Question about politeness in Aman

[Curufinende]

Hi everyone!

I will be very much grateful, if somebody would like to help me.
It seems to me, to be not very polite: "Then Manwe spoke and said: 'Hearest thou, Feanor son of Finwe, the words of Yavanna? Wilt thou grant what she would ask?" Or else it was a command from highest to lowest?

I am Russian, and my English is not so good, sorry.

[Morwen]

Manwe's question doesn't seem impolite to me nor do I think that Manwe is seeking to command Feanor. Manwe simply wants an answer.
Now Tulkas on the other hand does seem prepared to exert pressure on Feanor.

Speak O Noldo, yea or nay! But who shall deny Yavanna? And did not the light of the Silmarils come from her work in the beginning?

Silmarillion, Of the Flight of the Noldor

[Formendacil]

It might help is you could clarify more precisely what aspect of Manwë's questioning strikes you as possibly impolite. To my (English-first language) way of thinking, there's nothing odd in the questioning, but perhaps you aren't picking up on the actual wording of the question so much as something like whether or not Manwë should be asking in Yavanna's stead in the first place.

[Curufinende]

Morwen

Now Tulkas on the other hand does seem prepared to exert pressure on Feanor.

I think so too.



Formendacil

It might help is you could clarify more precisely what aspect of Manwë's questioning strikes you as possibly impolite. To my (English-first language) way of thinking, there's nothing odd in the questioning, but perhaps you aren't picking up on the actual wording of the question so much as something like whether or not Manwë should be asking in Yavanna's stead in the first place.

I think Valar had no rights for Silmarils, because Feanor said: "I shall be slain" and nobody of Valar contradicted him. Feanor did not promise to sacrifice his life. Some Russians think Feanor must give Silmarils for Valar and Manwë's phrase was the polite . When I learned English I had heard that phrase with "will(wilt) you" is not so polites as the phrase with "would you" and is a demand not an appeal. I am sorry I have used a wrong word in my first message.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

I'd say ''will you'' and ''would you'' are equivalent, neither more demanding than the other. But I just queried my significant other, English being her second language, and the first thing she said was that ''would you'' is more polite.

Tolkien would have been aware of the proper distinction, although I'm afraid I must here pass the torch to someone who knows these words better. Wouldst thou, wilt thou...

Perhaps Fordim will show up to help.

[Lalaith]

What is also interesting is the use of "thou" rather than "you".
I think it is more intimate, showing a close relationship between Manwe and Feanor.
And yes, would is definitely more polite, in that it implies I think more cajoling from the asker.