The Fall of Gil-galad: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
The lay that tells of the loss of [[Ereinion Gil-galad]] in the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] at the end of the [[War of the Last Alliance]]. [[Sam]] sings the first lines of it in the [[The Lord of the Rings]].  
'''The Fall of Gil-galad''' is the lay that tells of the loss of [[Ereinion Gil-galad]] in the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] at the end of the [[War of the Last Alliance]].  


===The Poem===
==History==
'':"Gil-galad was an Elven-king.
Little is known of the lay itself. According to [[Aragorn]], it was originally written in an ancient tongue (presumably [[Quenya]]), but [[Bilbo Baggins]] later translated it into the [[Common Tongue]], and taught it to [[Samwise Gamgee]] in his younger days. It seems to have told the story of the War of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]], at least to the point where [[Gil-galad]] aided in the overthrow of [[Sauron]], and was himself slain. Its contents, though, are largely unknown to us: Sam confirms that it was a long poem, but apart from three introductory stanzas, the text of the lay is lost.  Aragorn does say that he knows more of the text, as does Frodo, but he refuses to share it at the time he discusses it with the hobbits.
:Of him the harpers sadly sing:
:The last whose realm was fair and free
:Between the mountains and the sea.


:His sword was long, his lance was keen.
==Portrayal in Adaptations==
:His shining helm afar was seen.
'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)]]'':'''
:The countless stars of heaven's field
: Sam sang the song during his trip to Rivendell.
:Were mirrored in his silver shield.


:But long ago he rode away,
{{references}}
:And where he dwelleth none can say.
* {{FR|Knife}}
:For into darkness fell his star;
:In Mordor, where the shadows are."
''


 
[[category:Songs|Fall of Gil-galad]]
Little is known of the lay itself. According to [[Aragorn]], it was originally written in 'an ancient tongue' (presumably [[Quenya]]), but [[Bilbo Baggins]] later translated it into the [[Common Tongue]], and taught it to [[Samwise Gamgee]] in his younger days. It seems to have told the story of the War of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]], at least to the point where [[Gil-galad]] aided in the overthrow of [[Sauron]], and was himself slain. Its contents, though, are largely unknown to us: Sam confirms that it was a long poem, but apart from three introductory stanzas, the text of the lay is lost.  Aragorn does say that he knows more of the text, as does Frodo, but he refuses to share it at the time he discusses it with the hobbits.
 
Sam's verses of the song are given in Book 1, Chapter XI of The Lord of the Rings ([[A Knife in the Dark]]).
 
A musical version of those three verses was recorded by the [[Tolkien Ensemble]] on their album A Night in Rivendell.
 
[[category:Events]]
[[de:Gil-galad#Sonstiges]]
[[de:Gil-galad#Sonstiges]]
[[fi:Gil-galadin tuho]]
[[fi:Gil-galadin tuho]]

Revision as of 06:19, 23 September 2009

The Fall of Gil-galad is the lay that tells of the loss of Ereinion Gil-galad in the Siege of Barad-dûr at the end of the War of the Last Alliance.

History

Little is known of the lay itself. According to Aragorn, it was originally written in an ancient tongue (presumably Quenya), but Bilbo Baggins later translated it into the Common Tongue, and taught it to Samwise Gamgee in his younger days. It seems to have told the story of the War of the Last Alliance, at least to the point where Gil-galad aided in the overthrow of Sauron, and was himself slain. Its contents, though, are largely unknown to us: Sam confirms that it was a long poem, but apart from three introductory stanzas, the text of the lay is lost. Aragorn does say that he knows more of the text, as does Frodo, but he refuses to share it at the time he discusses it with the hobbits.

Portrayal in Adaptations

1981: The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series):

Sam sang the song during his trip to Rivendell.

References