When the Hobbits first meet the wandering wood elves, they sing a song to Elbereth, who is a deity in the Tolkein mythology / cosmology. They sing this at their impromptu feast in the woods, as the stars shine bright.
File:Varda Elentári.jpg - image by Dominikmatus
Frodo and Sam clearly both feel an especially close connection with her. In Tolkien's mythology, she filled the two lamps with light, created the newer stars and is a source of help and support to those in distress.
She is also the source of the light in the Phial of Galadriel, that Frodo and Sam use to dazzle Shelob in Shelob's lair.
That's quite a long story - her connection with the phial. After the two lamps were destroyed and then used for the two trees, those in turn also destroyed by a giant spider Ungoliant, Elbereth (Varda) collected the dew of the two trees which later was used in the Silmarils. Then (after much adventure, including the story of Beren and Luthien, and then Earendel and Elwing) one of the Silmarils was born by Earendel the mariner on his brow, set to wander endlesesly through the sky - and is the morning and evening star.
The light from that is captured in the Phial of Galadriel, and is the source of the bright light that so dazzles and scares Shelob in their time of need. Song of Eärendil
Frodo and Sam both call to her for help in distress. See Varda - Tolkien Gateway - and Phial of Galadriel
You get the impression, I think, that this is like a background that is just part of their lives. From time to time you notice it in a song or such like - or when they call out in distress - but this is not underlined and spelt out in detail in the LOR (and I think in a way is stronger because of that) - the main focus is on the events.
Snow-white! Snow-white! O Lady clear!
O Queen beyond the Western Seas!
O Light to us that wander here
Amid the world of woven trees!
Gilthoniel! O Elbereth!
Clear are thy eyes and bright thy breath!
Snow-white! Snow-white! We sing to thee
In a far land beyond the Sea.
O stars that in the Sunless Year
With shining hand by her were sown,
In windy fields now bright and clear
We see your silver blossom blown!
O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
We still remember, we who dwell
In this far land beneath the trees,
Thy starlight on the Western Seas.
Frodo and Sam clearly both feel an especially close connection with her. In Tolkien's mythology, she filled the two lamps with light, created the newer stars and is a source of help and support to those in distress.
She is also the source of the light in the Phial of Galadriel, that Frodo and Sam use to dazzle Shelob in Shelob's lair.
That's quite a long story - her connection with the phial. After the two lamps were destroyed and then used for the two trees, those in turn also destroyed by a giant spider Ungoliant, Elbereth (Varda) collected the dew of the two trees which later was used in the Silmarils. Then (after much adventure, including the story of Beren and Luthien, and then Earendel and Elwing) one of the Silmarils was born by Earendel the mariner on his brow, set to wander endlesesly through the sky - and is the morning and evening star.
The light from that is captured in the Phial of Galadriel, and is the source of the bright light that so dazzles and scares Shelob in their time of need. Song of Eärendil
Frodo and Sam both call to her for help in distress. See Varda - Tolkien Gateway - and Phial of Galadriel
You get the impression, I think, that this is like a background that is just part of their lives. From time to time you notice it in a song or such like - or when they call out in distress - but this is not underlined and spelt out in detail in the LOR (and I think in a way is stronger because of that) - the main focus is on the events.
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Robert Walker
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