Foresight
- "This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and from me a new star will arise."
- ― Huor's last words to Turgon.[1]
Foresight (Q. apacen[2]) is a gift or power apparently given to picked Elves and Men. Many elves appear to have varying amounts of foresight, while some of the more noble men (Númenóreans/Dúnedain) appear to have degrees of foresight on special occasions.
Elven mothers would give their children a name, known as essi apacenye or just apacenye, having insight into the characters and abilities of their children, and many also had the gift of prophetic foresight.[3]
Dírhael and his wife Ivorwen, grandparents of Aragorn, were gifted in foresight and had premonition about Arathorn II who wanted to marry their daughter. These premonitions were a reason at first to oppose the marriage, but later to concede to it.[4]
There are several mentions of Seers or Prophets namely Amnon, Glirhuin and Malbeth. Foresight was also seen in dreams: Frodo Baggins saw prophetic dreams during his adventure,[5] and Boromir and Faramir saw a puzzling dream, prompting Boromir to travel to Rivendell to seek counsel.[6]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad"
- ↑ The word is not attested directly by itself but extrapolated from apacenye and tercen. Cf. apacenya in Elfdict.
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", Note on Mother-names, p. 339
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"
