Sleeper in the Tower of Pearl

From Tolkien Gateway

The Sleeper in the Tower of Pearl was a mysterious figure according to the early version of the legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales.

The Sleeper dwelt in the Tower of Pearl, located in the most western cape of the Twilit Isles.[1] In his travel to Kôr, Eärendel awake the Sleeper with the gong of Littleheart.[2]:254

As J.R.R. Tolkien never finished "The Tale of Eärendel", the Sleeper's identity was never specified. In an outline of the Tale, Tolkien wrote: "The Sleeper is Idril but he [Eärendel] does not know", but this was struck out.[2]:276 In other note, the Sleeper was a messenger of Turgon who was cursed and unable to leave the Tower; after being awakened by Littleheart's gong, he warned the travelers of the magic.[2]:263

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

Before writing any narrative of the Lost Tales, Tolkien wrote The Happy Mariners, which Christopher Tolkien identifies with 'the Song of the Sleeper of the Tower of Pearl' mentioned in the Lost Tale of "The Hiding of Valinor".[2]:274 Although the poem gives some details about the Tower, it does not include any information about the Sleeper.

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