Should Legolas have been wounded? How did Gimli remain unscathed?

[Morwen Tindomerel]

My best guess would be Tolkien decided not to wound Legolas because he felt it would be an unecessary complication distracting from the main story line.

As for Gimli I find it quite believable he should come through the assorted battles unscathed. To start with he's wearing Dwarf mail - which is the best there is - and
secondly Dwarves themselves are very tough customers. Short they may be but they are also very stocky and muscular. And finally the same dramatic objection applies. Wounding Gimli would be distracting as he and Leggy are basically spear carriers.

[Alfirin]

Well, Gimli has his battle axe damaged when it hits an orc's iron collar at Helm's Heep. If dwarves have as deep an attachment to thier weapons as is usually made out this might feel like being wounded to Gimli.

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Alfirin

Well, Gimli has his battle axe damaged when it hits an orc's iron collar at Helm's Heep. If dwarves have as deep an attachment to thier weapons as is usually made out this might feel like being wounded to Gimli.

Gimli himself (not just his weapon) was wounded in the battle of Hem's Deep: he got a (minor) wound on the head.

Like Morwen, I see no reason why Gimli should have died. To be realistic and nit-picky, it is far more astonishing that all the Hobbits survived having no military training or experience and being used to simple and peacuful life. I know; Hobbits were far tougher than they seemed, but it is still a bit odd. But that of course is part of the magic of the book and the Hobbits themselves. It would be a grim book if one of the Hobbits died or was seriously wounded.

As to the original Legolas question, maybe because it would have been unnecessary, as Morwen already said. Also, it would have taken attention from Frodo and Sam's wounds and the fact that Gandalf perished.

[Groin Redbeard]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

Like Morwen, I see no reason why Gimli should have died. To be realistic and nit-picky, it is far more astonishing that all the Hobbits survived having no military training or experience and being used to simple and peaceful life. I know; Hobbits were far tougher than they seemed, but it is still a bit odd. But that of course is part of the magic of the book and the Hobbits themselves.

That was my thoughts exactly, Thinlómien. It was far more likely that Merry or Pippin would have died in the battle of the Pellenor Fields, than Gimli throughout the entire war.

That was a good point you made about Legolas, Morwen.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Groin Redbeard

That was my thoughts exactly, Thinlómien. It was far more likely that Merry or Pippin would have died in the battle of the Pellenor Fields, than Gimli throughout the entire war.

Oh, Btw Merry almost died in the Battle at Pellenor, and Pippin almost died at the Black Gate... If it wasn't for Gimli! The only member of the Fellowship that didn't hurt himself during the WR is Legolas... why did Tolkien like Legolas so much? It may be because he was an elf... Darn elves...

I don't think it would be a bad thing for the plot if Leggy even got the smallest of injury. I would've been happier if he did, but that's just my opinion, Elves can get hurt. And poor old Gimli did get hurt.

[Rumil]

One thing to consider is that Legolas is pimarily an archer.

Admittedly he does get his 'long knife' out when needed but most of the time he is shooting from a distance. I guess Gimli and Legolas therefore have about equal chances to stop an arrow but Gimli is more likely to be wounded in hand-to-hand combat, simply because he does more of it. Add to that the orcs' lack of marksmanship and I think its not surprising that Gimli is the only one of the pair to be wounded.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

Gimli himself (not just his weapon) was wounded in the battle of Hem's Deep: he got a (minor) wound on the head.

Like Morwen, I see no reason why Gimli should have died. To be realistic and nit-picky, it is far more astonishing that all the Hobbits survived having no military training or experience and being used to simple and peacuful life. I know; Hobbits were far tougher than they seemed, but it is still a bit odd. But that of course is part of the magic of the book and the Hobbits themselves. It would be a grim book if one of the Hobbits died or was seriously wounded.

As to the original Legolas question, maybe because it would have been unnecessary, as Morwen already said. Also, it would have taken attention from Frodo and Sam's wounds and the fact that Gandalf perished.

Well I didn't say Gimli should have died, I just found it odd. I, too, think it is odd that all the Hobbit's survived, but I am glad they did! In HoMe Tolkien was debating whether or not to kill off Pippin.

As to a distraction from the plot, I can't see that as a feasible reason. There are so many little things going on throughout the whole story that one wound would not really distract much.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

JRRT did consider killing Pippin off.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Your lack of faith in the prowess of Dwarves troubles and disappoints me, Matt.

I remember a discussion years ago about how the story would have felt had Frodo and/or Sam laid down and died after the destruction of the Ring. That too might have been realistic; but as Saucepan Man argued (I remember it ) such an outcome would have been unnecessarily grim in a story that is meant to delight the reader. Same goes for the Elf and the Dwarf - no need to harm them, we like them.

Besides, though it would have been beasting to see Legolas fight on with one arm severed and hanging off the shoulder, he displays possibly equal awesomeness in avoiding injury completely.

[Lindale]

And add the innate toughness of the Dwarves (Gimli) and the innate, erm, nimbleness of the Elves (for Legolas).

I related the Valinor Elves' being tough and nimble to Legolas, although on a much lesser scale. I've always pictured him such a nice warrior, not stocky like Boromir or Gimli, but a sort of Paris of Troy (totally coincidental guys, ok?) who, at the Iliad book, always shoots with his bow because it's much safer for him to do this rather than do actual swordfight.

But good point, why did those two remain unscathed in Moria? Although Gandalf fell, it would have been nice if there were more casualties brought to Lorien.