Wings & Ears: Why Bother?

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by HerenIstarion

Even the earlier description of Balrog (HoME II, Fall of Gondolin) say only what follows:

Precisely, All the discussion notwithstanding, Tolkien's intentions as to the wingedness or not of Balrogs remains unclear. There is no definitive proof (to my mind) one way or t'other. So I am content to continue imagining Balrogs with wings.

As for the quote concerning the description of Elves, I addressed this in the Elvish ears thread (link provided by Fordim above).

Originally Posted by Durelin

Is it anyone's, even Tolkien's place to say that it is his world so we've got to do it his way?

But is it anyone's place to tell us that we cannot?