June 26, 2003

What's in a Name?
Lilly

Many of the names in the LOTR (especially those of elves) can be translated to mean actual phrases.

No duh. You all knew that.

I don't know Elvish. I never will: I have enough trouble just trying to speak good English and getting a passing grade in Spanish (uh...yo soy un queso...). But I do know a few words that can be found in the Sillmarillion.

So. I've figured that 'Arwen' means "Noble maiden" or something to that effect. So....

What does 'Aragorn' mean? The "Ara" means "noble" (I think, I think) and "Orn" means "Tree"...But what the heck is the "G" there for? Does that affect the translation???

Did you guys know that Gondor's name was originally Ond? Isn't that a name? "Boromir, from the land of Ond...". Ick. I'm glad that was changed: sounds way to much like Oz.

Also, In the sixth History of Middle Earth I found a passage about Glorfindel which cleared up a lot for me: It stated that Tolkien used the name "Glorfindel" in the LOTR carelessly, not thinking of the Glorfindel that met his end in the Sillmarillion. But, in the end he decided that the Glorfindel of LOTR and the Glorfindel of the SIL. were one and the same: he was released from Mandos at the [beginning? end? I can't remember which!!] of the Second Age.

Glorfindel was originally a member of the Fellowship, when there was no Legolas.

Yours.

~Lilly