Abstract
This essay delves into the significance of two objects found by the Hobbits and Tom Bombadil on the Barrow-Downs in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings." It considers how the sword found by Merry and the brooch with Tom Bombadil gives to Goldberry have different fates and tell different ethical stories. The essay contrasts the ethical implications of Merry's use of a sword from the Barrow-Downs, which plays a crucial role in the plot, with Goldberry's wearing of a brooch, raising questions about cultural appropriation and the moral reclamation of a artifacts The combination of the importance of these objects and the namelessness of the characters who used them in life imbues these anonymous individuals with particular significance. Gender differences impact the naming and remembrance of individuals in Tolkien's work, using elements from the Bible to illuminate the reading of Tolkien's text. It explores the tension between honoring the memory of the original owners and the potential for appropriation by long-lived beings like Tom and Goldberry. The essay stresses the complexities of anonymity, cultural memory, and restorative justice in Tolkien's legendarium, especially concerning the ethical use of objects.
Recommended Citation
Birns, Nicholas
(2025)
"“Who Wrought It Slowly Long Ago” : Anonymity, The Unnamed, and the Ethical Use of Objects Found on the Barrow-Downs,"
Journal of Tolkien Research: Vol. 22:
Iss.
2, Article 4.
Available at:
https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol22/iss2/4