Topic started by jana (@ spc-isp-tor-uas-81-83.sprint.ca) on Mon Apr 2 01:09:19 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

I would like for anyone to clarify the meanings, that is, the theme of some poems that have attracted me.

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost,
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by frost.(
-- JRR Tolkien (Lord of the Ring)

Especially this idea of frost. I understand it in practical terms but in literary form, what is the writer trying to imply.

Responses:

• From: uma (@ 213.189.83.101) on: Tue Apr 10 04:34:40
  
  I'm not a student of literature. However, the poet might be implying that "a person whose heart is strong and noble will not be affected by the paralysing outside forces(the hardships in life - here the frost) that work to bring you down in life."
  
  
• From: Sridhar (@ mailhost.netdecisions.co.uk) on: Mon May 21 12:39:24
  
  I am just letting my thoughts flow:
  Following the beaten track, may not always lead to (what the world calls ) success...
  It may not always not be success you'll find, when you get there...
  Those daring to be different are not doomed to failure...
  That, the world speaks ill of, is not always despicable...
  A sound base, strong will and self-belief will take you unscathed thru' life's difficulties...
  
  Simply put, can the last line be -
  "A strong foundation is not easily shaken"?
  
  
  
  
• From: KovaiPras as the AnswerMan (@ dhcp-171-68-137-225.cisco.com) on: Mon May 21 19:46:15
  
  All that is gold does not glitter
  Ans: NOT of (wherever fly sits is not shit)
  
  Not all those who wander are lost
  Ans: Not of (everyone desi in the US is lost)
  
  The old that is strong does not wither
  Ans: He meant old and strong Breaks
  
  Deep roots are not reached by frost
  Ans: Means Frost (the person) has not reached his roots (ancestors). Or else he isn't yet dead.
  
  
• From: José Antonio Donoso (@ ) on: Sun Dec 23 03:08:29
  
  Well, for me, it's all about the Dúnadan. I mean, they were noble men who had to hide and to take an appeareance of... well, you could even say of bandits. Remember Aragorn, when he first meets the hobbits. "Strider" is how he calls himself. So,
  
  
  All that is gold does not glitter,
  
  That is "not all noble people must have noble looks" or "do not trust in looks", or something like that. Remember what Frodo says to Aragorn when he learns his true identity: "You have frightened me several times tonight, but never in the way that servants of the Enemy would, or so I imagine. I think one of his spies would -well, seem fairer and feel fouler, if you understand".
  
  
  Not all those who wander are lost,
  
  The same thing. Dúnadan were wandering people, as Aragorn states in the council of Elrond: "I have had a hard life and a long; and the leagues that lie between here [Rivendell] and Gondor are a small part in the count of my journeys". So he is a traveller, and he lives a hard life, but that's his way of fighting the enemy.
  
  
  The old that is strong does not wither,
  
  Well, remember Aragorn has the life of the men of Numenor: So he lives very long (I don't know exactly, but he is 49 when his "compromise" with Arwen is sealed, and he was young then) but it also refers to his will, the challenges he had, and to the fact that one must have a great inner strength to overcome certains traps that life just puts on your way. It could also refer to Gandalf, or to the Hobbits.
  
  
  Deep roots are not reached by frost.
  
  Basically, the same idea, I think. It's about people who have lost something very important and significative to them, but who still keep something inside them (deep roots?) which makes them strong. And if you think about the four next verses
  
  From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
  A light from the shadows shall spring;
  Renewed shall be blade that was broken:
  The crownless again shall be king.
  
  
  they just have a feeling of something that is gonna happen, which is "The return of the King", Aragorn. Yes, his is the blade that was broken, and everything.
  
  
  OK, that´s all for now.
  
  I LOVE TOLKIEN.
  
  
  J.
  
  
  
  
• From: Forestsong (@ wrkn-197.alverno.edu) on: Thu Jan 31 16:11:35
  
  To me, it's the lord of the rings. All that is gold does not glitter is frodo and sam
  Not all those who wander are lost, this is how the plot simply flows. The old that is strong does not wither, this is Gandalf and his return from shadows. Deep roots are not touched by the frost, the Ents and their return to save themselves. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, is the balrog. A light from the shadows shall spring; is the lair of Shelob and the phail from Gladrial. Renewed shall be blade that was broken, Aragorn's sword. and obviously The crownless again shall be king, is Aragorn reclaiming his rights as king. It seems rather obvious to me :-)
  
  
• From: Erica (@ 66.188.25.202.bay.mi.chartermi.net) on: Wed Apr 2 16:16:55
  
  not all that glitters is gold- even if something seems great, it isn't always
  Not all those who wonder are lost-people may go out searching for something , but when it's all said and done...they realize they were never missing anything in the first place
  The old that is strong does not wither- how old something is doesn't matter, as long as it is strong and has a will to survive
  Deep roots are not touched by the frost- If your goodness is so strong and buried so deep within you, even evil (or the frost) cannot touch it...
  
  
• From: Erica (@ 66.188.25.202.bay.mi.chartermi.net) on: Wed Apr 2 16:17:03
  
  not all that glitters is gold- even if something seems great, it isn't always
  Not all those who wonder are lost-people may go out searching for something , but when it's all said and done...they realize they were never missing anything in the first place
  The old that is strong does not wither- how old something is doesn't matter, as long as it is strong and has a will to survive
  Deep roots are not touched by the frost- If your goodness is so strong and buried so deep within you, even evil (or the frost) cannot touch it...
  
  
• From: Pavalamani Pragasam (@ dialpool-210-214-8-188.maa.sify.net) on: Thu Apr 3 02:04:54
  
  What strikes me first is for the sake of rhyme a proverb is changed upside down:"all that glitters is not gold" is the proverb, meaning appearances are deceptive.But no. Reading again the meaning is clear. By saying "all that is gold does not glitter" the poet may be describing a disheartening situation where for some reason the merit, integrity of greatness is keeping a low profile, ie gold not seen in its natural glitter? Next, " Not all those who wander are lost". This challenges a popular belief. Why? May be the poet hints at something which is going to happen not expected generally."The old that is strong does not whither".Unusually strong & exceptional characteristics surpass ordinary "wear & tear" of time as has been beautifully described by Shakespeare.Obviously the poet is not speaking about wrinkles, debility etc. He stresses the vigour of character,grit & moral stamina of some person he has in mind."Deep roots are not reached by frost".This is a natural phenomenon used as a comparison by the poet to strenghthen the assertion made in the third line.In winter plants wear a dead look- rose buds are frost-eaten, burnt so to say. But when spring comes & lifts the gloom of lifelessness on the landscape the earth springs back to colourful life. Since this is what we see every year it is clear the lifelessness on the surface of the earth is only apparent, virtual & not real. The killing effect of bitter frost does not affect the main life source ie roots of huge trees. The frost is powerful enough to destroy supeficial, tender, small plants- the foliage, buds, blossoms, twigs & stems. But it cannot destroy the strong,deep-rooted trees. This shows in a way the limits of frost's might.The destruction frost can effect is only seasonal & not permamnent.This rings the optimism of the poet.He is hopeful of forthcoming victory of the now defeated(whatever the context be).Like the poet let me also hope taking this chance that deeprooted, dignified, ancient & beneficial oriental culture be not killed by the frost of new, unduly liberal, morally lax western culture.
  
  
• From: Not Important (@ ptil-194-170-chn.primus-india.net) on: Fri Apr 11 07:00:08 EDT 2003
  
  Think theres just one theme to it- you have to be convinced of your self worth. dont for approval from other. Nothing thats good is obvious. nothing obvious is good. do not form a judgment from an impulse.
  
  
• From: Kiki (@ flexgen-44.netexpress.net) on: Sun Mar 28 21:29:31
  
  All that is gold does not glitter-
  Looks aren't all as they seem. Aragorn (Strider) is a king but appears as a poor Ranger
  The rest like the one above just show how you, that you should never judge a book by its cover. People are not always what they may seem
  
  
• From: mandy (@ adsl-68-122-147-143.dsl.irvnca.pacbell.net) on: Tue Apr 20 23:33:07 EDT 2004
  
  to me the poem is saying things are not what they can appear to be and that sometimes a person or thing might seem to be hard and tough but they are just doing things or acting that way because they don't want to get hurt
  
  
• From: Star (@ dial0-258.dialin.uic.edu) on: Wed Apr 21 02:19:58 EDT 2004
  
  All that is gold does not glitter,
  
  Means: Appearances can be decieving.
  
  
  Not all those who wander are lost,
  
  Means: Several roads can merge into one.
  
  The old that is strong does not wither,
  
  Means: That which is priceless withstands the test of time.
  
  Deep roots are not reached by frost.(
  
  Means: There is that which resists external prodding.
  
  
• From: BALH (@ px8wh.vc.shawcable.net) on: Mon Aug 30 17:56:24
  
  this poem(it is only half of the whole poem) is from lord of the rings and is about aragorn.
  Aragorn is from a long line of kings(deep roots)
  and nothing can change his past(are not touched by the frost)..the "deep roots are not touched by the frost" is metaphorical.
  it is really simple if you read it in the book so you actually know what is going on.
  
  

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