View Single Post
Old 07-14-2003, 06:26 PM   #18
The Saucepan Man
Corpus Cacophonous
 
The Saucepan Man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: A green and pleasant land
Posts: 8,390
The Saucepan Man has been trapped in the Barrow!
White-Hand

Quote:
In his Letters, Tolkien never questions the number of five when he gives it, but in his Last Writings, he brought it all together by stating both points we have been working on: "Saruman in his wrath mentioning five [Istari] was letting out a piece of private information" (ibid.).
Thanks Sharkû. That seems to settle it. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I find the use of the word "chiefs" curious nonetheless. Perhaps JRRT had it in mind that other lesser Maia accompanied the Istari on their mission, but never got round to developing the idea. Or perhaps I am just placing too much importance on the word. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
__________________
Do you mind? I'm busy doing the fishstick. It's a very delicate state of mind!
The Saucepan Man is offline   Reply With Quote