Eä Tolkien Society Meeting and Tolkien Moot XVII Notes for July 17th, 2021

Ea Tolkien Society Smial

Video of meeting: https://studio.youtube.com/video/ijSslme9xsE

(Note: though it is labeled May 2021 it was actually filmed July 17)

TOLKIENMOOT XVII (July 17, 2021)
THEME: WHAT DEFINED THE ZENITH OF NUMENOR?
Reigns covered: Kings from Tar-Aldarion to Tar-Minastir (S.A. 883-1869).
*One thousand years of Golden Age, inaugurated by the expansion of
Numenor's maritime tradition and ended by taking from Middle-earth to feed
ambition

GENERAL TALKING POINTS (some we didn't have time for, and the audience
questions are missing)

1. The glory of Numenor: why not skip the Golden Age (i.e. what was its
proper place within Arda? Ennoblement of the Second Children of
Illuvatar/the flowering of humanity, etc.)

2. The meaning of the Sea in Tolkien's legendarium; was seafaring a natural
outgrowth of Numenor's destiny? Or was it an expression of their
restlessness? Compare this to the Elves' relation to the Sea.

3. King Tar-Aldarion: summary of his life, marriage to Erendis,
the oiolairë tradition, their estrangement, return to Middle-earth, and
word from Gil-galad of a Shadow arising in the East of Middle-earth. (Shawn
referred to "Brandy" by Looking Glass as a modern-day parallel to Aldarion
and Erendis)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandy_(You%27re_a_Fine_Girl)

4. Exploring the Numenorean role of Edain as Gift-Bringers. First Contact
with "Men of Twilight"; descendants of those Edain that did not inhabit the
Land of Gift. What was the primitive state of these men? How was the Shadow
growing in the East, creating the Dark Men (i.e. proto-Easterlings).

5. What occurred in the positive mentoring and teaching of the Sea-Kings
for the benefit of the primitive Middle-Men? (what Gifts were brought?) How
does Tolkien treat the exchange of skills and goods from one civilization
to another (contrast the primitive state of these men to the different
primitive state of the Druedain)?

6. What's Sauron up to? (Briefly.. something about the forging of a few
rings)

7. Meanwhile, back at the Ranch... what are the changes to Numenorean
culture over these years before it all goes downhill? Compare to Minas
Anor/Tirith quote about the love of their genealogies and fewer children.
Not the End but the underlying lack of content with Death, limitations to
going West. Seeking to stay in "flower" without producing "fruit" and
laying down one's ambitions for the sake of others.

8. King Tar-Minastir: summary of his life, helping Middle-earth against
Sauron. The choices between the right way forward and the downfall to come.

Next Tolkien Letter will be Letter 186.

Namarie,
Your secretary Brian 

Next meeting: 1-3 pm PST8/PDT7, August 21st, 2021