User:Katestake/The Lay of the Children of Húrin

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sections: (notes from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Editing_Wikipedia_articles_on_books_%28Wiki_Ed%29.pdf)

(remember: it's not actually a book, just part of a book)

Lead: update

Background


 * how the book came to be
 * when written
 * where it fits with their other books
 * was it in response to something?

Summary: expand



Genre/Style


 * fiction/nonfiction
 * how does the style compare to the author's other works? (use sources)
 * subsection: alliterative style

Analysis


 * impact of the book on the world
 * scholars/critics' thoughts and analyses

Publication


 * date published
 * publisher
 * formats
 * cover art
 * translation

Reception


 * more of a lead-in
 * what did critics think?
 * awards?

Other versions


 * explain connection to the Narn and Children of Hurin; CHECK to see if that info is on another page

Images


 * what can we use?

notes from The Lays of Beleriand


 * 1: begun 1918,
 * 2: by a "later (and perhaps hesitant) statement" by J.R.R.
 * 1-2: sent to Tolkien's old professor R.W. Reynolds in 1925
 * 2: Christopher Tolkien says it was likely composed mainly at Leeds before J.R.R. Tolkien began working on The Lay of Leithian that summer
 * 3: version I
 * half written on slips of paper
 * half written on exam pages from the University of Leeds; includes later edits
 * typed up and heavily edited; titled The Golden Dragon, changed to Túrin Son of Húrin & Glórund the Dragon
 * parts: 2276 lines
 * intro, lines 1-104, p 5-8
 * The poem begins with the story of Húrin, Túrin's father, defeated and captured in the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. Morgoth, the Dark Lord, was angry because Turgon, the High King of the Elves, had escaped the battle and vanished unconquered. Morgoth tries to persuade Húrin to act as his spy and get his other prisoners to reveal Turgon's location, promising him freedom, power, and wealth, but Húrin refuses. Morgoth punished him by chaining him to a chair atop the mountain, where Morgoth cursed Húrin's kin and gave Húrin magical sight with which to watch the curse unfold on his family.
 * I: Túrin's Fostering, lines 105-558, p 8-21
 * Morwen, Húrin's wife, lived in Dor Lómin with her son Túrin at the time of the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. After the battle, "men unmindful of [Húrin's] mighty lordship" (line 111, p 8) took over the land. Morwen was pregnant, destitute, and unsure if her husband lived. After the birth of her daughter, whom she named Nienor (meaning Lamentation), Morwen sent Túrin to King Thingol of Doriath, hoping he would foster Túrin because Húrin was a compatriot of Beren. Túrin and his companions make the difficult journey to Doriath, nearly starving on the way, but are found by Beleg the hunstman, who guides them to Thingol. Thingol adopts Túrin as his own son, and sends messengers to invite Morwen to come to Doriath as well. But Morwen is still nursing Nienor, and she waits for Húrin, and above all is too proud to accept such charity, so she stays in Dor Lómin, instead sending the Dragon Helm of Dor Lómin to Thingol as a gift, which he gives to Túrin. Morwen's refusal to come to Doriath is counted as the first of Túrin's sorrows. Túrin had arrived at age 7, and stayed there for 12 years. After 7 years news from Dor Lómin ceased, and Túrin became a warrior, fighting orcs with Beleg. On the twelfth anniversary of his departure from Dor Lómin, an elf taunted Túrin at a feast for his unkempt woodsman's appearance, saying he left his mother too early, and implying the women of Dor Lómin were equally unkempt. Túrin, already emotional, cast a heavy goblet at the elf and accidentally killed him. Túrin ran immediately, thinking himself an outlaw, and so never heard Thingol's pardon. Túrin's departure from Doriath is attributed to Morgoth's curse.
 * II: Beleg, lines 559-1338, p 34-55
 * Túrin formed a band of outlaws that attacked orcs, elves, and men alike. When his men captured Beleg, who knew nothing about his disgrace, Beleg joined the band and convinced them to make an oath to attack orcs only. They became famous defenders of the elves, but one was discontent without as much loot as before, so he betrayed them to the orcs. They captured Túrin alive by Morgoth's command; Beleg survived, though badly injured and left for dead. Beleg was found by Thingol's messengers, who had come to find Túrin but brought Beleg back to Doriath to be healed. After recovering, he followed the orcs' trail into the dark forest of Taur-na-Fuin, where he got lost. He stumbled upon Flinding go-Fuilin, an elf escaped from Morgoth's mines. With Flinding's lamp and Beleg's skill, they made their way out of the forest and found the orc host again. That night, Beleg shot the wolf sentries in the dark and crept into camp. Túrin was drugged and bound in irons, so Beleg and Flinding carried him out of the camp. Beleg cut his bonds with his sword, but accidentally cut Túrin's foot; Túrin awoke, thought he was being attacked, and killed Beleg with his own sword before he realized what was going on. When Flinding lit his lamp and Túrin saw Beleg dead, he went still and mute for a full day. The orc host fled north at the unnatural storm that arose.
 * III: Failivrin, lines 1339-2276, pg 66-91
 * When Túrin recovered from his stupor, he wanted to commit suicide, but Flinding convinced him to fight against Morgoth instead. They buried Beleg where he fell and began a journey southward, stopping at Lake Ivrin, where Túrin came to himself, finally learned Flinding's name, and sang an elegy for Beleg. Flinding led them southward to Nargothrond, his home, where he hoped to find Finduilas, the woman he loved and the daughter of the king. They survived the wardens and were at first questioned, but then welcomed at Finduilas's urgings. Túrin was welcomed into Flinding's family, the outer watches, and the council of the king. Finduilas fell in love with him, forsaking her love of Flinding. Túrin also fell in love with her, but never spoke of it out of loyalty to Flinding, but Flinding perceived the truth and both hated and pitied Túrin. The poem cuts off with mention of the orc hosts drawing nearer in the spring.
 * 4: version 2, titled Túrin, then The Children of Húrin