Close Reading Essay Based on Poetry Selection (The Tale of Tinuviel)

Lauren Huff
AP Multicultural Literature
Ms. Nichole Wilson
14 February 2013

The Deeper Meaning of a Poem

“The Tale of Tinuviel” by J.R.R. Tolkien has to do more with the character, Aragorn. This is a poem he speaks aloud, it’s a poem that speaks of a wandering human man who meets a beautiful immortal Elven woman. This seems to be a direct reference to his own romance with the Elf, Arwen. This poem seems to allow the reader a peek into what Aragorn is truly feeling. He tells the story “softly” in “Fellowship” and when he tells of the story behind it, his face is animated and excited (Fellowship 219). It seems overtly evident that he is thinking of the one he loves, Arwen, through this telling of this sorrowful poem. “Unattainable” seems to be a key theme in this poem and in “Fellowship”. Every time Beren tries to come close to Tinuviel, she flees on “dancing feet” (Tinuviel Line 22) The characters in “Fellowship” also seem to be hovering on the brink of ‘unattainable’. What they wish for, a life of peace and happiness, is impossible because of this terrible burden that has been passed to them (the ring). When the Fellowship enters Lothlorien, the elven city in the forest, they are given the option to stay or leave and continue the quest. It is a choice that each character has to make for themselves. Ultimately they all decide to continue just like Beren chooses to continue following Tinuviel though he has to pass through “wintry woodland” (Tinuviel Line 32) to get there.

Literary devices in this poem are used to lend emphasis to important lines or words. Anastrophe is a prominently used device. When Beren speaks of mountains he calls them “mountains cold,” (Tinuviel Line 9) when he speaks of stars he calls them “stars in shadows shimmering,” (Tinuviel Line 4). This is continuous throughout the entire 72 lines of the poem and it’s purpose is to add emphasis to the noun being described. It does this by taking the order of words the reader will be used to (shimmering stars, cold mountains) and flipping to two words around. The odd wording adds a momentary pause and draws attention to the word that may have been overlooked before. The way that it is used so much draws attention to the importance the author puts on description. The reader acutely feels the way the stars looked, the way the elven maiden danced and the way Beren felt when she was gone. This brings the reader into the poem and makes the sadness and emotion much more real. The rhyme scheme for the first 5 stanzas of the poem is ABACBABC and it creates a steady and lonely feeling. This rhyme scheme is changed in stanza 6 to create emphasis because that’s the stanza where he meets Tinuviel. It also represents the way love feels, his thoughts are scrambled, his heart is beating fast and the poem speeds up for the reader. The rhythm remains irregular from stanza to stanza throughout the rest of the poem to show the permanent change that has taken place in him by meeting Tinuviel.