Tolkien: the Thunderclap to end all thunderclaps.
I saved Tolkien for the last “Thunderclap” post (in this round; I may return to this series in the future) for two reasons: first, to give pride of place to my #1 thunderclap writer; second, because I wasn’t sure what to say.
Tolkien is all over this blog already:
– In Frodo Lives: An Author’s Awakening, I described how Tolkien’s approach to writing as a Christian laid the groundwork for my own spiritual artistic vision.
– In Myth Matters, I shared about Tolkien’s method of writing mythology as history, and how deeply that had informed my imagination as a reader and a writer. (The Ancient, my most recent published novel, is in many ways my homage to The Silmarillion.)
– In Elves, Effort, and T.S. Eliot, I spoke of Tolkien and Lewis as the “giants” upon whose shoulders I am constantly seeking to climb, that I may leap into new wonder – not only for my own good, but for the good of all whom my words may reach.
– In Running: Chariots of Fire Meets Lord of the Rings, I took my Tolkien geekdom to a whole new Stephen-Colbert level with an original poem: “Run, Tinúviel, Run”.
And the road goes ever on and on . . .
After all I have said about this man and his influence on me – me as a writer, me as a reader, me as a human – what more could I possibly say?
The answer came last week while reading a book that did not make it on this Thunderclap list – only because I’d posted about it right before the series began: Watership Down.
I am reading this aloud to the hubs, and when we reached the end of a particularly intense chapter, I mentioned that what grips me the most about this book is the relationships – the camaraderie that develops among this little band of rabbits, and how they are able to work together and rely on each other in the stickiest of situations.
I then realized that this idea of fellowship – of deep bonds forged in the furnace of adversity, and of overcoming that adversity together – is the thruline in all of my favorite books.
When I read, I focus on the relationships between the characters. They are my favorite thing about Story, and this particular kind of relationship – this fierce intimacy, sometimes involving romance but not always – is a large part of what turns a book into a Thunderclap book for me.
After all, where would Harry be without Ron, Hermione, the Weasleys, and all of his surrogate parental figures? Answer: dead, evil, or absolutely off his rocker.
Where would Lord Peter be without Bunter – and, eventually, Harriet Vane? Answer: dead, evil, or absolutely off his rocker.
Where would Cal Trask be without Lee, Abra, or even Adam and Aron? Answer: DEFINITELY dead, evil, or absolutely off his rocker.
Where would Martin the Warrior be without Gonff . . . and Rose? Answer: not evil or off his rocker, but probably dead. Or, at least, so sad and bitter that he wished he were dead.
Where would Hiccup be without Toothless (and Fishlegs)? Answer: just dead. Very, very dead. Many times over.
This Thunderclap bond has spilled over into my own writing:
Where would the Last – the Ancient – be without the Faithful? Answer: so dead. (On the inside.) Not evil, but . . . so absolutely off his rocker.
Where would Anna be without Nicholas and Eddie? Answer: not dead, not evil, but . . . sad. (And probably an unbearable prig to boot.)
As I reflected further on this Thunderclap bond, I realized I knew exactly what to say in this Tolkien Thunderclap post, for I can’t think of an author who writes this kind of friendship better than J. R. R. Tolkien.
After all, this enlivening camaraderie is the veritable backbone of all of Tolkien’s work.
These deep bonds are all over The Silmarillion (Beren/Luthien/Huan, Turin/Beleg, Finrod/Barahir, Hurin/Turgon – to name just a few).
My favorite part of The Hobbit is the unlikely friendship that grows between Bilbo and the Dwarfs, especially Thorin.
The Lord of the Rings is almost a doctoral thesis on loyalty, longing, and the kind of love that leads one to sacrifice everything without a thought.
And, of course, the foundation and crowning stone of that story – in my opinion – is the bond between Frodo and Sam.
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- A graduation gift . . .
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- . . . from my very own Sam.
When I think of what this story means to me, a quote by C. S. Lewis comes to mind:
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
I love this story – and this relationship in particular – not only because it is good and beautiful, but because it has helped me to see and understand the beauty in many other things.
Example: I remember going to my mother one day in my teenage years with a question about scripture. Jesus was telling His disciples that there would be no marriage in the Kingdom of God. To my hopeless-romantic little heart, this seemed positively awful.
“A world without romantic love?” I asked my dear mama. “How could that be FUN? How am I supposed to look forward to THAT?”
My mother – who is a very wise woman, not to mention a deep lover of Story and an unspeakably smash-tastic mom – thought for a moment before replying:
“Sweetie, in the Kingdom of God . . . everyone will love each other like Frodo and Sam love each other.”
Wonder and joy and fierce longing exploded in my chest, and I thought, “Yeah. Ok. THAT I can get behind.”
Later, my reflections on this story, the Frodo/Sam relationship, and the hope of the coming Kingdom – the embrace awaiting us – led me to write this song.
I’ve written SEVERAL songs in my life, but this was the first for which the piano part came first – before the words and melody. Those familiar with the “Grey Havens” scene at the end of Return of the King – and with C. S. Lewis’s famous description of Tolkien’s work (“Here are beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron; here is a book that will break your heart.”) – should recognize some of the imagery. (I’ve also included the lyrics below.)
Enjoy, friends.
And thank you, Tolkien. Thank you for the Thunderclap that explains all the other Thunderclaps: the lens through which I am able to see Story – and myself, and my writing, and my own relationships – in new and ever more wondrous ways.
(Many thanks to the Hubs for being my cameraman.)
Embrace
VERSE 1:
I feel the time approaching
When I must leave the world I thought I knew
I hear a sweet, familiar music calling
So strange and ancient, yet so new
It sings of truth that burns like fire
And truth that cuts like iron
This song, it wounds me
I must find the Singer
CHORUS:
Take me in Your arms and hold me close
As if You never want to let me go
A clinging desperation
And a joy that breaks my heart
Hold me, hold me
My Friend divine
VERSE 2:
The ship is now departing
And for the first time, I can truly feel
I see the sun rise over the horizon
Your beauty making all things real
Your love, it burns me like a fire
And it cuts my soul like iron
Your love, it heals me
I am whole forever
(CHORUS)
We love Tolkien!! This is so amazing!!
Again, you speak what I have felt but could not wrap words around!!! Thank you! The song is lively, too!!!
Thanks, Ruth. As always, so well written.
Amazingly beautiful…. Thank you for sharing