Thread: Gnome or Elf?
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Old 09-03-2008, 02:13 AM   #4
Legate of Amon Lanc
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Anárion Cúthalion View Post
Sort of solves the issue. I'm just used to Gnomes being a separate race from either Elves or Dwarves, but similar to Dwarves in that they skilled in the arts of metal and stone but otherwise distinct from Dwarves (other than stature).

It seems, more or less, that was Tolkien's original thought on the matter.
I am not too familiar with the original concepts (better ask somebody who is more familiar with the History of Middle-Earth books), however, I am pretty sure that Tolkien meant simply Elves and the sub-species, or how should it be called, Noldor, were originally labeled as "Gnomes". That's just a name, maybe inspired by the Greek word nomos. But he could have as easily named the Teleri "Klingons" and it doesn't mean that he would imagine them as a race of alien warriors. And forget all D&D stuff and things like that, it's all been started much later, and I doubt there's even a connection or inspiration of these Gnomes by Tolkien's original thoughts (which were not that well known widely anyway).
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