[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

Perhaps it's just the fact that their shorter list means that more about the individuals on it can be showcased, or perhaps it's an indication of the more personal lifestyles they had, whereas the kings and stewards of the Dunedain tended to follow some set guidelines for the course of their lives.

I think it may again come back to the contrast between the active, moving culture of Rohan and the stagnant culture of Gondor, as seen in the story itself. Of course, this would only be natural in some respects. Rohan is still a relatively young culture and the people seem to have been struggling to implant their culture for many years while Gondor is a long established culture, even ancient if we take Numenor into account.

Perhaps it may also reflect the thirst for storytelling and song that the Rohirrim possess? If the records laid down about their monarchs are full of tales and vivid descriptions then its no surprise. A people who have to struggle to survive will have more to sing about in any case. I can imagine that life and society in Gondor had become quite staid despite the need for vigilance against Mordor.

Originally Posted by Formendacil

heirs going off and dying in front of a dreaded door.

The essay www.alexandriavirtual.com.br/acervo/t/vt42.doc]The Rivers and Beacon Hills of Gondor[/URL] by Tolkien is worth a look. It includes this intriguing idea about the unfortunate end of Baldor:

The Men of Darkness built temples, some of great size, usually surrounded by dark trees, often in caverns (natural or delved) in secret valleys of mountain-regions; such as the dreadful halls and passages under the Haunted Mountain beyond the Dark Door (Gate of the Dead) in Dunharrow. The special horror of the closed door before which the skeleton of Baldor was found was probably due to the fact that the door was the entrance to an evil temple hall to which Baldor had come, probably without opposition up to that point. But the door was shut in his face, and enemies that had followed him silently came up and broke his legs and left him to die in the darkness, unable to find any way out.

I've probably already quoted this, but since I first read the passage it has stayed in my mind as being particularly horrible. Tolkien evidently had some skills in and knowledge of writing in the horror or gothic style; some of this style thankfully does make it into LotR - e.g. Shelob, the Barrow-downs and the words of the Witch King to Eowyn.

EDIT - the link will not work But you can get to it from davem's post here should you not want to buy the relevant issue of Vinyar Tengwar.