Thema: Magic in Tolkien's Middle-earth

Zitat von oldbadgerbrock

Has anyone ever debated the lore-worthiness of the in-game mail system?

I'm certain of it. Of course, people have debated the lore-worthiness of the in-book mail system too, sooooo...

Zitat von oldbadgerbrock

Hmmm. Quite a spirited debate. And long, too!

Has anyone ever debated the lore-worthiness of the in-game mail system? If there had been such a thing Gandalf could have merely stepped outside the Prancing Pony and sent a letter to Frodo, thus avoiding the whole mess with the Black Riders:

Very funny letter. Nice work.

Zitat von Vilnas

Very funny letter. Nice work.

Thank you, Lady. *bow*

Zitat von BIGeyedBUG

Of course, people have debated the lore-worthiness of the in-book mail system too, sooooo...

Eh? The only in-book mail system I know of is the one located in The Shire:

People became enthusiastic; and they began to tick off the days on the calendar; and they watched eagerly for the postman, hoping for invitations.

Before long the invitations began pouring out, and the Hobbiton post-office was blocked, and the Bywater post-office was snowed under, and voluntary assistant postmen were called for. There was a constant stream of them going up the Hill, carrying hundreds of polite variations on Thank you, I shall certainly come.

Source: J.R.R. Tolkien, 'A Long-expected Party', The Fellowship of the Ring, volume 1 of The Lord of the Rings.


This institution obviously inspired LOTRO's Quick Post quests and deed. Look out for those Nosey Hobbits!

Or did you mean that the Shire's postal system seems out of place with the rest of Middle-earth? Well, it's not just the mail system but all of The Shire is decidely non-medieval. It was inspired by the late 19th century rural England of Tolkien's childhood. (See Letters #178, 181, and 190.)

Zitat von oldbadgerbrock

Or did you mean that the Shire's postal system seems out of place with the rest of Middle-earth? Well, it's not just the mail system but all of The Shire is decidely non-medieval. It was inspired by the late 19th century rural England of Tolkien's childhood. (See Letters #178, 181, and 190.)

I feel compelled to tell you all about a particularly interesting and curiously relevant documentary available on YouTube: The Real Middle-earth. It details many of the real world locations that inspired the places and place names in Tolkien's legendarium.

Zitat von Reddhawk

I feel compelled to tell you all about a particularly interesting and curiously relevant documentary available on YouTube: The Real Middle-earth. It details many of the real world locations that inspired the places and place names in Tolkien's legendarium.

Thank you for that link. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

If people are interested in learning more about Tolkien's process of creating place-names, I highly recommend reading Tom Shippey's The Road to Middle-earth, in particular chapter 4, 'The Cartographic Plot'.

Zitat von oldbadgerbrock

Thank you, Lady. *bow*


Eh? The only in-book mail system I know of is the one located in The Shire:Source: J.R.R. Tolkien, 'A Long-expected Party', The Fellowship of the Ring, volume 1 of The Lord of the Rings.


This institution obviously inspired LOTRO's Quick Post quests and deed. Look out for those Nosey Hobbits!

Or did you mean that the Shire's postal system seems out of place with the rest of Middle-earth? Well, it's not just the mail system but all of The Shire is decidely non-medieval. It was inspired by the late 19th century rural England of Tolkien's childhood. (See Letters #178, 181, and 190.)

Yes on the first five counts, and (yes) on the sixth.

Come on guys you all go on about the letters tolkien wrote but have you even read the first half of the hobbit? that is where you will find out about rune keepers of a sort. Magic in middle earth i think its obvious when people can turn into bears or gandalf fills the cave with lightning in the hobbit

I dont have the quote but it is something along the lines of to put power/magic into an object you must then share that objects hurt. I therefore come to the conclusion that there is magic in tolkiens realm, dwarves are the least magical being the adopted children of eru, man are inbetween not born magical but can learn to work it and elves being born magical. In this case elves would have better control or innate knowledge of the art. But for big feats of magic it would take sacrifices or using up your own will to you consume yourself or your hroa.

Zitat von Reddhawk

I think you're on the right track with this thinking, though I'm inclined to disagree with one aspect of it. Just because we misinterpret things as 'magic', doesn't mean that they actually are. Indeed, much of what is considered magic in LOTR can be attributed to the perspective of the hobbits, who fail to see the true nature of things. Undoubtedly, it is also difficult for us to comprehend the distinction, and thus this is the likely reason we have debates such as this. Clearly, many people fail to differentiate between the nature of things in Tolkien's work, that are merely of superb craftsmanship and/or unseen qualities, and the traditional arcane or occult magic that most are familiar with.

Tolkien in my opinion besides being very creative and artistic was none the less very rational. Magic is a word that cannot be defined because it is not rational to do so. It is a word that by it's nature, and that is key, is perspective centered. We use the word in all kinds of ways and connote its meaning. And the discussion has kind of tended that way. What was "magical" to a hobbit was natural use of an ability to an elf.

Example... Jordan 20 yrs ago flies to the hoop and dunks from past the foul line>>> the comentator says "that was magical" It wasn't magic to Jordan who used his natural creator given ability to do something he was capable of. It was magic to the commentator who has a vertical of 6 inches.

That is the perspective of Tolkien imo. The creator, created, but other creatures could harness the ability of the metal and the runes on Sting to give it an ability, that originally came from the creator, that was magical to one who did not have it. So the "artist,// crafter" fashioned sting and utilized what was already there but unseen and unused by most.

That is what Galadriel was saying about the mirror.

Words and runes have brought down the morale of people for 1000's of yrs. Cutting to the quick ,like Fire, and stinging us to the heart, lightning. Lifting and "healing" our spirits and spurring us on to achievments and the accomplishment of many quest for all creatures.

Thank you for the Rune Keeper, plus it is the coolest mechanism of any class in any game hehe. And is in my opinion
completely within the spirit of Tolkien's masterpiece.