Tolkien's Descriptions...?

[Halbarad of the Dunedain]

Is it just me or did Proffesor Tolkien have a huge problem with descriptions of characters? I don't mean their looks or their actions, I'm talking about their titles. If im not mistaken he gives several characters similar, if not the same, titles! Titles like the tallest ever seen in ME, Greatest in ability, most beautiful. I was just reading The story of Túrin Turambar and his elvan companion Beleg Strongbow is considered greatest in ability of Missle-Earth. Im sure that he gave others the same titles, Aragorn, Legolas, Fëanor. I can't remember precise examples but as I read through the books again I will make notes on all the similar/same titles I see and continue posting them here. Yet what do you all think? Surely you must have noteced the same thing!?

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Beleg wasn't considered the greatest of Middle-Earth. just of Doriath. Feanor was considered the greatest craftsman, Legolas the greatest archer and Aragorn the greatest Hunter.

[Valandil]

Halbarad, I think there are some qualifiers on many of those. Also... some might be said BY someone else who might not have complete knowledge of EVERYONE else who has ever lived.

It's really hard to talk about until you can post some 'competing' claims about different characters though...

[Nurvingiel]

There are a few things like the Two Legolas' debate. This suggests slight ambiguity around whether or not the Legolas mentioned in the Silmarillion (IIRC) is the same as the Fellowship member.

[Michael Martinez]

Originally Posted by Nurvingiel

There are a few things like the Two Legolas' debate.

The two Legolas debate is absurd because people have no business treating The Book of Lost Tales with The Lord of the Rings as if they were both part of the same mythology (they are not) AND because Tolkien DID reuse Elvish names (within mythologies as well as across multiple mythologies).

This suggests slight ambiguity around whether or not the Legolas mentioned in the Silmarillion (IIRC) is the same as the Fellowship member.

There is no Legolas in The Silmarillion, and the Legolas in The Book of Lost Tales is absolutely, without a doubt, indiputably NOT the Legolas of The Lord of the Rings.

As for the multiple qualifiers Tolkien uses, tallest, greatest, mightiest, etc., he is drawing upon ancient epic traditions in which heroes, lords, and villains were described with such qualities. All the various claims are surely a little confusing for anyone. Tolkien's intent, however, is not to confuse the reader or require the reader to remember all the "...est of" qualifiers, but rather is to provide an in-passing context for the character's stature in the legends.

It's one of those good/bad things that both helps and hinders.

[brownjenkins]

the golden perch does have the undisputed best beer in eastfarthing

[Sister Golden Hair]

I can remember Tolkien describing Finrod as: "wisest of the Exiled Noldor," "fairest of all the Princes of the Elves," " most beloved of the house of Finwe," Youngest of the great lords of the Noldor." He calls Celeborn: "the wise." I'm not sure what the set perimeters are on that though.