Re: CHAT: Tolkien (was Re: fantasy)

On Thu, 25 Nov 1999, Raymond Brown wrote:

>At 9:32 am +0100 24/11/99, Grandsire, C.A. wrote:
>[....}
>>
>>        The problem here is that in The Hobbit, Tolkien describes Bilbo as
>>having ears "less pointed than Elvish ears" or something like this.
>
>Where?  I can't find it  (but, then, I haven't had time to read all 315
>pages again this evening  :)
Perhaps your's omits it - but I don't recall seeing it either.  Mine
doesn't say anything about Lilliputians, either.  I can't find any
hints of pointed ears below, nor in the (longwinded) description of
Hobbits in the Prologue of the "Fellowship of the Ring". No trace in
the descriptions given by Foster in the "Guide" nor by Day in the
"Encyclopedia".  Artists' conceptions may vary, and I've seen some
rather pointed ears on Hobbits.  The only picture of a Hobbit I've
seen drawn by Himself has rather too much curly hair to make any clear
judgements.

Padraic.

>
>The only bit I recall is Tolkien's general description of hobbits in the
>first chapter.  I quote:
>"They are (or were) small people, smaller than dwarvws (and they have no
>beards) but very much larger than lilliputians.  There is little or no
>magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to
>disappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you and me come
>blustering along, making a noise like elephants which they hear a mile off.
>They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours
>(chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural
>leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads
>(which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good-natured faces, and
>laugh deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner which they have twice a
>day if they can get it.  Now you know enough to get on with."
>
>Indeed - and not a mention of ears at all   :)
>
>Ray.
>
>=========================================
>A mind which thinks at its own expense
>will always interfere with language.
>                   [J.G. Hamann 1760]
>=========================================
>