| Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien | |
| "Seek for the Sword that was broken:" | |
|---|---|
| Poem Information | |
| Written | After August of 1940 |
| Published | The Fellowship of the Ring, The Treason of Isengard, The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien |
| Subject(s) | Narsil, Rivendell, Council of Elrond, Morgul-spells, Doom, One Ring, Hobbits |
"Seek for the Sword that was broken:" was a rhyme that appeared in dreams to Faramir and later his brother Boromir.[1]
Poem excerpt
Seek for the Sword that was broken:
In Imladris it dwells;
There shall be counsels taken
Stronger than Morgul-spells.[1]
History
When Faramir had the dream, he did not speak of it. He had the dream twice again, and his brother had it once. Neither knew what exactly the "Doom" and "Isildur's Bane" referred to, nor where "Imladris" was. Their father told Boromir that Imladris was where Lord Elrond dwelt, and the road being too dangerous, Boromir took it upon himself to follow this lead.[1]
Background
In a rough outline of the Council of Elrond written in August of 1940, the following words allude to the poem:[2]
Prophecies had been spoken. The Broken Sword should be reforged. Our wise men said the Broken Sword was in Rivendell.
The earliest form of the "dream-verse" was lost along with the page containing it. As a consequence, it cannot be known when J.R.R. Tolkien first wrote the poem.[2]
In September of 2024, the poem was reprinted near the end of entry 156 in The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien.[3]
Portrayal in adaptations
1981: The Lord of the Rings:
- The song is sung by Matthew Vine in a high-pitched voice at the Council of Elrond. It is the reason for Boromir's coming to Rivendell, and it is explained by Aragorn, Gandalf and Elrond.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond", p. 259
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "VI. The Council of Elrond (1)"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Christina Scull, Wayne G. Hammond (eds.), The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien, "156. All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter (1938-54)"