A Poll to Humor Your Statistically Inclined Hostess ...

[dawn_felagund]

I am working on a post for The Heretic Loremaster and am really curious about how people see the attack on Sirion and its aftermath as it relates to Maedhros and Maglor, and Elrond and Elros. I would appreciate the input of anyone who wishes to take the following poll.

It's simple enough: Following are four scenarios common to Silmfic. Are they canon or not? Please don't belabor the point of "what is canon"; I am curious if they are canon based on how you define canon--not how I or anyone else does--whether that canon involves the Silm, the HoMe, or not. If you'd like to elaborate on your responses, please feel free to leave a comment.

And, also, if you know someone else who doesn't hang around here who might want to participate, do pass the word around! I would like to get as many responses as I can!

ETA: There are not necessarily correct answers to the "questions" in this poll. In fact, I think that any interpretation presented here can be argued for. I'm not looking to "quiz" participants but to get an idea how various people interpret the text(s) to derive what they view as "canon." Likewise, please don't feel that you need to look up what the books say before answering.

Thanks. :)

[Poll #1295658]

Comments

[dawn_felagund]

I think that happens to everyone; I know it sure happens to me. When I first started writing Tolkien fic, I would have sworn that there was a scene in one of the HoMe where the Valar give Celegorm permission to marry Aredhel, even though their half-first cousins. Hence, I have a beautifully drafted scene for my AMC epic in my mind, based on this "canon" that doesn't even exist. ;)

Fanon doesn't bug me so much as thoughtless fanon does. I was on HASA the other day collecting links and noticed how many people have recommended one of my stories under the "good use of AU" heading. Now, I'm not going to get angry over a rec, but I think there is honestly only one story that I have written that is a real AU*--the challenge being to write a story where Feanor outlives all of his sons--and that one ain't on HASA. ;) But people who use fanon or AU that just happens to conform quite nicely with the prevailing, narrow, by-the-book opinion of what Tolkien wrote don't similarly have their ideas shuttled under the "AU" heading, even though a story where Maedhros threatens to kill Elrond and Elros is much more AU than a story (like AMC) where Maedhros goes to third base with his girlfriend.

Those are the fanons that annoy me.

Sorry you had to hear the rant. :) *hugs*

* Excluding drabble-thingies because I don't remember what most of my drabble-thingies are about. ;)

[atanwende.livejournal.com]

I would have sworn that there was a scene in one of the HoMe where the Valar give Celegorm permission to marry Aredhel, even though their half-first cousins.

That would be way cool because those two most obviously belong together. ;) I haven't written about it yet but in my world they're most definitely lovers though nobody appoves of the fact because they're blood relatives. That's also why Celegorm is practically the only one who kind of understands Caranthir - who's also sleeping with a woman who's not quite... eh, appropriate. See, I have it all planned out, even though I'm not sure I ever get around to writing it. ;-P

I agree with you on the AU thing. Since I'm (still!) in the process of re-writing WRU so that it will fit my expectations more I've often thought about the fact that I should rather label my stories "not LaCE" than "AU" because I'm not using an alternative version of events but am simply disregarding the LaCE a little (by treating them as some kind of "how it should be" idealization of Elven relationships rather than actual fact).

And don't worry about the rant! I guess I tend to do that myself... ;) *hugs back*

[sirielle.livejournal.com]

"Feanor outlives all of his sons"

Is it on-line? I haven't red anything in ages, but I need this one on my to-red list! :D

[dawn_felagund]

Yes it is! Here you go:

http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/archive/home/viewstory.php?sid=249

:)

[sirielle.livejournal.com]

Bookmarked!