Best names in Tolkien?
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Best names in Tolkien?
I recently started my re-read of the Silmarillion and I realised that one of the reasons why I really love the book is because of the many beautiful names there are in it, and in LotR and Hobbit too of course.
I mean, if Thingol was named Edward or something like that there would have been some major change in the experience of the reader.
So, which names you like from the books? I know, it's a long list. No need to try to come up with everything at once!
Fingolfin, for me, was one of my favorite names. It has a certain rhythm to it and is a "closed" name. And so is Fëanor.
I liked Thingol much better than Elwë, personally. Same for Elessar rather than Aragorn, though both are good.
And Morgoth. Hee, the name just reeks of evil, really.
I mean, if Thingol was named Edward or something like that there would have been some major change in the experience of the reader.
So, which names you like from the books? I know, it's a long list. No need to try to come up with everything at once!
Fingolfin, for me, was one of my favorite names. It has a certain rhythm to it and is a "closed" name. And so is Fëanor.
I liked Thingol much better than Elwë, personally. Same for Elessar rather than Aragorn, though both are good.
And Morgoth. Hee, the name just reeks of evil, really.
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- Smaug's voice
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Adding to the previous: Eärendil and Glaurung.
ETA: Speaking of places. Alqualondë is my favorite. And Angbad too.
ETA: Speaking of places. Alqualondë is my favorite. And Angbad too.
Last edited by Smaug's voice on Mon Nov 25, 2013 9:09 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- Voronwë the Faithful
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I love the descriptive "afternames" Tolkien gives his characters, like Varda Elentári, Yavanna Kementári, Manwë Súlimo, Arwen Undómiel or Idril Celebrindal and, as Beutlin mentioned, Lúthien Tinúviel.
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Oh yes. Especially Celebrindal and Tinúviel.Elentári wrote:I love the descriptive "afternames" Tolkien gives his characters, like Varda Elentári, Yavanna Kementári, Manwë Súlimo, Arwen Undómiel or Idril Celebrindal and, as Beutlin mentioned, Lúthien Tinúviel.
What I also find interesting is the "transition" of names of geographical places in Middle-earth with the passage of time.
Like Baranduin to Brandywine. That sounds exactly how it would have been "colloqualized" (is there a better word?) in real world.
Any more such examples?
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Tom Bombadil. Just like the character, the name seems plain and has a hauntingly familiar and yet mysterious ring.
Also, Samwise Gamgee.
For places, Mirkwood. Exactly what it says on the label.
Also, Samwise Gamgee.
For places, Mirkwood. Exactly what it says on the label.
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I've always loved "Withywindle" and talking of alliterations, there are many place names that trip off the tongue - Mirrormere, High Hay, Dimril Dale, Dwarrowdelf, River Running...
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Folca (obviously)
Théoden
Thorin
Durin
Helm's Deep
Meduseld
Mirkwood
Moria
Théoden
Thorin
Durin
Helm's Deep
Meduseld
Mirkwood
Moria
"Ut Prosim"
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"There are some things that it is better to begin than refuse, even though the end may be dark" Aragorn
"Those who commit honorable acts need no forgiveness"
http://killology.com/sheep_dog.htm
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Re: Best names in Tolkien?
I think this is an important observation. Of course* Thror, Thrain and Thorin (and Gandalf) (and most other of Thorin's posse) were lifted directly from the Edda but the majority of names for people and places are of Tolkien's own invention. One of the chief reasons I struggle with other fantasy writing (or Swords and Sorcery) is because their invented names seem fake. Because of his expertise and expansive knowledge and experience in philology and of ancient texts, he knew how to make a name seem real, or how to make a word feel like a name. I think this is his primary tool for establishing and maintaining verisimilitude in his works.Smaug's voice wrote:I recently started my re-read of the Silmarillion and I realised that one of the reasons why I really love the book is because of the many beautiful names there are in it, and in LotR and Hobbit too of course.
I mean, if Thingol was named Edward or something like that there would have been some major change in the experience of the reader.
*i.e. I'm new so I might state the obvious sometimes and come off as supercilious, which (of course) I want to avoid.
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I don't think that comes across as supercilious at all. On the contrary, I think it is an excellent point, and I agree wholeheartedly.
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Khudzûl is my favorite of Tolkien's languages, though it is far less developed than his elvish idioms.
Last edited by Passdagas the Brown on Fri Jan 10, 2014 8:01 pm, edited 2 times in total.