Aragorn, Boromir, Faramir, or Eomer?

[Skald_the_Rhymer]

@Idlewild

I’m going to agree with the ‘enormous geek’ conclusion. But I loved parts of the Silmarillion. It just doesn’t read as modern prose, it reads as religious text.

I love virtually all of the Silmarillion. In fact ditch the virtually; I can’t think of a section I don’t enjoy. But teh first two sections are rough going on first read.

[eleanorigby]

@Idlewild

It’s really important to know about Beren and Lúthien Tinúviel, because their story sort of foreshadows the whole bit with Aragorn and Arwen, who was incidentally Lúthien’s descendant in some round-about manner, and that’s integral to…

…nah, I’m going to agree with the ‘enormous geek’ conclusion. But I loved parts of the Silmarillion. It just doesn’t read as modern prose, it reads as religious text.

Actually, it’s not at all important to know of Luthien or Beren to enjoy LOTR or The Hobbit (and to still be a geek, btw) I am not interested in Luthien or Beren. It’s all waaaaay too mystical for my tastes. Heck, the Olympian gods had more human characteristics than those depicted in the Silmarillon. Don’t make me try to read it again–I believe it’s against the Geneva Convention.
Skald, You say the nicest things. <blushes> (and of course I listen when Aragorn sings of Luthien and Beren. Viggo mumbles the snippet of song and that’s all I hear… )

And god, yes, I skip the songs when I read LOTR or any book. I also skip poetry written by the author and dreams related by the characters. I’m radical like that.

[DesertDog]

@Idlewild

It’s really important to know about Beren and Lúthien Tinúviel, because their story sort of foreshadows the whole bit with Aragorn and Arwen, who was incidentally Lúthien’s descendant in some round-about manner, and that’s integral to…

Not so round about. Aragorn and Arwen were first cousins – 60 or so removals.

[Apollyon]

@Skald_the_Rhymer

I love virtually all of the Silmarillion. In fact ditch the virtually; I can’t think of a section I don’t enjoy. But teh first two sections are rough going on first read.

After failing a few times in past to make it through the book I found it very satisfying reading through in reverse order – well, sections in reverse order; reading the more conventional parts first and then reading the mythological back-story.

As to your OP question: Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth

(From my first reading of LoTR I loved the image of the entrance of the knights of Dol Amroth into Minas Tirith – was sad it wasn’t in the movie. Understood why for time reasons, but sniff)

[PapSett]

Count me in on the Legolas Love. sigh

If not Leggy… Eomer. Without a doubt. MMMMMMmmm… I love a man on a horse…

[Skald_the_Rhymer]

@eleanorigby

And god, yes, I skip the songs when I read LOTR or any book.

:eek:

I was going to say this admission makes me love you 6% less, but instead I will simply feel sorry for you. You haven’t read the funeral elegy for Boromir, and that is its own punishment.

[Anaamika]

I skipt the songs, too. Are you kidding?

[eleanorigby]

@Skald_the_Rhymer

:eek:

I was going to say this admission makes me love you 6% less, but instead I will simply feel sorry for you. You haven’t read the funeral elegy for Boromir, and that is its own punishment.

I probably have read it. I know I skipped over all those damned Hobbit songs, as well as the pedantic and lengthy elven stuff. If Boromir’s elegy was short enough, I probably gave it a once over.
I like poetry. I like good poetry. Sometimes Tolkien managed to get there; sometimes he, um, did not. Not a slam to the elegy (which I don’t recall) but just a general comment.
I’d still do Legolas. I would just convince him that I would indeed respect him in the morning.

[Skald_the_Rhymer]

@Anaamika

I skipt the songs, too. Are you kidding?

Anaamika, do I ever kid?

Wait, okay, obviously I do.

Do I ever kid about TOLKIEN?

Wait…okay, I bellow Fool of a Took at least once a week.

I guess it would be entirely reasonable to think I might be jesting. But I’m not. I simply love the song the Three Hunters sing as they mourn him. It’s just beautifully sad:

From the mouths of the Sea the South Wind flies, from the sandhills and the stones;
The wailing of the gulls it bears, and at the gate it moans.
‘What news from the South, O sighing wind, do you bring to me at eve?
Where now is Boromir the fair? He tarries and I grieve.’

It’s just wonderful. When I read that it makes me hate the world about 5% less.

[Anaamika]

I pretty much hate most poetry in English.

That snippet you posted? Makes my eyes glaze over pretty much in the first line.

[Arien]

@eleanorigby

Sometimes Tolkien managed to get there; sometimes he, um, did not.

Right. Anyone remember the little snippet from Legolas in Return of the King where he tries to rhyme “Eressea” (One of the islands of the Blessed Realm) and “forever”? Cringeworthy.

[Skald_the_Rhymer]

@Anaamika

I pretty much hate most poetry in English.

Well, that explains it. I love poetry.

[Skald_the_Rhymer]

@Arien

Right. Anyone remember the little snippet from Legolas in Return of the King where he tries to rhyme “Eressea” (One of the islands of the Blessed Realm) and “forever”? Cringeworthy.

I don’t remember the bit you refer to. But not all poetry rhymes, either perfectly or approximately. That is not necessarily a defect.

[Mrs.Cake]

Putting the movie versions aside (Sean Bean is way out in front, with Ian McKellan hot on his heels):

While totally not into the actual bear aspect, I do have a weakness for burly bear-like men, so Beorn has got to be up there in the top three. He gets mentioned in FOTR, so he counts, right?

I’ll put in another vote for Prince Imrahil as well. You just know he’s completely gorgeous and has a strong sense of duty and responsibilty, and certainly as badass as Aragorn, without the elf and prophecy baggage.

As for the others, well, it’s pretty well established that Aragorn has been completely owned by Arwen for most of his adult life, Boromir is so little interested in girls that he doesn’t even stop to meet the basic obligations of continuing a dying bloodline by getting married and producing an heir or two in between campaigns (Richard the Lion Hearted?), Faramir does nothing for me, and I’ve never had any interest in tall blond men or horses.

Yeah, it’s all down to Beorn.

[Anaamika]

@Skald_the_Rhymer

Well, that explains it. I love poetry.

I have tried. Mostly it just doesn’t sing to me. I like Hindi poetry, and Urdu poetry, so I think it’s something about the language itself - I love the English language but IMO it doesn’t lend itself to poetry.

[Chronos]

While Boromir’s eulogy is good, where she’s really missing out, IMO, is Theoden’s eulogy.

[DSYoungEsq]

@Anaamika

I have tried. Mostly it just doesn’t sing to me. I like Hindi poetry, and Urdu poetry, so I think it’s something about the language itself - I love the English language but IMO it doesn’t lend itself to poetry.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jub-jub bird, and shun
The frumious bandersnatch!”

I don’t have any idea what you mean.

[DSYoungEsq]

For what it is worth, some of the better poetry Professor Tolkein writes is in the elf-tongues. I really do enjoy “Ai! laurie lantar lassi surinen, yeni unotime ve ramar aldaron!” <sigh>

But then, I REALLY enjoy the perhaps more famous lines:

A Unicef clearasil
Gibberish ‘n’ drivel
O Mennen mylar muriel …
Kinda gets you right there, doesn’t it?

[Humble_Servant]

@DSYoungEsq

A Unicef clearasil

Do you say it in your head:

A Unicef! Cle-arasil!

I know I do–it’s better when you mangle it even more to scan with the original.

[Chronos]

Is this a good place to mention that, starting a few years ago, I suddenly started reading “O Elbereth Gilthoniel” to the tune of “O come, o come Emmanuel”? I don’t know what triggered it, but now I can’t read it any other way.