[Folwren]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

I think some thinking 'outside of the box' is needed.

Would Aragorn ever have been recognised had it not been for one gossipy old soul who remembered the old lore? Would the fallen have been healed--Eowyn, Faramir, Merry? Would Arwen have then been able to marry her love?

Greatest Man? Ioreth. I can't believe you are all being soooo literal here. And so machismo.

Ha! Ha! That's funny....but I'd disagree. I think Eowyn was pretty cool myself, but not the 'greatest.'

This is an interesting topic, no doubt.

Originally Posted by CSteefel

Finally Aragorn... I don't understand the belittling of him above. As Tolkien said, he was the greatest and hardiest traveller of his age, in addition to key roles in saving the day at Helm's Deep, and even more so, at the Pelennor Fields. Only a truly heroic figure could have gone through the Paths of the Dead--while it was prophesied that the rightful heir of Isildur could do it, as Tolkien said, it was only the will of Aragorn that held them to the path. And at a crucial time, he rejected the lure of the Ring (like Galadriel, and unlike Isildur).

What you say is true. I really like Aragorn, personally, but we have to consider that he was in a full lengthed, deeply detailed book, whereas the others here mentioned only got chapters or pages in other books.

I would not choose Turin. He had problems, and I wouldn't even consider the 'little thing' with his sister (as people have labeled it here) as one of those problems. It's not like they knew they were related.

I'll be a Beren supporter. I always liked that story, and I liked his character. I don't believe he had any misplaced pride, like so many others...

Of course, another great character is Faramir...but not quite as great as Beren.

There you go, folks. Enjoy it.

-- Folwren