Secret Fire

Secret Fire

In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional mythology, the Secret Fire and Flame Imperishable, and possibly the Flame of Anor, are references to a mysterious power. Tolkien described it as similar to the Christian Holy Spirit [Clyde S. Kilby. "Tolkien & The Silmarillion". Harold Shaw, 1976, p. 59.] , and Gandalf is called a servant of it. ["Tolkien's World from A to Z: The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth" by Robert Foster; published by Ballantine Books of New York.] [Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 2, Chapter V, p. 322]

The Secret Fire, or Flame Imperishable, seems to refer to the creative aspect of Eru Ilúvatar. It was with Ilúvatar at the beginning. Melkor, desiring power equal to Ilúvatar, sought for it in vain. Melkor's desire for the Secret Fire led to his rebellion against Ilúvatar (reminiscent of the fall of Satan in "Paradise Lost"). Later Ilúvatar set the Secret Fire (or an aspect of it) at the heart of .

The Secret Fire is also part of all Fëar: it is that Gift which makes sentient beings capable of independent thought. Without it, new beings cannot be created. Speaking of Orcs, Frodo explains this to Sam:

Gandalf the Grey refers to both the Secret Fire and the Flame of Anor when facing Durin's Bane at the Bridge of Khazad-dûm:

SomeFact|date=March 2008 see this reference as equating the "flame of Anor" with the "Secret Fire"; othersFact|date=March 2008 argue that the "flame of Anor" here refers rather to Narya, the Elven Ring that Gandalf wears.

ee also

* Fëa and hröa

Notes and references


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Secret Fire —    The fire at the heart of the World.         Therefore Ilúvatar gave to their vision Being, and set it amid the Void, and the Secret Fire was sent to burn at the heart of the World; and it was called Eä. (Valaquenta)        A mysterious power,… …   J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth glossary

  • Fire in the Abyss — is a science fiction novel by Stuart Gordon, pen name of Richard Gordon, (1983), having as its main character the Elizabethan adventurer Humphrey Gilbert, an actual historical figure, as a time traveler. The first section of the book is set in… …   Wikipedia

  • Fire of Heaven — is a fantasy trilogy by Russell Kirkpatrick. Its three volumes are Across the Face of the World , In the Earth abides the Flame (both published in 2004) and The Right Hand of God (published 2005). Synopsis Across the Face of the World A prologue… …   Wikipedia

  • Secret police — (sometimes political police) are a police agency which operates in secrecy to maintain national security against internal threats to the state.Secret police forces are typically associated with totalitarian regimes, as they are often used to… …   Wikipedia

  • Secret societies at the University of Virginia — Secret societies have been a part of University of Virginia student life since the first class of students in 1825. While the number of societies peaked during the 75 year period between 1875 and 1950, there are still five societies (Seven… …   Wikipedia

  • Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones — Developer(s) Intelligent Systems Publisher(s) Nintendo …   Wikipedia

  • Secret City Saga — is a concept and collection of various comic book titles created by influential writer artist Jack Kirby, and published by the short lived Topps Comics, an off shoot of the popular Topps Trading Card company. Beginning in April 1993, the Secret… …   Wikipedia

  • Secret Origins — was an American comic book series published by DC Comics. Although the title had existed in several prototype forms in the 1960s and 1970s (compilation specials in the former decade; a short run reprint series in the latter) published under the… …   Wikipedia

  • Secret Treaties — Studio album by Blue Öyster Cult Released April, 1974 …   Wikipedia

  • Fire (Film) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Fire. Fire est un film indien de Deepa Mehta sorti en 1998. Il aborde le thème de l homosexualité féminine en Inde. Fire est le premier volet d une trilogie poursuivie avec Earth (1998) et Water (2005). Sommaire …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”