Continuity errors in Tolkien - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Firefoot · 12-16-2003, 07:00 PM

I recently found another continuity error.

In The Taming of Smeagol when Frodo and Sam are going down the cliff of the Emyn Muil Frodo determines the cliff to be approximately 18 fathoms high. A fathom is about 6 feet so that would make the cliff 108 feet. This is confirmed when Sam measures his rope which is about 30 ells. According to Webster's Dictionary, and ell is about 45 inches, so 30 ells would be 1350 inches, or 112.5 feet. BUT when Sam and Frodo see Gollum climbing down the same cliff Tolkien describes Gollum to be three quarters of the way down and 50 feet from the bottom. This would mean that the cliff is 200 feet high, rather than about 110 feet high.

Any thoughts?

12-16-2003, 07:00 PM	#1
Firefoot Illusionary Holbytla Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,547	I recently found another continuity error. In The Taming of Smeagol when Frodo and Sam are going down the cliff of the Emyn Muil Frodo determines the cliff to be approximately 18 fathoms high. A fathom is about 6 feet so that would make the cliff 108 feet. This is confirmed when Sam measures his rope which is about 30 ells. According to Webster's Dictionary, and ell is about 45 inches, so 30 ells would be 1350 inches, or 112.5 feet. BUT when Sam and Frodo see Gollum climbing down the same cliff Tolkien describes Gollum to be three quarters of the way down and 50 feet from the bottom. This would mean that the cliff is 200 feet high, rather than about 110 feet high. Any thoughts?