Posted: May 11, 1999 at 03:44:53: by Michael Martinez
: But when Tolkien said that the story of The Helm ended- might
: he not have meant that the story of Turin as The Dragonhelm
: ended- in a metaphorical sense? that is what I have always
: interpreted it to mean. That a chapter in the story of the life
: of Turin was over (there seemed to be a lot of that in his
: life).Christopher Tolkien wrote:
It may be noted here that it was my father's intention to
extend the history of the Dragon-helm of Dor-lomin into the
period of Turin's sojourn in Nargothrond and even beyond;
but this was never incorporated into the narratives. In the
existing versions the Helm disappears with the end of Dor-
Cuarthol, in the destruction of the outlaws' stronghold on
Amon Rudh; but in some way it was to reappear in Turin's
possession at Nargothrond. It could only have come there if
it had been taken by the Orcs that carried Turin off to
Angband; but its recovery from them at the time of Turin's
rescue by Beleg and Gwindor would have required some
development of the narrative at that point.
Statements such as "it was to reappear in Turin's possession" and "it could only have come there if it had been taken" discount any possibility of a metaphorical reference. Christopher is speaking of the physical object that was the helm, and not the name that Turin was known by while Dor-Cuarthol lasted.
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Parma Endorion: Essays on Middle-earth, Revised Edition
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