The History of the Dead Marshes | Tolkien Explained
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 มิ.ย. 2022
- Long before Frodo, Sam, and Gollum traversed the Dead Marshes, there would be the great Battle of Dagorlad, where elves, men, and orcs would find their doom. In the centuries to come, the marshes would expand, swallowing their graves. It would become a treacherous place for many men in the years to come.
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Through the Marshes - Ted Nasmith
Dead Marshes - Steamey
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The Last Alliance - Jenny Dolfen
Oropher and Thranduil - DracarysDrekkar7
Legolas with Hood - WETA
Mirkwood Soldier - WETA
Dead Marshes - AnotherStrangerMe
Battle - Anke Eissmann
A Ranger of the North - Kuliszu
Gollum and Aragorn - Aegeri
Sauron at Barad-dur - Shadow of War
Gollum - John Howe
The Taming of Gollum - Darrell Sweet
The Passage of the Marshes - Alan Lee
Apparitions - Ted Nasmith
The Passage of the Marshes - Kuliszu
Gollum - Olanda Fong-Surdenas
Samwise Gamgee - Matthew Stewart
Music of Creation - ALystraea
The Dead Marshes - Aegeri
The Dead Marshes - Anke Eissmann
My Precious - Bembiann
Sam, Frodo, and Gollum - Elrodimus Flash
Battle color - Anke Eissmann
Gollum - Jerry Vanderstelt
Gollum sketch - John Howe
Gollum - Catherine Karina Chmiel
Smeagol - Elrodimus Flash
Gollum - Elrodimus Flash
JRR Tolkien - Kuliszu
Gollum while Frodo Sleeps - Ted Nasmith
#deadmarshes #tolkien #lordoftherings - บันเทิง
You do one of the best Gollum impressions I've heard.
Thanks so much!
He really does! I was convinced for a minute that it was from the film!
100% agree,best Gollum. Andy Serkis would be proud
It was mandu pandu jk lol
Yes he does!! Nice!
Creepiest places in Middle Earth:
5. Barrow Downs
4. Dol Guldur
3. Khazad-Dum
2. Minas Morgul
1. The Dead Marshes.
The description in the book is so great. I actually got nightmares as a kid after reading the chapter on the Dead Marshes.
Every gigantic place is creepy prove me wrong
You forgot to mention the dead men of dun harrow
Fangorn forest, the old forest and mirkwood was creepy, as well as the two Watchers guarding the entrance into Mordor and also Shelob's Lair
You forget the forests!
Shelob is strong. Utter oppressive darkness with constant webs, unfathomable foul stench, and dozens of hidden passages. Just sheer terror and unyielding doom
Your Gollum impression is brilliant! I could imagine you doing audiobooks for the Silmarillion and LOTR.
Hobbit too
I came here to like this comment.
Andy Serkis himself should come and be a guest star on one of his pod casts. They could do a Gollum vs Smegol argument together.
oh yes very professional
good impressions overall
Love it when you include Tolkien's real life experiences and how it influenced his work. Such an interesting dude
I liked that too. I think it’s pretty important to understand the mind and experiences of an author/artist to really understand the work they create.
This channel especially is a favorite of mine. I’m getting educated on Tolkien’s stories and having a great time doing so. You really put your all into this and it shows. Thank you!
Exactly he fought IN BOTH World War 1 and 2 with this Marsh being based on the battles of World War ONE.
This, His and Edith's love became many great Love Stories, and many more became impactful moments in this Epic Lore!!!
I feel like Tolkien was a big Tolkien nerd, lol. Sometimes his writings seem like fan theories on his own works.
@Fone could anyone alive today give so much of themselves to their creative endeavours?
I think it would be a bit creepy if we could use scuba gear and explore underwater Beleriand. Just imagine being down there and realising you just discovered what's left of the gates of Angband.
Could be worse you could find the entirety of Numenor with all those bodies below the waters.
@@ollyravenhill7341 or finding the biggest hill that was made by the corpses of men and elves during the battle of unnumbered tears
@@QuincyVollstandigThe pits of Tol in Gaurhoth must be pretty bad
How about diving for Smaug gold?😱
For the truly fearless it might be a good entrepreneurial opportunity XD though I think this venture would be a little out of scope for even Nori
It's worth noting that the floating lights or "candles of corpses" may be inspired by the concept of Will o' the Wisps - floating lights that lead travelers astray in European folklore. Will o' the wisps are also called corpse-candles. They're sometimes thought to be lost souls or mischievous fairies but more likely, they're caused by the ignition of gases in swamps and marshlands.
I always figured and this is more from the movies than the book, that the corpses gave fule to the body like methane gas. Though even if that is the case each of the candles certainly have a grievous, magical influence on them.
I figured they can't be literal paraffin wick candles, not just for how short they last but also where they'd even have come from in the first place. Methane gases being ignited by some fell magic seems to be the best answer for the corpse-candles, and Peter Jackson's film seems to take that route.
My grandfather survived the Somme and I always think of him and the horrors he faced when I'm reading the dead marshes.
All respect for your grandfather
Thank you.
Wasn't Tolkien also at the Somme? Or was it one of his close friend?🤔🤔
One thing for sure is that the Shelby brothers were theredigging tunnels.😉😉
@@Zhoshyn yes, Tolkien fought at the Somme.
Oh, dear. I hope that poor man received some love and support after all the horrors he must have seen and endured. God bless his soul and his legacy through you. Best wishes for you and your family.
Too add another layer to Tolkien’s personification off the pools in the dead marsh the idea off “not being able to touch them” in reference to the bodies Is because the pools of water that coalesced in the shell craters would also be tainted by the chemical agents such a chlorine or mustard gas. Because the chemicals involved were so heavy they would stick low to the ground and contaminate the water and make it undrinkable as well as causing chemical burns to those that touched it. The old black and white photos don’t do it justice because of how yellow the mustard gas was. The marshes were the scariest place in Tolkien’s world to me because you could see his own trauma bleed through into the pages
Gollum Impression = spot on friend, well done! I like the Sam voice as well
Thanks so much my friend!
Love how you tied it in with The Battle of the Somme.
With all the beautiful and lovely places in Middle Earth, I love that Tolkien also provided us with plenty of horrifying places as well. The world feels so real that way.
On top of the Somme battlefields, I think it is interesting to mention what could have been another inspiration.
In Brittany, northwestern France is located the Yeun Elez, a big marshy region that fits the description of Tolkien's dead marshes. A lot of local legends (youdig gates to hell, deepless ponds and tricking lights) are associated to it.
Tolkien was familiar with these legends via the recollection done by people such as Anatole Le Bras.
Nowadays, parts of the marshes are submerged under an artificial lake. But the rest is preserved and still gives a creepy and earie feeling (I have camped in it by night and trust me the noises in the mist were freaking us out).
I highly recommend the hikes around it from saint Michel de braspart to roc'j trevezel.
Pourquoi pas les deux?
-ahem-
These stories make the Battle of Dagorlad feel so immense, like a throwback to the Wars of Beleriand
Scariest places in Middle Earth according to me:
5) Mirkwood(book version particularly).It’s a vast forest, with dimmed light due to the thick canopy, a place where the water is enchanted to make you fall asleep or drown, where animals become shadows and the flesh can’t be eaten, where people can go insane and never find their way out.Adding to that, the giant spiders exist, able to snap and devour anyone who comes through.Then the mirkwood elves, who don’t like outsiders and can sneak around you without a sound.And then Dol Guldur where orcs and Sauron as the necromancer live.It’s one giant forest of death.
4)Moria.It’s a giant underground realm, long since abandoned.Not only is it dark, eerily empty, and maze like with numerous tunnels and passages, but it’s filled with orcs, trolls, and even a balrog.Not to mention littered with the corpses of the dwarves who attempted to settle there before the fellowship came.Lastly, there is the lake that laps right up to the door, where the watcher in the water lives, and there are tunnels down to the base of the mountains where the nameless things, essentially lovecraftian beings live.
3) The Barrow downs.A selection of hills inhabited by evil and dangerous spirits or wrights, who have the ability of magic to make people their captives, and only by Tom Bombadil can people escape.
2) The dead marshes, as explained in this video.
1) Mordor.Enough said.
It’s not just the history that keeps me coming back, but your audio. It’s soothing and well balanced. So pleasant to listen to. Good job, mate.
Once again, masterpiece of a video, fueling my love of Tolkien's work! Thank you!
I can't help but imagine Gollum when he tried to touch the dead on his first journey through the marshes. "Bless us and splash us, my precious! Free lunch! Smeagol has never had Elveses before. Are they tasty? Are they crunchable?"
The drawing on gollum was so creepy but perfect at the same time
IMO better than the movie's at this specific scene. Captures the tone of Gollum 's words better.
Wow your Gollum impression is amazing. You could totally narrate and do the voices on Tolkien audiobooks.
That drawing of Gollum (at 08:15)... wow, it gives me the creeps. That's so much more terrifying than any image from the movie. Your perfect Gollum impression alongside it makes it so chilling.
You should do the Barrow Downs/Barrow Wights. I know you Have covered them in other episodes but I was thinking of a dedicated episode of you have not already done one.
Ah man! I wish you would do Audiobooks for Middle Earth. You do such a great job! You make it very immersive!
I love your Gollum voice, well done video.
Two questions:
What are the 'Watchers' Frodo and Sam find in Cirith Ungol?
Is there another secreted mountain path into Mordor other than the Morgul Vale?
They were probably evil spirits that Sauron got to work for him. I am sure they thought it was cake job because, after all, who would dare try to enter with Sauron and the Witch King in complete control of the Valley. Little did they know.....
There's a main path up from Morgul... That they Don't Take, The Cirith Ungol path is a side path.
I could quote chapter and verse PROVING this, because i spent a LONG many rereads checking this out. I won't bother you with it, but; it's true. Meanwhile; i have NO IDEA how the Watchers worked.. Some sort of spooky magic
Bro what!?!? The Sméagol impression ON POINT!!
This is an absolute gem of a channel. Thank you so much for these deep dives, some of the art work used is phenomenal and the map depictions is brilliant.
“Don’t follow the lights!”
-Gollum
They Dead Marshes are more horror inducing to me than any book or movie. It makes sense that they are reflections of the Battle of the Somme.
Your reading (which was excellent) of Tolkien's lines made me remember just how well written the LotR is.
Oh man I was waiting for a Dead Marshes video by you. I'll watch this when I'm shaving later. Thank you!!
This was amazinggggggggg
perfect video!
You`re the best tolkien channel, my friend.
From start to end and all within it: the pictures, the voices, the music, how long the quates are, even the number of ads during the video..
You`re the best! thanks!
The Dead Marshes is (IMHO), in terms of visuals, climate and concept, the place that most externalizes such a reference to what Tolkien experienced in World War 1.
I believe the place becomes a concept of "No man's lands" - "No man lands" from the Great War: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_man's_land
"No man's land is land that is unoccupied or is under dispute between parties who leave it unoccupied due to fear or uncertainty. The term was originally used to define a contested territory or a dumping ground for refuse between fiefdoms.[1] In modern times, it is associated with World War I to describe the area of land between two enemy trench systems, which neither side wished to cross or seize due to fear of being commonly attacked by the enemy in the process."
More specifically it almost has to be influenced by the Somme. Large craters from mortar shells would fill with water and there would be actual pools of dead around you.
@@kingetzel2755 This is very true. It is very interesting to look at LOTR and its themes and places and the inspiration from the horrors of WWI. Even the sickness from the wraiths closely resemble 'shell shock'.
Dude, your Gollum voice is so good!
Thanks! 😊
Wow! One of your best videos yet! Unfortunate it’s so short! But I loved the voice acting, the Tolkien personal experience connection, and a topic I always wanted to know about in detail! Keep up the great work!!
Great video Matt! Whilst I love all of your videos, I especially love when we get to see the travels of our Heroes and Villains, using the maps! You always put it together so well! As we say in Ireland, Maith Thú! Well done!
Gotta say I've watched all your videos at this point and none disappoint. Thanks so much for the great content!
Oh wow I was just watching the two towers yesterday and wondered if you had already made a video on the dead marshes
In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, the Dead Marshes are shown foggy ponds with jets of fire rather than the misty candle-flames described in the book. Frodo actually falls into a marsh, in which ghostly figures surround and reach for him before Gollum pulls him out.
That Gollum voice is flipping amazing!! Unbelievably great!!!
Only just passed this part of the book in my annual reading. The depiction in the movie is superbly creepy and a testament to Jackson's talent for horror elements.
Good video. Scene with frodo falling in scarred me as a kid
Wow! I’ve become more invested in Tolkien’s work because of your exemplary story telling.
I love wake up Saturday, make some coffee and having breakfast watching your videos. Great job Matt, best channel on TH-cam :D
Thanks so much for spending your Saturday with me! 😁
So awesome to see that you have 604k subscribers! I remember when you had 100k, time is going so fast!
I'd love to see you do a video on Celeborn, Galadrial's husband. I can't really find much information on him myself but I know he and Galadriel have been married since the first age.
I really like these videos ! The sound, speed and pronunciation is very good and its like listening to a story rather than listening to a lecture!
Another opportunity to show off that stellar Gollum impression. I love the extra lore about the history of the Dead Marshes we get in the appendices
Your Gollum impression is incredible.
That Golllum impression was S tier
You should invite John Garth to speak on this channel.
A part of me wants to go to northern France, or just the Somme, to retrace Tolkien's steps.
I think it is fitting that Peter Jackson is also passionate about the Great War, given its connection to Middle Earth.
What a good video idea. I’ve always wondered
This episode showed me once more how thrilling it would be if you read the books to us! Keep up the good work
Your best episode yet, outstanding.
That Gollum impression is absolutely spot on holy moly. I though I could do a really good Gollum impression but I bow to you because that blows me out of the water so awesome
Wow that reference of no man land. never though about it. This is why i love this channel.
Your voicework is top notch. I would listen to you reading audiobooks any day.
I'm just in awe with your Gollum impression. Amazing work!
Well,for the past few months I've been abducted on study of the lore of LoTR,so I want to say thank you for helping me with this) And also,you did AWESOME voice of Gollum,when I heard that,for a second,I thought,that it was Andy's voice....!👏👏👏
Love the channel, especially the episode recaps and watch parties.
I really enjoy all your videos about LotR lore/history. Thank you!
My dude your channel is amazing, I love the effort (and voices) you put into these videos. I’ve watched a bunch then went back to watch the LOTR movies. It really enhanced my movie watch!! So much lore and background now
Is there a theory or can u do a theory on if Bilbo never found the Ring in Gollum's cave? But like if the free peoples still attempted to make war on Mordor without knowing where the Ring is.
But Bilbo never found the Ring, the Ring found him. The Ring was sentient and as such it was always going to be found by either a human or dwarf who would be tempted by it and the Ring could sense it. At least that is what I get from reading about the ring, its not just an inanimate object. Its endgame was to go back to Sauron.
@@indianmota yeah i know. But the point of the theory is to think about other possibilities.
Dude your Gollum voice is absolutely top notch. You do excellent voice dialogue, and great content too.
Nice work dude thanks
Well done!!! This video deserves a gold star!!!
This was outstanding. Amazing video!! ✨
I appreciate the art that properly depicts Gollum ("dark as darkness, except for two big round pale eyes in his thin face") and doesn't just regurgitate the movie. I could do without the Andy Serkis impression.
great to see the channel gaining subs well deserved
I'm impressed by not just your storytelling, but your impression of Gollum. Seriously. That's something. You sound close to the original. Well done.
Love your videos. They're awesome. 👍👍👍🙂
Outstanding work!
Love your videos, thanks for doing these for Tolkien Fans!!
This is the first time I’ve heard you do an impression of Gollum. It was bone-chillingly awesome!
I absolutely love your videos! Keep up the great work
Don't tell him what to do.
i dunno if that is the first time you have ever done Gollum in a video but it is the first time ever saw a video that you did him in. Excellent job!
Yes thanks for doing this. I always loved the Dead Marshes and wanted to leanr more.
Excellent narration
Another great video as always
This chapter was Awesome! Liked it!
Your vocal tones are just on point sir, it was like someone reciting soft poetry lol and I know everyone is saying it but the Gollum voice was damn impressive...always great content.. thanks for all the hard work
That Gollum voice is amazing!
Great video as always
always a good video, love it
Yey! I was about to suggest this. Thanks
Very good job. Well done
Trully creapy place! The way to Mordor is trully full of darkness, either to go through Black Gate, or through this graveyeard!
Nerd, another great video, I wanted to ask you, I playing Shadow of Mordor once more, and I'm wondering did Celembrimbor had a family, or that was just for the games?
Al always great video!
That was a creation of the games. In one version of the story, he actually has an unrequited love for Galadriel.
I just found out your channel exists and I love it
Stellar gollum voice dude, loving this channel!
Great job, precious. Yessss. Impression ses are very nice.
Wonderful video, as usual. ❤ I want to put in my request for a video on the Song. I want to hear you tell me about the Music of the Ainur and connections and lore surrounding it and what we learn during the Ainulindalë of the Silmarillion and beyond. Please and thank you either way. I love you content. I was attempting to describe it to a friend, then went to your channel hoping you had a video on it and either I can't find it or it hasn't been covered yet.
I feel as if Matt is doing a series on the scariest places in Middle Earth without saying it…
I also love the connection between WW2 and Middle Earth. That one was cool!
I’m gonna say either Mirkwood or Barrow Downs might be next…maybe even Fangorn, the Old Forest…many possibilities.
WW1, not 2.
@@Duiker36 My bad, meant WW1
I love the lore this channel has taught me. I hope it matters in in the future….
When Gollum tells them its name he looks and sounds like he just came up with it off the top of this head and is very proud of it.
If you didn't already, a video on gollum would be awesome, just for the opportunity to do the impression. It's just like Andy serkis. Do you also do the mannerisms? We need a live stream reading gollum quotes maybe.
cool vid Matt enjoyed it
An excellent presentation on the Dead Marshes!
Great video, great content, excellent impression!
Amazing Gollum impression there! and yeah, the Dead Marshes are probably one of the creepiest places in Middle-earth
Great video, thank you 😊
Ok! First great video as always, second! That Gollum impression was ridiculously good!🔥
WOW amazing impressions 👍
One of the best Gollum voices I heard. That’s a subscription from me.