With which Middle Earth Race do you most identify?

[Volo]

This was a hard decision between Human and Elf. I am Human, no denying, but the longing of the Elves feels closer than that of Men. I usually feel that I'm living in the past and envy what Eru gave Men. Then again, I don't feel constant like an Elf and I might just be trying to think of myself as an Elf, different from the other Men.

I already answered the poll, but now I'm not sure which of the two is closer. I am either, depending on some random factor.

There's a bit of Hobbit too. I can't remember when was the last time I didn't want to eat more, although I can pretty much not eat anything for several days and still feel fine. And other than that I dislike travelling with a passion. But I sure don't feel down-to-earth.

Dwarves are wierd.

Ents are a bit too passive.

[Sir Kohran]

I would say the Dwarves. Like them I've always felt a bit hard-done by, and I have always been somewhat reclusive (not antisocial, but maybe not as outgoing as I should be). I'm generally aloof/stoical and quite cynical - but I also enjoy a good laugh now and again.

[Azaelia of Willowbottom]

I just realized I cast my vote days ago, and then had to dash off to rehearsal or class or something, and never actually got around to explaining myself.

I see myself very definitely as a Hobbit--a Fallohide Hobbit, to be exact. From the first description, I fell in love with Hobbiton and the Shire, far more so than with anywhere else in Middle-earth. I share Hobbits' childlike qualities, their purity and innocence. The simple joys are the most important ones to me, things like friends and family, home, laughter, peace and quiet, good food... Like them, when put to the test, I prove to be far tougher than I look. I even have the fascination with geneologies, and it frustrates me to no end that my mother's more nomadic side of the family seems not to have bothered to keep clear records of where they came from--my dad's side is nice and organized. I wouldn't turn down adventure if it came knocking at my door, though.

I don't look particularly like a hobbit, since I may be short (I'm barely 5 feet, on a tall day), but I'm slight, light-boned, and my hair is, unfortunately, stubbornly straight.

The only other race I could think of that I might fit into is the Rohirrim. Aside from my small-ish stature, I wouldn't look particularly out of place there, and I do love the horses...but they look at life all wrong--too much obsession with death and too much value placed on glory of battle. Nah. I'm all Hobbit, through and through.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

As far as I'm concerned, this question calls for a complicated answer. When I chose my nick, I consciously chose a human name - though a Telcontar would have partially Elvish blood, of course. On the other hand, both names are in their Elvish forms; otherwise I would be called "Hope Strider".

I have never been a great fan of the Elves, have never had the desire to learn their languages, and the Silmarillion is not my favourite Tolkien book. However, I am an artisan and feel an affinity for their emphasis on arts and crafts. And with increasing age, I feel closer to some aspects of Galadriel and would love to have someone describe me with Sam's words:

Sometimes like a great tree in flower, sometimes like a white daffadowndilly, small and slender like. Hard as di'monds, soft as moonlight. Warm as sunlight, cold as frost in the stars. Proud and far-off as a snow-mountain, and as merry as any lass I ever saw with daisies in her hair in springtime.

Alas, I am nothing like her in appearance and do not look Elvish at all.

In appearance I would be closest to a Hobbit. I am more short and well-rounded than tall and slender, and I do love the creature comforts of daily life. I'm not fond of spending time in water unless it's well-heated in a bathtub. However, I dearly love to travel, so that would not go with a typical Hobbit.

I do like Gimli and his love of beauty, but I need sunlight too much to see myself as a Dwarf. Riches as such do not matter to me, so that's not my race either.

That brings me back to (Wo-)Man. I know that Tolkien intended his races to show various aspects of humanity, and as a mixture, I guess that's where I belong. Not high and lofty, not only down-to-earth, not concentrated too much on the past nor the present, but looking toward the future as well. Less Rohirrim, to be sure, as I am not terribly fond of horses and a warrior life-style; not Numenorian either, so Gondor would be the place to find me.

There - I've talked myself into the proper placement of my vote!

[Lalaith]

Just re-reading this thread.

. And Haleth, she and her folk show that Humans can survive without the Elves' assistance and that there's great strength and courage in their people.

You know, the people of Haleth have often reminded me of the Finns during the Winter War.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Lalaith

You know, the people of Haleth have often reminded me of the Finns during the Winter War.

I think that is no coincidence that exists only in your mind Lalaith. Like the story of Thermophylaie it is a story of a few standing against the many in extreme circumstances and winning the day just by not losing their ground against overwhelming odds. With his love of Finnish language it's easy to imagine the prof. reading with anxiety the news from the "eastern front" during the war...

Maybe he got a few inspirations from that?

But what comes to the question asked here I think I must at least partly agree with Lommy. I'm too human to identify myself with other races. So I'm a human. But with elves there is the idea of longevity and study, the arts and crafts perfected with a tradition.

It's a hard choice to make.

In the end I will take my chances with humans as we are also prone to a short life-span which makes our lives more significant than lives that could theoretically last forever.

Limits bring meaning forwards.

[Gwathagor]

Tough choice. I suppose I am a lower Elf, probably Sindarin, though I'm not sure why.