How long from wounding of 2 Trees to Fingolfin in Beleriand?

Elthir said:

That said, a thought: could it be seen as a "negative cost" for a younger Elf to grow slower during the ice crossing, because the hardship saps them?

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I would not expect this. I can recall only one case where Tolkien considers the possibility of Elvish growth rate being slowed down in comparison with their natural growth rate, and this happens in the “artificial” conditions of Aman, i.e. under a special bliss rather than hardship (The Awaking of the Quendi > Text B > I. Preliminary discussion > second-to-last paragraph).

Actually, no need to wonder: such an interpretation is clearly excluded by the sentences just before and after:

"Galadriel was born in Aman: “young and eager” at the beginning of the Exile; not yet full-grown: say 20. The March [back to Middle-earth] took a whole life-year of the survivors at whatever rate they were living, sc. to the young [but] “grown” it added 1 growth-year (3 löar); to the older and full-grown 1 life-year (144 löar). Therefore Galadriel was 21 when she reached Middle-earth."

P.S. Or not? Actually, my brain is not working properly right now. Let’s say because it is 3 AM here.

Good point Amalcarin.

In any case, this has been a fruitful exchange (for me anyway).

My last caveat here (weak as it is) concerns my acceptance of the even later conception of Elvish Life Cycles, which I think does away with a lot of Tolkien's earlier attempts to get certain Elven characters ages "right" -- "right" as JRRT sees fit, as if I'm honest, I see no real need to think of any of the Elvish characters in "equivalent" mortal terms, just for example.

Admittedly, the details of the Elvish Life Cycles texts don't necessarily mean Tolkien had changed his mind about the actual duration of the ice crossing, but that crossing was arguably interwoven within the age-musings of the 1965 text, in any event.

For what that's worth!

At least my brain feels better now; and a nap should make me right as rain

Amalcarin said:

Actually, (snip for brevity) P.S. Or not? Actually, my brain is not working properly right now. Let’s say because it is 3 AM here.

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I'll put it this way: even if my wondering there is merely possible, such a scenario seems more complicated, and I'd probably expect Tolkien to note something along those lines too, if that were the case I mean.

🐾

Starbrow said:

What was going through his mind when he imagined the trek taking that long? Are they moving in Slo mo?

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No offense to the professor, but day after day I start to believe more in the fact that he didn't choose to become a linguist. He had little choice in other professions. We all know he had probably failed biology.