• Welcome to The Tolkien Forum! Connect with fellow Tolkien enthusiasts and join a community that is over two decades old, and still going strong. We look forward to meeting you.  Register

Are resident rascals a repetitive pattern in all Tolkien's works?

Merry and Pippin - Hobbits, Third + Fourth Ages
Fili and Kili - Dwarves, Third Age
Celegorm and Curufin - Noldorin Elves, First Age

Merry and Pippin - Cousins, grandsons of Thain Adalgrim (and great-great grandsons of Thain Gerontius, The Old Took)
Fili and Kili - brothers, nephews of King Thorin Oakenshield
Celegorm and Curufin - brothers, grandsons of Noldorin High King Finwë

All six went on a quest, all six fought with Orcs
Merry and Pippin survived the completion of their quest, the other four died before theirs was completed

Merry and Pippin were consistently active on the good side
Fili and Kili had a bad patch when Thorin lost it just before the Battle of Five Armies
Celegorm and Curufin were repeatedly involved in murder and other unsavory activities (Nargothrond, Beren & Lúthien)
 
I don't recall Fili and Kili being particularly mischievous in the book.

Though it is quite hilarious to think of Curufin and Celegorm being a somewhat more murderous Merry and Pippin. 😂

Merry and Pippin did have a kind of conspiracy of their own, knowing in advance that Frodo would be leaving the Shire before he actually did so. And Frodo was quite shocked to discover how much they knew.
'Of course we understand,' said Merry firmly. 'That is why we have decided to come. We know the Ring is no laughing-matter; but we are going to do our best to help you against the Enemy.'
'The Ring!' said Frodo, now completely amazed.
'Yes, the Ring,' said Merry. 'My dear old hobbit, you don't allow for the inquisitiveness of friends. I have known about the existence of the Ring for years — before Bilbo went away, in fact; but since he obviously regarded it as secret, I kept the knowledge in my head, until we formed our conspiracy. [...]'

- The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 5, A Conspiracy Unmasked

I wouldn't exactly say these pairs of rascals are a 'repetitive pattern' in Tolkien's works, but there are definitely some funny comparisons to make.
 
Tiny, in fact.
Tumblr_l_275716098910971.png
 

Similar threads

Back
Top