Quote:
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Would a mere skeleton be described as a 'tall dark figure like a shadow'? Wouldn't you think Frodo would have described bare bones, if that's what he'd seen?~Inziladun
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Playing too much WW?
That logic may be reasonable to use there, but not sure I like it being used with the books. No one is really in a position to argue what Frodo 'should' have said (or Tolkien 'should' have written) if he saw a bunch of bones, or whatever it is he saw.
'dark figure' is a generic descriptor that was used for lots of things in LOTR.
"the shadow" and "dark figure" were interchanged for the Balrog.
Sauron was a "dark figure" taking the shape of a man...'"yet greater." (Letter 246)
The beasts that attacked the company were first described as "dark wolf-shapes."
And I'm sure the Ringwraiths were referred to as "dark figures" more than once.
A few paragraphs before the dark was described as "near and thick," Frodo is terrifed, fell on the ground, and seconds away from conking out. We have no clue about the details of the Barrow-wight, because Frodo has no clue. It's tall, dark, a figure, and cold. It could be a spirit inhabitting some guys bones, or it could have been a nargle for all Frodo knew.
You expect Frodo (and Tolkien) to give us a clear description of every evil creature, spirit, or thing out there that Frodo and our heroes encounter? Ha.
