<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wight
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Re: Elvish size
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I had interpreted the words to mean that the Sindar were very like the Noldor, both peoples being dark-haired, strong and tall, but lithe.
You took it that the Sindar were very like the Noldor being dark-haired, strong, and tall, but more lithe than the Noldor, an interpretation that had not occurred to me.
Now that I see it, I can't descide which is meant from that sentence. But the following phrase:
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Indeed they could hardly be told apart except by their eyes;
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perhaps pulls more strongly for my original interpretation: Noldor and Sindar are identical on the average in strength, height, and build.
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I answered this more fully in the 'Statures' thread. For the sake of completeness I will refer here to 'Numenorean Linear Measures' where it is noted that the Teleri are less in build and stature than the Noldor; and to the appendix to 'Quendi and Eldar', where it is noted that the Quendi from whom the Noldor came were 'tall and strong' while the other Quendi are not described in this way (taking this to be a comparison to the other Quendi of course). Perhaps if this needs to be continued it should be done in the other thread?
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My intent in the editing of the Tuor passage was to retain there the information that Tuor was a tall man. (A standard scene in traditional romance and epic is the hero appearing in a crowd, taller and more handsome than any of the others, and Tolkien here appears to be following the convention.) But I wished to remove the now invalid information that Elves were on the average shorter than Men, hence my replacement of "small" by "strong and tall" from "Quendi and Eldar".
Assuming that the Noldor and Sindar and the people of the House of Hador averaged about the same height in their prime, then it comes down to how much above the average height of these peoples was Tuor. If slightly above average, then it would be unlikely that he would be taller than anyone in the crowd. If very tall among those people, then the account can stand. Or is the logic instead that because of this account, which we have no reason otherwise not to accept, we know Tuor was very tall among those people?
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I have some vague recollection of JRRT addressing Tuor's height in Gondolin in one of his later essays, I think he was also speaking of Turin or Hurin as well. I dont recall where this was offhand (and may be mis-remembering), but I will attempt to hunt it down.
Tar-Elenion--------------------- I will come with Fire and Sword, and put your cities to the Torch, your men to the Blade, your women and children in Chains</p>
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Tar-Elenion
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