Puns by Tolkien

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

One of my favorite puns was elicited by Treebeard, when he said, "There are Ents and Ents, you know; or there are Ents and things that look like Ents but ain't, as you might say."

Interestingly enough, according to the OED, 'en't' and 'ent' are but two of many regional and nonstandard variations of 'ain't' (and from Oxfordshire yet!).

As WCH has noted, the river Isen should be pronounced Izzen. So it isn' the Isen and they ain't ents; good grief, Professor.

hS