Warring Trees

[Lady Rebecca]

I just finished reading Prince Caspian, and was surprised to notice that the trees/dryads played an important role in defeating the armies of Miraz. I had forgotten about that part. The scene bears a distinct resemblence to the Ents effectively destroying Isengard in The Two Towers. I find it interesting that both Lewis and Tolkien used the idea of trees coming awake and defending their homeland.

This similarity also brings to my mind a verse I have always found fascinating in the Old Testament. It is regarding David's wayward son Absalom, who started a rebellion against him. The armies of David and Absalom clashed in battle in a wood of Ephraim. David's troops carried the day. The account then states:

"For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured." II Samuel 18:8

Now of course, the wood here was not actually made up of sentient tree-people. However, the word "devoured" gives a feeling, that, in a way, the forest was actively destroying Absalom's army. Absalom himself was captured by the forest - he rode under an oak, and his head was caught in it, and he couldn't get loose. Then Joab came and slew him.

Any thoughts on this?

[Messenger_of_Eden]

Interesting parallel (The Ents and the Dryads)--I had never thought about it before. But...I think that the account of the woods devouring Absalom's army is meant in a figurative sense ;) Although...since none of us were there, who knows but God?? wouldn't it have been weird if it really was a literal devouring? I bet there's a clue in the original Hebrew.

[Alan]

I always thought there was a strong parallel wish Shakespear's Scottish play

'When Burnham wood comes to Dunsinane'

[sehoy]

[Sarah N.]

In the special features of the Return of the King, extended edition, one of the Tolkien historians says that the Ents were inspired by Macbeth. The historian said that Tolkien was very excited when he thought the woods were going to move, and then was disappointed when he found out it was just "a bunch of soldiers with leaves in their hats." So he decided to "do it properly" in his book, and make the woods actually move. The parallel with the Ents and the trees in the Prince Caspian struck me too, this time through. It has been much too long since I have read CoN, and I am reading through again.

[A#minor]

I have that verse from II Samuel marked in my Bible. I suppose the same thing struck me a few years ago, and I've just forgotten about it.
I wouldn't put it past God to make trees move and kill the army of a rebellious son. He's made the earth swallow up rebellious people, and made the sea drown them.

[Messenger_of_Eden]

[sehoy]

[Lady Rebecca]

[Stanley Anderson]