Posted: May 24, 1999 at 14:40:03: by Osric
: : I think it's entirely in character for Tolkien to have
: : borrowed the principle of the Nazgūls' aversion to running
: : water from the tales of Dracula, or from the same folklore
: : as informed them, without necessarily exploring it fully.
: : Though it may be a modern addition, I believe I have
: : encountered the same in folklore pertaining to the British
: : Isles.
: :
: :
: : (Nazgūl and) THE ELEMENTAL SPIRITS OF NATURE
: :
: : The explanation of the connection of such waters with the
: : Valar Ulmo is strong in that he could in-dwell in any water
: : anywhere in Arda. However, even in Tuor's day Ulmo was
: : coming to restrict his influence to the wide oceans because
: : of Melkor's corruption and poisoning of the waters of
: : Middle-earth. Ulmo's domain, however, is the sphere of
: : which most is told regarding the spirits less mighty than
: : the Valar themselves. Among the Maiar, Tolkien presents
: : Ossė the Lord of Storms who rages against the shores of
: : Middle-earth and Uinen, the Lady of the Waters whose
: : tresses extend into every river and stream. Other spirit
: : kinds are named in passing, of which Goldberry and River
: : Woman may be taken as examples. I see the incident at the
: : Ford of Bruinen as involving an awakening of the spirits
: : of the river rather than as a case purely of direct
: : elemental control on the parts of Elrond and Gandalf.: Perhaps you've stumbled onto the answer of who the Lady of the
: Lake was (Uinen) in the Arthur legends. Or perhaps Tolkien was
: supplying the Lady of the Lake with a history. Or there may be
: no connection at all. Any one know for sure? Well I think it's more a case of convergent symbolism. Tolkien *might* have explained such a mythic archetype in historical Britain as stemming from the last traces of tale-awareness of his Maiar, but I doubt we'll confirm such a connection. Uinen was also something approximating a patron lady of the Guild of Mariners in Numenor, if you want to pursue her further.
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