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{{disambig-two|the chapter in the third book of [[The History of Middle-earth]] series|lay within the Legendarium|[[Lay of Leithian]]}}
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{{HoME3chapters}}
'''The Lay of Leithian''' is the third chapter of ''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]''.
'''The Lay of Leithian''' is the third chapter of ''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]''.
==Development==
Tolkien stated in his [[The Diaries of J.R.R. Tolkien|diary]] that he started the Lay during the time of summer examinations of [[1925]] at the [[University of Leeds]]. Confirming this, the first recorded date of the writing of the Lay was at Line 557: [[August 23]], [[1925]].  The next date is two and a half years later, 27-8 March, [[1928]], at line 1161.  Over the next nine days he wrote fully 1769 lines, up to 2929. These dates are for the copying out of the manuscript, not for their writing, so Tolkien may have had many passages earlier before he put them together. In September [[1931]], he abandoned the Lay.<ref name>{{LB|Leithian}}, pp. 150-151</ref> He sent it to [[C.S. Lewis]], who wrote back the following:
{{quote|I sat up late last night and have read the ''Geste'' as far as to where Beren and his gnomish allies defeat the patrol of orcs above the sources of the [[Narog]] and disguise themselves in the ''rëaf'' [ [[Old English|OE]]: 'garments, weapons, taken from the slain'].  I can quite honestly say that it is ages since I have had an evening of such delight: and the personal interest of reading a friend's work had very little to do with it.  I should have enjoyed it just as well as if I'd picked it up in a bookshop, by an unknown author.  The two things that come out clearly are the sense of reality in the background and the mythical value: the essence of a myth being that it should have no taint of allegory to the maker and yet should suggest incipient allegories to the reader|The Lay of Leithian introduction}}
Later he wrote a detailed criticism, which pretends to treat the Lay as if it were a historical document. Tolkien was influenced by Lewis' comments, and made several minor changes based on them.
==Contents==
===Canto===
* '''[[Lay of Leithian Canto I|Canto I]]''' - concerning [[Thingol|Elu Thingol]] and [[Doriath]]
* '''[[Lay of Leithian Canto II|Canto II]]''' - concerning [[Barahir|Barahir the Bold]], the treachery of [[Gorlim]], his death, and [[Beren|Beren Erchamion]]'s vow for revenge
* '''[[Lay of Leithian Canto III|Canto III]]''' - concerning the meeting of Beren and [[Lúthien|Lúthien Tinúviel]]
* '''[[Lay of Leithian Canto IV|Canto IV]]''' - concerning Beren's capture and the bride-price of Lúthien as layed down by Thingol: a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]]
* '''[[Lay of Leithian Canto V|Canto V]]''' - concerning Lúthien in Doriath and her escape
* '''[[Lay of Leithian Canto VI|Canto VI]]''' - concerning Beren in [[Nargothrond]], with [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]] and the scheming of [[Celegorm]] and [[Curufin]]
* '''[[Lay of Leithian Canto VII|Canto VII]]''' - concerning the battle of minds between Finrod and [[Thû]], and the fall of Finrod
* '''[[Lay of Leithian Canto VIII|Canto VIII]]''' - concerning Celegorm and Curufin's capture of Lúthien, and her meeting with [[Huan]]
* '''[[Lay of Leithian Canto IX|Canto IX]]''' - concerning Huan's battle with Thû, the destruction of [[Tol-in-Gaurhoth|Wizard's Isle]], and the freeing of Beren
* '''[[Lay of Leithian Canto X|Canto X]]''' - concerning the second parting of Beren and Lúthien and the battle with Celegorm and Curufin
* '''[[Lay of Leithian Canto XI|Canto XI]]''' - concerning the reunion of Beren and Lúthien and the approach to [[Thangorodrim]]
* '''[[Lay of Leithian Canto XII|Canto XII]]''' - concerning the battle of [[Fingolfin]] and [[Morgoth]] and the enchanting of [[Carcharoth]]
* '''[[Lay of Leithian Canto XIII|Canto XIII]]''' - concerning Lúthien's dance before Morgoth, his enchantment, and the stealing of the Silmaril
* '''[[Lay of Leithian Canto XIV|Canto XIV]]''' - concerning the flight of Beren and Lúthien and the rage of Carcharoth
===Unwritten cantos===
===Appendix: Commentary by C.S. Lewis===
==Recycling the Lay==
Tolkien recycled parts of the older version of the Lay, most notably in [[The Fall of Gil-galad]] and the [[Song of Durin]], both poems included in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''. Following are pieces found in both the ''Lord of the Rings'' and the Lay:
'''Original Lay'''
<blockquote>
''his silver lances long and keen;''<br>
''the starlight in his shield was caught,''<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
''...There might and glory, wealth untold''<br>
''Were wielded from his ivory throne''<br>
''In many-pillared halls of stone.''<br>
''There beryl, pearl, and opal pale''<br>
''And metal wrought like fishes' mail''<br>
''Buckler and corslet, axe and sword''<br>
''And gleaming spears were laid in hoard''<br>
''All these he had and loved them less''<br>
''Than a maiden once in Elfinesse...''<br>
</blockquote>
'''Lord of the Rings'''
<blockquote>
''his lance was keen.''<br>
''His shining helm afar was seen;''<br>
''the countless stars of heaven's field''<br>
''were mirrored in his silver shield.''<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
''...There forged was blade, and bound was hilt;''<br>
''The delver mined, the mason built.''<br>
''There beryl, pearl, and opal pale,''<br>
''And metal wrought like fishes' mail,''<br>
''Buckler and corslet, axe and sword,''<br>
''And shining spears were laid in hoard.''<br>
</blockquote>
==See Also==
* [[Song of Beren and Lúthien]]
* ''[[Beren and Lúthien]]''
* [[Index:Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien|Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien]]
{{References}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lay of Leithian}}
[[Category:Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien]]

Revision as of 00:22, 16 July 2019

"...there is much else that may be told." — Glóin
This article or section is a stub. Please help Tolkien Gateway by expanding it.
This article is about the chapter in the third book of The History of Middle-earth series. For the lay within the Legendarium, see Lay of Leithian.
The Lays of Beleriand chapters
  1. The Lay of the Children of Húrin
  2. Poems Early Abandoned
  3. The Lay of Leithian
  4. The Lay of Leithian Recommenced

The Lay of Leithian is the third chapter of The Lays of Beleriand.

Development

Tolkien stated in his diary that he started the Lay during the time of summer examinations of 1925 at the University of Leeds. Confirming this, the first recorded date of the writing of the Lay was at Line 557: August 23, 1925. The next date is two and a half years later, 27-8 March, 1928, at line 1161. Over the next nine days he wrote fully 1769 lines, up to 2929. These dates are for the copying out of the manuscript, not for their writing, so Tolkien may have had many passages earlier before he put them together. In September 1931, he abandoned the Lay.[1] He sent it to C.S. Lewis, who wrote back the following:

"I sat up late last night and have read the Geste as far as to where Beren and his gnomish allies defeat the patrol of orcs above the sources of the Narog and disguise themselves in the rëaf [ OE: 'garments, weapons, taken from the slain']. I can quite honestly say that it is ages since I have had an evening of such delight: and the personal interest of reading a friend's work had very little to do with it. I should have enjoyed it just as well as if I'd picked it up in a bookshop, by an unknown author. The two things that come out clearly are the sense of reality in the background and the mythical value: the essence of a myth being that it should have no taint of allegory to the maker and yet should suggest incipient allegories to the reader"
― The Lay of Leithian introduction

Later he wrote a detailed criticism, which pretends to treat the Lay as if it were a historical document. Tolkien was influenced by Lewis' comments, and made several minor changes based on them.

Contents

Canto

Unwritten cantos

Appendix: Commentary by C.S. Lewis

Recycling the Lay

Tolkien recycled parts of the older version of the Lay, most notably in The Fall of Gil-galad and the Song of Durin, both poems included in The Fellowship of the Ring. Following are pieces found in both the Lord of the Rings and the Lay:

Original Lay

his silver lances long and keen;
the starlight in his shield was caught,

...There might and glory, wealth untold
Were wielded from his ivory throne
In many-pillared halls of stone.
There beryl, pearl, and opal pale
And metal wrought like fishes' mail
Buckler and corslet, axe and sword
And gleaming spears were laid in hoard
All these he had and loved them less
Than a maiden once in Elfinesse...

Lord of the Rings

his lance was keen.
His shining helm afar was seen;
the countless stars of heaven's field
were mirrored in his silver shield.

...There forged was blade, and bound was hilt;
The delver mined, the mason built.
There beryl, pearl, and opal pale,
And metal wrought like fishes' mail,
Buckler and corslet, axe and sword,
And shining spears were laid in hoard.

See Also

References