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Personification
Explanation and Analysis—Sun Was Gone:
Fusing personification and imagery, Tolkien creates an atmosphere of peace and renewal in Ithilien after the War of the Ring. Nature itself is animated and richly described, so that the setting becomes both companion and witness to the fellowship’s reunion.
At last the glad day ended; and when the Sun was gone and the round Moon rode slowly above the mists of Anduin and flickered through the fluttering leaves, Frodo and Sam sat under the whispering trees amid the fragrance of fair Ithilien; and they talked deep into the night with Merry and Pippin and Gandalf, and after a while Legolas and Gimli joined them.
The personification animates the natural world: the Sun is said to be “gone,” as though departing at will, while the Moon “rode slowly” above the mists like a rider in the sky. The trees are “whispering,” their movements rendered as speech. These human qualities lend intimacy, suggesting that nature itself participates in the Fellowship’s moment of rest.
Imagery enriches the scene on multiple levels. Visually, the “round Moon” gleaming through “mists of Anduin” and “fluttering leaves” paints a gentle and luminous setting. Auditory imagery emerges in the “whispering trees,” softening the stillness with hushed sound. Olfactory imagery appears in the “fragrance of fair Ithilien,” grounding the moment in abundance and reminding the reader of the land’s renewal.
Together, the imagery and personification heighten contrast with Mordor’s wasteland of ash and fumes. Where darkness once dominated, the fellowship now rests in a world of light, scent, and sound, surrounded by life rather than desolation. The natural world seems alive and in harmony with their triumph, as if celebrating alongside them.
By layering sensory detail with personified elements of sky and earth, Tolkien transforms Ithilien into more than a backdrop. The setting becomes an active presence, echoing the Fellowship’s relief and underscoring the reward of peace after trial. The passage embodies serenity and fellowship, turning a simple gathering into a scene of mythic restoration.
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