Enchantment Quote by J.R.R. Tolkien
““At first the beauty of the melodies and of the interwoven words in elven-tongues, even though he understood them little, held him in a spell, as soon as as he began to attend to them. Almost it seemed that the words took shape, and visions of far lands and bright things that he had never yet imagined opened out before him; and the firelit hall became like a golden mist above the seas of foam that sighed upon the margins of the world. Then the enchantment became more and more dreamlike, until he felt that an endless river of swelling gold and silver was flowing over him, too multitudinous for its pattern to be comprehended; it became part of the throbbing air about him, and it drenched and drowned him. swiftly he sank under its shining weight into a deep realm of sleep.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Lord of the Rings, 1954
The passage describes how language and music can transport a listener into vivid, otherworldly visions, overwhelming the senses with beauty and mystery.
In simple terms: Music and language can create powerful, immersive visions.
Key Takeaway
Allow art to expand your imagination.
Themes
imagination
beauty
transcendence
Mood
wonder
awe
dreamlike
Type
literary
descriptive
poetic
When to use this quote
- reading fantasy
- listening to music
- creative writing
- meditation
- visual art
Key Concepts
mythic storytelling
sensory immersion
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language shape your inner world?
- What emotions arise when you hear unfamiliar music?
A Different Perspective
The experience may be fleeting and not everyone can sustain such deep immersion.
