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***Mithadan*** · 10-19-2000, 10:18 AM

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wight
Posts: 236</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE>
Re: Who knows their trolls?

Funny thing is I don't really have a position on this issue. I didn't even read the thread beyond the first post or two initially. As a result, I can (and did) argue both sides. Thinking about it, the letter likely reflects a bit of JRRT's annoyance at what he perceives to be an imperfection in his work, i.e. Trolls are animated, soulless constructs but they can talk and some walk beneath the sun. So he puts on a "patch" -- some Trolls are not constructs. This fits with the Olog-Hai. How do you interbreed a man (or whatever) with a rock? I'm kind of thinking this through as I type. In balance, I lean, but not strongly, towards Ron's view based upon logic and the letter.

On the other hand, I never liked the "animated construct" idea as a component of JRRT's mythos. Animated by what? If only the will of Morgoth or Sauron, don't they merely stop working when their master isn't around or isn't thinking about them? Wait! Maybe that's why they turn to stone, Sauron's thought doesn't penetrate or is occluded by bright sun so they revert to their original material from which they can't be revived.

Enough. I'm getting drawn in and I don't want to be.

--Mithadan--
"The Silmarils with living light
were kindled clear, and waxing bright
shone like stars that in the North
above the reek of earth leap forth." </p>

10-19-2000, 10:18 AM	#38
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,391	<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wight Posts: 236</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE> Re: Who knows their trolls? Funny thing is I don't really have a position on this issue. I didn't even read the thread beyond the first post or two initially. As a result, I can (and did) argue both sides. Thinking about it, the letter likely reflects a bit of JRRT's annoyance at what he perceives to be an imperfection in his work, i.e. Trolls are animated, soulless constructs but they can talk and some walk beneath the sun. So he puts on a "patch" -- some Trolls are not constructs. This fits with the Olog-Hai. How do you interbreed a man (or whatever) with a rock? I'm kind of thinking this through as I type. In balance, I lean, but not strongly, towards Ron's view based upon logic and the letter. On the other hand, I never liked the "animated construct" idea as a component of JRRT's mythos. Animated by what? If only the will of Morgoth or Sauron, don't they merely stop working when their master isn't around or isn't thinking about them? Wait! Maybe that's why they turn to stone, Sauron's thought doesn't penetrate or is occluded by bright sun so they revert to their original material from which they can't be revived. Enough. I'm getting drawn in and I don't want to be. --Mithadan-- "The Silmarils with living light were kindled clear, and waxing bright shone like stars that in the North above the reek of earth leap forth." </p> __________________ Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land.