The Creation of Arda

"The custom of putting kings to death as soon as they suffered from any personal defect prevailed two centuries ago in the Caffre kingdom of Sofala. We have seen that these kings of Sofala were regarded as gods by their people, being entreated to give rain or sunshine, according as each might be wanted."
           -James Frazer, The Golden Bough, The Killing of the Divine King


I fear I didn't articulate myself very well when trying to explain how Tolkien described the creation of his world, and I'd like to give it a shot in text form.

Before there was anything, there was Illuvatar.  Illuvatar created the Ainur, whom he taught to sing.  And sing they did.  As they sang, the slowly became away of the other Ainur and their music.  Once they were warmed up, Illuvatar directed them in a chorus.  Everything was going swell, until Melkor, the mightiest of the Ainur, decided he didn't want to cooperate anymore; he was stronger than the others and therefore shouldn't have to share the chorus with any of the others.  In trying to take over the music, he corrupted it.  Illuvatar would not let his symphony be in discord, so he started a second theme.  This too, Melkor corrupted.  So Illuvatar began a third riff, and for the third time Melkor forced his will into it.  Illuvatar had made this third chorus stronger than the rest, though, and Melkor could not over power it.

Throughout the singing, Illuvatar had shown his Ainur glimpses of what the music could become if it were allowed to manifest itself.  The Ainur liked what they saw, and were thus were disappointed when Illuvatar stopped the music and were antsy to continue the song.  It was at this point Illuvatar began time and brought into creation all that was sung.  Man of the Ainur were so excited about this that they forsake the immortal life in the Void and came into being to better detail the Universe.  Some mold the heavens, some the Earth (Arda).  Melkor is among those whose task is the Earth, as are his brothers Manwe, who becomes king of Arda, and Ulmo, Lord of the waters.  Melkor continues to make trouble in Existence, but he is defeated for a time and retreats from the earth.

This is basically a synopsis of the first chapter from Tolkien's Silmarillion, which is more or less the Genesis of Middle Earth.  The extent to which Tolkien thought out his universe is so deep, I thought this could still be considered a creation story.

Of The Trees

So much for the tree-spirit conceived as incorporate or immanent in the tree. We have now to show that the tree-spirit is often conceived and represented as detached from the tree and clothed in human form, and even as embodied in living men or women. The evidence for this anthropomorphic representation of the tree-spirit is largely to be found in the popular customs of European peasantry.

           -The Golden Bough, Chapter 10, James Frazer


I would like to begin my blogging experience by relating the true story as to why all the deciduous trees are down in the valley, and why most of the coniferous trees have strayed into the mountains.  This is a retelling of conversation between an MSU professor and his 19 year old daughter that I happened to be privy to.

Daughter:  Father, why do only pine trees populate the mountains?
Professor:  Well, let me tell you.  It all started with a pine cone, Bud.
Daughter:  Dad, pine cones are cones, not buds.
Professor:  Right.  Well, this pine cone's name was Bud.  One day, Bud saw all the deciduous trees having a party so he wandered over.  Instead of inviting him over, as the pine trees would have done, he was shunned and turned away.  The deciduous trees banished him and his kind to the mountainous regions nearby.  The pine trees were never again allowed in the valley.
Daughter:  But dad, there are still some pine trees that aren't in the mountains.
Professor:  Of course!  That's because the leafy-trees got really drunk one night and some of the exiled snuck back down to the lower elevations.  Don't drink, daughter, or you may let back into your life those you have explicitly chosen to avoid.

A short story, perhaps, but fitting to this class nonetheless.  We are never too old to learn a new truth about the way things came to be.