The real reason for Helm Hammerhead's nickname - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 01-20-2007, 02:55 PM

I am much entertained by this theory, but can you explain how the heir to the throne could possibly be bullied? For sure, some kids are not scared by the prospect of detention at school; but if the crime for bullying be hanging, or being pulled apart by horses, I can't really see how young Helm would be bullied.

Is this more anti-Rohan propoganda, that 'they're all violent and uncivilised there'?

Elmo · 01-21-2007, 09:31 AM

The King could have sent his kid to a normal school to show he had confidence in the Rohirrim State School System

and if there's any similarity between them and today's equivalent discipline wouldn't exactly be at Barad-duresqe levels

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 01-21-2007, 02:56 PM

Ah yes, a nice little PR opportunity (take note Ruth Kelly!)

I suppose, Rohan is hardly Gondor. It's not as if they could have hired Gandalf as a personal tutor. If we look back to Eorl we see that they are far more 'normal' than other monarchs (I ask you, a kid on a horse?). Ok, the theory is plausible.

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh · 03-11-2007, 08:18 AM

It's an interesting theory, with just one minor flaw: Helm's nickname was Hammerhand.

Personally I think they called him that because he kept mislaying his toolbox and having to improvise. The pain in his fists after bashing in nails with them left him in frequent agonised rage, whence derives his unstable behaviour. A man who has just punched some masonry nails into the walls of the Hornburg to hold a new umbrella rack is scarcely going to see the funny side when someone suggests he needs a walking stick.

Elmo · 03-11-2007, 08:44 AM

Quote:

It's an interesting theory, with just one minor flaw: Helm's nickname was Hammerhand.

Och well, I'll try and salvage this thread by claiming there are different 'traditions' on what Helm's nickname was, isn't that the Tolkienian method for explaining away errors

davem · 03-11-2007, 09:04 AM

Actually, I posted a really funny response to this but decided it was a bit much for a family site, so have regretfully removed it

Elmo · 03-11-2007, 09:07 AM

Oh Davem it was brilliant you shouldn't have deleted it. It wasn't that bad, it wasn't worse than the original post anyway. Which, by the way, got me accused of having an Orcish sense of humour by a downer who shall remain nameless...

01-20-2007, 02:55 PM	#1
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	I am much entertained by this theory, but can you explain how the heir to the throne could possibly be bullied? For sure, some kids are not scared by the prospect of detention at school; but if the crime for bullying be hanging, or being pulled apart by horses, I can't really see how young Helm would be bullied. Is this more anti-Rohan propoganda, that 'they're all violent and uncivilised there'? __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

01-21-2007, 09:31 AM	#2
Elmo Pittodrie Poltergeist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: trying to find that warm and winding lane again Posts: 633	The King could have sent his kid to a normal school to show he had confidence in the Rohirrim State School System and if there's any similarity between them and today's equivalent discipline wouldn't exactly be at Barad-duresqe levels __________________ As Beren looked into her eyes within the shadows of her hair, The trembling starlight of the skies he saw there mirrored shimmering.

01-21-2007, 02:56 PM	#3
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	Ah yes, a nice little PR opportunity (take note Ruth Kelly!) I suppose, Rohan is hardly Gondor. It's not as if they could have hired Gandalf as a personal tutor. If we look back to Eorl we see that they are far more 'normal' than other monarchs (I ask you, a kid on a horse?). Ok, the theory is plausible. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

03-11-2007, 08:18 AM	#4
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh Spectre of Decay Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bar-en-Danwedh Posts: 2,178	The real source of the name It's an interesting theory, with just one minor flaw: Helm's nickname was Hammerhand. Personally I think they called him that because he kept mislaying his toolbox and having to improvise. The pain in his fists after bashing in nails with them left him in frequent agonised rage, whence derives his unstable behaviour. A man who has just punched some masonry nails into the walls of the Hornburg to hold a new umbrella rack is scarcely going to see the funny side when someone suggests he needs a walking stick. __________________ Man kenuva métim' andúne?

03-11-2007, 09:04 AM	#6
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Actually, I posted a really funny response to this but decided it was a bit much for a family site, so have regretfully removed it __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

03-11-2007, 09:07 AM	#7
Elmo Pittodrie Poltergeist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: trying to find that warm and winding lane again Posts: 633	Oh Davem it was brilliant you shouldn't have deleted it. It wasn't that bad, it wasn't worse than the original post anyway. Which, by the way, got me accused of having an Orcish sense of humour by a downer who shall remain nameless... __________________ As Beren looked into her eyes within the shadows of her hair, The trembling starlight of the skies he saw there mirrored shimmering.