Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Final Project: An Afternoon in Numenor

My final project is a story about a grandfather telling his grandson stories about Numenor. The tower of Sorontil, the story of Tar-Aldarion and a description of Romenna are all covered in fair amounts of depth.

You can view the project here

If you wish to view the 'author's notes' on it, which have some cheeky jokes about brothels, some content about religion and astronomy, and a few classic Tolkien examples of how I wrote allegory without it actually being allegory, check them out here

Thanks, everyone, for the amazing quarter. I had so much fun and have left with a new way of appreciating Tolkien. I was scared that studying it for a quarter would make me love the Lord of the Rings less, but I'm glad that didn't happen! I look forward to reading the other projects. Until then, here's a (somewhat related) meme!

Edit: In typical fashion, I forgot to sign this.
-Rohan Kapoor



Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Final Project - Hobbitiads

This is part of Hobbitiads, the final project submitted by Luis Felipe Martins and Felipe Martins. It concerns the departure of Sam from Middle Earth. The episode of his departure was inspired by the Adamastor episode in The Lusiads.


Olhando a oeste vejo grande embate
dum lado, a lúcida alta pluma
do outro, a joia de alto quilate 
da costa agora envolta em bruma.
Que a luz poente na onda refracte,
a íris caia na jocosa espuma
e guie meus olhos ao horizonte
aonde não existe uma ponte.

Como Lothlórien cortou a água,
brilhante navio de árvore encantada,
vou aonde pouca onda degua.
Com Cirdan vejo Lissuin brotada,
sua pétala a tristeza engua:
com beleza ainda não cantada
sua proa às ondas cantaria,
a vela com o vento dançaria.

Mesmo com o mundo arredondado,
por breve visão de Aman busco
eu já por saudade inquietado
além de duas flores fico lusco:
Ao Caminho Estreito destinado,
meu coração com choro já ofusco,
O calor e dulçor de cada queria
ou pensando na outra me perderia.

Sabendo que o perigo vai ser grande,
que as ondas de Ulmo logo me guiem
e perto d'alva costa ele as abrande, 
d'onde Frodo e seu frasco m'auxiliem:
'como Earendil antes o fez, ande!'
Já ao mar por terra dos que sorriem.
Sem certeza de ser lá recebido,
mas com esperança, destemido.

Porém poucos Sóis já eram passados
Que daqui nos partíramos, cortando
Os mares nunca antes navegados,
os ventos fortemente assoprando,
Quando por Ulmo lá fomos pasmados:
Na cortadora proa vigiando,
Um Corpo que tudo ensombrecia,
Sobre nossas testas aparecia.

E disse: 'cometeram grandes cousas',
- Bramindo, o negro mar de longe brada -
'E navegar meus longos mares ousas,
mais que tantas outras, ó gente ousada:
Sobre qual imortal causa repousas
tu que vens nessa única jornada,
pois vens ver tais segredos escondidos
A nenhum grande homem concedidos.'

Eu levanto as mãos ao temente coro
do mar que chegar longe nos deixou.
'Que grandeza tem tais cousas que choro
trouxeram a mim que grande não sou?
Em Elbereth espero o vindouro,
e por ela que nos esperançou,
Bramindo longe, que o mar nos leve
à Aman mesmo que por tempo breve.'

Que com tal choro, a figura suma
sem rugir, que venha onda sutil
para nos levar em sua leve espuma
já a terra da árvore mais fértil.
Mesmo que o tempo todos consuma,
Com Frodo hei de ver a mais gentil,
Elbereth, vejo as folhas d'outono,
o céu anil até chegar o sono.
Looking west I see a big brawl:              
the lucid wave standing tall
against the rocky coast's strong fist,
a high carat gem shrouded in mist.
The wave the sunset affects,
to the jocose foam the iris directs
and along the horizon it guides my eyes
to the place which no bridge ties.

As Lórien through the water rip,              
brilliant enchanted tree ship,
I go to where there is no route.
Taking after Cirdan, I see Lissuin sprout,
My sorrows washed by its petals young
with a beauty yet unsung
Its prow to the waves would sing,
and its sail with the wind would spring.

Even with the world made round,           
To desire a peek of Aman I'm bound
For two flowers only have I mind,
I'm restless as I long for each kind:
To the Narrow Way destined,
my weeping heart is stunned,
Between Elanor and Lissuin crossed,
thinking of the other I will get lost.

Knowing that danger will be great,            
let the waves of Ulmo bring me sweet fate,
take me to the Shore and make them slow,
Then help me Frodo with phial aglow
"as Earendil before, do come!'
Out to sea and to the land of blossom.
Unsure if I will be welcomed there,
but with hope forth I fare.

But few Suns had gone past                         
Since from land I departed at last
through seas never sailed yonder,
the blowing east wind ever bolder,
suddenly Ulmo blocked the way:
As the prow cut through the grey,
upon me a great shadow was cast
and from the sea a giant body rose fast.

It said, "You've accomplished great deeds.  
- roaring, the black sea from afar pleads -
'And to sail my long waters you dare,
more than others, boldly you flare:
On which immortal cause do you rest
you who come on this great quest,
for you long to see secrets hidden
To no great man ever given.'

I raise my hands to the fearful choir           
from the sea that let me thus far inquire.
'What greatness has such things that brought
tears to me, who am not a great lot?
In Elbereth I await the coming fate,
and for the Lady who gave us hope innate,
bellowing far away, may the sea us present
Aman, even if for a short moment.'

With such weeping, may the figure vanish  
may a subtle wave come, I wish
to take us in its light foam
to the most fertile tree's home.
Even if everyone is consumed by time,
With Frodo I shall see the most fine,
Elbereth, with the autumn leaves falling,
Under the cerulean sky till I start yawning.