LOTR Discussion: Appendix A, parts 2 and 3

[Earniel]

I like how you added those Old English translations, Forkbeard. They add a nice extra layer to Tolkien's writings.

Originally Posted by Forkbeard

1. The Eorlingas seem to be on the cusp of this history all the way through. Why, and why aren't they more central sooner?

I take it that since mostly Elves and Gondoreans seem to be writing the history records that are passed down, the Eorlingas escaped mention until their interaction with Gondor and move to Calenardhon.

Why haven't either Rohan or Gondor seen the usefulness of "wains" and adapted some of the milt forces to chariots?

I suppose the Rohirrim may have thought it demeaning for their horses to pull clunky chariots, they may have preferred to ride the horse themselves instead of being pulled.

The marriages in LoTR all seem to be significant in terms of the overall history. What is significant about Eomer marrying Imrahil's daughter?

It seems part of a trend to infuse some Elven blood into each human kingdom at the end of the Third age.

Why did the Dunlendings seem to hate the Rohirrim more than they did Gondor?

The Dunlendings didn't have much problems with Gondor, the capital was far away, and the Dunlendings could easily manage the remnant of Dunedain in Calenardhon. But then the Rohirrim came, drove them from the fields the Dunlendings obviously preferred to Dunland, and took Calendardhon for their own. Gondor was only a far away thing to the Dunlendings, the Rohirrim were closer and in direct possession of the land they wanted.

There is an odd pattern among the dwarves: the heir of Durin in exile goes one direction, the majority of the people go another: why?

I hadn't noticed, but it's interesting. Maybe the heir of Durin refused to lead his people when he went in exile, and the rest was left to their own devices?

What heppened to the other dragons, esp. after the dwarves desert the Grey mtns and men move southward?

They don't seem to be considered much of a threat after Smaug. I wonder whether dragons too were subject to some diminishing. Maybe the dragons of later times were not so strong anymore that they dared venture south of their lairs in quest for plunder.

. Why is Dain named "Ironfoot"?

I was wondering about that myself. But Wayfarer's explanation sounds good.

After the War of the Ring, why did no dwarves return to the now empty (save perhaps for a few remaining orcs) Moria, and why was not the fair land of Hollin repopulated?

I think the dwarves no longer had the required numbers to recapture and hold such a vast underground city as Moria. It could also be that the long reign of the Balrog and the orcs left much of Moria undesirable as realm. Many dwarves fell in Moria and in the Nanduhirion, the dwarves may have found those memories too oppressive.

As for Hollin, I assume it too eventually became populated again, but most likely by Men.

How many important Middle Earth events were conceived and planned over Butterbur's beer?

Quite a few, it seems.

Didn't Gimli take an awful chance going West, possibly being left alone on the sea when Legolas gets West but he isn't allowed in?

I doubt he would have left if there wasn't some indication that he could get in. I also doubt Legolas would have abandonned Gimli at sea if his companion would be denied entrance. Most likely the boat would then have been unable to get on the Straight Road and would have returned to the Grey Haven.