Heroic Will

[Arnthro]

" 'Will shall be the sterner, heart the bolder, spirit the greater as our strength lessens.' " - from The Tolkien Reader, The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth by J.R.R. Tolkien

Tolkien and other scholars presume this saying to be an 'ancient and honored expression of heroic will,' I believe this also fits wonderfully with our heroes, throughout the ages, of Middle-Earth. It does seem to apply even more to our heroes of the latter part of the Third Age.

 

[Flammifer]

Hi Arnthro,

I agree, that Tolkien certainly invokes this spirit in some of his heroes in TLOTR. Aragorn springs to mind. So does Gandalf. Theoden, after Wormtongue is cast off. Eomer on the Pelennor Fields.

Tolkien, however, certainly presents many characters where this sentiment does not really work. Denethor, and Saruman (among others) spring to mind. But, of course, the main character in whom this sentiment fails is Frodo, and the main character to exemplify it is Sam.