Professor J. R. R. Tolkien

[Bricks]

I think Tolkein is my most favorite writer of all time. He portrays his stories so well, and you get so interested in them in no time from even reading the first page. It amazes me that someone could make up such a story from just telling it to your children. But off that, I cannot beileve someone could make such long stories from just thinking it up and not having a plot in your mind.

Tolkein is probably my idol. He amazes me beyong content. I would not have had so much inspiration from him as I have had now.

[Kong Wen]

I just finished the Unfinished Tales, which means I have read most of the major works dealing Middle Earth. I'd say my favourite era is the First Age, what with cool characters like Beren and Luthien, and Turin, and constant fighting against Morgoth. The Third Age is kind of boring by comparison, although it does have the Istari.

[Kong Wen]

This morning, I wrote up a family tree for the three kindreds of the Eldar (including the Vanyar, Noldor, and Teleri). The list pretty much includes most of (but not all (!) of) the important elves in Tolkien's main works.

It's located here: Eldar Family Trees

I'm planning on writing a big family tree for the three houses of the Edain as well, but that won't be for another couple of weeks.

[Elven Fury]

Thats awesome Kong Wen, whered you get this? i mean the info to do it... b/c ive seen ones similar before on the internet... but hey this is great, its funny it took me a minute to find what the M meant...

[Bryan]

I just finished the Unfinished Tales, which means I have read most of the major works dealing Middle Earth. I'd say my favourite era is the First Age, what with cool characters like Beren and Luthien, and Turin, and constant fighting against Morgoth. The Third Age is kind of boring by comparison, although it does have the Istari.

Ah so you took my recommendation and read the Unfinished Tales eh? Good good. I liked Beren and Luthien's tale as well.

[Kong Wen]

Thats awesome Kong Wen, whered you get this? i mean the info to do it... b/c ive seen ones similar before on the internet... but hey this is great, its funny it took me a minute to find what the M meant...

Most of the information is right in the Silmarillion and the Unfinished Tales. I just keep notes when I read. There's also a webpage listed in my sources there. Whenever my notes were unclear, I would go to that page and look up a name, to verify relations or to jog my memory.

Even apart from family trees, that webpage (The Encyclopedia of Arda) is a really good Tolkien reference. It lists pretty much every character, place, etc. and gives some information, cross-references, etc.

And thanks for reminding me about the "m."--I should make a note of it in the next revision of the tree.

Ah so you took my recommendation and read the Unfinished Tales eh? Good good. I liked Beren and Luthien's tale as well.

Yeah, I liked it, particularly the tales of Turin and Tuor (probably because of my predeliction for the First Age). I think I still prefer the Silmarillion overall, though.

[Bryan]

I think a bump is in order for this thread...

This morning, I wrote up a family tree for the three kindreds of the Eldar (including the Vanyar, Noldor, and Teleri). The list pretty much includes most of (but not all (!) of) the important elves in Tolkien's main works.

It's located here: Eldar Family Trees

I'm planning on writing a big family tree for the three houses of the Edain as well, but that won't be for another couple of weeks.

So, how goes the tree of the Edain? It'd be interesting to see.

Oh, and the Encyclopedia of Arda is an excellent site, although I'd like to buy the interactive edition myself...

[Bryan]

I came across this site when I was trying to find more about the Necklace of the Dwarves (Nauglamir): Annals of Arda. I have started my notes again, and am slowly making progress.

I apologize for the double post.

[Mistelten]

Isn't that a special item in Castelvania SotN? I think I've heard of it somewhere else too.

[Bryan]

Well, there are a few Necklaces of the Dwarves out there nowadays... one of the most notable is, and no doubt the one which most are based on, is the Brisingamen, the beautiful golden necklace given to Freya by four dwarves: Alfrigg, Berling, Dvalin and Grerr (otherwise known as the Brisings). The necklace was said to be an emblem of the stars or of the fruitfulness of the earth. It enhanced Freya's beauty so much that she wore it day and night.

Now, one comparison that can be drawn between Tolkien's Nauglamir, and the Norse Brisingamen is that both supposedly made the possessor beautiful, while another comparison is that both are emblems of light; the Brisingamen as an emblem of the stars, and the Nauglamir (after Thingol had the Silmaril mounted on it), which emodied the light of Laurelin and Telperion (the Gold and Silver trees (respectively) which lit the Land of the Valar in ancient times).