I think this is an excellent question, but unless someone comes to this thread who has spoken to Tolkien himself on the subject, you are not likely to get a direct answer. I do agree with Gwaihir in that it might have been 'just the way it worked out'. It is not often that you find a woman racing off to rescue helpless men, and even if unintentionally, Tolkien's books do fit the basic story line of many fantasies in the sense: Hero with quest, Hero kicks butt, Hero wins fair lady's heart. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] I also think you have a point, Ascaalphion, When you mention Elves as a more 'female' race. I'm not saying Tolkien saw them that way, but it does seem easier to think of an elf: graceful, peaceful, quiet, delicate; as being the woman, rather than the rough, bloodstained mortal. So maybe that's a little extreme, but you get the picture. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
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