Well done by SpM. #13, 19, and 20 are interesting additions,
especially # 13. Anyone have any others?
There seem to be two main considerations to such a topic and
list: the events/actions themselves, and what are the natures of qualifying
events.
Quote:
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When you say "greatest", though, what exactly do you mean? The ones that took the most skill? The most courage? The most effort? The most determination? A combination of those things? Or the ones that contributed most to the "cause" of Middle-earth (loosely, I suppose, Eru's plan)?
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I was originally probably thinking of a definition including having a
"positive" "successful" outcome, although even that definition is
tricky. A "successful" outcome for Gollum, or even Deagol, would have
been a retention of the ring. And as to another hobbit "great"
achievement, what about the matriarch of Smeagol's clan expelling
him from the group? Other actions by her via-via Smeagol
would (albeit probably inadvertently) have changed the tale of the ring
if not the eventual outcome.
The broader definition of "greatest" is probably the better one,
although you have to be careful of making a definition too broad to be useful.