Who do you like better????
 

Out of the two Elven Kings of the First Age who lived in a complex of caves who do you like better??? Finrod Felagund or Thingol??

Also what type of elf would you most want to be: Telerin/Sinarin, Vayarin or Noldorin.

Finrod, he was more noble and did not in the end sucumb to evil like Thingol. Finrods claim to the Silmarills was to help a friend and remain true to his word whereas Thingol become greedy and selfish and wanted the Silmaril for himself

This opinion thread seems better suited for Novices and Newcomers. I'm moving it there now...continue to post on it in that forum.

[ November 24, 2003: Message edited by: Legolas ]

You really want to know, don't you, Aule-Master_of_Crafts! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] Actually, although I think Lord Elrond said it all very succinctly, I'll add my vote! Personally, I'm a Finrod fan. Any Elf who can go tooth and claw with a werewolf deserves respect! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] But, really, I have issues with Thingol that won't quit, and Finrod, to my mind is a much more admirable character (one of the most admirable, IMO!). I think Beren had the right idea when he criticized Thingol's choice of assignment to him in exchange for Luthien's hand. (Turned out he had to exchange his own hand in the deal too!) [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] Of course, you could introduce the idea into the Psychological Depth in Tolkien's characters thread in Books to see whether they think that Finrod's upstanding, noble and generous traits make him less interesting than the complicated Elu Singollo! (Or not!) [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] They seem to be in a quandary (a very interesting one, though!) about whether Tolkien's characters had psychological depth, whether it is necessary, and also if an unambiguously good character has less depth than one who has 'issues,' such as Thingol. Or, for that matter, if Beleg Cuthalion, for being an unquestioning good friend to Turin makes him less interesting or not, since Turin clearly had an 'interesting' psyche, although I'm still mad at him for many reasons... But I digress! Thanks for letting me spout! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Cheers!
Lyta

I love Thingol. He is, in my own humble opinion, one of the most interesting characters in JRR Tolkien's works. His disposition is always ambiguous and never clearly illustrated. At times he will do what the reader least expects, and this is something that I find very rare in Tolkien's works (though I hate to admit it). Felagund is also one of my favorite characters, but his personality never seems to be as fully developed as that of Elwe Singollo. If we are talking about which one I would prefer to befriend, however, I would say Finrod, since Elu Thingol sometimes comes off as a bit of a grouch and is not always as wise (the whole business with the Dwarves and the Nauglamir) or valiant (sending off poor old Beren to a seemingly hopeless fate in return for his daughter) in his decisions as is Felagund.

Thingol was harsh towards other races for no good reason, which I don't really find admirable.

ya i agree with eomer i think finrod was a very good king fighting with werevolves and all.
but thingol was a harsh towards other races and he at last fell into evil

Let me sum up my analysis -

Elwe was more interesting and realistic character
Felagund hewer of caves was admirable though unreal

As I value loyalty and pride and valour above all else, I must say I like Finrod much better.

Well I am divided because as characters, I really like them both. I kind of agree with Lord of Angmar.

I like Finrod better. I think it is really cool how he gave up his own life to save Beren's and fought the werewolf. Thingol is an interesting enough character but I think Finrod is much more honorable.

Everyone seems to be ignoring the second part of Aule's question. So I will answer it: I would probably prefer to be a Noldorin elf. I don't know why, it just appeals to me.

Finrod's my favorite. In fact, he's one of my all time favorites!:) He was brave, noble, friendly toward other races, and he gave his life to save Beren. Thingol, on the other hand, seemed proud, aloof, intolerant, and his lust for the silmaril brought about his death.
If I was an elf, I would want to be... one of the Vanyar maybe. It would be nice to live in the Blessed realm. I think the Teleri are cool too though.

Too right. :D