It will be seen that the form of the mountain’s spurs were…
![“It will be seen that the form of the mountain’s spurs were very much [the] same as they appear on Thror’s map as published (with the height of Ravenhill at the end of the southern spur and the camp beneath it); but the ruins of Dale are on the east side of the River Running, since they were not…” quote by J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/40c/j-r-r-tolkien-204_points-compass_it-will-be-seen-that-the-form-of-the-mou_2601572.jpg)
““It will be seen that the form of the mountain’s spurs were very much [the] same as they appear on Thror’s map as published (with the height of Ravenhill at the end of the southern spur and the camp beneath it); but the ruins of Dale are on the east side of the River Running, since they were not enclosed within a great eastward loop of the river. The device at the top of the map apparently represents the points of the compass, with the seven stars of the Great Bear in the North (the black spots to the left of the stars are merely marks on the paper), the Sun in the South, the Misty Mountains in the West and (I think) the entrance to the Elvenking’s halls in the East. The names at the bottom of the page, ‘Mirkwood’, ‘marshes’, and ‘Lake Town’, and the ‘camp’below the mountain, were added in at the same time as the second version of the text of the Moon-runes. At the bottom on the right is the first actual sketch of the Lonely Mountain, added in pencil.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage describes a hand‑drawn map of Middle‑earth, noting how its features correspond to known geography and symbolic compass markers.
In simple terms: A map shows terrain and symbolic directions.
Key Takeaway
Use maps to visualize and navigate complex information.
Themes
cartography
world‑building
symbolism
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
descriptive
informative
When to use this quote
- planning a fantasy novel
- designing game worlds
- teaching geography
- interpreting historical maps
Key Concepts
geography
mythology
navigation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do symbols shape our perception of space?
- What details would you add to improve clarity?
A Different Perspective
Maps can oversimplify or mislead if symbols are misunderstood.