Second-guessing and Misunderstanding Tolkien

[Elthir]

Was it true that Fëanor from The Silmarillion was a "lisper" (as in, preferring the use of "th" instead of "s")? Would he have said "Thilmarilli" instead of "Silmarilli," or "Thauron" instead of "Sauron"?

Feanor preferred to keep þ along with s, instead of altering þ to s. This merging was indeed attacked by the Loremasters, who pointed out that the damage this would do in confusing stems and their derivatives that had been distinct in sound and sense had not yet been sufficiently considered.

In December 1972 Tolkien noted that the stem behind Silmarilli was SIL, and Feanor would have said Silmaril(le), Silmarilli.

Feanor held to his mother's proper name however, calling her þerinde (not Serinde), noting THER "sew" in Parma Eldalamberon 17. Serinde became the form for the majority of the Exiles, but not in Feanor's house > Feanor and his sons adhered to þ, and they demanded that all those who were sincere in their support of this choice should do the same.

Míriel was called þerinde > Serinde because of her surpassing skill in weaving and needlework.

Just þayin'

In theory, Feanor would arguably (within the following scenario anyway) have said þauron (for Sauron), as, according to a letter dated 1967, THAW "detestable" is in play here, and þauron(do) was the name before the change.

And generally speaking, with respect to the internal evolution of Quenya, this language once had a sound represented by þ that was closer to s than the "interdental" th.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Lord of the what? 🤔

 

[Radaghast]

Sauron starts a daily talk show in Times Square called "Coffee with Sauron." What might this breakdown look like?

 

[Deimos]

Lord of the what? 🤔

Right, Chief, and we'll just call you Lord of the Wrongs 🙄

 

[banakil]

In J.R.R. Tolkien's letters with Christopher Tolkien, they discuss the unrighteousness of war during the war.

See e.g., Letter 66 (May 6, 1944), "For we are attempting to conquer Sauron with the Ring. And we shall (it seems) succeed. But the penalty is, as you will know, to breed new Saurons, and slowly turn Men and Elves into Orcs. Not that in real life things are as clear cut as in a story, and we started out with a great many Orcs on our side."

Indeed, only 6 months earlier (Letter 53, on Dec 9, 1943), J.R.R. Tolkien openly questioned whether Germany or England was in the right, "But seriously: I do find this Americo-cosmopolitanism very terrifying Qua mind and spirit, and neglecting the piddling fears of timid flesh which does not want to be shot or chopped by brutal and licentious soldiery (German or other), I am not really sure that its victory is going to be so much the better for the world as a whole in the long run than the victory of ——."

With the em dash, Tolkien was referring to Germany or Hitler, but he couldn't risk writing that explicitly during the war because British censors intercept letters to soldiers (Christopher was serving in the Royal Air Force during WWII).

"Escapism" is one of the criticisms about Tolkien, in the sense critics claim the good versus evil Middle Earth creates unrealistic expectations for values on actual earth.

And yet, Tolkien's good versus evil moral compass is more relevant than ever!

Has the standard of living that Tolkien championed improved or degraded post WWII? Are people more in debt, unhealthier, more addicted, merged with technology, impolite, etc? What is happening in the Shire if not invasion by Saruman's hordes and pollution?

 

[Radaghast]

Could Frodo have sung the Tom Bombadil song in Mt. Doom (or at any point of peril) had he the mind to or did Gandalf mean it literally when he said Tom would not step outside his self imposed boundaries at the council of Elrond?

Could you have thought more about your question before asking it? 🤨

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

 

[Radaghast]

If Aragorn had shouted Smellendil or Smellbereth, would it have the same effect on orcs?

If I called you a smimbecile would you feel just as insulted?

 

[Radaghast]

What are Gimli's most impressive feats of strength in Tolkien's writings?

These AI-generated questions are seriously annoying. I don't see the point of them.

 

[Radaghast]

Why did Elrond put no charge on any of the fellowship except Frodo? Why didn’t he make them at least pledge, swear or something to stay with Frodo?

I would like to put a charge on you to avoid asking inane questions 🙊

 

[Radaghast]

Why writers who got inspired by a specific detail from folkore/mythology (i.e. Tolkien who got his inspiration about that big spider -Shelob- in the Frodo scene from an African myth) don't acknowledge the original sources/references in their books?

 

[Radaghast]

Why was Legolas so unhelpful on Caradhras?​

Literally Aragorn and Boromir were doing practically everything, the main example being digging them out of the snow. Not to mention each of them carried two hobbits over a particularly treacherous patch - and four hobbits and only two men = two trips for each Aragorn and Boromir. (Pretty sure the book actually says they each had to make two trips). But like literally, why exactly did Legolas do nothing but sass Gandalf and run around "looking for the sun?" Was the general consensus that his ideal role was the scout/guide dog...er...elf because he had the advantage of being able to walk on top of the snow? And if he could walk on top of the snow, why wasn't he carrying hobbits??
I love Legolas as much as the next guy (or girl), but I find this passage a little perplexing in light of how eager to help Legolas appears to be throughout the rest of the series.

Guy likes to use the word 'literally' a lot but literally doesn't seem to understand what he was reading.

 

[Elthir]

"If Aragorn had shouted Smellendil or Smellbereth, would it have the same effect on orcs?"

I don't know. But I know something that always has the same effect on orcs when they attack me with their bloody daggers and cruel, curved, death-dealing swords.

Hold it right there, Mister Shagrat!
One more step and I might have to reveal that it's not loaded!

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Smellendil or Smellbereth

Or Smeladrial.

 

[Radaghast]

Would Balrog wake up if Pipping didn't make that noise in Moria?

Pipping is how I'm going to refer to the movie version.

 

[Radaghast]

What makes The One Ring 2E superior to the Lord of the Rings 5E version?

 

[Deimos]

What makes The One Ring 2E superior to the Lord of the Rings 5E version?

 

[Vorondil]

View attachment 41630

The One Ring 2E and The Lord Of The Rings 5E are tabletop RPGs.

 

[Radaghast]

😵

https://www.reddit.com/r/Silmarillionmemes/comments/q2chim/just_wondering

 

[herlig9]

When i saw Return of the King movie first time.

I actually thought there were two gollums on screen, aka a bad friend or something. As compared to Smeagol having a split personality disorder.