How would you know? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Findegil · 08-30-2010, 10:26 AM

Were would AElfwine go? And what would he learn there?

If he still came to Eressea it is most probably a kind of a Silmarillion that he brought back and not the story of the War of the Ring.

So what might Tolkien have owned to translate?

Probably he had a complete copy of the Red Book, including the volumes of 'Translaions from Elvish' that Bilbo made in Rivendell in Westron and in some kind of elvish script. In addition he might have had a 'Silmarillion' from AElfwine in Old English. Thus he could translate the later and gain some insight into elvish languages simply by the names and some battle cries and so on perserved by AElfwine. Now seeing the similarty of the story given in Bilbos translations to what he had got from AElfwine the good Professor together with his professional konwledge about languages probably was able to transscibe and translate what he found in the Red Book.

It does'nt seems to me so much harder than egyptian hyroglyphs.

Respectfuly
Findegil

Galin · 08-30-2010, 02:39 PM

If we can speculate concerning an Old English element in Elfwine, I still think it's easier for him to have translated the tale of the War of the Ring and Bilbo's translations into Old English...

... and after this task, now inspired to learn more and actually meet Elves, he sails off into the West -- maybe returning with some of the more purely Elvish-written sources to compare with the largely Mannish and Middle-earthian Elvish accounts of the Elder Days.

Thus Elfwine possibly returns with the legend of the Awakening of the Quendi for example, in which the Sun already exists when the Elves awaken -- though granted that was said to be preserved by the Sindar as well, in any event. Or a more purely Elvish account of the Downfall of Numenor perhaps (in which the world was always round, as the Elves of Aman teach in the Mannish account). Also, maybe more linguistic materials, or more detailed accounts of the doings in Aman that were not remembered in Numenor.

Or something

Although again, I'm not sure there is any indication that Tolkien imagined this as the scenario.

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08-30-2010, 10:26 AM	#1
Findegil King's Writer Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,721	Were would AElfwine go? And what would he learn there? If he still came to Eressea it is most probably a kind of a Silmarillion that he brought back and not the story of the War of the Ring. So what might Tolkien have owned to translate? Probably he had a complete copy of the Red Book, including the volumes of 'Translaions from Elvish' that Bilbo made in Rivendell in Westron and in some kind of elvish script. In addition he might have had a 'Silmarillion' from AElfwine in Old English. Thus he could translate the later and gain some insight into elvish languages simply by the names and some battle cries and so on perserved by AElfwine. Now seeing the similarty of the story given in Bilbos translations to what he had got from AElfwine the good Professor together with his professional konwledge about languages probably was able to transscibe and translate what he found in the Red Book. It does'nt seems to me so much harder than egyptian hyroglyphs. Respectfuly Findegil

08-30-2010, 02:39 PM	#2
Galin Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,036	If we can speculate concerning an Old English element in Elfwine, I still think it's easier for him to have translated the tale of the War of the Ring and Bilbo's translations into Old English... ... and after this task, now inspired to learn more and actually meet Elves, he sails off into the West -- maybe returning with some of the more purely Elvish-written sources to compare with the largely Mannish and Middle-earthian Elvish accounts of the Elder Days. Thus Elfwine possibly returns with the legend of the Awakening of the Quendi for example, in which the Sun already exists when the Elves awaken -- though granted that was said to be preserved by the Sindar as well, in any event. Or a more purely Elvish account of the Downfall of Numenor perhaps (in which the world was always round, as the Elves of Aman teach in the Mannish account). Also, maybe more linguistic materials, or more detailed accounts of the doings in Aman that were not remembered in Numenor. Or something Although again, I'm not sure there is any indication that Tolkien imagined this as the scenario.