Is necromancy (a type of divination) in The Return of the King?
In The Return of the King novel, Aragorn finds a route that goes through territory held by those Tolkien calls “the Dead.” They are supposedly spirit beings of people who died. And, Aragorn is faced with confronting them.
In The Return of the King novel, Aragorn finds a route that goes through territory held by those Tolkien calls “the Dead.” They are supposedly spirit beings of people who died. And, Aragorn is faced with confronting them.
Gimli (a dwarf) recounts what happened when Aragorn spoke to “the Dead.” Tolkien writes:
“'But Aragorn halted and cried with a great voice: "Now come! By the Black Stone I call you! "And suddenly the Shadow Host that had hung back at the last came up like a grey tide, sweeping all away before it. Faint cries I heard, and dim horns blowing, ... it was like the echo of some forgotten battle .... Pale swords were drawn; but I know not whether their blades would still bite, for the Dead needed no longer any weapon but fear. ...” [A.] [End quote](underline added)
“'Beyond the eyes of the Dwarves are such foretellings,' said Gimli. 'But mighty indeed was Aragorn that day. Lo! all the black fleet was in his hands; and he chose the greatest ship to be his own, and he went up into it. ... and the Shadow Host withdrew to the shore. There they stood silent, hardly to be seen, save for a red gleam.... And Aragorn spoke in a loud voice to the Dead Men, crying: ' "Hear now the words of the Heir of Isildur! Your oath is fulfilled. Go back and trouble not the valleys ever again! Depart and be at rest! " 'And thereupon the King of the Dead stood out before the host and broke his spear and cast it down. Then he bowed low and turned away; and swiftly the whole grey host drew off and vanished....” [A.] [End quote]






