Gondolin: The First Tragedy?

[Finrod Felagund]

I got the feeling that the Fall of Gondolin was the first of the major Elf catastrophies to have been written. The story just has a different feel, the Balrog number question and JRR labels that battle as the largest number of orcs killed in any battle...

[Maedhros]

I perhaps, don't get what you're trying to say. Can you clarify?

[Finrod Felagund]

In that Battle, Tolkien writes that there were a thousand Balrogs in the assautling army, in other writings, there are only a few. I guess what I'm trying to ask is when during his career did he write that story? It would seem that it was written in the early stages of ME developement

[Maedhros]

It was one of his very first writtings about ME.
From the Book of Lost Tales: The Fall of Gondolin
In the first place, there is a very difficult manuscript contained in two school exercise-books, where the title of the tale is Tuor and the Exiles of Gondolin (which bringeth in the great tale of Eärendel). (This is the only title actually found in the early texts, but my father always later referred to it as The Fall of Gondolin.) This manuscript is (or rather, was) the original text of the tale, dating from 1916 -- 17 (see I. 203 and Unfinished Tales p. 4), and I will call it here for convenience Tuor A.

[Serathorn]

Only one Balrog is a nightmare.A thousand balrog!!!?

[Lady Melody]

I believe that the kinslaying was A LOT worse... I feel sad when creatures of the same species fight each other (which includes human beings) *sighs* What has this world come to?

[Serathorn]

Yes humans do that everytime! (kill the humans) (what???)

[Lady Melody]

Well, humans (forget our difference in faith) are kin in a lot of ways.... and we still kill each other...

[Maedhros]

But Tuor looked upon the walls of stone, and the uplifted towers, upon the glistering pinnacles of the town, and he looked upon the stairs of stone and marble up to its high platform, and its great gate, bordered by slender balustrades and cooled by the leap of threadlike waterfalls seeking the plain from the fountains of Amon Gwared, and he fared as one in some dream of the Valar, for he deemed not such things were seen by men in the visions of their sleep, so great was his amaze at the glory of Gondolin. Even so came they to the gates, Tuor in wonder and Voronwë in great joy that daring much he had brought Tuor hither in the will of Ulmo.
Now is there a sally from the gates of Gondolin and a throng comes about these twain in wonder, rejoicing that Voronwë had returned, and marvelling at the stature and the gaunt limbs of Tuor, his harp and his armour made of Noldor-steel overlaid with silver; and his helm was adorned with a device of metals and jewels like to two swan-wings, one on either side, and a swan's wing was wrought on his shield. Yet was Tuor taller than any that stood there though indeed the Gondolindrim were not bent of back as some of their unhappy kin became, labouring without rest at delving and hammering for Morgoth, but they were strong and tall, but slender. They were swift of foot and surpassing fair; sweet and sad were their mouths, and their eyes had ever a joy within quivering to tears; for in those times the Noldor were exiles at heart, haunted with a desire for their ancient home that faded not. But fate and unconquerable eagerness after knowledge had driven them into far places, and now were they hemmed by Morgoth and must make their abiding as fair as they might by labour and by love.

Behold, the armed guardians of the gate pressed back the thronging folk that gathered about the wanderers, and one among them spake saying: ‘This is a city of watch and ward, Gondolin on Amon Gwared, where all may be free who are of true heart, but none may be free to enter unknown. Tell me then your names.’ But Voronwë named himself come hither by the will of Ulmo as guide to this son of Men; and Tuor said: ‘I am Tuor son of Huor son of Galdor of the House of Hador of the sons of the Men of the North who live far hence, and I fare hither by the will of Ulmo of the Outer Oceans.’
Then all who listened grew silent, and his deep and rolling voice held them in amaze, for their own voices were fair as the plash of fountains. Then a saying arose among them: ‘Lead him before the king.’
Then did the throng return within the gates and the wanderers with them, and Tuor saw they were of steel and of great height and strength. Now the streets of Gondolin were paved with stone and wide, kerbed with marble, and fair houses and courts amid gardens of bright flowers mounds of mallorns, birches, and evergreen trees were set about the ways, and many towers of great slenderness and beauty builded of white marble and carved most marvellously rose to the heaven. Squares there were lit with fountains and the home of birds that sang amid the branches of their aged trees, but of all these the greatest was that place where stood the King’s house, and the tower thereof on a pillared arcade was the loftiest in the city, and above it flew the banner of Fingolfin and the fountains that played before the doors shot twenty fathoms and seven in the air and fell in a singing rain of crystal: therein did the sun glitter splendidly by day, and the moon most magically shimmered by night. The birds that dwelt there were of the whiteness of snow and their voices sweeter than a lullaby of music.

[Fingolfin]

Hey all,

Here is a neat picture of Gondolin. I'm sure a lot of you have already seen this picture but I have it on my Desktop and love it. It's available to all. The Silmarillion had so many place of Splendor and Wonder I wish I could see them all... With pictures like these they are are a little easier to imagine....

This is one of many links to pictures and drawings. ;)

http://hem.bredband.net/johava/middle/gondolin.jpg


Talk to you all later,

Geoffrey

[Gil Galad]

very cool pic

[Fingolfin]

Gil,

I'm glad you liked the pic. Here is another link to more pictures.. Hope you like!

http://hem.bredband.net/johava/middle/

Fin

[Gil Galad]

thanks, some very nice ones there

[luxman]

Who is this? Looks like Sauron in FOTR movie - When he had his fingers cut of by Isildur.. Is it Morgoth?

http://hem.bredband.net/johava/middle/fingolfin.jpg

Sorry for using your link Fingolfin - hope its ok..

*edit* sry - its said Morgoth in the image..

[Amroth]

I believe that the kinslaying was A LOT worse... I feel sad when creatures of the same species fight each other (which includes human beings) *sighs* What has this world come to?

I'm afraid I'll have to disagree with you there... The Kinslaying could have been stopped by either the Teleri or the Noldor if they saw the other side's point of view. However, Gondolin was brutally destroyed by orcs and Balrogs. In my opinion, Gondolin was a worse tragedy.

But yes, the Kinslaying was a terrible tragedy, however I don't view it as big since it could have been stopped but people's choices *cough*Feanor*cough* prevented it from stopping.

[Lessa]

civil war can be extremely brutal and for some reason annhilating the oppostion at all cost seems to be the aim. Getting the two sides to even meet to talk let alone agree is not easy either.
I think it would be a close run thing between the orcs and balrogs versus a civil war as to which would be the more devasting.

[Amroth]

civil war can be extremely brutal and for some reason annhilating the oppostion at all cost seems to be the aim. Getting the two sides to even meet to talk let alone agree is not easy either.
Good point, but the word is "tragedy", not "brutal". In my opinion, the Fall of Gondolin was more of a tragedy, although it wasn't as brutal.

If it sounds like I'm arguing with you, I'm not trying to, I'm just trying to spark more discussion. :)

[Lessa]

that's ok.

True but I still consider civil wars tragic as it very often pits brother against brother

[Fingolfin]

Who is this? Looks like Sauron in FOTR movie - When he had his fingers cut of by Isildur.. Is it Morgoth?

http://hem.bredband.net/johava/middle/fingolfin.jpg

Sorry for using your link Fingolfin - hope its ok..

*edit* sry - its said Morgoth in the image..

Yes, This is Morgoth. The concept artists in the LOTR trilogy took concepts from artists such as Alan Lee and John Nasmith. As you can see Morgoth looks very similar to Sauron. I think one of the reasons why they used this image for Sauron in the movies is because Sauron was Morgoth's first hand man and with that he took on a lot of the characteristics of Morgoth. Make sense? Basically the long and short of it...

Hope that helped answer your question...

Fin.

PS. No problem about the pic!