December 16, 2003

Various Answers
Matt McNabb

To Bob:

Stuart Townsend was originally cast as Aragorn, but was let go when the filmmakers decided he was too young. If you don't know him, he was recently in the movie "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" as Dorian Gray.

To Smack:

Sindarin is the tongue used by the Elves in Middle-Earth. Quenya is the "High Elvish" and is only used ceremoniously.

To Lannor:

Though Tolkien's writings are not a strict Christian allegory, they are imbued strongly with Christian values. God is there in the stories (Iluvatar), and so is Satan (Melkor). The main characters are portrayed in a similar vein to the early romance heroes (Arthurian or contemporary legend). I think, therefore, that it is unfair to say that anyone who sees Christianity pervading the books is not a true fan of Tolkien.

To Lilly:

The Black Riders reached the Shire on Sep 22 and drove away a group of Rangers, and Strider met Frodo on the 29th. Whether Aragorn was with the Rangers at the time I don't know, but he would at least have heard the reports. Besides, he would know of them from the history of the three kingdoms and Angmar.