[Hammerhand]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

Well, the trouble is, that Fëanor would have died without doing any harm. I can see it vividly. I doubt he would hurt Morgoth as much as Fingolfin did. There's sort of, you know - aha! - curse seen on him; he would probably end dead and what more, no eagle would probably save his body - Morgoth will feed his hounds with it. If the question is about being capable to destroy his opponent, then Fëanor - no, not, really not. He just is not the "victor" type.

Note please, that even Fingolfin ended dead - but nevertheless his deed is seen more as victorious than as defeat. Even you, Hammerhand, said that Fëanor is not seen as warrior "because of the fact he died"... but of those nominated, all did! At least Fingolfin, Túrin... but subconsciously, you see them dying a glorious death, technically a victory (in Túrin's case it is a victory, after all, without question) - but Fëanor's death was not victorious in any way. That's probably what we face here: we think of his failure - he did not reach his goal, even though he said that not even a Vala would stop him... hmm... also one thing influencing our minds without us noticing it in the first place.

Thats what i mean, he accomplished nothing when he died, whereas Fingolfin injured arguably the most powerful God, which ties in with your answer about the glory he attained by doing so. I think a Feanor Vs Morgoth would have been interesting solely due to the amount of hate that Feanor had for him, would it equal Fingolfins rage?

Then Fingolfin beheld (as it seemed to him) the utter ruin of the Noldor, and the defeat beyond redress of all their houses; and filled with wrath and despair he mounted Rochallor his great horse and rode forth alone, and none might restrain him. He passed over Dor-nu-Fauglith like a wind amid the dust, and all that beheld his onset fled in amaze, thinking Oromë himself was come; for a great madness of rage was upon him, so that his eyes shone like the eyes of the Valar. Thus he came alone to Angband's gates, and he sounded his horn, and smote once upon the brazen doors, and challenged Morgoth to come forth to single combat. And Morgoth came.

Would the "Rape of the Silmarils" equal Fingolfins realisation of his crushed empire? I don't know, maybe. I still think Fingolfin inflicted as much on Morgoth as any High Elf could, and none could or did equal it.