| Children of Ilùvatar and of Aulë [message #274544] |
Do, 01 Juni 2006 03:14 |
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Just a thought: In the Prologue to LotR, Tolkien speaks of Hobbits as
being more closely related to us than Elves "or even Dwarves". This seems to
imply that Dwarves are somehow closer to Men than Elves. As we know, this
is not the case (I think I don't need to repeat the story of the creation of
the Naugrim). Does anyone have evidence that in an earlier draft, Tolkien
had something else in mind?
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| Re: Children of Ilùvatar and of Aulë [message #274546 ] |
Do, 01 Juni 2006 04:17 |
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Charilaos Velaris wrote:
> Just a thought: In the Prologue to LotR, Tolkien speaks of Hobbits
> as being more closely related to us than Elves "or even Dwarves".
> This seems to imply that Dwarves are somehow closer to Men than
> Elves. As we know, this is not the case (I think I don't need to
> repeat the story of the creation of the Naugrim). Does anyone have
> evidence that in an earlier draft, Tolkien had something else in mind?
Perhaps he is referencing the mortality of Men and Dwarves vs the
immortality of Elves.
--
Bill
"Wise fool"
Gandalf, THE TWO TOWERS
-- The Wise will remove 'se' to reply; the Foolish will not--
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| Re: Children of Ilùvatar and of Aulë [message #274548 ] |
Do, 01 Juni 2006 09:03 |
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"Bill O'Meally" <OMeallyMD [at] wise.rr.com> wrote in message
news:H6sfg.8943$3q2.4497 [at] tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> Charilaos Velaris wrote:
> > Just a thought: In the Prologue to LotR, Tolkien speaks of
Hobbits
> > as being more closely related to us than Elves "or even Dwarves".
> > This seems to imply that Dwarves are somehow closer to Men than
> > Elves. As we know, this is not the case (I think I don't need to
> > repeat the story of the creation of the Naugrim). Does anyone have
> > evidence that in an earlier draft, Tolkien had something else in
mind?
>
> Perhaps he is referencing the mortality of Men and Dwarves vs the
> immortality of Elves.
That was my thought as well.
The passage in full does not shed much more light:
"It is plain indeed that in spite of later estrangement Hobbits are
relatives of ours: far nearer to us than Elves, or even than Dwarves. Of
old they spoke the languages of Men, after their own fashion, and liked
and disliked much the same things as Men did."
Also, I suppose, the example of the Elves of Mirkwood and the Dwarves of
Erebor and the Men of Dale might lead us to think that Elves and Dwarves
could be close in friendship with Men, though here the Dwarves are
closer to the Men of Dale than the Elves of Mirkwood were, at least
physically, and probably actually. Also, Dwarves traded more than Elves,
so may have seemed less remote, fey and dangerous than Elves.
Christopher
--
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Reply clue: Saruman welcomes you to Spamgard
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