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04-17-2005, 12:29 PM | #1 | |
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
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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:
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."
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Aure Entuluva! Last edited by Tuor of Gondolin; 04-17-2005 at 12:34 PM. |
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