lúthien's father [[Thingol]] set an impossible bride-price on his daughter—a [[Silmaril]] from the [[Iron Crown]] of [[Morgoth]] in the deepest pits of [[Angband]]. Beren set out on his hopeless quest with the aid of [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]], but they were captured and imprisoned by [[Sauron]]. Lúthien came to their aid through many troubles of her own, and with the help of [[Huan the Hound]] she rescued Beren. Using her magical arts, they penetrated Angband and stole one of the Silmarils, but in their escape Beren's hand, holding the Silmaril, was bitten from his wrist by the great wolf [[Carcharoth]]. Eventually, the wolf was hunted and slain, and the Silmaril recovered, but only at the cost of Beren's life. Then Lúthien, too, passed away, and pleaded before Mandos himself. Both Beren and Lúthien were returned to life, and they dwelt in the south of [[Ossiriand]] for a time. Lúthien had become mortal herself, and she passed away at last with her beloved beyond the [[Circles of the World]].

== True-life History ==
The Lay is not a mere literary invention — it does substantially exist in English, in the form of iambic tetrameter, and is contained within volume III of ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', appropriately named ''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]''. Though the extant lay runs to 4223 lines and fourteen [[Cantos of the Lay of Leithian|Cantos]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] never fully completed the poem. He ended in the place that Carcharoth bites off Beren's hand.

The first recorded date of the writing of the Lay was at Line 557: August 23, [[1925]]. The next date is two and a half years later, 27-8 March, [[1928]], at line 1161. Over the next nine days he wrote fully 1769 lines, up to 2929. These dates are for the copying out of the manuscript, not for their writing, so Tolkien may have had many passages earlier before he put them together. In September, [[1931]], he abandoned the Lay. He sent it to [[C.S. Lewis]], who wrote back the following:
{{quote|I sat up late last night and have read the ''Geste'' as far as to where Beren and his gnomish allies defeat the patrol of orcs above the sources of the [[Narog]] and disguise themselves in the ''rëaf'' [ [[Old English|OE]]: 'garments, weapons, taken from the slain']. I can quite honestly say that it is ages since I have had an evening of such delight: and the personal interest of reading a friend's work had very little to do with it. I should have enjoyed it just as well as if I'd picked it up in a bookshop, by an unknown author. The two things that come out clearly are the sense of reality in the background and the mythical value: the essence of a myth being that it should have no taint of allegory to the maker and yet should suggest incipient allegories to the reader|The Lay of Leithian introduction}}

Later he wrote a detailed criticism, which pretends to treat the Lay as if it were a historical document. Tolkien was influenced by Lewis' comments, and made several minor changes based on them.
==Etymology==
Leithian means "''Release from bondage''" from the verb ''[[leithia]]'' "release" from verb ''[[leith]]'' "set free" ([[root]] [[LEK]])<ref>{{HM|Etymologies}}, entry LEK</ref>

The exact derivation of the word is peculiar since it is the only occurrence of a verb becoming a noun simply with the ending -n, although it could be related to the [[Primitive Quendian]] ending such as ''[[-nê]], [[-nâ]]''.{{fact}} In this case, the noun ''leithian'' is derived from an earlier [[Old Sindarin]] *''lektiane''.{{fact}}

== Title ==

The most likely meaning of the title can be found at one of the key moments in the poem, the point at which one of the Silmarils, the magical gems of [[Fëanor]], is cut from the crown of [[Morgoth]] by Beren: 

''Behold! the hope of Elvenland'' 
''the fire of Fëanor, Light of Morn'' 
''before the sun and moon were born,'' 
''thus out of bondage came at last,'' 
''from iron to mortal hand it passed.''''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]'', p. 362 

This moment is also central to the over-arching story-line of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', in which the gem is used to bring hope to the scattered peoples of Middle-Earth and is ultimately set in the heavens by the mariner [[Eärendil]] as a sign of their coming salvation.

The name of the poem is therefore likely an attempt to underscore the importance of the Lay relative to other tales from the first age. Though honor, bravery and vengeance drive the Elven hosts forward to war with [[Morgoth]], it is only love that can overcome all obstacles to wrest a [[Silmaril]] from his crown.

Another interpretation is that Lúthien is released from the bonds of the [[Eldar (Middle-earth)|Eldar]] to the physical world (the world that is, [[Arda]]). In ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' it is said that Lúthien alone among the elves has died indeed, and left the world. By contrast, it is basic to Tolkien's Christian and Catholic conception of Arda that Men, the younger children of [[Ilúvatar]] (God), by means of the Gift of Men (death) are able to escape the confines of the world. Note the comfort offered by the mortal [[King Elessar]] to his elvish bride [[Arwen]] as his death approaches: "we are not bound forever to the circles of the world."

Indeed, the theme of release from imprisonment runs like a thread throughout the story: [[Lúthien]]'s escape from [[Doriath]], her release from [[Nargothrond]] with the aid of [[Huan]], [[Beren]]'s release from [[Gaurhoth Isle]]. In every instance it is love that is the liberating factor: [[Lúthien]]'s love for [[Beren]] drives her on to find some escape from imprisonment by her father, [[Huan]]'s love for [[Lúthien]] is what frees her from [[Nargothrond]], [[Beren]]'s rescue by [[Lúthien]]. One could hazard an interpretation of the title as being suggestive of the immense power of love.

Hence, the theme might find an echo in line 2978 of Canto X, spoken by [[Beren]]:

''Thy love me drew from bondage drear,'' 
''but never to that outer fear,'' 
''that darkest mansion of all dread,'' 
''shall thy most blissful light be led.'' 

== Recycling the Lay ==
Tolkien recycled parts of the older version of the Lay, most notably in [[The Lord of the Rings]], where [[Gimli]] sings of [[Moria]] to the rest of the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]]. Following is a piece found in both the Lord of the Rings and the Lay:

'''Original Lay'''

<blockquote>
...There might and glory, wealth untold 
Were wielded from his ivory throne 
In many-pillared halls of stone. 
There beryl, pearl, and opal pale 
And metal wrought like fishes' mail 
Buckler and corslet, axe and sword 
And gleaming spears were laid in hoard 
All these he had and loved them less 
Than a maiden once in Elfinesse. . . 
</blockquote>

'''Lord of the Rings'''

<blockquote>
...There forged was blade, and bound was hilt; 
The delver mined, the mason built. 
There beryl, pearl, and opal pale, 
And metal wrought like fishes' mail, 
Buckler and corslet, axe and sword, 
And shining spears were laid in hoard. 
</blockquote>

== See Also ==
*[[Cantos of the Lay of Leithian]]
*[[Lay of Leithian continued]]
*[[The Lay of Leithian Adapted]]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKYq75Cc3yo Of Hunters Lore...] OpenMic Video: Excerpt of the Lay of Leithian (Canto II) by Loren & Strumstick Messiah

[[Category:Lays and Tales]]
[[Category:Quest for the Silmaril]]
[[de:Leithian-Lied]]
[[fr:encyclo/arts/chants_et_recits/lai_de_leithian]]
[[fi:The Lay of Leithian]]

Lay of Leithian

2011-02-25T03:06:05Z

Koriagin: /* Title */

{{lolcantos}}
The '''Lay of Leithian''' was a long [[Elvish]] lay that told the story of [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], their [[Quest for the Silmaril]], and their return from [[Mandos]]. It was said to be the second longest of all such tales (with the longest being the ''[[Narn i Hîn Húrin]]'', the story of [[Túrin]] and [[Nienor]]).

== Plot ==
[[Image:Anke Eissmann - Beren recovers a Silmaril.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Beren recovers a Silmaril'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]
The Lay tells the story of Beren's escape from [[Dorthonion]] after the loss of his father [[Barahir]]. Coming into the south, he entered [[Doriath]] and came across [[Lúthien|Lúthien Tinúviel]] in the woods. They desired to wed, but Lúthien's father [[Thingol]] set an impossible bride-price on his daughter—a [[Silmaril]] from the [[Iron Crown]] of [[Morgoth]] in the deepest pits of [[Angband]]. Beren set out on his hopeless quest with the aid of [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]], but they were captured and imprisoned by [[Sauron]]. Lúthien came to their aid through many troubles of her own, and with the help of [[Huan the Hound]] she rescued Beren. Using her magical arts, they penetrated Angband and stole one of the Silmarils, but in their escape Beren's hand, holding the Silmaril, was bitten from his wrist by the great wolf [[Carcharoth]]. Eventually, the wolf was hunted and slain, and the Silmaril recovered, but only at the cost of Beren's life. Then Lúthien, too, passed away, and pleaded before Mandos himself. Both Beren and Lúthien were returned to life, and they dwelt in the south of [[Ossiriand]] for a time. Lúthien had become mortal herself, and she passed away at last with her beloved beyond the [[Circles of the World]].

== True-life History ==
The Lay is not a mere literary invention — it does substantially exist in English, in the form of iambic tetrameter, and is contained within volume III of ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', appropriately named ''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]''. Though the extant lay runs to 4223 lines and fourteen [[Cantos of the Lay of Leithian|Cantos]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] never fully completed the poem. He ended in the place that Carcharoth bites off Beren's hand.

The first recorded date of the writing of the Lay was at Line 557: August 23, [[1925]]. The next date is two and a half years later, 17-28 March, [[1928]], at line 1161. Over the next nine days he wrote fully 1769 lines, up to 2929. These dates are for the copying out of the manuscript, not for their writing, so Tolkien may have had many passages earlier before he put them together. In September, [[1931]], he abandoned the Lay. He sent it to [[C.S. Lewis]], who wrote back the following:
{{quote|I sat up late last night and have read the ''Geste'' as far as to where Beren and his gnomish allies defeat the patrol of orcs above the sources of the [[Narog]] and disguise themselves in the ''rëaf'' [ [[Old English|OE]]: 'garments, weapons, taken from the slain']. I can quite honestly say that it is ages since I have had an evening of such delight: and the personal interest of reading a friend's work had very little to do with it. I should have enjoyed it just as well as if I'd picked it up in a bookshop, by an unknown author. The two things that come out clearly are the sense of reality in the background and the mythical value: the essence of a myth being that it should have no taint of allegory to the maker and yet should suggest incipient allegories to the reader|The Lay of Leithian introduction}}

Later he wrote a detailed criticism, which pretends to treat the Lay as if it were a historical document. Tolkien was influenced by Lewis' comments, and made several minor changes based on them.
==Etymology==
Leithian means "''Release from bondage''" from the verb ''[[leithia]]'' "release" from verb ''[[leith]]'' "set free" ([[root]] [[LEK]])<ref>{{HM|Etymologies}}, entry LEK</ref>

The exact derivation of the word is peculiar since it is the only occurrence of a verb becoming a noun simply with the ending -n, although it could be related to the [[Primitive Quendian]] ending such as ''[[-nê]], [[-nâ]]''.{{fact}} In this case, the noun ''leithian'' is derived from an earlier [[Old Sindarin]] *''lektiane''.{{fact}}

== Title ==

The most likely meaning of the title can be found at one of the key moments in the poem, the point at which one of the Silmarils, the magical gems of [[Fëanor]], is cut from the crown of [[Morgoth]] by Beren: 

''Behold! the hope of Elvenland'' 
''the fire of Fëanor, Light of Morn'' 
''before the sun and moon were born,'' 
''thus out of bondage came at last,'' 
''from iron to mortal hand it passed.''''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]'', p. 362 

This moment is also central to the over-arching story-line of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', in which the gem is used to bring hope to the scattered peoples of Middle-Earth and is ultimately set in the heavens by the mariner [[Eärendil]] as a sign of their coming salvation.

The name of the poem is therefore likely an attempt to underscore the importance of the Lay relative to other tales from the first age. Though honor, bravery and vengeance drive the Elven hosts forward to war with [[Morgoth]], it is only love that can overcome all obstacles to wrest a [[Silmaril]] from his crown.

== Recycling the Lay ==
Tolkien recycled parts of the older version of the Lay, most notably in [[The Lord of the Rings]], where [[Gimli]] sings of [[Moria]] to the rest of the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]]. Following is a piece found in both the Lord of the Rings and the Lay:

'''Original Lay'''

<blockquote>
...There might and glory, wealth untold 
Were wielded from his ivory throne 
In many-pillared halls of stone. 
There beryl, pearl, and opal pale 
And metal wrought like fishes' mail 
Buckler and corslet, axe and sword 
And gleaming spears were laid in hoard 
All these he had and loved them less 
Than a maiden once in Elfinesse. . . 
</blockquote>

'''Lord of the Rings'''

<blockquote>
...There forged was blade, and bound was hilt; 
The delver mined, the mason built. 
There beryl, pearl, and opal pale, 
And metal wrought like fishes' mail, 
Buckler and corslet, axe and sword, 
And shining spears were laid in hoard. 
</blockquote>

== See Also ==
*[[Cantos of the Lay of Leithian]]
*[[Lay of Leithian continued]]
*[[The Lay of Leithian Adapted]]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKYq75Cc3yo Of Hunters Lore...] OpenMic Video: Excerpt of the Lay of Leithian (Canto II) by Loren & Strumstick Messiah

[[Category:Lays and Tales]]
[[Category:Quest for the Silmaril]]
[[de:Leithian-Lied]]
[[fr:encyclo/arts/chants_et_recits/lai_de_leithian]]
[[fi:The Lay of Leithian]]

Lay of Leithian

2011-02-19T05:25:29Z

Koriagin:

{{lolcantos}}
The '''Lay of Leithian''' was a long [[Elvish]] lay that told the story of [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], their [[Quest for the Silmaril]], and their return from [[Mandos]]. It was said to be the second longest of all such tales (with the longest being the ''[[Narn i Hîn Húrin]]'', the story of [[Túrin]] and [[Nienor]]).

== Plot ==
[[Image:Anke Eissmann - Beren recovers a Silmaril.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Beren recovers a Silmaril'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]
The Lay tells the story of Beren's escape from [[Dorthonion]] after the loss of his father [[Barahir]]. Coming into the south, he entered [[Doriath]] and came across [[Lúthien|Lúthien Tinúviel]] in the woods. They desired to wed, but Lúthien's father [[Thingol]] set an impossible bride-price on his daughter—a [[Silmaril]] from the [[Iron Crown]] of [[Morgoth]] in the deepest pits of [[Angband]]. Beren set out on his hopeless quest with the aid of [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]], but they were captured and imprisoned by [[Sauron]]. Lúthien came to their aid through many troubles of her own, and with the help of [[Huan the Hound]] she rescued Beren. Using her magical arts, they penetrated Angband and stole one of the Silmarils, but in their escape Beren's hand, holding the Silmaril, was bitten from his wrist by the great wolf [[Carcharoth]]. Eventually, the wolf was hunted and slain, and the Silmaril recovered, but only at the cost of Beren's life. Then Lúthien, too, passed away, and pleaded before Mandos himself. Both Beren and Lúthien were returned to life, and they dwelt in the south of [[Ossiriand]] for a time. Lúthien had become mortal herself, and she passed away at last with her beloved beyond the [[Circles of the World]].

== True-life History ==
The Lay is not a mere literary invention — it does substantially exist in English, in the form of iambic tetrameter, and is contained within volume III of ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', appropriately named ''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]''. Though the extant lay runs to 4223 lines and fourteen [[Cantos of the Lay of Leithian|Cantos]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] never fully completed the poem. He ended in the place that Carcharoth bites off Beren's hand.

The first recorded date of the writing of the Lay was at Line 557: August 23, [[1925]]. The next date is two and a half years later, 17-28 March, [[1928]], at line 1161. Over the next nine days he wrote fully 1769 lines, up to 2929. These dates are for the copying out of the manuscript, not for their writing, so Tolkien may have had many passages earlier before he put them together. In September, [[1931]], he abandoned the Lay. He sent it to [[C.S. Lewis]], who wrote back the following:
{{quote|I sat up late last night and have read the ''Geste'' as far as to where Beren and his gnomish allies defeat the patrol of orcs above the sources of the [[Narog]] and disguise themselves in the ''rëaf'' [ [[Old English|OE]]: 'garments, weapons, taken from the slain']. I can quite honestly say that it is ages since I have had an evening of such delight: and the personal interest of reading a friend's work had very little to do with it. I should have enjoyed it just as well as if I'd picked it up in a bookshop, by an unknown author. The two things that come out clearly are the sense of reality in the background and the mythical value: the essence of a myth being that it should have no taint of allegory to the maker and yet should suggest incipient allegories to the reader|The Lay of Leithian introduction}}

Later he wrote a detailed criticism, which pretends to treat the Lay as if it were a historical document. Tolkien was influenced by Lewis' comments, and made several minor changes based on them.
==Etymology==
Leithian means "''Release from bondage''" from the verb ''[[leithia]]'' "release" from verb ''[[leith]]'' "set free" ([[root]] [[LEK]])<ref>{{HM|Etymologies}}, entry LEK</ref>

The exact derivation of the word is peculiar since it is the only occurrence of a verb becoming a noun simply with the ending -n, although it could be related to the [[Primitive Quendian]] ending such as ''[[-nê]], [[-nâ]]''.{{fact}} In this case, the noun ''leithian'' is derived from an earlier [[Old Sindarin]] *''lektiane''.{{fact}}

== Title ==

The most likely meaning of the title can be found at one of the key moments in the poem, the point at which one of the Silmarils, the magical gems of [[Fëanor]], is cut from the crown of [[Morgoth]] by Beren: 

''Behold! the hope of Elvenland'' 
''the fire of Fëanor, Light of Morn'' 
''before the sun and moon were born,'' 
''thus out of bondage came at last,'' 
''from iron to mortal hand it passed.''''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]'', p. 362 

This moment is also central to the over-arching story-line of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', in which the gem is used to bring hope to the scattered peoples of Middle-Earth and is ultimately set in the heavens by the mariner [[Eärendil]] as a sign of their coming salvation.

The name of the poem is therefore likely an attempt to underscore the importance of Lay relative to other tales from the first age. Though honor, bravery and vengeance drive the Elven hosts forward to war with [[Morgoth]], it is only love that can overcome all obstacles to wrest a [[Silmaril]] from his crown.

== Recycling the Lay ==
Tolkien recycled parts of the older version of the Lay, most notably in [[The Lord of the Rings]], where [[Gimli]] sings of [[Moria]] to the rest of the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]]. Following is a piece found in both the Lord of the Rings and the Lay:

'''Original Lay'''

<blockquote>
...There might and glory, wealth untold 
Were wielded from his ivory throne 
In many-pillared halls of stone. 
There beryl, pearl, and opal pale 
And metal wrought like fishes' mail 
Buckler and corslet, axe and sword 
And gleaming spears were laid in hoard 
All these he had and loved them less 
Than a maiden once in Elfinesse. . . 
</blockquote>

'''Lord of the Rings'''

<blockquote>
...There forged was blade, and bound was hilt; 
The delver mined, the mason built. 
There beryl, pearl, and opal pale, 
And metal wrought like fishes' mail, 
Buckler and corslet, axe and sword, 
And shining spears were laid in hoard. 
</blockquote>

== See Also ==
*[[Cantos of the Lay of Leithian]]
*[[Lay of Leithian continued]]
*[[The Lay of Leithian Adapted]]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKYq75Cc3yo Of Hunters Lore...] OpenMic Video: Excerpt of the Lay of Leithian (Canto II) by Loren & Strumstick Messiah

[[Category:Lays and Tales]]
[[Category:Quest for the Silmaril]]
[[de:Leithian-Lied]]
[[fr:encyclo/arts/chants_et_recits/lai_de_leithian]]
[[fi:The Lay of Leithian]]

Lay of Leithian

2011-02-12T05:15:11Z

Koriagin: /* See Also */

Tolkien Gateway:Sandbox

2011-02-12T04:51:19Z

Koriagin:

:''See also: '''[[Help: Editing]]'''''
This is the '''Tolkien Gateway Sandbox''', for experimental edits and templates to practice using [[wikipedia:Wiki markup|wikitext]]. Please edit this page as much as you want instead of "testing" anywhere else. [[Category:Tolkien Gateway|{{PAGENAME}}]]__TOC__
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BLABLA

BLEBLE

BLIBLI

Some random & utter non-sense

ÎÔÛ

Tolkien Gateway:Sandbox

2011-02-12T04:50:28Z

Koriagin:

Tolkien Gateway:Sandbox

2011-02-12T04:48:55Z

Koriagin:

User talk:Koriagin

2011-02-09T03:00:12Z

Koriagin: Adding welcome message to new user's talk page