The Middle Earth Popularity Cup - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lalwendë · 11-26-2008, 06:00 AM

OK, I ought to vote for Eowyn or this contest is going to have no women in it!

However, I am going to vote

++Elrond

Because I was sitting thinking about how cool he is as an Elf who is actually not insular and welcomes all sorts of peoples through his house. He must have been seen as quite strange by your regular Elves, allowing Dwarves in, and even though he could be seen as some Hippy-Meister what with the singing in trees his folk do and his "Hey man, let's all be friends" kind of establishment, he's still less irritating and snooty than most Elves. So he deserves some dibs for that

A Little Green · 11-26-2008, 08:03 AM

++ Éowyn

I love her. Except that her end always makes me angry, but I consider it not her own fault but Mr. Tolkien's. Apparently a woman has to be shown her proper place in the end which sucks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip

Elrond I'm sure is a fascinating character once you get to know him, having seen three Ages of the world and having been heavily involved in two military victories against Sauron that would've made the battles in LotR look like minor skirmishes. But we never get to know him, do we? He has no discernible personality.

Exactly - I think that's just why he has never touched me nearly as most others. I know he's a fascinating person and all that, but just knowing it isn't enough - I want to see his personality myself before proceeding to call it fascinating. Elrond just doesn't provoke any feelings in me the way Éowyn does, however fine a man he must be.

Groin Redbeard · 11-26-2008, 11:08 AM

Now this is a toughy. Elrond is in the book for only three chapters and makes a lasting impression on the reader, mainly after reading the council. His wisdom, kindness, and charity seem to be already apparent without Tolkien saying as much, he's the only elf who I don't find fault with and wholly like.

Eowyn on the other hand contributes much more to the books. She gives us the internal struggle that she is feeling and this gives us much action. Though I do not like her views on women warriors, I think that her character makes up for her little flaws.

++Eowyn

I guess I could never bring myself to vote for an elf.

Lalwendë · 11-26-2008, 11:11 AM

Why does everyone think Eowyn ends up with a bum deal? She gets Faramir and she gets a certain amount of power that she'd not have had stopping in Rohan, plus she's happy. There's not that much to fight for once the War is over anyway. Sounds alright to me

skip spence · 11-26-2008, 12:07 PM

Wow, that was close. This match was very reminiscent of the previous one. This time it was Elrond who got a lot of early votes and Eowyn who came back with a vengeance. As was the case with Bombadill, it wasn't enough though. She came back to 7-7, but since Elrond was first to 7 he did just enough to win by a whisker.

skip spence · 11-26-2008, 12:14 PM

Match 11 of Round 1:

Next up is another woman who often seems to stir up strong feelings, positive or otherwise, amongst fans of Tolkien with a feminist outlook. She is paired up with Merry, the pipeweed connoisseur from Buckland.

Meriadoc Brandybuck vs. Luthien

Aganzir · 11-26-2008, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Why does everyone think Eowyn ends up with a bum deal? She gets Faramir and she gets a certain amount of power that she'd not have had stopping in Rohan, plus she's happy. There's not that much to fight for once the War is over anyway. Sounds alright to me

Because of the woman cannot be complete until she's married attitude. I don't like it that the whole of her appearence in Lotr seems to be just a quest for love and some tall, dark, handsome man. Her relationship with Faramir was much better than that with Aragorn, but it kind of spoils her story anyway. She would have been much better off as a spinster.

++ Lúthien

I'm not that great a fan of Lúthien either, but I pretty much dislike Merry. Lúthien is another example of a typical Tolkien woman who would give everything for love, and I can't help being annoyed by that.

But then on the other hand she was also independent and daring - unlike Arwen who sat nicely home and waited for Aragorn to claim the throne of Gondor, Lúthien ran away to fulfill her own destiny. Actually the first time I started liking her was on reading the Lay of Leithian:

She wavered, and she stayed her song.
'The road,' she said, 'was wild and long,
but Thingol sent me not, nor knows
what way his rebellious daughter goes.'

And one can't deny that she was quite skilful, what with her magic.

11-26-2008, 06:00 AM	#1
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	OK, I ought to vote for Eowyn or this contest is going to have no women in it! However, I am going to vote ++Elrond Because I was sitting thinking about how cool he is as an Elf who is actually not insular and welcomes all sorts of peoples through his house. He must have been seen as quite strange by your regular Elves, allowing Dwarves in, and even though he could be seen as some Hippy-Meister what with the singing in trees his folk do and his "Hey man, let's all be friends" kind of establishment, he's still less irritating and snooty than most Elves. So he deserves some dibs for that __________________ Gordon's alive!

11-26-2008, 11:08 AM	#3
Groin Redbeard Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Facing the world's troubles with Christ's hope! Posts: 1,635	Now this is a toughy. Elrond is in the book for only three chapters and makes a lasting impression on the reader, mainly after reading the council. His wisdom, kindness, and charity seem to be already apparent without Tolkien saying as much, he's the only elf who I don't find fault with and wholly like. Eowyn on the other hand contributes much more to the books. She gives us the internal struggle that she is feeling and this gives us much action. Though I do not like her views on women warriors, I think that her character makes up for her little flaws. ++Eowyn I guess I could never bring myself to vote for an elf. __________________ I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Their old, familiar carols play. And wild and sweet the words repeatof peace on earth, good-will to men! ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

11-26-2008, 11:11 AM	#4
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Why does everyone think Eowyn ends up with a bum deal? She gets Faramir and she gets a certain amount of power that she'd not have had stopping in Rohan, plus she's happy. There's not that much to fight for once the War is over anyway. Sounds alright to me __________________ Gordon's alive!

11-26-2008, 12:07 PM	#5
skip spence shadow of a doubt Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the streets Posts: 1,125	Wow, that was close. This match was very reminiscent of the previous one. This time it was Elrond who got a lot of early votes and Eowyn who came back with a vengeance. As was the case with Bombadill, it wasn't enough though. She came back to 7-7, but since Elrond was first to 7 he did just enough to win by a whisker. __________________ "You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan

11-26-2008, 12:14 PM	#6
skip spence shadow of a doubt Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the streets Posts: 1,125	Match 11 of Round 1: Next up is another woman who often seems to stir up strong feelings, positive or otherwise, amongst fans of Tolkien with a feminist outlook. She is paired up with Merry, the pipeweed connoisseur from Buckland. Meriadoc Brandybuck vs. Luthien __________________ "You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan