JJ48
Well-Known Member
In Bree, the poem first shows up in Gandalf's letter to Frodo. It is placed between two postscripts, and isn't even directly tied to Aragorn until Aragorn himself quotes two lines from it. The first four lines read as a proverb warning against judging things by their appearance, while the last four can be read as hopeful reassurance; simply stating that things will get better. Even when Aragorn claims the poem goes with his name, it doesn't tell us too much about him. He'll show the broken sword, but even that doesn't tell us much. We don't know, for instance, whether the king in question is Aragorn or someone else; or even whether the king is figurative or literal.
In Rivendell, by contrast, we are able to take much of the information we have learned and interpret much more of the poem. I imagine that, upon being reminded of the poem, someone reading this book for the first time would find that it makes much more sense and has far more impact than the instance in Bree.
It's tough to separate what we learn later from what we knew at the time, but here's how I think each line could have been understood in Bree, compared to the more specific interpretations we can supply now (possibly including some information that will be revealed in a couple pages, as part of the broader context).
All that is gold does not glitter
Bree: Don't judge things simply because they don't look fair.
Rivendell: Aragorn, specifically, may not resemble Elendil and Isildur, but he is of great value and importance.
Not all those who wander are lost;
Bree: People may wander with a purpose without being lost (in the sense of not knowing where they are).
Rivendell: The Dunedain roam the North with great purpose, and Aragorn himself has wandered far with a purpose. Additionally, the wandering of the Dunedain does not indicate that the line of the King has been lost (in the sense of the line dying out).
The old that is strong does not wither,
Bree: Things may grow old without growing feeble (possibly indicating Aragorn is older than he looks?).
Rivendell: Aragorn is older than he looks, but more importantly, the ancient line of the King has not withered.
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
Bree: Just because winter has come and the trees are bare doesn't mean they shall never flower again in Spring.
Rivendell: The Kingdom has experienced a winter without a king, but the line was not killed off, and so will rise again.
(Both of these lead to the next section of renewal)
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
Bree: Probably thinking of a domestic fire or campfire, if it burns out but has not yet completely cooled, the embers can be stirred up and the fire rekindled.
Rivendell: "Ashes" seem more fitting applied to the destruction wrought by Sauron, and yet from these ashes, fire shall come (fire being positive, thinking of how highly Aragorn spoke of fire on their journey to Rivendell).
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Bree: Even if things are dark, a light lit within the dark space drives it away.
Rivendell: The light may not only come from the shadows in the sense of being physically within them, but actually (unwittingly) caused by them.
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
Bree: Even something seemingly broken and useless may be remade.
Rivendell: This specific Sword of Elendil will be remade and fight against Sauron once more.
The crownless again shall be king.
Bree: Bad fortune will become good fortune eventually.
Rivendell: The line of the King shall return and claim the Kingdom once again.
In Rivendell, by contrast, we are able to take much of the information we have learned and interpret much more of the poem. I imagine that, upon being reminded of the poem, someone reading this book for the first time would find that it makes much more sense and has far more impact than the instance in Bree.
It's tough to separate what we learn later from what we knew at the time, but here's how I think each line could have been understood in Bree, compared to the more specific interpretations we can supply now (possibly including some information that will be revealed in a couple pages, as part of the broader context).
All that is gold does not glitter
Bree: Don't judge things simply because they don't look fair.
Rivendell: Aragorn, specifically, may not resemble Elendil and Isildur, but he is of great value and importance.
Not all those who wander are lost;
Bree: People may wander with a purpose without being lost (in the sense of not knowing where they are).
Rivendell: The Dunedain roam the North with great purpose, and Aragorn himself has wandered far with a purpose. Additionally, the wandering of the Dunedain does not indicate that the line of the King has been lost (in the sense of the line dying out).
The old that is strong does not wither,
Bree: Things may grow old without growing feeble (possibly indicating Aragorn is older than he looks?).
Rivendell: Aragorn is older than he looks, but more importantly, the ancient line of the King has not withered.
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
Bree: Just because winter has come and the trees are bare doesn't mean they shall never flower again in Spring.
Rivendell: The Kingdom has experienced a winter without a king, but the line was not killed off, and so will rise again.
(Both of these lead to the next section of renewal)
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
Bree: Probably thinking of a domestic fire or campfire, if it burns out but has not yet completely cooled, the embers can be stirred up and the fire rekindled.
Rivendell: "Ashes" seem more fitting applied to the destruction wrought by Sauron, and yet from these ashes, fire shall come (fire being positive, thinking of how highly Aragorn spoke of fire on their journey to Rivendell).
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Bree: Even if things are dark, a light lit within the dark space drives it away.
Rivendell: The light may not only come from the shadows in the sense of being physically within them, but actually (unwittingly) caused by them.
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
Bree: Even something seemingly broken and useless may be remade.
Rivendell: This specific Sword of Elendil will be remade and fight against Sauron once more.
The crownless again shall be king.
Bree: Bad fortune will become good fortune eventually.
Rivendell: The line of the King shall return and claim the Kingdom once again.
