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Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Plato to MacDonald to Chesterton, Tolkien and the Boys in the Pub.
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Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Postby jo » July 10th, 2005, 9:37 am

I've seen lots of explanations that purport to explain why it is that both Tom and Treebeard are claimed as the oldest living being on earth but none of them make much sense to me. i think that Tolkien made a mistake here and that's unusual. Did he ever have anything to say on the subject?

Whilst we're talking about mistakes, here is another one. When the three hunters are approaching Isenguard they find some slain orcs bearing an S symbol. Gimli says 'S is for Sauron, that is plain' and someone replies that Sauron does not permit anyone to speak or write his real name. And yet at the council of Elrond when Gloin recounts the story of the messenger from mordor coming to Dain, the messenger refers to Sauron by name. More to the point, before the Black Gates the Mouth of Sauron refers to himself specifically as the 'Mouth of Sauron.' Why the discrepancy?
"I saw it begin,” said the Lord Digory. “I did not think I would live to see it die"

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Re: Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Postby Adam Linton » July 10th, 2005, 8:44 pm

we have not loosely through silence permitted things to pass away as in a dream
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Re: Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Postby magpie » July 10th, 2005, 9:09 pm

"Love is the will to extend one's self in order to nurture one's own or another's spiritual growth."
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Re: Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Postby jo » July 10th, 2005, 9:37 pm

"I saw it begin,” said the Lord Digory. “I did not think I would live to see it die"

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Re: Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Postby jo » July 10th, 2005, 9:38 pm

"I saw it begin,” said the Lord Digory. “I did not think I would live to see it die"

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Re: Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Postby A#minor » July 10th, 2005, 10:28 pm

"My brain and this world don't fit each other, and there's an end of it!" - G.K. Chesterton
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Re: Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Postby jo » July 11th, 2005, 11:38 am

Ummmmmm... but in that case, Legolas would have believed Sauron to be his right name and that brings back the original question.. why did he say that Sauron did not permit his name to be spoken when he does?
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Re: Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Postby magpie » July 11th, 2005, 3:36 pm

"Love is the will to extend one's self in order to nurture one's own or another's spiritual growth."
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Re: Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Postby Thû » July 11th, 2005, 5:00 pm

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Re: Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Postby Adam Linton » July 11th, 2005, 6:18 pm

we have not loosely through silence permitted things to pass away as in a dream
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Re: Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Postby Ian » July 11th, 2005, 6:28 pm

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Re: Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Postby magpie » July 11th, 2005, 6:41 pm

"Love is the will to extend one's self in order to nurture one's own or another's spiritual growth."
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Re: Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Postby Boyd Britton » July 15th, 2005, 8:41 pm

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Re: Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Postby Erekose » July 15th, 2005, 9:21 pm

Call yourself a dog???? I've seen better hair on a lavatory brush!!!
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Re: Why did Tolkien make this mistake?

Postby Leslie » July 16th, 2005, 9:41 pm

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