“Thee” and “thou” in “The Lord of the Rings”

[Eönwë]

I only just saw this thread, and I have to say that it's just added a whole new dimension to my reading of Tolkien, I'll have to watch out for it on my next reading of LOTR.

Originally Posted by The Might

FormLooking at the Silmarillion it is interesting to note that "thee" and "thine" are mostly used by Eru and by the Valar. It makes sense since the Valar and Eru were close to one another.

Also, in the list that you gave, except for Aule to Eru, each quote has someone talking to an inferior being. Not that it's an insult, but it could be more like the "treating them as a child" usage that was mentioned earlier. Obviously the Aule-Eru one is familiarity, he since he responds in kind, and it may be the same with all of them, but it could be both as well, and in the case of Ulmo to Turgon and the messenger of Manwe to Feanor, there is a definite feeling of the former of each being of a higher status (and in the second case, being the representative of someone of a higher status), so there might be some of the feeling of natural superiority there, not meant as an insult, but just the way it is.

[Galadriel55]

When reading the UT I noticed that Ulmo and Tuor talk familiarly to each other. I wouldn't have found it unusual for Ulmo, but Tuor replies in the same fashion! It sounds even more out of place when combined with "Lord":

And what wouldst thou of me, Lord, if I come now to Turgon?

~Tuor, Of Tuor and his Comming to Gondolin, UT

If I haven't known about this thread, I would probably gloss over this instance.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Good catch, G55! This is indeed an interesting example of the familiar usage. My impression here is that this is the conversation between a god and his follower, which is intimate and highy personal. Tuor's frequent use of "Lord" in this dialogue intensifies that impression. These are no equals conversing casually. Ulmo is clearly revered by Tuor.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

Good catch, G55! This is indeed an interesting example of the familiar usage. My impression here is that this is the conversation between a god and his follower, which is intimate and highy personal. Tuor's frequent use of "Lord" in this dialogue intensifies that impression. These are no equals conversing casually. Ulmo is clearly revered by Tuor.

I would think about it that way, too. See the same thing above for the praise to Elbereth: it is effectively a prayer. And it is usual for prayer to be intimate, using familiar form, it is a "dialogue with the divine power", only in this case, it is face-to-face, but otherwise the same.