📖👀 Who are the ancient forests mentioned by Treebeard's 🎶song?

[m4r35n357]

This is a tricky, subtle one, so a bit belated.

Firstly, several vague references to the Darkness and Great Darkness, presumably relating to Morgoth's original appearance in Middle-earth rather than his return from captivity.

His song mentions the ancient forests (by various names) of Nan-Tathren, Ossiriand, Neldoreth, Dorthonion, and of course Fangorn itself.

 

[Elthir]

Noting too the chronology here: in Treebeards tale of the Entwives, the Ents learn of the Elves and speak with the trees, while the Entwives gave their minds to the lesser trees and to the "meads in the sunshine" . . . then the Darkness (Morgoth) comes . . .

. . . in addition to Treebeard's earlier statement that the Elves began waking up trees and teaching them to speak. "They wished to talk to everything, the old Elves did. But then the Great Darkness came and they passed away over the Sea, or fled into far valleys, and hid themselves . . ."

Treebeard's tale appears to be that of a Sun existing before the Elves crossed the Sea, and of a young world with spring and summer, with cherry blossoms, green herbs and sunshine.

Just sayin' . . . multiple traditions?

 

[m4r35n357]

I was hoping you would chip in here. I was having trouble finding your earlier comments about the Ainulindale C*.

This is the only actual contradiction I have found so far with the Quenta, if I may call it that . . . ? Pretty much everything else has been to do with names, which is not nearly so serious IMO (transmission blah blah . . .).

 

[m4r35n357]

Just sayin' . . . multiple traditions?

No problem with that, really!

I have said here that I would prefer not to be drawn into deep discussions here whilst I am reading LotR, but I am interested in whether you have put together a "recipe" of your own regarding the "astronomical" tradition. What stories and other things would it include? Can this tradition be made substantial enough to appreciate as a body of work in its own right?

No rush on my account, as I will be busy for another week or two I think!