Semi-Latin

[Mistress of Darkness]

In my current project the prologue is told as a legend and I'd like it to have the same feel as Tolkein's Simarilian, whithout being a poor imitation.

Saint has given me some places to look and books to read to help me get the feel of the rythm, etc. and I'd like to gather other suggestions from everyone else.

In particular, EUOL, I hear that you have a similar section in Way of Kings, can you offer any advice?

[Oldie Black Witch]

The very beginning of the Silmarillion is pure poetry. Especially the first two or so pages. If I were to try to create a Sil-type prologue I'd write it in free-verse poetry style allowing for liberal interpretations of the description. FWIW.

MoD, are you looking for some help with words and names? (Just looking at the name of the thread). If so, I could help you with some languages that are a little more obscure than Latin--if you're interested.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

actually, what I meant by the Way of Kings as a source was that the legendary feel of the back story had a similar feel to yours. It's a very different type of story, but they are evokative of the same kind of mood.

Btw, sorry I dropped off last night. I had major computer problems.

[Peter Ahlstrom]

Isn't the Silmarillion beginning in the anglo-saxon form like Beowulf with the pauses in the middle of every line? The name for those pauses is escaping me at the moment. Something with an "ae" in it, I think. Like, two stresses per line half, variable number of unstressed syllables.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

isn't that a ceasura? (sp?)

edit: Yes, it is, but it's spelled caesura, so you're right.

[Mistress of Darkness]

Np Saint. I figured that was what happened.

Thanks for the advice guys. The idea of poetry alarms me, but  hopefully I am up to the task.

[Peter Ahlstrom]

isn't that a ceasura? (sp?)

edit: Yes, it is, but it's spelled caesura, so you're right.

Funny how I remembered the ae but couldn't remember anything else about the word, not even how many syllables it was or which syllable the ae was in. Not that I was thinking about it all day or anything, but I didn't dredge the word from my memory before looking at this thread again just now.