Sorry, Amarie. Hopefully, my suppositions or analytical summations are distinguishable from the more "factual" points derived more directly from The Books. For better or worse, unless there is something in HoME X-XII, which I'm approaching in the near future, I'm not aware of anything point on about the Nazgul, although they say a lot about Tolkien's vision, both dark and light, fate and free will.
Much of what I try to know is a synthesis of gleanings mostly from the Lord of Rings, in which there is a remarkable amount information, without names. The Unfinished Tales fill in some blanks, as does "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age", which is the last part of the published Silmarillion, of which the perhaps only the "Quenta Silmarillion" therein, must be viewed with skepticism as a less than perfect editing by Christopher Tolkien.
Gothmog, be he Nazgul or not, is one of the great imponderables. I have picked my side, and that is all that one can do. My rule, however, is to take the most ready alternative that requires the least amount of additional invention. So, to make him another Nazgul, is simply easiest, like accepting that Cirdan has a beard. To do otherwise means speculating about powerful level of Orc captains, human leaders or other creations, for which we have not true hint.
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The hoes unrecked in the fields were flung, __ and fallen ladders in the long grass lay __ of the lush orchards; every tree there turned __ its tangled head and eyed them secretly, __ and the ears listened of the nodding grasses; __ though noontide glowed on land and leaf, __ their limbs were chilled.
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05-27-2003, 10:51 PM
Hybrid Mode
