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Aiwendil · 12-12-2003, 01:38 PM

Yes, there does seem to be a problem with the Mouth of Sauron's use of the name. One could speculate that he was for some reason exempt from the edict, but it's hard to think of a good reason for this.

I'm not as convinced that the use of the name "Melkor" in The New Shadow is a continuity error. It's hard to swallow the claim about Melkor's name not being uttered if we interpret it as meaning that never again did any living being (other than his servants) utter the name "Melkor". It seems to me, rather, that we should interpret it as a more general statement - the name "Melkor" was replaced in ordinary speech by "Morgoth". For, after all, the Elves went on calling him "Melkor" in their histories of the events prior to the Darkening of Valinor.

Hookbill: I don't recall any use of the name "Melkor" in LotR. Where do you find it?

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 2:38 PM December 12, 2003: Message edited by: Aiwendil ]

12-12-2003, 01:38 PM	#3
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	Yes, there does seem to be a problem with the Mouth of Sauron's use of the name. One could speculate that he was for some reason exempt from the edict, but it's hard to think of a good reason for this. I'm not as convinced that the use of the name "Melkor" in The New Shadow is a continuity error. It's hard to swallow the claim about Melkor's name not being uttered if we interpret it as meaning that never again did any living being (other than his servants) utter the name "Melkor". It seems to me, rather, that we should interpret it as a more general statement - the name "Melkor" was replaced in ordinary speech by "Morgoth". For, after all, the Elves went on calling him "Melkor" in their histories of the events prior to the Darkening of Valinor. Hookbill: I don't recall any use of the name "Melkor" in LotR. Where do you find it? <font size=1 color=339966>[ 2:38 PM December 12, 2003: Message edited by: Aiwendil ]