Who are the 'wild men'? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

William Cloud Hicklin · 01-14-2016, 06:50 PM

I'm not entirely sure whether the Dunlendings were the indigenous population of Calenarhon, as opposed to Dunland; the description of Rohan, very steppe-like, doesn't sound to me like a place where anyone other than nomadic herdsmen could live. In "Cirion and Eorl" the place is described as unpopulated; and the one specific place we are told that there was a Dunlendish settlement was the Ring of Isengard, which they surely had no claim to.

The Dunlendings' alleged grievance might have been a piece of Sarumanic propaganda. Or maybe not: but Tolkien on the whole, in both his fiction and his letters, seems to be very much opposed to imperialism, including the British Empire. It would be surprising to me if he had not made more explicit the legitimacy of the Dunlendings' complaint if it had any, as he certainly did with regard to the Woses.

Inziladun · 01-14-2016, 08:25 PM

The Dunlendings were also related to the Dead Men of Dunharrow, who weren't exactly remembered with love in Gondor.

Kuruharan · 01-14-2016, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

The Dunlendings' alleged grievance might have been a piece of Sarumanic propaganda. Or maybe not: but Tolkien on the whole, in both his fiction and his letters, seems to be very much opposed to imperialism, including the British Empire. It would be surprising to me if he had not made more explicit the legitimacy of the Dunlendings' complaint if it had any, as he certainly did with regard to the Woses.

A good point, although I don't think the Dunlendings were high on Tolkien's list of priorities when it came to fleshing out back stories.

Was there something written at some point about the Dunlendings being related to the Men of the Mountains?

Inziladun · 01-14-2016, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

Was there something written at some point about the Dunlendings being related to the Men of the Mountains?

ROTK Appendix F is one place that touches on that.

Quote:

[The Dunlendings] were a remnant of the peoples that had dwelt in the vales of the White Mountains in ages past. The Dead Men of Dunharrow were of their kin.

Kuruharan · 01-14-2016, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inziladun

ROTK Appendix F is one place that touches on that.

So they did have an ancestral claim to at least a part of Rohan.

01-14-2016, 06:50 PM	#1
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	I'm not entirely sure whether the Dunlendings were the indigenous population of Calenarhon, as opposed to Dunland; the description of Rohan, very steppe-like, doesn't sound to me like a place where anyone other than nomadic herdsmen could live. In "Cirion and Eorl" the place is described as unpopulated; and the one specific place we are told that there was a Dunlendish settlement was the Ring of Isengard, which they surely had no claim to. The Dunlendings' alleged grievance might have been a piece of Sarumanic propaganda. Or maybe not: but Tolkien on the whole, in both his fiction and his letters, seems to be very much opposed to imperialism, including the British Empire. It would be surprising to me if he had not made more explicit the legitimacy of the Dunlendings' complaint if it had any, as he certainly did with regard to the Woses. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

01-14-2016, 08:25 PM	#2
Inziladun Gruesome Spectre Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Heaven's doorstep Posts: 8,039	The Dunlendings were also related to the Dead Men of Dunharrow, who weren't exactly remembered with love in Gondor. __________________ Music alone proves the existence of God.