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02-29-2004, 12:36 PM
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#1 |
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Face in the Water
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 728
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Was Aragorn fleeing from the law?
Seriously though, if they weren't alternate IDs to hide from the police behind
 , why did Tolkien give Aragorn so many names?Aragorn Estel Thorongil Telcontir Elessar Elfstone Strider Wingfoot I know I'm missing one. Plus his titles: King of Gondor Captain of the Rangers the Renewer Dunadan Is this to emphasize his royalty and importance? Is there a parallel for this in any other story? |
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02-29-2004, 01:13 PM
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#2 |
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Illusionary Holbytla
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,547
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I don't know...but I've noticed his many names as well. One time my cousin (One of the Nine) and I came up with as many names for Aragorn as we could and we came up with a list of 38. Some of them are pushing it a little bit, but he was named as all of them somewhere in LotR.
For some of them - mosty the ones you listed which I would call the most important ones - I think it is because they all have a purpose. Aragorn - his given name. Thorongil in Gondor/Rohan, Strider in Bree, Elessar Telcontar because it was the name he took as king, etc. |
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02-29-2004, 02:11 PM
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#3 |
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A Northern Soul
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Valinor
Posts: 1,847
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Estel was given to him by his mother - many characters in Middle-earth were given a name from each parent. Telcontar was the name he established for his line as king. Elessar (translation of Elfstone) was also a name did not take until he was king - it was foretold that he would take this name later on; Galadriel gave it to him in Lorien. Strider was a nickname others gave him as a ranger. Wingfoot was a name Eomer gave him after he learned how far the Three Hunters had travelled so quickly when following Merry/Pippin.
Thorongil was the only name he chose to use in order to remain anonymous. Denethor would not have taken kindly to the king-by-right coming and impressing the people with his abilities (as shown later in Return of the King when Aragorn returned to Gondor).
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...take counsel with thyself, and remember who and what thou art. Last edited by Legolas; 02-29-2004 at 02:14 PM. |
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02-29-2004, 02:45 PM
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#4 |
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Ubiquitous Urulóki
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The port of Mars, where Famine, Sword, and Fire, leash'd in like hounds, crouch for employment
Posts: 747
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I believe Aragorn's many names do various things, including the emphasis of his importance and general uses. Important people have monikers, monikers can be translated into different languages, and many nicknames can be derived from said monikers. Royalty must be addressed as such, so they are expected to gain kingly names, kingly titles, etc.
-Aragorn, his real name -Estel, "Hope", Gilraen's baby name -Thorongil, "Eagle of the Star", self-proclaimed -Wingfoot, Eomer's name for Aragorn, moniker -Strider, Breelanders name for Aragorn, moniker -Elessar, High title and surname -Elfstone, title, Aragorn was called "The Elfstone of the House of Elendil" -Telcontar, Strider in Elvish -Longshanks is the one you're missing
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"What mortal feels not awe/Nor trembles at our name, Hearing our fate-appointed power sublime/Fixed by the eternal law. For old our office, and our fame," -Aeschylus, Song of the Furies |
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02-29-2004, 03:01 PM
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#5 |
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Deathless Sun
Join Date: May 2003
Location: The Royal Suite in the Halls of Mandos
Posts: 2,609
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It depends... just exactly what law did Aragorn have to run away from? I can just see it... Denethor going around Gondor, posting up Wanted signs with Aragorn's face and an extremely long list of all his names.
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But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark. |
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03-01-2004, 11:49 AM
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#6 | |
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Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Alabama, USA
Posts: 58
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03-01-2004, 12:05 PM
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#7 |
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Deathless Sun
Join Date: May 2003
Location: The Royal Suite in the Halls of Mandos
Posts: 2,609
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Definitely... *chuckles*
But honestly... having that many names would come in handy! Imagine it... Denethor: Are you not Aragorn, son of Arathorn? Aragorn: No! I'm your father's sixth cousin twenty times removed! The name is Thorongil!
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But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark. |
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03-01-2004, 04:22 PM
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#8 |
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Wight
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Somewhere between the back of the chair and the monitor
Posts: 115
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Oh dear. Mental images of Aragorn running through the woods with the cops theme playing in the background. x_x I think in the world of Middle-Earth, your name and your heritage are very important. It qualifies that you have a right or an heritage that makes you what you are. Most of Aragorn's names as mentioned are nicknames, something you give to someone off-handed. Wingfoot, Longshanks, and Strider all names someone else uses for Aragorn, not Aragorn himself. He just hid behind them. And it is a lot of names, but what better way to stay low? Btw, if someone does the fanart, I wanna see! Middle Earth Justice - The Hunt for the King.....
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"If I knew all of the answers, I'd run for God." ~ Klinger: M*A*S*H Last edited by Sleeping Beauty; 03-01-2004 at 08:42 PM. |
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03-01-2004, 05:04 PM
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#9 |
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Late Istar
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,224
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Looks like you're also missing "Envinyatar".
It would appear that Aragorn even has the edge on Turin in terms of the number of names. However, that's counting both "Elfstone" and "Elessar" and "Strider" and "Telcontar" separately. If we count them thus, I think we have ten names; getting rid of the doubles it's eight. I count seven names for Turin, so it looks like Aragorn still holds the title (as if he needed one more). |
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03-01-2004, 06:09 PM
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#10 |
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Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: The Encircling Sea, deciding which ship to ruin next...could be yours.
Posts: 274
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I think perhaps you are getting the film and the books mixed up sleeping beauty ( i don't blame you.) But aragorn never in the true saga, was frightened by or did he shun his destiny. He accepted who he was, and looked to the future; however he had patience, he knew his time would come, or perhaps it would not. Nowhere does he say anything even resembling his words in the films of : "i have turned from that path long ago..." etc.
There are other characters in Tolkien's works that also have many names, of course not as many as Strider, but many none the less. (why can't I think of the other names of the people I am thinking of? in the silmarillion i believe more than 3 names are sometimes given for a character) Like Turin! Osse
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'A thinking tyrant, it seemed to Vetinari, had a much harder job than a ruler raised to power by some idiot system like democracy. At least HE could tell the people he was THEIR fault.' |
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03-01-2004, 09:32 PM
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#11 |
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Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Indiana
Posts: 527
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He was a well traveled man, with a long life that seemed to have qute a few "stages". A complex man, yet his many names probably helped him keep a low profile in the first half of his life.
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http://www.lizmargason.com |
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03-01-2004, 11:33 PM
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#12 | |
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Late Istar
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,224
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Osse wrote:
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Turin Neithan Agarwaen Adanedhel Thurin Mormegil Turambar Am I missing any? One more and he ties Aragorn. |
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03-02-2004, 03:08 AM
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#13 |
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Wight
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Troll's larder
Posts: 195
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What's in a name?
Men sure have got fancy names: I don't remember reading of any such names among Elves, Hobbits or Dwarves. Ents have got L-O-N-G names, but they had practically lived for such a long time that it is understandable. But Men! *mutters about egoists*
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03-02-2004, 06:26 AM
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Illusionary Holbytla
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,547
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03-02-2004, 01:39 PM
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#15 |
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A Northern Soul
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Valinor
Posts: 1,847
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Gandalf had two more than Aragorn, not counting his various epithets and translations:
Olórin Gandalf Mithrandir White Rider Grey Fool Stormcrow Greyhame Láthspell Tharkûn Incánus
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...take counsel with thyself, and remember who and what thou art. |
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03-02-2004, 03:43 PM
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#16 | |
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Wight
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Blowing the froth off a couple in this quaint little pub in Michel Delving.
Posts: 147
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If Aragorn is also known as:
Quote:
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For I was talking aloud to myself. A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to; the long explanations needed by the young are wearying. -Gandalf, The Two Towers |
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03-02-2004, 04:32 PM
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#17 | |
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Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Norway
Posts: 69
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Quote:
Most of these names show different sides of Aragorn's personality: Estel, the name given by a mother to a son she hoped would accomplish great feets; Strider, the rough ranger; Thorongil, the "I'm-not-ready-for-taking-the-throne-yet-so-I'll-just-sneak-in-and-have-a-look-around-while-waiting"; Elessar, the king...
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Auta i lomë! Aurë entuluva! "Take no heed! We speak as is right, and as King Finwë himself did before he was led astray. We are his heirs by right and the elder house. Let them sá-sí, if they can speak no better." -Son of the Therindë Last edited by Falagar; 03-02-2004 at 04:38 PM. |
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03-02-2004, 06:31 PM
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#18 | |
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Illusionary Holbytla
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,547
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03-02-2004, 07:27 PM
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#19 | |
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Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Indiana
Posts: 527
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Quote:
 
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http://www.lizmargason.com |
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03-02-2004, 09:10 PM
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#20 |
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Beholder of the Mists
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Somewhere in the Northwest... for now
Posts: 1,419
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I think the only reason that he had so many names was because he was a well traveled man. And with all the different languages and cultures in Middle Earth, the names were just bound to stack up
It is funny to see all those names. I wonder if he would have ever gotten confiused. Like someone would come over and say "Hello Strider", and he would like be "That's not my name! *thinks* No, wait, *thinks of the list*, yes it is, sorry" So many names, so little time  The only thing I am wondering about now is that did people in the Middle Ages, or the long gone past have a giant collection of names like Aragorn and Gandalf or was it just a Middle Earth thing?
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Wanted - Wonderfully witty quote that consists of pure brilliance |
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03-04-2004, 09:42 AM
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#21 |
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Wight
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Troll's larder
Posts: 195
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As I said, its just Men. And M-E-N, to boot. You will never hear of a Woman with so many fancy names.
And Gandalf is an Istari. So he is not really a man. For all that we know, he could have even more names back in Aman. |
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03-05-2004, 10:39 AM
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#22 |
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Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Looking into a crystal ball- still see nothing
Posts: 395
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I am rather suprised he doesn't have a name from the Elves other than that of Galadriel: Elessar. Although they could have called him many nasty names behind his back. You never know about those elves.
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Legolas 20 ales later: I feel something, a slight tingling in my fingers. I think it's affecting me. Figwit on his name: Are you suggesting that I have the wit of a fig? |
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03-05-2004, 11:28 AM
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#23 |
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Deathless Sun
Join Date: May 2003
Location: The Royal Suite in the Halls of Mandos
Posts: 2,609
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Oh yes... I'm sure that Elladan and Elrohir had their own little pet names for their ickle Estel.
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But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark. |
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03-05-2004, 01:51 PM
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Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: On the field, kissing the 'Downs crest
Posts: 1,654
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And tonight we can truly say, together we're invincible... Middle-Earth Football World Cup 2007 |
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03-05-2004, 08:23 PM
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#25 |
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Sage & Onions
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Britain
Posts: 894
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And of course, don't forget that if Aragorn had revealed his exact ancestry he'd have been pursued with redoubled vigour by the servants of Sauron. It was meant to be a secret that the heir of the King had survived after all. (And no doubt an unwelcome surprise to big S during the whoe Palantir incident)
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Rumil of Coedhirion |
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03-06-2004, 12:00 PM
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#26 | |
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Wight
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Valinor
Posts: 215
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Hot, crispy nice hobbit wrote:
Quote:
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But it is said that not until that hour had such cold thoughts ruled Finrod; for indeed she whom he had loved was Amarië of the Vanyar, and she went not with him into exile. |
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03-07-2004, 09:35 AM
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#27 |
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Laconic Loreman
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 7,519
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A few missing names
Just a couple names you guys missed
Gandalf: Greybeard and herald (2 names the Mouth of Sauron called him) Aragorn: Stick-at-naught (bill ferny called Aragorn) |
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03-07-2004, 09:48 AM
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#28 | |
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Wight
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Troll's larder
Posts: 195
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Quote:
Well, I have to admit that is an exceptional, not undeserving one though. But elves are different, for all we know, back in Aman they might be called a dozen other names!
Last edited by Hot, crispy nice hobbit; 03-07-2004 at 09:59 AM. |
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03-07-2004, 04:23 PM
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#29 |
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Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Ad finem itineris
Posts: 384
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I don't think Aragorn liked his Ranger names though, remember what he said at the Council of Elrond about Butterbur? And I'm always annoyed at Éomer for giving him yet another name. Like he really needed another one!
All his names are different sides of his personality, different aspects of who is. With all his names, he has ties with the Elves (Ellesar and Estel), ties with Arnor (Aragorn), ties with Bree (Strider), ties with Gondor (Thorongil), and ties with Rohan (Wingfoot). He's got connections like a good king should. *gasp* We've all forgotten one: The Dunedan! (Note the capital "T") Add that to the list and he's beating Túrin for sure.
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Enyale cuilenya, ú-enyale mandenya. |
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03-08-2004, 03:07 PM
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#30 |
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Wight
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Blowing the froth off a couple in this quaint little pub in Michel Delving.
Posts: 147
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"Hello, there, Mr. Ranger, sir!" - Yogi Bear
Elianna, it was not forgotten, it was in symestreem's original post, assuming the title "Dunadan" meant "THE Dunedan" as Bilbo so impressively referred to him!
And we thought he was just a Ranger! 
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For I was talking aloud to myself. A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to; the long explanations needed by the young are wearying. -Gandalf, The Two Towers |
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03-08-2004, 05:51 PM
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#31 |
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Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Ad finem itineris
Posts: 384
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oops…thanks for the correction.
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Enyale cuilenya, ú-enyale mandenya. |
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03-12-2004, 05:40 PM
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#32 | |
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Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Looking into a crystal ball- still see nothing
Posts: 395
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Quote:
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Legolas 20 ales later: I feel something, a slight tingling in my fingers. I think it's affecting me. Figwit on his name: Are you suggesting that I have the wit of a fig? |
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03-13-2004, 04:33 PM
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#33 |
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Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Norway
Posts: 69
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Though very similar, Arwen actually means 'noble maiden'.
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Auta i lomë! Aurë entuluva! "Take no heed! We speak as is right, and as King Finwë himself did before he was led astray. We are his heirs by right and the elder house. Let them sá-sí, if they can speak no better." -Son of the Therindë |
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03-21-2004, 03:40 PM
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#34 |
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Wight
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: The Mines of Moria
Posts: 239
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Um what does Arwen have to do with Aragorns names?
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"A wedding! I love weddings! Drinks all around!" Jack Sparrow |
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03-21-2004, 09:31 PM
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#35 |
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Hauntress of the Havens
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: IN it, but not OF it
Posts: 2,538
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You have a point there. Maybe because Arwen is Aragorn's...forget it.
To go back, Faramir has to recite some of these names when he asked the people of Gondor if they would receive him as king. Poor Faramir... Last edited by Lhunardawen; 03-21-2004 at 09:34 PM. |
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03-22-2004, 05:15 PM
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#36 | |
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Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Sharkey's End
Posts: 267
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In terms of the name Wingfoot, it wasn't a name he was ever called by, but the statement by Eomer "I name you Wingfoot" was in fact more of a compliment at their journey on foot, not actually something he was ever called. Also I'm sure that Aragorn probably had many other names that he received on his journeys to far Harad and to the east but they are unknown to us.
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His sword was long his lance was keen His shining helm afar was seen The countless stars of heavens field Were mirrored in his silver shield |
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03-22-2004, 09:22 PM
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#37 |
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Deathless Sun
Join Date: May 2003
Location: The Royal Suite in the Halls of Mandos
Posts: 2,609
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Just a thought... Olorin could have been called by his name in Valarin (Olorin is Quenya). That would probably add another one to his list of names.
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But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark. |
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