Tolkien and Tiny But Mature Children

[mark12_30]

TOLKIEN AND KIDS THAT ACT LIKE GROWNUPS

Hobbits are often compared to children; beardless, fond of simple things, uncomplicated. In Frodo and Bilbo (following this logic) we would find exceptionally bright, innocent, yet extremely sophisticated little children. And I do mean little: two to four feet tall is YOUNG by mannish standards.

In addition (see quote below) elf-children are immediately sophisticated, speaking and dancing at an extremely early age, and yet physically growing very slowly. Again: little, but adept, articulate and sophisticated.

What was Tolkien getting at?

--mark12_30

From HoME, J. R. R. Tolkien:
From OF THE LAWS AND CUSTOMS AMONG THE ELDAR PERTAINING TO MARRIAGE AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO... Aelfwine's Preamble.


The Eldar grew in bodily form slower than Men, but in mind more swiftly. They learned to speak before they were one year old; and in the same time they learned to walk and to dance, for their wills came soon to the mastery of their bodies....
...For at the end of the third year mortal children began to outstrip the Elves, hastening on to a full stature while the Elves lingered in the first spring of childhood. Children of Men might reach their full height while Eldar of the same age were still in body like to mortals of no more than seven years. Not until the fiftieth year did the Eldar attain the stature and shape in which their lives would after- wards endure, and for some a hundred years would pass before they were full-grown.

...Yes, I searched; Not answered here:Elven Children
Not answered here: elf-Children
Nor here:children in Middle-Earth