Túrin Turambar

Túrin Turambar (pronounced ) is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. "''Turambar and the Foalókë''", begun in 1917, is the first appearance of Túrin in the legendarium. Túrin was a Man of the First Age of Middle-earth, whose family had been cursed by the Dark Lord Morgoth. While trying vainly to defy the curse, Túrin brought ruin across much of Beleriand, and upon himself and his sister Niënor. His title, "Turambar", means master of fate. His epitaph, "Master of fate, yet by fate mastered", showed his inability to escape Morgoth's curse.

Tolkien consciously based the story on the tale of Kullervo in the Finnish mythological poem ''Kalevala''. Scholars, and Tolkien himself, have noted parallels with other myths including that of Sigmund and Sigurd in the '' Volsunga saga''; the Greek myth of Oedipus; and structure and style, with Arthurian legend.

Excerpts have been published in prose in ''The Silmarillion'', '' Unfinished Tales'', ''The Book of Lost Tales'' Part II, and ''The War of the Jewels'', and in alliterative long-line verse in ''The Lays of Beleriand''. The complete story was published as ''The Children of Húrin'' in 2007.

Publication history

Tolkien wrote multiple versions of the tale of Túrin., "Myths Transformed" (I), p. 373 and note 2 These were published after his death, edited by his son Christopher Tolkien, as follows:

Narrative

Dor-lómin

Túrin was the son of Húrin, Lord of the Folk of Hador, and Morwen of the House of Bëor. "The Childhood of Túrin" The Siege of Angband had been broken, but Túrin's homeland of Dor-lómin was still contested by Húrin against Morgoth's forces. When Túrin was eight, Húrin led his Men to war; all were killed the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. Húrin was captured and cursed by Morgoth, who sent an army of Easterlings to Dor-lómin. Túrin remained with Morwen, who hid him and sent him secretly to the Elven-realm of Doriath; Morwen remained in Dor-lómin, and shortly afterwards gave birth to a girl, Niënor. "The Wanderings of Húrin", pp. 256–257 (a plot-synopsis for the ''Narn'')

Doriath

Túrin reached Doriath, protected by the Girdle of Melian. The marchwarden Beleg led them to the halls of Menegroth. King Thingol adopted Túrin, in memory of Húrin's heroism and because of his kinship with Beren. The elven-lady Nellas watched over Túrin at Melian's bidding, teaching him elven-lore. Túrin became esteemed for his prowess, and Beleg became his teacher of warfare. When after eight yearsTúrin reached Doriath in 473, and Dor-lómin was cut off in 481. Statements in ''The Silmarillion'' (Ch. 21) and ''The Children of Húrin'' (Ch. 5) that Túrin had dwelt in Doriath for nine years by this time derive from an early version of ''Quenta Silmarillion'' (''The Lost Road'', pp. 320–322), and are contradicted by both earlier and later texts (e.g. ''The Grey Annals'', pp. 79–80), as well as by the statement in ''The Children of Húrin'' (Ch. 5) that he was 17 then. Dor-lómin was cut off and tidings from Morwen and Niënor ceased, Túrin decided to pit his strength against Morgoth's forces, hoping to avenge the sorrows of his kin. Thingol appointed him a "knight of the sword", "Túrin in Doriath" and Túrin departed to the northern marches of Doriath to fight the Orcs, where he was joined by Beleg. His chief weapon became the sword, and he wore the Dragon-helm of Hador, so that the Orcs feared him. At the age of 20, ''The Grey Annals'', pp. 61–103, 129–165. Túrin accidentally killed Saeros, one of Thingol's counsellors, who had insulted him. Ignoring advice, he fled from Doriath, fearing imprisonment. Thingol pardoned Túrin, and Beleg obtained leave to seek out his friend.

Amon Rûdh

Túrin, unaware of this, fled westward, meeting up with the Gaurwaith outlaws in the woods south of the river Taeglin. He earned a place in the group by killing one of their best warriors. He did not try to restrain other members from their evil deeds. A year later, trying to save a woman's life, Túrin accidentally killed Forweg, the leader of the band, and he became its leader. "Túrin among the Outlaws". Soon Beleg found the band in the wild, while Túrin was away spying upon the Orcs. The outlaws treated the Elf badly, and this made Túrin stop the band's lawbreaking, choosing to hunt only the servants of Angband. He rejected Beleg's advice to return to Doriath. Túrin's band captured Mîm the Petty-dwarf; his two sons escaped, but one of them, Khîm, was mortally wounded by one of the outlaws. To save his own life, Mîm shared his dwellings on the hill of Amon Rûdh with the band. Beleg returned to Túrin, bringing the Dragon-helm; the area around Amon Rûdh became known as Dor-Cúarthol, the "Land of Bow and Helm". The "Two Captains" freed much of West Beleriand from evil, but the Dragon-helm revealed Túrin's identity to Morgoth, who attacked Amon Rûdh two years later. The attacking Orcs found Mîm, and he bought his life by leading them up the hill. Túrin was captured and all his men killed, though Beleg escaped., "Ælfwine and Dírhaval", pp. 311–315 Beleg followed the Orcs through the forest of Taur-nu-Fuin, where he met Gwindor, a slave who had escaped from Angband. Together they rescued Túrin in Anfauglith. Unfortunately, when Beleg was cutting the sleeping Túrin free from his bonds, he pricked Túrin's foot with the black sword Anglachel, and Túrin, mistaking him in the darkness for an Orc, took the sword and slew Beleg. Gwindor led the grief-stricken Túrin to the Pools of Ivrin, where he returned to his senses.

Nargothrond

They journeyed to the hidden fortress of Nargothrond, where Gwindor had been a lord. He gave Beleg's sword Anglachel to Túrin, who had it reforged and renamed ''Gurthang'', "Iron of Death". Túrin hid his own name, becoming known as ''Mormegil'' or the ''Blacksword of Nargothrond'', because of his prowess with Gurthang. Gwindor met there again his beloved, Finduilas daughter of King Orodreth, but she unwillingly fell in love with Túrin; however, Túrin did not perceive this and held her in awe. Túrin was influential in Nargothrond, becoming a chief counsellor of Orodreth. He encouraged the Elves to abandon their secrecy, and they built a great bridge before the Doors of Nargothrond and cleared the land between the River Sirion and the coastal Falas from enemies. But Túrin became arrogant, ignoring even a warning from the Vala Ulmo, to destroy the bridge and return to secrecy.

After five years, Morgoth sent a great host of Orcs led by the dragon Glaurung. Túrin persuaded Orodreth to fight them in the open. During the ensuing Battle of Tumhalad, Nargothrond's forces were destroyed and Orodreth was killed, while the bridge helped Morgoth's forces to locate the fortress and cross the river Narog. Túrin fought Glaurung off, but left the battle to carry away the mortally wounded Gwindor. Before Gwindor died, he instructed Túrin to save Finduilas, prophesying that she alone could save Túrin from his doom. Hastening to save the captives of Nargothrond, Túrin was caught by the powerful gaze of Glaurung, and stood by enspelled as Finduilas was dragged away, calling to him. The dragon deceived him into believing that Morwen and Niënor were suffering in Dor-lómin, and Túrin abandoned Finduilas to seek out his kin. When he reached Dor-lómin, he found his old house empty, and went to the halls of Brodda the Easterling, who had taken Húrin's lands and possessions. There Túrin learned from Brodda's wife that Morwen had already left for Doriath before the fall of Nargothrond, as Túrin's own efforts had made the way passable. In his rage he killed Brodda and his followers. The remnant of the Folk of Hador was persecuted even more cruelly from then on.

Brethil

Túrin next tried to find Finduilas, travelling to the forest of Brethil, but was too late: the woodmen informed him that she had been killed by the orcs when the Men of Brethil had ambushed them in an attempt at rescue. Túrin collapsed in grief upon her grave, and was brought to Ephel Brandir. There he took up his life again, now calling himself ''Turambar'' ("Master of Doom") and renouncing his descent, hoping to overcome his curse. The Folk of Haleth dwelling there were ruled by Brandir the Lame, who hoped to preserve his people by secrecy. Turambar quickly gained power, gathering companies to fight Orcs. He stopped wielding Gurthang and fought using a spear and a bow.

When Morwen and Niënor heard the news of Nargothrond's destruction, they rashly went to look for Túrin. Glaurung, who now lived in the ruins of Nargothrond, descended into the river to create a fog. Morwen was lost, but Niënor met the dragon and was enspelled by him, forgetting her past. She fled to Brethil. Turambar found her at Finduilas's grave, naked, unable to speak and remembering nothing. He named her ''Níniel'', "Maid of Tears", and took her to Ephel Brandir. There she was healed by Brandir, who fell in love with her; but Níniel and Turambar came to love each other. Túrin asked her to marry him; Brandir dissuaded her, foreboding evil, but they were married. Turambar went back to war when Glaurung sent Orcs to attack Brethil: taking the sword up again, Túrin drove them away. Next year Níniel conceived; and Glaurung attacked Brethil in person.

Turambar decided to ambush the Dragon and to try stabbing him from beneath. Of his two companions, Dorlas deserted, and Hunthor was slain by a stone. Turambar mortally wounded Glaurung with Gurthang, but was poisoned by the Dragon's blood and fell in a swoon. When Níniel came to search for him, Glaurung with his last words undid his spell, and she remembered who she was and that Turambar was her brother. Horrified, Niënor drowned herself in the river Taeglin.

Brandir tauntingly told Turambar what had happened. Túrin killed the defenceless Brandir and ran in madness to Finduilas's grave. There Mablung confirmed the words of Brandir. Túrin fled and killed himself with his sword Gurthang. He was buried in a high mound, together with the shards of Gurthang. A great stone was set upon the grave, upon which the Elves wrote in Cirth runes:

However, Niënor's body was not there. Two years later Morwen and Húrin met at that place for the last time, and Morwen was also buried there. The mound survived the War of Wrath and the Drowning of Beleriand, and Tol Morwen became an island off the coast of Middle-earth in later ages.

Fate after death

Tolkien wrote several versions of a prophecy about Túrin's fate after death.

In the earliest outline preserved, where the tale is drafted only cursorily and has many elements missing, a reference already appears to "purification of Turambar and Vainóni (the original name of Niënor) who fare shining about the world and go with the hosts of Tulkas against Melkor (Morgoth)].", "Turambar and the Foalókë", pp. 69–143 In the finished manuscript of '' The Tale of Turambar and the Foalókë'', this is elaborated into a story that Túrin and Nienor were not at first admitted to Mandos because of their deeds; but after their parents' prayers, they were permitted to enter the "bath of flame", where the Sun replenished its light, "and so were all their sorrows and stains washed away, and they dwelt as shining Valar among the blessed ones”." A new detail is introduced, that "Turambar indeed shall stand beside Fionwë önwëin the Great Wrack, and Melko orgothand his drakes ame of the dragons in Tolkien legendariumshall curse the sword of Mormakil ame of the sword of Túrin.

In Tolkien's later writings no reference to Niënor's fate appears, but Túrin's destiny is made even more prominent. The notion maintained for a long time was that Túrin would take part in the Last Battle fought before the End of the World, when Morgoth would return and make the final assault upon the Valar and the Children of Ilúvatar. In an early text, known as "Earliest Silmarillion", it is "the spirit of Túrin" who came back and fought, and "it shall be Túrin who with his black sword will slay Morgoth", "The Earliest 'Silmarillion'", p. 29–30, 40–41; "The Quenta", p. 125–131 while in the revision of the ''Quenta Noldorinwa'' carried out in 1930 the battle is described thus:

Line of Túrin and Niënor

Analysis

Medieval and classical parallels

Resemblance of Túrin to figures from medieval tales can be confirmed by a letter which Tolkien wrote to Milton Waldman, a publisher from the HarperCollins, concerning the fate of his works:

Túrin, as Tolkien stated,, p. 214 is mainly based on Kullervo, a character from the Finnish folklore poems known as ''Kalevala'', who was also "cursed" in a sense, seduced his sister, brought ruin upon his family and slew himself. Sigmund, the father of Sigurd in the '' Volsunga saga'', resembles Túrin in the incestuous relationship he has with his sister. In Richard Wagner's opera ''Die Walküre'' (also drawn in part from the Volsung myths), Siegmund and Sieglinde are parallels of Túrin and Nienor. Further, Túrin parallels Sigurd, as both achieve great renown for the slaying of a dragon of immense power, in Sigurd's case Fafnir, in Túrin's Glaurung.
There is also, according to the Tolkien scholar Verlyn Flieger, a link to Arthurian Legend, with its complex temporal layering, history of manuscripts, and "overlapping story variants in both poetry and prose", supplemented by Tolkien's pretence that he was translating a lost ''Narn'' poem from the Elvish.

Tolkien mentions also the resemblance to the unfortunate Oedipus, prince of Thebes, who unwittingly fulfils a prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Richard C. West, in '' The J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia'', writes indeed that the tale "is one of almost unrelieved gloom", though he notes that a prophecy in Tolkien's mythology holds that Túrin and his sister will help in the final defeat of Morgoth after the end of the world. West observes also that as in many other stories of Middle-earth, there is a "delicate balance" between fate, whereby the character inevitably takes certain actions and suffers the consequences, and free will, whereby he makes his own bold or rash choices that determine the outcomes for him.

Giving a woman voice

Niënor is one of the main characters of ''The Lay of the Children of Húrin'', Tolkien's "great saga" of the "Elder Days". According to the biographer Charles Moseley, Niënor and Turin are one of only four "couples whose love gets much space" in Tolkien's works. The Tolkien scholar Richard C. West described the story of Niënor's family as tragic and "of almost unrelieved gloom". Elizabeth A. Whittingham wrote that the story had grown darker with time, commenting that "no tale of Middle-earth is as dark as that", and stating that in its rendition in ''The Silmarillion'', contrary to the author's original intent, "all glimmer of hope has been extinguished". The scholar of literature Victoria Holtz-Wodzak calls Niënor a "study of the lives of women during wartime. She is, for all practical purposes, a war orphan". She sees the war-time fate of the women in Tolkien's life as well as his own experiences as inspiration for the character and its sympathetic treatment by the author. His wife Edith Tolkien, like Níniel, had to let her husband go to an uncertain fate in combat while pregnant and in precarious circumstances. Tolkien himself, like Níniel, was unable to take part in combat himself for most of World War I due to illness. Holtz-Wodzak also compares his situation to that of Brandír, who as a non-combatant loses the struggle with Turambar for both the respect of his people and the love of Níniel. The scholar even sees an echo of Tolkien's sentiments about not being able to be active in World War II due to age in "Niennor's desperate wish either to keep the man she loves from danger or to die with him".

Portrayal

Several artists have created illustrations of Túrin's story. A stand-alone novel ''The Children of Húrin'' contains images by Alan Lee, while various editions of ''The Silmarillion'' and '' Unfinished Tales'' were illustrated by Ted Nasmith. Other images were made by John Howe and Anke Eißmann.Illustrations by Anke Eißmann
Narn i Hîn Húrin –The Tale of the Children of Húrin
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References

Primary

::''This list identifies each item's location in Tolkien's writings.''

Secondary

Sources

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External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Turin Turambar
Middle-earth Edain
Characters in The Silmarillion
Characters in The Children of Húrin
Fictional suicides
Fictional swordfighters
Literary characters introduced in 1917
Fictional characters involved in incest
Fictional outlaws
Fictional dragonslayers