Belling the Ring - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

**The Saucepan Man** · 09-09-2005, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

.... cats are elves!!!

I agree.

The connection being that both regard humans with disdain and consider them as having been put on the earth to cater to their needs.

Mithalwen · 09-13-2005, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

I agree.

The connection being that both regard humans with disdain and consider them as having been put on the earth to cater to their needs.

I don't see any evidence for elves treating men as servants.... and don't get me started on why cats are better than men....

alatar · 09-13-2005, 08:52 AM

Thanks for all of the wonderful insights!

Gandalf is a cat!?! Ouch!

Anyway, just wanted to add that I know of two citations of dogs and cats in Tolkien's world and so will build a case using those (and will exclude any contrary evidence

).

Huan - This dog is the companion of Luthien and Beren during their quest for the silmarils. It not only kills the Red Maw, but also defeats Sauron. Pretty impressive canine resume.

The cats of Queen Berúthiel - These ten cats were used to spy on others; the nine black ones spied upon the populace, and the white one kept watch on the nine (as you just can't trust them!

). Last seen sailing southward on a boat with the banished Queen, who was as loved as her pets. Surely these felines loved and were loyal to their Queen, yet everyone else feared and despised them.

Need I say more?

Anyway, if I were to post a poll, which I won't, and I were to ask which pet the One Ring were more like, and I were to restrict the poll to 'dog' or 'cat' (which I wouldn't, seeing how most polls require much consideration, meaning that I would have to list each and every animal known to exist or to have ever once existed, and even including fantasy creatures plus the 'other' and 'all of the above options,' the poll still wouldn't be fit for purpose...), which would you choose based on the information regarding these pets as seen above?

Mithalwen · 09-13-2005, 10:19 AM

What about the "Hounds of Sauron" at Eregion? And cats are so obviously superior to dogs............as well as men

alatar · 12-12-2007, 03:52 PM

Having recently read HoME, it's noted that Beren originally was tormented by Tevildo, the Prince of Cats, who Tolkien shows as having all of the wonderful properties ascribed to cats. They toy with their prey before killing it, they lay around most of the day and do not serve Melkor well at all (unlike the loyal canine cousin Carcharoth).

09-13-2005, 08:52 AM	#3
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	Thanks for all of the wonderful insights! Gandalf is a cat!?! Ouch! Anyway, just wanted to add that I know of two citations of dogs and cats in Tolkien's world and so will build a case using those (and will exclude any contrary evidence ). Huan - This dog is the companion of Luthien and Beren during their quest for the silmarils. It not only kills the Red Maw, but also defeats Sauron. Pretty impressive canine resume. The cats of Queen Berúthiel - These ten cats were used to spy on others; the nine black ones spied upon the populace, and the white one kept watch on the nine (as you just can't trust them! ). Last seen sailing southward on a boat with the banished Queen, who was as loved as her pets. Surely these felines loved and were loyal to their Queen, yet everyone else feared and despised them. Need I say more? Anyway, if I were to post a poll, which I won't, and I were to ask which pet the One Ring were more like, and I were to restrict the poll to 'dog' or 'cat' (which I wouldn't, seeing how most polls require much consideration, meaning that I would have to list each and every animal known to exist or to have ever once existed, and even including fantasy creatures plus the 'other' and 'all of the above options,' the poll still wouldn't be fit for purpose...), which would you choose based on the information regarding these pets as seen above? __________________ There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.

09-13-2005, 10:19 AM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,463	What about the "Hounds of Sauron" at Eregion? And cats are so obviously superior to dogs............as well as men __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

12-12-2007, 03:52 PM	#5
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	Having recently read HoME, it's noted that Beren originally was tormented by Tevildo, the Prince of Cats, who Tolkien shows as having all of the wonderful properties ascribed to cats. They toy with their prey before killing it, they lay around most of the day and do not serve Melkor well at all (unlike the loyal canine cousin Carcharoth). __________________ There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.

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