Who is Gandalf's and Radagast's common ancestor? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

William Cloud Hicklin · 10-24-2007, 01:42 PM

Actually Tolkien here as so often was using a word in its older sense: cousin meant generically "kinsman," without implying a particular relationship. (So also did 'nephew', which meant only younger male relative- hence T's preference for the more specific 'sister-son.')

Of course, externally it's the case that when T wrote the passage he had no idea that Gandalf was anything other than a Man with magical abilities.

10-24-2007, 01:42 PM	#7
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	Actually Tolkien here as so often was using a word in its older sense: cousin meant generically "kinsman," without implying a particular relationship. (So also did 'nephew', which meant only younger male relative- hence T's preference for the more specific 'sister-son.') Of course, externally it's the case that when T wrote the passage he had no idea that Gandalf was anything other than a Man with magical abilities. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.