The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Flaws in Lord of the Rings... Yes in the book.

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh · 12-01-2005, 12:46 PM

In military parlance, name and number , along with rank, are the essential forms of identification. It could simply be that Tolkien envisaged the army of Mordor to be much like the British army in which he had himself served. Admittedly I can't imagine that Tolkien was entirely happy at being called 'Tolkien, John, Second Lieutenant, WO 339/34423'. In fact I'm inclined to see this as a criticism by association of the industrial military machine, although it's funny to think of Orcs having their very own Tommy Atkins.

12-01-2005, 12:46 PM	#86
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh Spectre of Decay Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bar-en-Danwedh Posts: 2,178	First Battalion the Udûn Fusiliers: 'Semper Infidelis' In military parlance, name and number , along with rank, are the essential forms of identification. It could simply be that Tolkien envisaged the army of Mordor to be much like the British army in which he had himself served. Admittedly I can't imagine that Tolkien was entirely happy at being called 'Tolkien, John, Second Lieutenant, WO 339/34423'. In fact I'm inclined to see this as a criticism by association of the industrial military machine, although it's funny to think of Orcs having their very own Tommy Atkins. __________________ Man kenuva métim' andúne? Last edited by The Squatter of Amon Rûdh; 12-02-2005 at 03:24 AM. Reason: Fixed some tortuous grammar