December 24, 2002

Re: 'Not Quite Careful Enough'
Endor Ëa

I don't have any text in front of me, so don't take anything I say too seriously. But, thinking in pure physical terms, might it not be possible that the Cave Troll would be in danger of transformation into stone by merely being within the burial chamber? Considering the diffusive and particulate nature of light, would not the fact that the chamber is illuminated by an external portal provide sufficient sunlight to cause the transformation; need the troll pass directly THROUGH the shaft of light in order for this to come about? If so, who is at fault for this discrepancy? Tolkien? PJ? Nature? Just a thought, maybe the troll had built up just enough "immunity" by forrays into this very chamber that the small amounts of (surely very indirect and filtered by debris, etc.) sunlight which made its way into the chamber were of no consequence to him. Unlike the case of Bilbo's trolls, who were most likely exposed to the full brunt of the rising sun. Anyway, just thought I'd add my .2. Sorry for the length.

Lá ilyë i ranyar vanwëar--