The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum


Visit The *EVEN NEWER* Barrow-Downs Photo Page

Go Back   The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum > Middle-Earth Discussions > Novices and Newcomers
User Name
Password
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts


 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
Old 04-17-2005, 12:29 PM   #1
Tuor of Gondolin
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Pennsylvania, WtR, passed Sarn Gebir: Above the rapids (1239 miles) BtR, passed Black Rider Stopping Place (31 miles)
Posts: 1,548
Tuor of Gondolin has just left Hobbiton.
Sting Gothic/Frankish sources for Middle-earth words?

Upon first reading LOTR I was struck by Peregrin Took's
nickname, and wondered if it was a conscious or subconscious
allusion to some of Charlemagne's ancestors. Then in
Carpenter's Bio he notes Tolkien's interest in Gothic being
whetted upon buying Joe Wright's "Primer of the Gothic
Language." In historical context, Pippin I and Pippin II
were mayors of the Palace in Austrasia and Charles Martel
"The Hammer", who turned back the Moors was Pippin II's
son. And Charles Martel's son, Pippin III, was also known
as Pippin the Short. Pippin III was Charlemagne's father.

Given Tolkien's use of Norse mythology for dwarf names and
Gandalf, is there a similar pattern in place and person names
in, say, Rohan?

However, in the same magazine article in which questions about the
name Pippin were reawakened (Military Heritage,
June, 2005, p. 68
) there is a comment which would seem to
indicate that Frankish cavalry was not especially talented, and so
might not be the source for Tolkien for the Rohirrim:
Quote:
Charlemagne also learned from his enemies. Although he managed to defeat the less disciplined Lombard and Avars fairly easily, he recognized their innate superiority as horsemen and soon put them to use in his own way.
(Somewhat reminiscent of the way Denethor hoped to use the Rohirrim
against Sauron just before the Battle of the Pelennor Fields).

Oh, and is Meriadoc of Frankish origin? (As may be obvious, I'm
no linguist or philologist. But, as Cliff Claven once observed in an episode
of Cheers: "Hey, inquiring minds want to know."
__________________
Aure Entuluva!

Last edited by Tuor of Gondolin; 04-17-2005 at 12:34 PM.
Tuor of Gondolin is offline   Reply With Quote
 


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:45 PM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.