Galadriel's Hair. - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Milady Revenwyn · 09-10-2007, 09:19 AM

Thank you! Erm, what book is that in? I moved and I don't have all my books with me, unfortunately, or else I would have looked it up myself.

Legate of Amon Lanc · 09-10-2007, 09:21 AM

It's in the Unfinished Tales.

Milady Revenwyn · 09-10-2007, 09:30 AM

Aha, and that's one of the books that I had to unfortunately leave behind when I moved out of the house.

Thanks!

I don't blame Galadriel for not giving her hair to Feanor... he was a jerk.

Meriadoc1961 · 09-11-2007, 08:21 AM

I did not know that! Interesting! It makes her giving three strands to Gimli, a Dwarf, even more remarkable!

Merry

Folwren · 09-11-2007, 09:07 AM

Yes, it does. I read that part yesterday and this thread and the incident with Feanor came immediately to mind.

Quote:

'There is nothing, Lady Galadriel,' said Gimli, bowing low and stammering. 'Nothing, unless it might be - unless it is permitted to ask, nay, to name a single strand of your hair. . . '

The Elves stirred and murmured with astonishment, and Celeborn gazed at the Dwarf in wonder, but the Lady smiled.

Little wonder the elves had such a reaction if Feanor had asked for this and had been refused.

Lhunardawen · 09-11-2007, 09:46 AM

Since we're on the topic of Galadriel's hair, this random thought probably wouldn't be out of place:

Reading this thread, I was reminded of a post I made more than a couple of years ago in one of the 'Galadriel chapters' in the FotR CbC, in which I pointed out that, in parallel of Telperion and Laurelin, Celeborn had silver hair while Galadriel's hair was golden. Could there be any basis in this seeming assignment of silver as masculine and gold feminine?

And yes, I know that Celebrian is female, but you can't deny that these two pairs are special.

Rikae · 09-11-2007, 11:29 AM

Interesting - I guess it must be linked with the gender of the sun and moon - like in Germanic languages (except English, of course, where the genders are usually switched - French or Roman influence, perhaps? Er, I guess one of our linguists can answer that) ... actually, I've always wondered why northern Europeans assigned the genders of the sun and moon the opposite of those in the south, and whether this tells us anything about gender roles in these cultures, but I guess that's completely off topic, so I'll be quiet now.

OK, more on topic - why did Tolkien assign the gender of the sun and moon the way he did? Forgive me if that's a dumb question...

09-10-2007, 09:21 AM	#2
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	It's in the Unfinished Tales. __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories

09-11-2007, 08:21 AM	#4
Meriadoc1961 Wight Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 101	I did not know that! Interesting! It makes her giving three strands to Gimli, a Dwarf, even more remarkable! Merry __________________ "If I yawn again, I shall split at the ears!"

09-11-2007, 09:46 AM	#6
Lhunardawen Hauntress of the Havens Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: IN it, but not OF it Posts: 2,538	Since we're on the topic of Galadriel's hair, this random thought probably wouldn't be out of place: Reading this thread, I was reminded of a post I made more than a couple of years ago in one of the 'Galadriel chapters' in the FotR CbC, in which I pointed out that, in parallel of Telperion and Laurelin, Celeborn had silver hair while Galadriel's hair was golden. Could there be any basis in this seeming assignment of silver as masculine and gold feminine? And yes, I know that Celebrian is female, but you can't deny that these two pairs are special. Last edited by Lhunardawen; 09-11-2007 at 09:51 AM.

09-10-2007, 09:19 AM	#1
Milady Revenwyn Animated Skeleton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 29	Thank you! Erm, what book is that in? I moved and I don't have all my books with me, unfortunately, or else I would have looked it up myself.

09-10-2007, 09:30 AM	#3
Milady Revenwyn Animated Skeleton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 29	Aha, and that's one of the books that I had to unfortunately leave behind when I moved out of the house. Thanks! I don't blame Galadriel for not giving her hair to Feanor... he was a jerk.

09-11-2007, 11:29 AM	#7
Rikae Mellifluous Maia Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A glade open to the stars, deep in Nan Elmoth Posts: 3,489	Interesting - I guess it must be linked with the gender of the sun and moon - like in Germanic languages (except English, of course, where the genders are usually switched - French or Roman influence, perhaps? Er, I guess one of our linguists can answer that) ... actually, I've always wondered why northern Europeans assigned the genders of the sun and moon the opposite of those in the south, and whether this tells us anything about gender roles in these cultures, but I guess that's completely off topic, so I'll be quiet now. OK, more on topic - why did Tolkien assign the gender of the sun and moon the way he did? Forgive me if that's a dumb question...