Lord of the Rings : The Return of the Read - Appendix A: I. The Númenorean Kings (iii) Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur
Remember that list of names we just read... now we get to read about them! This week we'll gander at the Northern Line, next week the Southern Line.
The narrative here splits between a speaking tone, as if someone is relating this history to us (including use semi-personal references) and more prosaic recitation of history.
It starts out rather similar to the decline of most Kingdoms. Several generations (if they're lucky) of strong union and continuance, then the inevitable decay as quarrelsome siblings split kingdom. Though, eight generations spans a few hundred years easily in modern lifetimes, let alone the extended lives of the Western men, so they definitely had a good run.
From there we get into the back matter of our saga, from the corruption of the Barrowdowns to the wandering state of the Dunedain. We're also gifted with some of the future beyond The Return of the King, as we learn that the Shire becomes off limits to the Big People and that good relations continue between Gondor and the Shire, with not only visits back and forth but Mayor Samwise's child serving as one of Arwen's maids.
In the end, the lives of the Northern Men waned, with lessened power, numbers, and years, but not completely gone. Aragorn himself lived to be 210 years old, longer than many in generations, and with marked dignity.
The narrative here splits between a speaking tone, as if someone is relating this history to us (including use semi-personal references) and more prosaic recitation of history.
It starts out rather similar to the decline of most Kingdoms. Several generations (if they're lucky) of strong union and continuance, then the inevitable decay as quarrelsome siblings split kingdom. Though, eight generations spans a few hundred years easily in modern lifetimes, let alone the extended lives of the Western men, so they definitely had a good run.
From there we get into the back matter of our saga, from the corruption of the Barrowdowns to the wandering state of the Dunedain. We're also gifted with some of the future beyond The Return of the King, as we learn that the Shire becomes off limits to the Big People and that good relations continue between Gondor and the Shire, with not only visits back and forth but Mayor Samwise's child serving as one of Arwen's maids.
In the end, the lives of the Northern Men waned, with lessened power, numbers, and years, but not completely gone. Aragorn himself lived to be 210 years old, longer than many in generations, and with marked dignity.
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