The Hobbit in July 2007? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Morwen · 08-06-2007, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elmo

Ummmmmmm didn't the harfoots have some kind of brown skin? I can't remember to save my life what word Tolkien used to describe them but I'm sure that's what he said. Maybe not black but I'm sure not all the hobbits in the Shire would have been white.

In the Prologue of LotR Tolkien describes the Harfoots as "browner of skin" and goes on to say that they were "the most normal and representative variety of Hobbit, and far the most numerous".
I'm hazarding a guess though that contrast in skin tones between Harfoots and the fairer Fallohides is not that marked - more of a Northern/Southern European contrast. IIRC no Hobbit is described as "swarthy" which seems to be Tolkien's word of choice to describe persons who are markedly darker than, say, the average person of Bree or Gondor.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 08-06-2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elmo

Ummmmmmm didn't the harfoots have some kind of brown skin? I can't remember to save my life what word Tolkien used to describe them but I'm sure that's what he said. Maybe not black but I'm sure not all the hobbits in the Shire would have been white.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morwen

In the Prologue of LotR Tolkien describes the Harfoots as "browner of skin" and goes on to say that they were "the most normal and representative variety of Hobbit, and far the most numerous".
I'm hazarding a guess though that contrast in skin tones between Harfoots and the fairer Fallohides is not that marked - more of a Northern/Southern European contrast. IIRC no Hobbit is described as "swarthy" which seems to be Tolkien's word of choice to describe persons who are markedly darker than, say, the average person of Bree or Gondor.

I think the "browner of skin" thing came from maybe the Harfoots were more tan by nature that the two other types of hobbits that the names escape me now.

I need to get my books out again.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 08-06-2007, 02:14 PM

The three kinds of hobbits are:
The Harfoots,
The Fallowhides,
and The Stoors.

Elmo · 08-06-2007, 02:16 PM

Doesn't Tolkien mention the hobbits coming fron the east, relatively a short time compared to the Edain etc...... just a thought.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 08-06-2007, 02:21 PM

Yes he does.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 08-06-2007, 02:22 PM

They went over the Misty Mountains.

Elmo · 08-06-2007, 02:23 PM

Well then, since they are a sub-species of man and they come from the east they might share the same ethnicity as men that way.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 08-06-2007, 02:31 PM

Well Tolkien did describe them the way he wanted to, and it did not say that they were say...from the middle east or Africa or the Americas. and since the he was writing about middle earth which was essentially England, I wouldn't think that they would have people of other races in that particular time period, now the Easterlings would probably be a bit darker of skin as the people of Rohan, right? So the same thing would apply to hobbits. Thats just my opinion.

08-06-2007, 02:14 PM	#3
TheGreatElvenWarrior Mighty Quill Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walking off to look for America Posts: 2,230	Got My books The three kinds of hobbits are: The Harfoots, The Fallowhides, and The Stoors. __________________ The Party Doesn't Start Until You're Dead.

08-06-2007, 02:16 PM	#4
Elmo Pittodrie Poltergeist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: trying to find that warm and winding lane again Posts: 633	Doesn't Tolkien mention the hobbits coming fron the east, relatively a short time compared to the Edain etc...... just a thought. __________________ As Beren looked into her eyes within the shadows of her hair, The trembling starlight of the skies he saw there mirrored shimmering.

08-06-2007, 02:21 PM	#5
TheGreatElvenWarrior Mighty Quill Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walking off to look for America Posts: 2,230	Yes he does. __________________ The Party Doesn't Start Until You're Dead.

08-06-2007, 02:22 PM	#6
TheGreatElvenWarrior Mighty Quill Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walking off to look for America Posts: 2,230	They went over the Misty Mountains. __________________ The Party Doesn't Start Until You're Dead.

08-06-2007, 02:23 PM	#7
Elmo Pittodrie Poltergeist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: trying to find that warm and winding lane again Posts: 633	Well then, since they are a sub-species of man and they come from the east they might share the same ethnicity as men that way. __________________ As Beren looked into her eyes within the shadows of her hair, The trembling starlight of the skies he saw there mirrored shimmering.

08-06-2007, 02:31 PM	#8
TheGreatElvenWarrior Mighty Quill Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walking off to look for America Posts: 2,230	Well Tolkien did describe them the way he wanted to, and it did not say that they were say...from the middle east or Africa or the Americas. and since the he was writing about middle earth which was essentially England, I wouldn't think that they would have people of other races in that particular time period, now the Easterlings would probably be a bit darker of skin as the people of Rohan, right? So the same thing would apply to hobbits. Thats just my opinion. __________________ The Party Doesn't Start Until You're Dead.

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