Gnomes - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Frodo Baggins · 12-02-2005, 10:13 AM

I read The Book of Lost Tales recently and for one thing, I find Tolkein's earliest writings quite juvenile, especially compared to LoTR and the Sil. It struck me that he kept switching between calling Elves "Elves" and referring to them as "Gnomes" and something else more akin to short curly toe shoed things as Elves. It was like In one chatper you would get the idea "Ah ok the Vanyar Noldo, Solosimpi (So glad that was changed to Teleri, Solosimpi is so sissy sounding)ect. are Elves." In the next chapter you'd be saying "Ok these things are all Gnomes, not Elves". Back and forth "Elves are Gnomes" "Elves are not Gnomes" and so on.

Frankly I am sore pleased Tolkien stopped calling them Gnomes, because in Lost Tales I could not get the idea of stunted, bearded things that live underground and are lawn ornaments out of my head. Actually they are niether, to us they are Elves but to themselves they are Quendi and whatever "tribe" of such they are part of.

Although, if any Elf could be remotely called a gnome in the mainstream sense it would be Eöl.

Legolas · 12-10-2005, 11:57 PM

I think it was to avoid an unnecessary complexity - having to explain that his Gnomes are not traditional gnomes, his Gnomes are Elves, and finally that his Elves are not traditional elves.

12-02-2005, 10:13 AM	#1
Frodo Baggins Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Bag-End, Under-Hill, Hobbiton-across-the Water Posts: 606	I read The Book of Lost Tales recently and for one thing, I find Tolkein's earliest writings quite juvenile, especially compared to LoTR and the Sil. It struck me that he kept switching between calling Elves "Elves" and referring to them as "Gnomes" and something else more akin to short curly toe shoed things as Elves. It was like In one chatper you would get the idea "Ah ok the Vanyar Noldo, Solosimpi (So glad that was changed to Teleri, Solosimpi is so sissy sounding)ect. are Elves." In the next chapter you'd be saying "Ok these things are all Gnomes, not Elves". Back and forth "Elves are Gnomes" "Elves are not Gnomes" and so on. Frankly I am sore pleased Tolkien stopped calling them Gnomes, because in Lost Tales I could not get the idea of stunted, bearded things that live underground and are lawn ornaments out of my head. Actually they are niether, to us they are Elves but to themselves they are Quendi and whatever "tribe" of such they are part of. Although, if any Elf could be remotely called a gnome in the mainstream sense it would be Eöl. __________________ "I'm your huckleberry....that's just my game."

12-10-2005, 11:57 PM	#2
Legolas A Northern Soul Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Valinor Posts: 1,847	I think it was to avoid an unnecessary complexity - having to explain that his Gnomes are not traditional gnomes, his Gnomes are Elves, and finally that his Elves are not traditional elves. __________________ ...take counsel with thyself, and remember who and what thou art.

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