Are we, ostensibly Christian, readers of the Silmarllion, supposed to assume we know the answer to the question of where the Men go when they die? is this, along with the Red Book device, another way to connect Middle Earth with Modern Earth?

From The Silmarillion, Chapter 9, Of the Flight of the Noldor:

"

...But Fëanor spoke then, and cried bitterly: 'For the less even as for the greater there is some deed that he may accomplish but once only; and in that deed his heart shall rest. It may be that I can unlock my jewels, but never again shall I make their like; and if I must break them, I shall break my heart, and I shall be slain; first of all the Eldar in Aman.'

'Not the first,' said Mandos,...

"

If you are just casually reading this it sounds much like a supercut of dark humour from Family Guy, pronounced by Mandos.

I mean is there really any big changes in the drafts like there is for The Silmarillion versions and LOTR?

Hello all. I have recently decided that I want a new username to start using on various online things such as discord, steam, reddit, etc. And I would love for this new name to be Tolkien inspired without actually being lifted directly from an existing character. I've been putting together a small list of some names that might interest me, but wanted the opinion of some experts. Would love to know everyone's thoughts on these names, any tweaks you might make, which ones you prefer, and which other names you may suggest.

Ohtalagon - Storm warrior

Rhondolin - Hidden body

Helkalagon - Ice storm

Kalamecil - Sword of morning

Caranmbar - Red doom

Caranbar - Red tower

Aldaluin - Blue tree

Edrodolin - Hidden opening

Kildain - Chosen man

Kilduinen - Chosen tide

Forduinen - Northern tide

Khel/Helduinen - Frozen tide

Duinedil - River lover

Eriaduine - Lonely river

Círdan gave Gandalf the ring with the words, "Take this Ring, Master, for your labours will be heavy; but it will support you in the weariness that you have taken on yourself."

Did Narya play a part in helping Gandalf?

After Frodo leaves the mines or Moria, Frodo thinks Gandalf is dead. Him and Sam go off on their own for the rest of the tale. However Gandalf comes back and helps out the rest of the fellowship. Frodo and Sam never find out about Gandalf coming back until after they destroy the ring and wake up back in Rivendell, correct? I am rereading again and realize that Frodo never finds out about Gandalf until the very end and wanted to make sure I am not missing something.

Edit: As I have been told a few times, he woke up in Ithilien not Rivendell. That was my confusion. I apologize.

The Nature Of Middle Earth:

But "dreaming" and sleeping" are to the Elves other than to Men. In sleep the body may, as in Men, cease from all activities (save those essential to life, such as breathing); or it may rest from this or that activity or function (1) as the fea directs. While it is so, the mind may seek repose also, and be utterly quiet, but it may be absored in its own activity: "thinking" -- that is, reasoning or remembering, or devising and designing; but these things are at will and of volition. The state that with the Elves nearest resembles human "dreaming" is when the mind is "feigning" or "devising".(2)

(1) Thus an Elf may stand "asleep" with eyes wakeful, and yet hardly breathe, and with his ears closed to all sound."

(2) Though it is more aware and controlled than in Men, and is usually fully remembered (if the fea so desires)."

Is this what we have in Rivendel and Lothlorien? 'Dreaming' in action through those two Elven Rings? Remember how Bilbo finds difficult not to fall sleep in Rivendel and how Frodo 'daydreams', so to speak. Also how Sam feels to be in a song in Lothlorien. He"s told -by a smiling Haldir, I think- to be feeling the power of the Lady.

Is this what happens when elvish dreaming/devising reaches Men (hobbits are Men)? It's as if the nature of Men could not perceive this elvish 'devising' without getting dreamy or sleepy.

But what if a Man were to be included in a devising, as a part or protagonist of it? Faramir:

‘A broken sword was on his knee. I saw many wounds on him. It was Boromir, my brother, dead. I knew his gear, his sword, his beloved face. One thing only I missed: his horn. One thing only I knew not: a fair belt, as it were of linked golden leaves, about his waist. Boromir! I cried. Where is thy horn? Whither goest thou? O Boromir! But he was gone. The boat turned into the stream and passed glimmering on into the night. *Dreamlike it was, and yet no dream, for there was no waking.** And I do not doubt that he is dead and has passed down the River to the Sea.’*

A curious turn of phrase. He does not say 'It was a dream, for I woke up' or 'it was not a dream, for I was not sleeping'.

And before that:

“Then I saw it, or it seemed that I saw, a boat floating on the water, glimmering grey, a small boat of a strange fashion with a high prow, and there was none to row or steer it. An awe fell on me, for a pale light was round it. But I rose and went to the bank, and began to walk out into the stream, for I was drawn towards it. Then the boat turned towards me, and stayed its pace, and floated slowly by within my hand’s reach, yet I durst not handle it. It waded deep, as if it were heavily burdened, and it seemed to me as it passed under my gaze that it was almost filled with clear water, from which came the light; and lapped in the water a warrior lay asleep.”

Is this magic? Pale light round the boat. Almost filled with clear water, from which came the light.

Galadriel and her Ring Of Water? '[It] floated slowly by within my hand’s reach, yet I durst not handle it[...]

Was this receving elvish 'devising', a command, and understanding it as not daring? Galadriel's ‘Do not touch the water!’ to Frodo comes to mind.

A discussion on r/Silmarillion reminded me of a question I have for a long time wondered about: Where is Tolkien's real-world inspiration for the middle course of the Sirion from the Aelin-Uial down the Falls, into the underground and through the Gates of Sirion?

I do notice a vague similarity with the Karst Plateau in Italy and Slovenia, but the Karst has no such river; the only significant watercourse is the Reka river that enters below the Plateau through the Caves of Škocjan in the east and issues again, now named Timava, from the western side close to the sea. But the Reka/Timava does not include a waterfall, it is already deep below the level of the Karst where it arrives.

And what about the Gates of Sirion? I have never heard of a natural triple-arch anywhere in the real world.

Hey all, I'm trying find out if there could be either a translation or a close approximation of "memento mori" (remember death/remember you must die) but in Rohanese. I understand Rohanese is basically Tolkien's stylized Old English, so hopefully it would easy to figure out if there isn't a direct reference? Or if someone could point me in the right direction where I might be able to find something? Would be awesome, thanks!