Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Fangorn
Anyone else think that he Ents are just awesome. Although their story is pretty sad, about the entwives and all, I think that they are probably one of the most amazing races that Tolkien has come up with in the books. And how deep they seem to be is also pretty amazing. Just curious what others thought about these guys.
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I also love the characters of the ents. Treebeard seems exceptionally amazing. I love how he wants to take things slow and not "make haste." Don't you wish you could do that...just slow things down for a minute? They also seem to have a vast amount of knowledge about everything and everyone, yet they stay to themself. They are truly a deep character.
I as well love the ents. I was wanting to ask a couple of questions on them in class on monday and today but we really didn't have time to talk on them. Anyway, Are the ents more like a tree or like a human? Also, they only drink water? So that says to me that they are more like a tree. I was just thinking about when I was little climbing as many trees as I could. That would have been so cool if the tree started so walk and talk. Good job Tolkien!!
I was very interested in the character of the ents. However, they also frustrate me. They seem to be the strongest race due to their wisdom, size, and strength. They have the ability to completely destroy the whole race of orcs and take the power away from Sauron and Saurumon. I know that it is not there place to get this involved, but it is frustrating to know that if they were to, then the orcs would have no chance.
The ents are smart to get involved because they are the only ones (so far at least) that understand that the ring effects everyone as long as its being saught out by evil people. That's why I think all the races should get involved with helping tear down the evil and destroying the ring. They shouldn't just send out one of their kind (Gimli, Legolas) to do it for all of them.
Like Dustin said, I too envisioned the Ents as trees. Just from the way Tolkien described them- not lying down to sleep, etc. the image of trees stuck in my head, and throughout the story, it is easy to envision them in this way.
How old is Treebeard/Fangorn? At one point, Gandalf says that he is older than anything else in Middle Earth (I can't seem to find the quote, but I know its there). Where does that put him into relation with Tom Bombadil, though, who has been dicussed as being there always and before, sort of thing. Any thoughts?
I'm thinking that when the middle earth was created, that both Tom Bombadil and Fangorn or Treebeard were created. However, Treebeard was not "awakened" until the elves taught him how to speak and understand language. I think that therefore maybe Tom is older as far as speaking goes, but Treebeard has always been on middle earth as long as it has existed.
With the ents, once again, Tolkien shows the contrast between nature and industrialization and the discord in their relationship. As technology and industry progressed, nature was destroyed. With the ents, Tolkien gives nature a voice and a face. Saruman is an example of destroying nature in order to pursue advances in technology for his own ambitions of power. Maybe Tolkien created the Ents to serve as a commentary on the power and importance of nature, as well as what nature would say and do if it were awakened and alive.
I agree, Ents are seriously awesome. I think they're my favorite creation in this whole world of Middle Earth. Most of my favorite quotes are from Treebeard:
"My name is growing all the time, and I've lived a very long, long time; so my name is like a story"/"...we do not say anything in it, unless it is worth taking a long time to say, and to listen to."
He's so wise, much like a wizard, but less pretentious and way more home-bodied. Every detail that surrounds Ent existence is just so engrossing to me. I mean, the idea that forests need to be tended is such an imaginative idea. Who would of thought that trees can get rowdy or be mischievous? I love the fact that Tolkien gives trees their own personalities wants and desires, really their own identities. And that they need to be tended by tree shepherds. Such a cool idea. I'm so curious about Ents and their lives, I always wished that they played a bigger role (and that they eventually found their misplaced wives...a totally hilarious idea, by the way). But at the same time, I think the mystery that surrounds these interesting creatures is also what makes them so interesting in the first place, as well as magical. And I have the add that their portrayal in Jackson's The Two Towers is my favorite part of the film trilogy.
And my last thought: I've heard many times before that Tolkien's Middle Earth was not to be associated with the World War that was taking place at the time he wrote this, but at least for the sake of retrospection, I can't help but compare the Ents to the American Allies role during WW2. American entrance to the war was late and by cause of provocation. Though I feel the similarities may stop there (and that this scenario has probably occurred numerous times in many a war before), it was still a thought that passed through my mind.
Anyway. All in all, Ents are pretty amazing.
Also, as to the question of their status as more tree-like or human like, I found a website that describes them as "walkin trees." Though I don't know how much of that is their opinion of what an Ent versus what Tolkien thought of them as.
http://tolkien.cro.net/mearth/tolklang/entish.html
I really do like the Ents. They are just very interesting and show that Tolkien had an amazing imagination. I think it is really cool that they talk about houses, which is different from the movies. I also like the whole story about their wives, depressing, but interesting.
The ents do rock and I would not want to stand in there way when they are mad. I am curious were do you think the idea for there language came from. Also why be so slow or take so much time to do any thing.
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