LotR -- Book 5 - Chapter 02 - The Passing of the Grey Company

[Aldarion Elf-Friend]

Originally Posted by Celuien

Something that stood out in the conversation with Aragorn was Éowyn's sudden use of thee instead of you. The only other instance where she uses that word was in a cermonial salute to Theoden after his recovery. I'm wondering if the sudden switch was intentional to show familiarity after she declares her love for Aragorn or if the appearance is more related to style changes in the chapter.

I don't have the books in front of my right now, but in one of the appendices, the one on the languages of Middle Earth, Tolkien explains that when the English translation switches to the more formal "thees" and "thous" it indicates that the characters have switched to an older, more formal version of their language.

Maybe someone with the books handy can elaborate.