Father Christmas Letters: 1937 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Guinevere · 01-03-2012, 01:56 PM

Ha! So I was right in my deciphering/ guessing.

I couldn't identify all Tengwar letters though. The writing looks similar to the inscription on the One Ring, which, according to Gandalf, is "Elvish of an ancient mode". But in Ilbereth's writing there are no Tehtar.

Legolas · 01-04-2012, 12:13 PM

You're right, no tehtar. I'm no scholar on the timeline of Tengwar's development, but it appears at this point the vowels had standalone letters of their own instead (or at least in English mode?).

Tolkien would've had The Hobbit published this year, and just received his publisher's encouragement for writing a sequel around the time of writing this annual letter.

01-03-2012, 01:56 PM	#1
Guinevere Banshee of Camelot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Switzerland Posts: 5,830	Ha! So I was right in my deciphering/ guessing. I couldn't identify all Tengwar letters though. The writing looks similar to the inscription on the One Ring, which, according to Gandalf, is "Elvish of an ancient mode". But in Ilbereth's writing there are no Tehtar. __________________ Yes! "wish-fulfilment dreams" we spin to cheat our timid hearts, and ugly Fact defeat!

01-04-2012, 12:13 PM	#2
Legolas A Northern Soul Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Valinor Posts: 1,847	You're right, no tehtar. I'm no scholar on the timeline of Tengwar's development, but it appears at this point the vowels had standalone letters of their own instead (or at least in English mode?). Tolkien would've had The Hobbit published this year, and just received his publisher's encouragement for writing a sequel around the time of writing this annual letter. __________________ ...take counsel with thyself, and remember who and what thou art.