Sense of humour

[Lindale]

I always thought it was with a touch of humor, when Eomer and Gimli were comparing Galadriel and Arwen. Something about an axe, a swordm decapitation, and the fairest lady in ME. Don't have my book with me though. I'll have this edited when I get home.

[Eönwë]

Well, we know Gandalf had humour. But was it because of his body, or was it his Maia part?

Did the Ainur have a sense of humour?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Lindale

I always thought it was with a touch of humor, when Eomer and Gimli were comparing Galadriel and Arwen. Something about an axe, a swordm decapitation, and the fairest lady in ME. Don't have my book with me though. I'll have this edited when I get home.

Indeed, though it was kind of a "high humour". It was the humour with straight face and actually, about serious things, while they both were aware of it. I think such could be the humour of the "noble men" and noble Dwarves, too, in lots of situations - if people like Elendil or Húrin joked, it would have been like that. You can see something similar in Aragorn's case - as Strider, he has that kind of "grim humour".

The Elves, actually, make the impression of making fun mostly of other races. Just check all the Elf-jokes and see (tra-la-ley Elves in Rivendell making fun of Bilbo and Dwarves, Legolas on Caradhras making fun of "strong men", Gildor and his company making fun of the Hobbits. The only different case I can think of is the Wood-Elves in hobbit making fun of sleeping Galion, but then, he was drunk and they were too, and they were all Wood-Elves, so not of the "high" sort). May be so because the other Elves won't be as amused or their reaction won't be so amusing (after long time of practice). Anyway, I don't belive the Elves meant any harm by it, but sometimes, especially from the Dwarves' point of view, it might have been pretty annoying and it might have contributed to the image of Elves as kind of nose-up and maybe in some things not understandable folk in the view of the other races.

[Rumil]

I think there are a few reasons we don't get so much comedy out of the Rohirrim or Gondorians.

First they were in the middle of a war and thus likely less inclined to japes. Also we meet mostly princes, lords and the like, usually in the company of the Great and the Good and in public, where they are trying to be serious and responsible and, as Legate says, using 'higher' or grimmer humour where it occurs.

Beregond, Bergil and Ioreth are the few ordinary folk we meet in Gondor. B&B are naturally a bit subdued with the impending attack and meeting a strange hobbit but Beregond gently ribs Pippin about 'Lesser men do the greater deeds' and Bergil was soon 'laughing and talking gaily' with Pip. I definitely believe Ioreth must have enjoyed a good belly-laugh as much as the next lass!

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Lindale

I always thought it was with a touch of humor, when Eomer and Gimli were comparing Galadriel and Arwen. Something about an axe, a swordm decapitation, and the fairest lady in ME. Don't have my book with me though. I'll have this edited when I get home.

Here is the passage:

"And I will come, too," said Gimli. "The matter of the Lady Galadriel lies still between us. I have yet to teach you gentle speech."

"We shall see," said Éomer. "So many strange things have chanced that to learn the praise of a fair lady under the loving strokes of a Dwarf's axe will seem no great wonder."