I'm just going to toss this out there for the heck of it. I can hear burrahobbit sharpening his graph-drawing pencil already, but what the heck.
Quote:
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Who together with the greatest of all the Eldar, Lúthien Tinúviel, daughter of Elu Thingol, are the chief matter of the legends and histories of the Elves.
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We have that quote from JRRT, THE MAN HIMSELF. Unequivocal, unassailable, undeniable, unbendable. I was just wondering if that quote could be seen as an opinion? Yeah, yeah, before you go and slap me with the reality stick, I know JRRT created ME and in his capacity as the creator knows all and is the final authority blah blah blah. Bear with me here. I can't quote chapter and verse, but in my readings of JRRT's commentaries I got the sense that at times he felt like he was "discovering" ME and finding out about its histories rather than inventing them. I know that is a fiction used to describe the creative process, but more authors than Tolkien have said words to the effect that the story takes on a life of its own. That the characters and events seem to move and act and they "find out" how it goes.
If you can accept that as a valid point of view, that quote of JRRT could be considered an opinion.
Personally, I would not have chosen Luthien or Feanor as the greatest if it were up to me (yeah I know it isn't). I can see the case for Galadriel though.
[ November 06, 2002: Message edited by: Keneldil the Polka-dot ]