His students and colleagues often bemoaned his rapid mumbling, especially when he gave lectures. Imagine having an Oxford class with him in a time without easy access to audio recording and only pencil and paper to take notes!
He's much better at it than I expected ! I've heard that his friends in the Inklings used to get Christopher Tolkien to read his dad's stuff to them, as they claimed he was a much better reader...
He is capable of making independent (alone,) independent compounded, and dependent clauses, altogether. Most people only do one at a time. It's like the twilight zone, where they claim to own the verticals and horizontals of the screen: Tolkien cuts a broad swathe across 'objective,' 'predicative,' and 'subjective.' He IS god.
Singing is something that can strike fear in the enemy. In the korean war, greek soldiers charged downhill against the chinese and north korean storming troops, while singing, and routed them.
"Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young". Im crying!
This is exactly why people like Tolkien and his works...because of his honesty and plain character, free of extra weight on the ego or vulgar cult of self. He is honestly quite very much into his world, very simply, like any of us fans. The prerequisite is to consider everything absolutely true, and not like a product of his own great mind, no, as that would lead to self celebration. He is lead by an honest, young love for that world. He is just so very happy to have happened to be its creator, that's all :))
This - the last couple minutes of this excerpt - remains one of my favorite literary passages of all time. Certainly one of the most dramatic moments in the entire "Lord of the Rings". I am moved now hearing the final charge of Theoden, just as I was enthralled reading (and re-reading) it as a 5th grader. So, so good. Never thought I'd ever be able to hear Tolkien's voice reading it - too good to be true. Thank you for sharing!
One nice thing about having substantial recordings of JRRT reading from his works is that after listening to them a lot, one can kind of internalize his voice, and when reading to one's self, 'hear' it in one's head the way JRRT might have read it.
he makes his own mythology to capture our imagination and inspire us. I believe he wanted to convey that when the pure of heart ride to battle, they will never alone
"But Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young" I burst into tears! this is beyond poetry!
Thats actually my favorite part of the whole trilogy. It was lower on the list ("Rohan had come at last" is hard as hell to beat) but after hearing Tolkien read it, it elevated it even more. There's just something about the _way_ he says it. I'd give anything to have heard him narrate the whole thing, to hear it the way he did when he wrote it.
and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their signing that was fair and terrible came even to the city ... ‘Éowyn, Éowyn!’ (Éomer) cried at last: ‘Éowyn, how come you here? What madness or devilry is this? Death, death, death! Death take us all!’ Then without taking counsel or waiting for the approach of the men of the City, he spurred headlong back to the front of the great host, and blew a horn, and cried aloud for the onset. Over the field rang his clear voice calling: ‘Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world’s ending!’ And with that the host began to move. But the Rohirrim sang no more.
@@Yesica1993 Right? I cannot say why those lines move me so, but whenever I hear this part I feel a great welling of emotion, and I cannot help but shed a few tears.
The blowing of the horns in that hour was like a storm upon the plane, and a thunder in the mountains! They have passed like rain on the mountain like a wind in the meadow
This is magical and delves straight into my soul. The movies couldn't touch the energy this man flung onto paper. Oh, to be in this world, if only for a brief time! 🥂
Just say the word "Rohirrim" - the /r/ is MEANT to be trilled! And the word 'ere' in the speech, "A sword day, a red day, ere the sun rises!" Just saying the word you can feel your tongue trying to trill it! I think he did it on purpose :)
@@Finlandpro1 Well, that's a bit of a deep question. Don't get me wrong--I don't claim to fully know the mind of Tolkein, but the limitations of the movie format could not hope to capture the intent of the books (and Peter Jackson tried very well, with a lengthy run-time). If you read them, there is so much that is left out in the movies which inherently contributes to the story as a whole. What LotR really needs is a Game of Thrones-style show, with multiple seasons that follow the books. Then, you could capture the intent of Tolkein in some form, depicting the truly daunting, life-like timeline alongside moments which did not have enough time to build the world, in the condensed form of Peter Jackson's trilogy.
@@nickcurrant2254 My guess - he would have disliked the vulgarisation of the work, the maltreatment of Faramir, the realignment of Aragorn's motives, Gimli as comic relief and the general lower tone that the films have. He'd probably have been very bored by all the fight scenes, and disgusted by the Elves. That said, in his letters he makes a long critique of a proposed movie treatment of Rings, and some of his suggested script improvements made it into the Jackson films. I think he might have liked Gandalf very much, and the costumes, and the fact that the languages were treated so respectfully. And he would certainly have been very appreciative of the money.
@@theuncoveredlamp Unfortunately, he did not dictate the entire novel--in his era this would have taken up far too much of his precious time to work on the Silmarillion, as well as his family time--he was a devoted husband and father.
In the book it happens later and it's a lot more depressing. Theoden's dying and thinks both the battle and Gondor are hopeless, but he's proud of earning a glorious death by kicking ass. Then he sees Eowyn and Merry kill the Witch-king and get cursed. He'd ordered Eowyn, as the only surviving member of his House away from the battle, to govern his people. So he's dying and thinks his entire line will go extinct and his people don't have their appointed leader. He's in despair and his entire speech is ‘Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world’s ending!’ "And with that the host began to move. But the Rohirrim sang no more. 'Death' they cried with one voice loud and terrible, and gathering speed like a great tide their battle swept about their fallen king and passed, roaring away southwards."
The number one writer that ever existed. Purity, justice, honour, integrity, trust, duty, bravery, courage and love (real love, not lust), etc. Men were men, and women were women. No bullshit.
54 What (Tao's) skilful planter plants Can never be uptorn; What his skilful arms enfold, From him can ne'er be borne. Sons shall bring in lengthening line, Sacrifices to his shrine. Tao when nursed within one's self, His vigour will make true; And where the family it rules What riches will accrue! The neighbourhood where it prevails In thriving will abound; And when 'tis seen throughout the state, Good fortune will be found. Employ it the kingdom o'er, And men thrive all around. In this way the effect will be seen in the person, by the observation of different cases; in the family; in the neighbourhood; in the state; and in the kingdom. How do I know that this effect is sure to hold thus all under the sky? By this (method of observation).
46 When the Tao prevails in the world, they send back their swift horses to (draw) the dung-carts. When the Tao is disregarded in the world, the war-horses breed in the border lands. There is no guilt greater than to sanction ambition; no calamity greater than to be discontented with one's lot; no fault greater than the wish to be getting. Therefore the sufficiency of contentment is an enduring and unchanging sufficiency.
35 To him who holds in his hands the Great Image (of the invisible Tao), the whole world repairs. Men resort to him, and receive no hurt, but (find) rest, peace, and the feeling of ease. Music and dainties will make the passing guest stop (for a time). But though the Tao as it comes from the mouth, seems insipid and has no flavour, though it seems not worth being looked at or listened to, the use of it is inexhaustible. BOOM!
26 Gravity is the root of lightness; stillness, the ruler of movement. Therefore a wise prince, marching the whole day, does not go far from his baggage waggons. Although he may have brilliant prospects to look at, he quietly remains (in his proper place), indifferent to them. How should the lord of a myriad chariots carry himself lightly before the kingdom? If he do act lightly, he has lost his root (of gravity); if he proceed to active movement, he will lose his throne.
The rythm of his writing has always transfixed me but hearing him read it so quickly and smoothly is down right mesmerizing.
Like listening to music, both tranquil and boisterous.
His students and colleagues often bemoaned his rapid mumbling, especially when he gave lectures. Imagine having an Oxford class with him in a time without easy access to audio recording and only pencil and paper to take notes!
He's much better at it than I expected ! I've heard that his friends in the Inklings used to get Christopher Tolkien to read his dad's stuff to them, as they claimed he was a much better reader...
He is capable of making independent (alone,) independent compounded, and dependent clauses, altogether. Most people only do one at a time. It's like the twilight zone, where they claim to own the verticals and horizontals of the screen: Tolkien cuts a broad swathe across 'objective,' 'predicative,' and 'subjective.' He IS god.
💯
"And the sound of their singing was fair and terrible..." A beautifully evocative line.
Singing is something that can strike fear in the enemy. In the korean war, greek soldiers charged downhill against the chinese and north korean storming troops, while singing, and routed them.
The Ride of the Rohirrim stands with the best of heroic literature such as the Iliad and Beowulf.
"Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young".
Im crying!
"Ride now! Ride now! Ride to Gondor! " And bannerman blowing a horn so strongly it splintered...
I thought Théoden blew the horn. Yeah it says Theoden seized a great horn and blew and it burst asunder.
This is exactly why people like Tolkien and his works...because of his honesty and plain character, free of extra weight on the ego or vulgar cult of self. He is honestly quite very much into his world, very simply, like any of us fans. The prerequisite is to consider everything absolutely true, and not like a product of his own great mind, no, as that would lead to self celebration. He is lead by an honest, young love for that world. He is just so very happy to have happened to be its creator, that's all :))
Of course, Tolkien didn’t Write the lord of the rings, he merely translated a historic text of Middle earth
@Mauro Hilz okay very real totally not fake account
@@The-kr9rb its best to not even reply to them and just report as spam
This - the last couple minutes of this excerpt - remains one of my favorite literary passages of all time. Certainly one of the most dramatic moments in the entire "Lord of the Rings". I am moved now hearing the final charge of Theoden, just as I was enthralled reading (and re-reading) it as a 5th grader. So, so good. Never thought I'd ever be able to hear Tolkien's voice reading it - too good to be true. Thank you for sharing!
(6:47) "...there came rolling over the fields a great boom..." Wow. It gives me shivers every time. 😎
One nice thing about having substantial recordings of JRRT reading from his works is that after listening to them a lot, one can kind of internalize his voice, and when reading to one's self, 'hear' it in one's head the way JRRT might have read it.
such words made a real world.
As if he sang that world into existence.🤓
@@realUlfricStormcloak ayyy i get it haha
he makes his own mythology to capture our imagination and inspire us. I believe he wanted to convey that when the pure of heart ride to battle, they will never alone
Reading this as a young boy my mother talking to me and I say, "Just a moment mom the Rohirrim are charging to save Gondor"
"But Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young"
I burst into tears! this is beyond poetry!
Thats actually my favorite part of the whole trilogy. It was lower on the list ("Rohan had come at last" is hard as hell to beat) but after hearing Tolkien read it, it elevated it even more. There's just something about the _way_ he says it. I'd give anything to have heard him narrate the whole thing, to hear it the way he did when he wrote it.
“Sang as they slew”… love that
Battle stave-ryhme at 7:05 ! Enjoy:)
and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their signing that was fair and terrible came even to the city
...
‘Éowyn, Éowyn!’ (Éomer) cried at last: ‘Éowyn, how come you here? What madness or devilry is this? Death, death, death! Death take us all!’
Then without taking counsel or waiting for the approach of the men of the City, he spurred headlong back to the front of the great host, and blew a horn, and cried aloud for the onset. Over the field rang his clear voice calling: ‘Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world’s ending!’
And with that the host began to move. But the Rohirrim sang no more.
The Rohirrim singing into battle is the thing I miss most in the movies.
No other fiction book has ever brought me to tears the way LOTR does!
@@Yesica1993 Right? I cannot say why those lines move me so, but whenever I hear this part I feel a great welling of emotion, and I cannot help but shed a few tears.
If this dosnt bring tears to your eyes well then you have no heart. Forth and fear no darkness. Arise arise riders of Theoden!
It's almost overwhelming whenever I watch it, so incredibly powerful
This guy is a genius
Tolkien is the poet laureate of Western Civilization, the great myth maker of the modern West.
The west is falling
@@jimmycakes7158 agreed. Average peoole need to step up. There are no singular great heroes to save it
@@jimmycakes7158 death take us all
That's exactly what he showed us in LOTR.
The blowing of the horns in that hour was like a storm upon the plane, and a thunder in the mountains!
They have passed like rain on the mountain like a wind in the meadow
Go away Martin, and come back when you can write like this.
Stirring stuff! Nothing beats your imagination, and this felt like I was reading it for the first time again.
This is magical and delves straight into my soul. The movies couldn't touch the energy this man flung onto paper. Oh, to be in this world, if only for a brief time! 🥂
Anyone knowing English (notwithstanding his origins) not feeling amazed, moved, transfixed and terrified by this is lying. The rhythm....
Oh professor you give to much to the world ❤️ miss you!!
Morgoth disliked this video.
He loves to trill his /r/. Even in normal words.
Just say the word "Rohirrim" - the /r/ is MEANT to be trilled! And the word 'ere' in the speech, "A sword day, a red day, ere the sun rises!" Just saying the word you can feel your tongue trying to trill it! I think he did it on purpose :)
@@Chamdar17 undoubtedly he took the rr from Spanish, but it sounds more like the way the Scottish trill. Super fun.
@@themydnighthourI wonder if it was inspired by his study of ancient Norse and Saxon.
“They sang as they slew”
The only part I think rivals this is when Aragorn arrives in the ships and unfurls the banner of Elendil. Oooof.
The best thing I’ve ever heard 😍
Patriotic for a place that aint even real rn
Epic.
7:05
just imagine tolkiens face if he got to watch the movie adaptions of his lifes work.
Just wait till the Amazon series 😢
He would likely not have liked them. Haha
@@nickcurrant2254 why?
@@Finlandpro1 Well, that's a bit of a deep question. Don't get me wrong--I don't claim to fully know the mind of Tolkein, but the limitations of the movie format could not hope to capture the intent of the books (and Peter Jackson tried very well, with a lengthy run-time). If you read them, there is so much that is left out in the movies which inherently contributes to the story as a whole.
What LotR really needs is a Game of Thrones-style show, with multiple seasons that follow the books. Then, you could capture the intent of Tolkein in some form, depicting the truly daunting, life-like timeline alongside moments which did not have enough time to build the world, in the condensed form of Peter Jackson's trilogy.
@@nickcurrant2254 My guess - he would have disliked the vulgarisation of the work, the maltreatment of Faramir, the realignment of Aragorn's motives, Gimli as comic relief and the general lower tone that the films have. He'd probably have been very bored by all the fight scenes, and disgusted by the Elves. That said, in his letters he makes a long critique of a proposed movie treatment of Rings, and some of his suggested script improvements made it into the Jackson films. I think he might have liked Gandalf very much, and the costumes, and the fact that the languages were treated so respectfully. And he would certainly have been very appreciative of the money.
Where can I find the entire series dictated by him on TH-cam? Anyone have the link? Also Christopher reading the Silmarillion would be nice
It would be awesome to listen to this great novel with his voice.
I could be wrong but I'm not sure if he ever read it in its entirety, or just excerpts here and there, but I don't know for sure one way or the other
@@theuncoveredlamp Unfortunately, he did not dictate the entire novel--in his era this would have taken up far too much of his precious time to work on the Silmarillion, as well as his family time--he was a devoted husband and father.
The perfect chance to use some of tolkiens best, soured on screen.
Cranbrook Sucks What on earth are you talking about??
I understand liking the books more, I certainly do, but thats an absurd thing to say!
Unfortunately...
*They never shouted "Death" before Théoden fell.*
But it was great.
In the book it happens later and it's a lot more depressing.
Theoden's dying and thinks both the battle and Gondor are hopeless, but he's proud of earning a glorious death by kicking ass. Then he sees Eowyn and Merry kill the Witch-king and get cursed. He'd ordered Eowyn, as the only surviving member of his House away from the battle, to govern his people. So he's dying and thinks his entire line will go extinct and his people don't have their appointed leader. He's in despair and his entire speech is ‘Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world’s ending!’
"And with that the host began to move. But the Rohirrim sang no more. 'Death' they cried with one voice loud and terrible, and gathering speed like a great tide their battle swept about their fallen king and passed, roaring away southwards."
Btw he reads this too fast for my liking. Maybe they forced the recording to be of certain length?
It's Eomer who starts the death cry.
This part of the return of the king is 100x better than anything ring of power had done , wont ever compare
See, hear, and be aware.
Why?
Why.
The number one writer that ever existed.
Purity, justice, honour, integrity, trust, duty, bravery, courage and love (real love, not lust), etc.
Men were men, and women were women. No bullshit.
huh?
@@skzanarchist
Your profile name.
Enough said.
:/ come on dude.
True, so true.
Aye, very true...
This video would be more accessible if it showed the text so the viewer could follow along. Regardless, thank you for sharing it.
BMark 3:15
Davis David Wilson Brenda Lopez Donald
54
What (Tao's) skilful planter plants
Can never be uptorn;
What his skilful arms enfold,
From him can ne'er be borne.
Sons shall bring in lengthening line,
Sacrifices to his shrine.
Tao when nursed within one's self,
His vigour will make true;
And where the family it rules
What riches will accrue!
The neighbourhood where it prevails
In thriving will abound;
And when 'tis seen throughout the state,
Good fortune will be found.
Employ it the kingdom o'er,
And men thrive all around.
In this way the effect will be seen in the person, by the
observation of different cases; in the family; in the neighbourhood;
in the state; and in the kingdom.
How do I know that this effect is sure to hold thus all under the
sky? By this (method of observation).
46
When the Tao prevails in the world, they send back their swift horses to (draw) the dung-carts. When the Tao is disregarded in the world, the war-horses breed in the border lands.
There is no guilt greater than to sanction ambition; no calamity greater than to be discontented with one's lot; no fault greater than the wish to be getting. Therefore the sufficiency of contentment is an enduring and unchanging sufficiency.
35
To him who holds in his hands the Great Image (of the invisible Tao), the whole world repairs. Men resort to him, and receive no hurt, but (find) rest, peace, and the feeling of ease.
Music and dainties will make the passing guest stop (for a time). But though the Tao as it comes from the mouth, seems insipid and has no flavour, though it seems not worth being looked at or listened to, the use of it is inexhaustible.
BOOM!
26
Gravity is the root of lightness; stillness, the ruler of movement.
Therefore a wise prince, marching the whole day, does not go far from his baggage waggons. Although he may have brilliant prospects to look at, he quietly remains (in his proper place), indifferent to them. How should the lord of a myriad chariots carry himself lightly before the kingdom? If he do act lightly, he has lost his root (of gravity); if he proceed to active movement, he will lose his throne.
His Received Pronunciation makes him sound Scottish!