A Tale within a Tale
Challenge Details
It's a common literary device to have a tale told within your main story. Tolkien himself has many examples of this in LotR, the most compelling being perhaps the tale of Luthien at Weathertop.
The device could be used in many effective ways:
- a tale-teller relating a story for entertainment, as Strider does;
- a mother telling a child a story; someone relating a tale of the past;
- a herald passing on information.
It could be a character telling a story about himself, or retelling an old legend for any number of reasons. The tale could be an essential part of the story, or a side story to the main plot.
You could retell a story that Tolkien already wrote; take tales from, say, the Grimm Brothers and recast them in ME; or make up a new one that would fill a gap in Tolkien's mythology. It could be a poem or a story--or even a play! Traveling minstrels in Gondor or Rohan, perhaps (which reminds me that Shakespeare uses this device to good effect in "Hamlet"!).
Entries with Stories
The following authors have entered a story in the Challenge.
- arelenriel - Questions
- General Audience
- Last Updated: 26 Feb 07
- Legolas and his siblings have questions about how Thranduil and Lothwen met.
- DrummerWench - Green Flash, The
- General Audience
- Last Updated: 13 Jun 08
- A gapfiller set at the end of ROTK, between Frodo's leavetaking and the return of Sam, Merry and Pippin to the Shire. Slightly AU for the disposition of Narya. Companion piece to "The Tower Hills" and "The Boatbuilder".
- DrummerWench - The Tower Hills
- General Audience
- Last Updated: 09 Jun 08
- A gap-filler set at the very end of ROTK, as Frodo, Sam and the Elves travel toward the Havens. A companion piece to "The Green Flash" and "The Boatbuilder".
- Gandalfs apprentice - The Blue Book of Bilbo Baggins, or, Tales of the Forbidden Silmarillion
- Adult Audience
- Last Updated: 02 Jan 08
- As readers know from Tyellas's Lost in the Translation, Bilbo made another book--one with a blue cover. This story tells of its fate and, even better, has extracts from the tales....you know you want to read it. Illustrated by Greywing
MEFA 2007, Second Place, Alternative Universe
Thanks to Tyellas for allowing me to borrow the idea of the Blue Book from her superb story and to oshun for her thoughtful criticism and for being a good friend. Special thanks to Maeve Riannon and to greywing for their unique contributions, and to all the writers at the Garden of Ithilien. - Jay of Lasgalen - To Tell A Tale: A Narrow Escape
- General Audience
- Last Updated: 20 Oct 06
- After the battle of Pelennor Fields, Pippin is confined to bed. Elladan and Elrohir share a story to cheer him up.
- Larner - Thinning
- General Audience
- Last Updated: 03 May 08
- Frodo considers doing some thinning in Bag End.
- Larner - Of Courtship Rituals and Wizards
- General Audience
- Last Updated: 06 Apr 08
- Frodo, who's been rooming with the Whitfoots during the days he serves as Mayor, discusses his experiences outside the Shire with the Mayor's granddaughter.
- Werecat - Old Wives' Tales
- General Audience
- Last Updated: 30 Dec 06
- A very pregnant and rather emotional Eowyn goes in search of a childhood relic and finds something unexpected. Through the words of a tale, the Shieldmaiden meets a Queen of old.
Mithrils 2005: Runner-up, Concerning Men
Placeholders
The following authors have entered a placeholder in the Challenge.
- Chemistry
- Entry Date: 09 Aug 06
- MerryK
- Entry Date: 19 Mar 07
- Tárion Anaróre
- Entry Date: 15 Sep 06
- Vaysh
- Entry Date: 01 Jan 07
