Why Entwives? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Nimrodel_9 · 06-27-2005, 12:27 PM

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Rather funny, though, as they are claimed to be so domineering over their gardens, that they should be so 'owned' themselves.

It's kinda like that today.

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Perhaps 'Entwife' was the Ents' name for them, but not their name for themselves?

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Hmm, maybe to the lady ents the Ent men were called Enthusbands?

Maybe that's it. Much like the hobbits. They call themselves hobbits, but most men call them halflings.

Frodo Baggins · 11-19-2005, 07:17 PM

Gurthang, you mentioned that Ent-woman could have been translated as Entwife to Elvish. Is the Elvish word for woman the same as the word for wife? I think wive in Sindarin is Hervess but I do not remember.

Gurthang · 11-19-2005, 07:34 PM

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Originally Posted by Frodo Baggins

Gurthang, you mentioned that Ent-woman could have been translated as Entwife to Elvish. Is the Elvish word for woman the same as the word for wife? I think wive in Sindarin is Hervess but I do not remember.

Then you probably know better than me, because I have not studied into translation at all. I was simply giving a theory I had just thought of. I was really rather hoping that someone more knowledgable would come and either confirm my thought or set me straight.

malkatoj · 11-19-2005, 09:06 PM

To me, the term 'Entwife' gives me a sense of a responsibility that the Entwives had for the Ents and vice versa. It adds to the idea of abandonment; the image of a 'married couple' that comes from the word 'wife' makes it feel wrong for them to be gone. It brings me to a moral dilemma, about marraige and leaving. Perhaps Tolkien meant it to do this?

11-19-2005, 07:17 PM	#2
Frodo Baggins Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Bag-End, Under-Hill, Hobbiton-across-the Water Posts: 606	Gurthang, you mentioned that Ent-woman could have been translated as Entwife to Elvish. Is the Elvish word for woman the same as the word for wife? I think wive in Sindarin is Hervess but I do not remember. __________________ "I'm your huckleberry....that's just my game."

11-19-2005, 09:06 PM	#4
malkatoj Wight Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: A hovel in Florin Posts: 173	To me, the term 'Entwife' gives me a sense of a responsibility that the Entwives had for the Ents and vice versa. It adds to the idea of abandonment; the image of a 'married couple' that comes from the word 'wife' makes it feel wrong for them to be gone. It brings me to a moral dilemma, about marraige and leaving. Perhaps Tolkien meant it to do this? __________________ Now, mostly dead is slightly alive. Now, all dead...well, with all dead, there's usually only one thing that you can do--Go through his clothes and look for loose change.