Fellowship or Company?
 

In the book Fellowship of the Ring, the fellowship is almost always referred to as the Company of the Ring, why? Also which one do you like better, Fellowship of the Ring, or Company of the Ring? I personally like Fellowship of the Ring better.

Hey Nazgul, interesting question. My theory is that they were called the Fellowship of the Ring is because they were representing the races of Middle Earth.

Probably because "Fellowship of the Ring" was a title Tolkien came up with in haste long after the book was written, because his publishers wanted to split his unitary novel into three volumes.

If one was to be gender-persnickety, one could of course point out the "fellow" in "Fellowship", meaning that Tolkien emphasized the fact that his company of questers was exclusively male! ;) :D (That was rectified in the "Entish Bow" RPGs, where the group of adventurers was referred to as the "Fellow/Galship" - among many other names... :Merisu: )

Certainly never The Gallowsship! :D

Company sounds too corporate for my tastes. Fellowship sounds nice and friendly.

"Group of companions" isn't friendly?

Fellowship reminds me too much of earnest voluntary organisations (spent too much of my youth expected to help at Rotary functions and avoiding joining hte youth wing). Or alternatively of an academic office which seems to cerebral for a quest. Company with its military and busines connotations is far more dynamic -ctive not passive. And I think I would rather have good company rather than good fellowship.

But it doesn't make as good a title. So I guess JRRT got it right using Fellowship on the cover and Company in the text.

If Tolkien had used the League of Extraordinary Journeymen we might have been spared some latterday adventurers of similar nomenclature. But alas no . . .

Company, on the other hand, has military connotations as well as business uses, so that could be one reason why Tolkien referred to da guys so often as Company of the Ring. Bravo Company doesn't suit Frodo although possibly Boromir would have fancied it.

"Fellowship of the Ring" has a better flow to it than "Company of the Ring," but "Company" sounds more friendly actually.

When I have family and/or friends at my house I usually say "I'm having company over." That's just me though. :D

Fellowship of the Ring is SO better.

I actually recant my last statement - I like Company just as much as Fellowship if not more now, hearing it over and over again while re-reading the book.

When I read your first post what came into my head was "I am Celebrimbor, CEO of the Company of the Ring. We manufacture Rings of all kinds for all races. How many would you like to order?"

So no thanks. I'd prefer 'Fellowship'.

I prefer fellowship myself. Fellowship is stronger than company, for I may be in company with an individual, meaning close physical proximity, and yet not be in fellowship with him or her, as was the case when Frodo and Sam were in the company or Orc soldiers. Fellowship is extended across all racial and cultural divides, which is exactly what happens throughout the Quest, and also goes towards showing the wisdom Elrond had in selecting the Fellowship as he did, with a little help from Gandalf.

Merry