Volume 7 Article 1

Number 1

3-15-1980

Tolkien’s Lore: The Songs of Middle-earth

Diane Marchesani

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Recommended Citation
Marchesani, Diane (1980) "Tolkien’s Lore: The Songs of Middle-earth," Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R.
Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: Vol. 7: No. 1, Article 1.
Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol7/iss1/1

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Tolkien’s Lore: The Songs of Middle-earth

Abstract
Examines and categorizes the over sixty examples of folk-songs and poems in Middle-earth—songs of
lore, ballads, ballad-style, and nonsense songs.

Additional Keywords
Folk song; Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings—Songs; Annalee Peoples

This article is available in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic
Literature: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol7/iss1/1
 TOLKIEN'S LORE:
THE SONGS OF MIDDLE-EARTH
BY DIANA MARCHESANI
T h is p a p er exam in es T o lk ie n 's so n g s a s th e f o l k ­
l o r e o f M id d le -e a r th . By d e f in i n g f o l k l o r e and c a t ­
e g o r iz in g t h e v e r s e from t h e t r i l o g y I hope t o show
t h a t t h e so n g s a r e an i n t e g r a l p a r t o f t h e n a r r a t iv e ,
a sm a ll thou gh c o l o r f u l segm ent o f t h e v a s t scheme
o f h i s t o r i e s and c u lt u r e s t h a t P r o f e s s o r T o lk ie n d e­
v i s e d f o r h i s c r e a t io n . One n eed o n ly e x p la in to
what p u rp o se t h e s e s ix t y - o d d poems a r e in c lu d e d i n
t h e n a r r a t iv e .
Folkw ays and t r a d i t i o n s can p r o v id e in v a lu a b le
i n s i g h t s i n t o th e c u lt u r e and a t t i t u d e s o f a c i v i l i ­
z a t i o n . In o ld e r and l e s s p r o g r e s s iv e s o c i e t i e s
th a n o u rs one o f t e n f i n d s a n c ie n t , unbroken c u sto m s,
some o f w hich g o v ern e v e r y im p o r ta n t s t e p o f t h e
p e o p l e ' s l i v e s from b i r t h t o d e a th . The h a b i t s ,
t r a d i t i o n s o f lo n g s t a n d in g , a r e g e n e r a lly r e f e r r e d
t o a s f o l k l o r e . More s p e c i f i c a l l y , f o l k l o r e con­
s i s t s o f : 10 m yth s, le g e n d s , s t o r i e s : 2 ) r i d d l e s ,
p r o v e r b s ; 3 ) charm s, s p e l l s , omens; 4 ) b a lla d s ; 5 )
p la n t l o r e and c u sto m s. F o lk lo r e o f a l e s s t e c h n i­
c a l s o c i e t y i n v o lv e s i t s members a c t i v e l y , w h ile a
c u lt u r e su ch a s o u rs a f f e c t s a s o p h i s t i c a t i o n t h a t
h o ld s su ch i n co n tem p t. T r a d i t i o n a l l y , a p e o p le
t r a n s m it t h e i r l o r e o r a l l y from g e n e r a t io n t o g e n e r ­
a t i o n . I t s e r v e s , i f som etim es i n a c c u r a t e l y , t o r e ­
co rd t h e i r h i s t o r y .
J . R. R. T o lk ie n , i n h i s e p ic t r i l o g y , p r e s e n t s
a c i v i l i z a t i o n w it h ,a f o l k l o r e a s a l i v e and com plex
a s any we know. The Lord o f t h e R in gs r e v e a l s an
e n t i r e w brld w hich e x te n d s o v e r th o u sa n d s o f y e a r s ,
beyond t h r e e a g e s . I t s f o l k l o r e a p p ea rs i n t h e
v e r s e o f i t s f o l k , t a k in g d i f f e r e n t fo r m s. E lv e s ,
Men, H o b b its, and o th e r b e in g s c a l l upon t h e rhymes
o f t h e i r f o r e f a t h e r s f o r k n o w led g e, a id and e n t e r ­
ta in m e n t. In f a c t , t h e r e a r e a s many d i f f e r e n t
t y p e s o f f o l k l o r e i n T o lk ie n 's w o rld a s t h e r e a r e i n
ou r own. T a le s from h i s t o r y , su ch a s t h o s e foun d i n
t h e Red Book o f W estm arch, and so n g s r e p o r t in g g r e a t
d e e d s , from t h e a n c ie n t F a l l o f G il-G a la d t r a n s la t e d
by B ilb o t o h i s own Song o f Eär e n d i l . a r e f i n e exam­
p l e s o f p r e s e r v e d s t o r i e s , m yths and le g e n d s . The
H ob bit c o n t a in s some m arvelou s r i d d l e s , and p ro v er b s
a r e fr e q u e n t i n th e t r i l o g y . G a n d a lf's s p e l l s , t h e
dream p rop h ecy o f F aram ir and h i s b r o t h e r , t h e i n ­
c a n t a t io n o f t h e b a r r o w -w ig h t, a l l f i t i n t o th e
t h ir d c a t e g o r y — charm s, s p e l l s , and om ens. Both l y ­
r i c and n a r r a t iv e b a lla d s a r e sung o r ch a n ted a f t e r
t h e f a s h io n o f t h e i r co m p o ser s. We a r e even a llo w e d
a g lim p s e o f cu stom s i n t h e f u n e r a l r i t e s o f f a l l e n
f i g h t e r s , and o f p la n t l o r e i n t h e H ouses o f H e a lin g .
T h ese son g-p oem s r e c o r d t h e p a s t e x p e r ie n c e s and b e­
l i e f s o f t h e p e o p le who made them . L ik e t r u e f o l k
rh ym es, t h e y a r e h e ld i n memory and sung a s le a r n e d
from o t h e r s . B i l b o ' s p a r t in g r e q u e s t o f Frodo in
R iv e n d e ll i l l u s t r a t e s t h i s : "Take a s much c a r e o f
y o u r s e l f a s you c a n , and b r in g back a l l th e news you
c a n , and^any o ld t a l e s o r so n g s you can come b y".
N o b le , le a r n e d f o l k who s t u d ie d t h e t r a d i t i o n s
o f M id d le -e a r th w ere known a s lo r e - m a s t e r s . Of
t h e s e th e g r e a t e s t was E lron d H a lf - e lv e n , and w ith
him G andalf t h e G rey. Both w ere a g e l e s s and i n f i n ­
i t e l y k n o w le d g e a b le . R iv e n d e ll, home o f E lro n d , was
w e ll - s t o c k e d w ith b ooks o f h i s t o r y and v e r s e . H is
m ain i n t e r e s t w as, u n d e r sta n d a b ly , t h e l o r e o f h i s
T h is e s s a y is a c o n d e n s a tio n . D ia n e
M a rch es- a n i d ie d M a y 2 0 , 1 9 7 8 , a t th e a g e o f
2 3 . O u r th a n k s to h e r p a r e n ts , M a r ie a n d J o h n
M archesani, fo r p erm issio n to p u b lish .
3
own p e o p le , t h e E ld a r . He was n o t o n ly a m a ste r o f
h e a lin g b u t t h e o n ly l i v i n g b e in g who remembered th e
a n c ie n t b a lla d s c o m p le te ly a s t h e y had b e e n . The
w iz a r d 's s p e c i a l t y was h o b b i t - l o r e . G an dalf M ith -
r a n d ir , t h e Grey P ilg r im , was t h e o n ly one o f t h e
w is e , t h e I s t a r i , t o ta k e up su ch an o b sc u r e s u b j e c t .
H is i n t e r e s t ex te n d ed beyond i t , h o w ev er. He was
t h e m ost p o w e r fu l w iz a r d l i v i n g . "I o n ce knew e v e r y
s p e l l i n a l l t h e to n g u e s o f E lv e s o r Men o r Orc s
t h a t was e v e r u s e d ," ( f o r o p en in g d o o r s ) , h e s a y s o f
h i m s e l f . He sp ok e t o a l l men and o t h e r f o l k i n
t h e i r n a t iv e la n g u a g e s .
Deep k now ledge o f a n c ie n t l o r e p ro v ed a s d e v a s­
t a t i n g th ro u g h some a s i t was b e n e f i c i a l when emp­
lo y e d b y E lron d and G a n d a lf. S a u ro n , t h e Enemy,
w hose e v i l e n a b le d him t o c r e a t e t h e One R in g — an
a tte m p t t o co n q u er t h e w o rld — was f i n a l l y ov erth ro w n
by h i s g r e a t e s t a c h ie v e m e n t. Y et t h e d e s t r u c t io n he
had a lr e a d y ca u se d was enough t o b r in g t o a c l o s e
t h e T h ird Age o f M id d le - e a r t h . Saruman t h e W h ite,
a n o th e r o f t h e I s t a r i , had a t one tim e b een a s pow­
e r f u l and le a r n e d a s G a n d a lf. H is r e s e a r c h c e n t e r e d
on t h e E a s t, w here h e had o f t e n t r a v e l e d , and l a t e r
tu r n e d t o S a u ro n . I n t e n s i v e s tu d y o f e v i l and t h e
Enemy e v e n t u a lly t w i s t e d h i s m ind.
B e s id e s A ragorn E l e s s a r , h e i r o f t h e l a s t o f
t h e k in g s , th e m ost le a r n e d m o rta l was D en eth o r ,
S tew ard o f Gondor. "There l i e i n h i s h o a rd s many
r e c o r d s t h a t few now can r e a d , ev en o f t h e l o r e mas­
t e r s , f o r t h e i r s c r i p t s and to n g u e s h ave become dark
t o l a t e r men". L ik e Saruman, D en eth o r , who l i v e d
to o n e a r t h e b o r d e r s o f M ordor, succum bed t o e v i l ,
w h ile A ragorn con q uered t o r e ig n a s t h e f i r s t k in g
o f th e F o u rth A ge. B ilb o was q u it e a s t u d e n t o f
l o r e i n h i s own r i g h t . E v id e n c e s o f h i s l i f e ' s work
a re t h e n a r r a t iv e o f h i s jo u r n e y i n t o t h e E a s t,
T here and Back A g a in , and t h e t h r e e volu m es o f
T r a n s la tio n s from t h e E lv is h a f f i x e d t o t h e Red Book.
S ongs and s in g in g w ere a v e r y s e r io u s a f f a i r t o
t h e E ld a r or High E l v e s , th e E dain o r F a th e r s o f Men,
and t h e i r d e sc e n d a n ts i n M id d le - e a r t h . S ongs had a
s o o t h in g v i r t u e . Those who san g f e l t t h e i r t r o u b le s
l i f t e d from them . The v e r s e o f t h e D unedain and
E lv e s o f t e n to o k t h e form o f h ig h p r a i s e t o d e s e r v ­
in g h e r o e s o r ev en p r a y e r t o t h e i r p r o t e c t o r s o v e r
t h e S e a . The m ost b e a u t i f u l o f t h e s e i s t h e R e fr a in
t o EL bereth w hich i s u sed no l e s s th a n f o u r t im e s .
E lb e r e th G il t h o n i e l was t h e queen o f t h e V a la r , an­
g e l i c g u a r d ia n s o f M id d le -e a r th . She s e t a s a s t a r
a S i l m a r i l , a p r e c io u s - s t o n e , i n t h e sk y th ro u g h
w hich sh e w atched o v e r t h e la n d s . A l l who p ra y ed to
h e r f o r h e lp w ere a n sw ered . At a p a in f u l t im e , when
two o f h i s com panions had b een c a p tu r e d by a w a r-
p a r t y o f Orc s , L e g o la s t h e E l f sa n g a s h e p a ced
th rou gh th e n i g h t . "And a s he sa n g t h e w h ite s t a r s
opened i n t h e b la c k v a u lt above" and t h e l i g h t w hich
p ie r c e d t h e d a rk n e ss b ro u g h t c o m fo r t.
Not a l l t h e p e o p le s o f M id d le -e a r th had su ch a
h ig h re g a rd f o r so n g , o r p e o p le who s t u d ie d l o r e .
B eregond o f t h e Tower Guard i n Gondor p r a is e d h i s
c a p t a in i n t h e s e w ords: 'He i s b o ld , more b o ld th a n
many deem; f o r i n t h e s e d ays men a r e slo w t o b e l i e v e
t h a t a c a p t a in can be w is e and le a r n e d i n s c r o l l s o f
l o r e and s o n g s , a s he i s , and y e t a man o f h a rd ih o o d
and s w i f t judgem ent i n t h e f i e l d . But su ch i s F ara­
m ir . ’
H o b b its o f t e n w ent a s f a r a s r i d i c u l e . The e l ­
v is h s t r a i n i n B ilb o (from h i s F a llo w h id e a n c e s t o r s ) ,
t h e p a r t t h a t made him tu r n o u t odd b i t s o f v e r s e
 sind r e a d p o e t r y a t b a n q u e ts (when e v e r y o n e knows
e a t i n g i s t h e f i r s t o r d e r o f b u s i n e s s ) , was w hat l e d
h i s n e ig h b o r s and r e l a t i v e s t o t h in k him p e c u l i a r .
B ilb o and F r o d o , h i s a d o p te d h e i r , b o th had a v e r y
u n - h o b b i t is h t a s t e f o r e l v i s h w a y s. A lth o u g h t h e y
a r e m erry a t t im e s , t h e r e i s a c e r t a i n g r a v i t y a b o u t
them w h ich s e p a r a t e s them from t h e i r own k in d .
" ' N o t ,' " B ilb o a d m it s , " ' t h a t h o b b it s w ou ld e v e r a c ­
q u ir e q u i t e t h e e l v i s h a p p e t i t e f o r m u sic and p o e t r y
and t a l e s . They seem t o l i k e i t a s much a s f o o d o r
m o r e '" . M erry and P ip p in a r e more t y p i c a l . Frodo
t a k e s them a t t h e i r word when t h e y s i n g o f l e a v i n g
b e f o r e dawn. P ip p in q u ic k ly r e j e c t s t h i s u n h e a r d -o f
p r o p o s a l. "'Oh! That w as p o e t r y ! ' " h e r e p l i e s .
D e s p it e t h e i r c a r e f r e e a t t i t u d e t h e t h r e e hob­
b i t s who t r a v e l w it h F rodo l e a r n t h e t r u e s i g n i f i ­
c a n c e o f s o n g . Sam t w i c e r e c e i v e s a id from E lb e r e t h ,
c r y in g o u t i n m e lo d ic r e l i e f . On t h e v e r g e o f a
b a t t l e M erry p le a d s t o b e a llo w e d t o r i d e : " 'I
w o u ld n o t h a v e i t s a i d o f me i n so n g o n ly t h a t I was
a lw a y s l e f t b e h in d '" . To P ip p in , sw orn i n t o s e r v i c e
o f t h e s t e m S tew a rd o f G ondor, e n lig h te n m e n t com es
m ore s e v e r e l y . When a sk ed i f h e can s i n g , P ip p in
r e p lie s : 'W e ll, y e s , w e l l enough f o r my own p e o p le .
But we h a v e no so n g s f i t f o r g r e a t h a l l s and e v i l
t i m e s , l o r d . ' . . . He d id n o t r e l i s h t h e i d e a o f
s i n g i n g any so n g o f t h e S h ir e t o t h e Lord o f M inas
T i r i t h , c e r t a i n l y n o t the com ic o n e s h e knew b e s t .
T o l k i e n ' s W orld i s s o c o n s i s t e n t t h a t t h e c h a r ­
a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e d i f f e r e n t f o l k who p o p u la t e i t
appear in t h e ir so n g s. The b a l l a d s o f t h e ELves can
b e lo n g t o no one e l s e , and t h e h o b b it - s o n g s a r e a s
m erry and fo n d o f c r e a t u r e - c o m f o r t s a s t h e y .
F our T ypes o f F o lk lo r e
LOBE
Of t h e v a r i e t y o f so n g-p oem s t h o s e c o n s id e r e d
l o r e o r l o r e rhym es i n t h i s c o n t e x t a r e n o t n e c e s s a r ­
i l y m u s ic a l i n n a tu r e b e c a u s e t h e y h a v e a n o th e r s p e ­
c i f i c f u n c t i o n th a n g i v i n g p l e a s u r e . The t y p e s o f
v e r s e from t h e t r i l o g y w h ich b e lo n g i n i n t h i s c a t e ­
g o r y come from t h e s e c o n d , t h i r d and f i f t h s e c t i o n s
o f t h e f o l k l o r e d e f i n i t i o n : r i d d l e s and p r o v e r b s , t o
w h ic h I add t h e Rhymes o f L o r e ; ch arm s, s p e l l s , and
omens o r p r o p h e c ie s ; p la n t l o r e and c u s to m s .
I. When s e e k in g t h e a n sw er t o a p rob lem t h e s e
f o l k o f t e n tu r n e d t o p r o v e r b s . S am 's G a f fe r w as a
v e r i t a b l e g o ld m in e o f s t o r e d s a y i n g s . The 'E lv e s r e ­
p e a t t h e one m ost f r e q u e n t ly u s e d t o Frodo when h e
a s k s f o r a d v ic e i n The F e l l o w s h i p : "Do n o t m ed dle
i n t h e a f f a i r s o f w iz a r d s , f o r t h e y a r e s u b t l e and
q u ic k t o a n g e r " . Even t h e E lv e s a r e n ' t c e r t a i n how
t o d e a l w it h t h e I s t a r i . F rodo s m i l e s and r e t u r n s
w it h a S h ir e b y - l i n e . "And i t i s a l s o s a i d : Go n o t
t o t h e E lv e s f o r c o u n s e l , f o r t h e y w i l l s a y b o th no
and y e s " . Our a n c ie n t c l i c h e s so m etim es o f f e r t r i e d
s o l u t i o n s t o f r e s h p r o b le m s. S uch w ere t h e s e p r o ­
v e r b s o f M id d le - e a r t h w h ich sp o k e r e a l t r u t h s i n
t h e i r u n p r e t e n t io u s f a s h i o n .
A m a r v e lo u s t ê t e - à- t ê t e b e tw e e n Gollum and B i l ­
bo o c c u r s i n The H ob b it th r o u g h w h ich we l e a r n s e v ­
e r a l p o p u la r r i d d l e s . Some a r e a lr e a d y f a m i l i a r t o
u s , and ea c h o f them r e f l e c t s t h e c h a r a c t e r o f t h e
q u e s tio n e r .
The m ost i n f l u e n t i a l son g -p o em s u n d er t h i s
h e a d in g a r e t h e Bhymes o f L o r e . G a n d a lf m e n tio n s
t h e i r e x i s t e n c e f i r s t i n The Two T o w e rs, b u t t h e y
c o n t in u a lly e n te r th e n a r r a tiv e a s s ig n if ic a n t ev­
e n ts a r is e . The p a l a n t i r o f O r th a n c , a s e e i n g - s t o n e
u s e d som ewhat l i k e a tw o-w ay c r y s t a l b a l l , came a c ­
r o s s t h e S e a w it h t h e Men o f Numenor. A f t e r i t s
d i s c o v e r y a t t h e c o n f e r e n c e w it h Saruman G a n d a lf r e ­
la t e s p art o f i t s h is to r y . O th e rs i n c lu d e t h e E n t s '
and t h e L ore o f L iv in g C r e a t u r e s , b o th in tr o d u c e d b y
F a n g o m . The m ost c o n s e q u e n t i a l lo r e - r h y m e , h ow ever
i n The Lord o f t h e B in g s a p p e a r s i n The F e l lo w s h ip .
The tw o l i n e s i n s c r i b e d i n E l v i s h on t h e i n s i d e o f
F r o d o 's r i n g come from t h i s v e r s e " lo n g known i n
E l v i s h l o r e " . The w h o le poem c o n d e n s e s t h e h i s t o r y
o f t h e B in g s o f Pow er f o r g e d by t h e E lv e s and S a u ro n
a t a tim e p r e v io u s t o h i s e s tr a n g e m e n t from t h e f r e e
p e o p l e s . Even when s u p e r f i c i a l l y e x p la in e d i t
4
t o u c h e s on many moments o f c o n se q u e n c e i n T o lk ie n 'S
n a r r a t i v e . The h i s t o r y i t d e s c r i b e s h a s t r i g g e r e d
t h e e v e n t s w h ich com pose t h e e p i c .
II. T here a r e many ex a m p les o f ch a rm s, s p e l l s
and om en s. G a n d a lf s p l u t t e r s s p e l l s th r o u g h The
F e llo w s h ip u n t i l h i s d is a p p e a r a n c e i n M o ria .
Omens and p r o p h e c ie s w ere o f much im p o r ta n c e t o
t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f M id d le -e a r th ." The E ld a r , w iz a r d s ,
and Dún e d a in i n h e r i t e d f o r e s i g h t a s a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c
o f th e ir r a c e s. I n t e n t on p la n n in g t h e f u t u r e , t h e y
w ere o f t e n known t o r e c e i v e a v i s i o n o f t h e o r d e r o f
t h i n g s t o com e. C o n v e r s e ly , M ith r a n d ir and E lro n d
b o th s ig h e d a t t i m e s , " th e end i s dark t o m e. . . .
I c a n n o t s e e how i t w i l l come o u t ." On h i s r e t u r n
from t h e L o n e ly M o u n ta in , B ilb o r e a l i z e d t h a t h i s
e f f o r t s had h e lp e d t o b r in g a b o u t t h e f u l f i l l m e n t o f
t h e a n c ie n t p r o p h e c ie s . Through t h e i r e f f o r t s t o
p r o j e c t , h ow ever u n c e r t a i n l y , t h e r e s u l t s o f f u t u r e
e v e n t s , we s e e t h a t t h e i r s i s a f a t e d , d e te r m in e d
u n i v e r s e . E ru , c r e a t o r o f M id d le - e a r t h a ck n o w led g ed
a s t h e "One-God" o f ELves and Men, c o n t r o l s h i s c r e ­
a tio n .
P r o p h e c ie s o c c u r i n two o t h e r fo rm s i n t h e t r i —
l o g y : th e d i r e c t p r e d i c t i o n , p a s s e d down t r a d i t i o n ­
a l l y u n t i l i t com es t o p a s s , and t h e d rea m -p r o p h ec y .
M a lb e th , c a l l e d t h e S e e r , a Dúnadan w it h u n u su a l
p o w ers o f f o r e s i g h t , p r e d ic t e d t h e com ing o f El e n -
d i l ' s h e i r who w o u ld f r e e t h e s p i r i t s d w e llin g u n d er
t h e m o u n ta in s b eyon d Dunharrow . When A ragor n c h o o s ­
e s t o r i d e t h e P a th s o f t h e Dead i n a s h o r t c u t t o
G o n d o r's a i d , h e f u l f i l l s t h i s rhym e. Of t h e se c o n d
t y p e , an exam p le i s t h e v e r s e w h ich h a u n ts e v e r y
c h a r a c t e r i n The Lord o f t h e R in g s . F a r a m ir 's dream ,
r e l a t e d by B orom ir a t E lr o n d 's C o u n c il, p r e d i c t s t h e
doom o f M id d le - e a r t h , draw s t o g e t h e r a l l t h e l o r e o f
t h e p a s t tw o a g e s .
III. Amid o t h e r Bhymes o f L ore we g lim p s e t h e
f o l k m e d ic in e o f t h e s e p e o p l e . A t h e l a s , a s e a a ra n ­
i o n , commonly c a l l e d K i n g s f o i l , had p r e v i o u s l y b e e n
used, o n ly t o c l e a r t h e a i r o f a s i c k room o r e a s e a
h e a d a c h e . H ow ever, t h e h e r b - m a s t e r rem em bers:
When t h e b la c k b r e a t h b lo w s
and d e a t h ' s shadow grow s
and a l l l i g h t s p a s s ,
come a t h e l a s ! come a t h e l a s !
L i f e t o t h e d y in g
In t h e k i n g ' s hand l y i n g !
" D o g g erel" u n d o u b te d ly , y e t i t h o ld s t h e a n sw er t o
many p e r p l e x i t i e s . A r a g o m s a v e s t h e l i v e s o f F a ra —
m ir , now S te w a r d o f Gondor s i n c e h i s f a t h e r ' s s u i ­
c i d e , Eowyn o f B ohan, and M erry Brandybuck b y h i s
a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e h e r b . I n t h i s way h e w as f i r s t
r e v e a l e d a s t h e p r e d i c t e d k in g t o h i s p e o p le f o r ,
" th e h and s o f t h e k in g a r e t h e h and s o f a h e a l e r ,
and s o s h a l l t h e r i g h t f u l k in g b e known".
BALLADS
T o lk ie n e m b e ll is h e s h i s n a r r a t iv e w it h many
so n g s. T hose c l a s s i f i e d a s b a l l a d s a r e d i s t i n g u i s h ­
a b le from t h e o t h e r so n g s by a c o n t e n t o f m ore s t r i n ­
g e n t i n t e n s i t y , a h ig h e r c o m p o s it io n a l q u a l i t y , and
a h ig h e r s e n s e o f l y r i c i s m .
The l y r i c b a l l a d s te n d t o b e a d eep and p e r s o n ­
a l e x p r e s s io n o f t e n su n g b y som eone o verw h elm ed w it h
e m o tio n . I n The Two Towers A ragorn lo o k s o v e r t h e
p l a i n s t o G ondor, t h e c i t y o f h i s h e r e d i t a r y k in g ­
dom. He i s em barked on an a lm o s t h o p e l e s s r e s c u e
w h ich w i l l c a r r y him f a r from i t . "Not y e t , " h e
s i g h s , "d oes my ro a d l i e so u th w a rd t o y o u r b r ig h t
s t r e a m s " . T hen, u n a b le t o c o n t a in h i s t h o u g h t s , h e
b u r s t s f o r t h i n v e r s e . The l y r i c s a r e s im p le , b u t
h i g h l y c h a r g e d . He e x p r e s s e s i n them a l l h i s d o u b ts
a b o u t t h e f u t u r e , n o t o n ly t h e w is h t o r e a c h G ondor.
T h is so n g i s n o t r e a l l y m e la n c h o ly bub k e e n ly s e n s i ­
t i v e ; f u l l o f t h e l i f e and lo n g in g and l o v e o f t h e
man who s i n g s i t .
F o lk b a l l a d s t h a t we know f a m i l i a r l y o f t e n t e l l
a s to r y m u s ic a lly . The s u s p e n s e b u i l d s th r o u g h r e p ­
e t i t i o n , in c r e m e n ta l o r r e f r a i n , d e a lin g w it h a p r e ­
s e n t s i t u a t i o n , and n a r r a t i v e d e t a i l , so m etim es
f l a s h b a c k . U s u a l ly t h e s t o r y r e v o l v e s arou n d on e
i n c i d e n t i n c lim a x . N a r r a t iv e b a l l a d s o f M id d le -
e a r t h on t h e o t h e r hand r e l a t e le n g t h y h i s t o r i e s ,
u n if ie d t o p i c a l l y or b io g r a p h i c a lly . N a tu r a lly th e
s e l e c t i o n s we read a re fr a g m e n ts. L ike E n g lis h f o lk
so n g s th e y e x i s t i n f l u i d fo rm s. T h eir m e r it de­
pends l a r g e l y upon th e s k i l l o f th e n a r r a t o r . E lv e s
and Aragorn were th e m ost c o n s i s t e n t l y ca p a b le s t o r y ­
te lle r s . The f i n e s t i s u n d ou b ted ly th e T a le o f T in -
úv i e l . I t b le n d s th e b ea u ty o f e x p r e s s io n found i n
th e l y r i c a l b a lla d s w ith h i s t o r i c a l n a r r a t iv e .
Throughout, th e s e n s i t i v i t y t o sound-im age g iv e s th e
son g much o f i t s m e r it, h e lp in g t o s e t up th e com­
p le x r e l a t i o n s h i p s b etw een th e s e t t i n g and mood a s
th e y a re a f f e c t e d by th e E lf-q u e e n and h e r m ortal
lo v e r .
The Ent and th e E n tw ife i s c l o s e s t i n s t y l e o f
a l l T o lk ie n 's so n g s t o t r a d i t i o n a l b a lla d s o f Fran­
c i s J . C h ild v in t a g e . Two o b v io u s s i m i l a r i t i e s a re
th e sta n d a rd q u e stio n /a n sw e r form at and u s e o f i n ­
crem en ta l r e p e t i t i o n . These te c h n iq u e s em phasize
th e them e: d isa g reem en t and d e s ir e f o r r e c o n c i l i a ­
t i o n b etw een th e farm— and f i e l d —lo v in g E n tw iv es and
t h e i r w ild , f o r e s t - l o v i n g m a te s.
BALLAD-STILE
The common f o l k o f M id d le -e a r th f a l l i n t o v e r s e
n e a r ly as e a s i l y a s E lv e s and D unedain. The l i g h t ,
e a s y s t y l e i n w hich th e y ren d ered t h e i r f e e l i n g s
m irr o rs somewhat e lv e n b a lla d s . T hese s o n g s , w r it ­
t e n i n a " b a lla d - s t y l e ," a re m ost o f t e n o r i g i n a l ,
even sp o n ta n e o u s. They in c lu d e w a lk in g -s o n g s , s h o r t
e l e g i e s , and t r a d i t i o n a l s o n g s . They d i f f e r from
th e b a lla d s in t h e i r s im p le r s t y l e , o f t e n awkward
p h r a s in g , and g e n e r a lly uneven m e te r s .
NONSENSE
Throughout th e t r i l o g y T o lk ie n 's n o n sen se
rhymes rem ain one o f i t s m ost p u r e ly e n jo y a b le f e a ­
t u r e s . These so n g s a re a t on ce c a r e f r e e , s i l l y and
c l e v e r , b u t above a l l fu n . T o lk ie n seem s t o have
had a s much fu n w ith them a s th e r e a d e r s d o . They
a re g e n e r a lly rh ythm ic r a th e r th an m e t r ic a l. A few ,
su ch as The Man i n th e Moon S ta y e d Up Too L a t e , have
r e g u la r f e e t and a c o n s is t e n t number o f s t r e s s e d
s y l l a b l e s p e r l i n e . In w r it in g t h e s e , T o lk ie n em­
p lo y e d e x t e n s iv e a sso n a n c e , co n so n a n c e, a l l i t e r a t i o n ,
and s i n g l e word r e p e t i t i o n . The p h r a sin g i s unusu­
a l l y t r i c k y . Bhyme schem es a r e i n t r i c a t e , o f t e n i n ­
v o lv in g in t e r n a l rhymes and ex te n d ed u s e o f sam e-
so u n d s. D if f e r e n t k in d s o f r e p e t i t i o n c o m p lic a te
t h e p a t t e r n s and add t o t h e i r eu p h on iou s q u a l i t y .
There i s a s im p le r k in d o f n o n se n se so n g , w hich
t r i l l s good-hum oredly ab out so m eth in g p le a s a n t .
P ip p in 's Bath Song h a s an unassum ing t e c h n iq u e . The
in v e r t e d "w ater hot" e v e r y fo u r th l i n e c a l l s a t t e n ­
t i o n t o t h e m ajor t o p ic o f i n t e r e s t . Here i s n o th ­
in g s p e c t a c u la r ; mere p h il o s o p h ic a l ex p o u n d in g s upon
t h e v i r t u e s and u s e s o f h o t w a te r .
W hile r e v ie w in g t h e s e form s o f f o l k l o r e T o l­
k i e n ' s "scheme" becom es c l e a r . The so n g s a r e i n t e g ­
r a l t o th e n a r r a t iv e . They t e l l p a r t s o f t h e s t o r y
th e m se lv e s i n a way t h a t c o u ld n o t b e a c c o m p lish e d
by p r o s e a lo n e , b e c a u se v e r s e h a s a d i f f e r e n t e f f e c t
upon u s . When F r o d o 's m u ffle d son g i n t h e Old F or­
e s t d i e s o u t f i n a l l y , t h e s t i l l n e s s and s t i f l i n g
p r e s s u r e f e e l s more d e p r e s s in g t o t h e r e a d e r a s w e ll
a s th e h o b b it s . The rhymes s e r v e t o i n t e n s i f y , r a ­
t h e r th a n l i g h t e n a s some have rem arked, t h e circu m ­
s t a n c e s th e y d e f i n e . The mood in tr o d u c e d by th e
s w e e t ly sa d T a le o f T in u v ie l i s a s t a r t l i n g p r e f a c e
t o t h e m urderous a t t a c k o f th e Nazgûl on W ea th erto p .
Through h i s so n g s T o lk ie n 's c h a r a c t e r s r e v e a l t h e i r
f e e l i n g s and p e r s o n a l i t i e s q u it e a s much o r more
th a n th rou gh t h e i r p r o s e d ia lo g u e and t h e i r a c t i o n s .
B ilb o , p a u sin g on t h e t h r e s h o ld a t h i s f i n a l d ep a r­
tu r e from Bag End, s o f t l y p o u rs o u t t h e u r g e n t d e­
s i r e t o f o llo w t h e r o a d . We and G an dalf f e e l a q u i­
e t t h r i l l a s he s l i p s o f f i n t o t h e n ig h t w ith th e
t h r e e d w a rv es.
T o lk ie n 's v e r s e i s in d is p e n s a b le t o h i s n a r r a ­
t i v e . I t i s a s v a r ie d a s h i s c h a r a c t e r s and s i t u a ­
t i o n s , f o r e v e r y b e in g and e v e n t d e l i v e r s so m eth in g
o f i t s e l f to i t s so n g . C lo se stu d y o f t h e poems
from t h e t r a d i t i o n s o f each r a c e r e v e a l t h e s e q u a li­
t i e s . The s t r o n g ly marked s t y l e o f E o h ir r ic so n g s
( a l l o f w hich we rea d i n W estron) a r e e a s i l y d i s ­
t in g u is h a b l e from t h o s e o f t h e dw arves o r h o b b it s ,
E lv e s o r D unedain. The manner o f p h r a s in g , th e v e r ­
s i f i c a t i o n , m irr o rs i n e v e r y c a s e t h e c h a r a c t e r i s ­
t i c s o f th e k in d o f f o l k .