Who or what was Huan?

Curufin · 03-30-2008, 01:17 PM

Ah, time for me to swallow my Noldor pride and admit that I missed something...

A friend of mine (who is an incredible Tolkien scholar) and I discussed this, and he told me that it was possible that Tolkien was reconsidering Huan in Myths Transformed and that he could possibly have been a Maiar...

So it is possible, I suppose! I certainly bow to his knowledge in this matter.

***Earniel*** · 03-30-2008, 02:30 PM

Well, Tolkien did change his mind occasionally, and didn't alway amend his writings to the new theory. So it is possible that Huan started out as an enhanced dog, as the quotes you've given seem to indicate. And that later Tolkien reconsidered and decided on a Maia. In the History of Middle-earth series I've always found it very interesting to see how Tolkien's ideas grew, but it is not easy finding his last thought on some matters.

Jon S. · 03-30-2008, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curufin

it was possible that Tolkien was reconsidering Huan in Myths Transformed and that he could possibly have been a Maiar...

Perhaps it is worth noting now that dog is god spelled backwards.

inked · 03-30-2008, 10:25 PM

Or that Huan is Hnau, rearranged. (See Out of the Silent Planet by CS Lewis.)

03-30-2008, 01:17 PM	#1
Curufin The Ñoldóran Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mishawaka, IN Posts: 2,050	Ah, time for me to swallow my Noldor pride and admit that I missed something... A friend of mine (who is an incredible Tolkien scholar) and I discussed this, and he told me that it was possible that Tolkien was reconsidering Huan in Myths Transformed and that he could possibly have been a Maiar... So it is possible, I suppose! I certainly bow to his knowledge in this matter. __________________ Then Celegorm no more would stay, And Curufin smiled and turned away... ~The Lay of Leithian

03-30-2008, 02:30 PM	#2
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Well, Tolkien did change his mind occasionally, and didn't alway amend his writings to the new theory. So it is possible that Huan started out as an enhanced dog, as the quotes you've given seem to indicate. And that later Tolkien reconsidered and decided on a Maia. In the History of Middle-earth series I've always found it very interesting to see how Tolkien's ideas grew, but it is not easy finding his last thought on some matters. __________________ We are not things.

03-30-2008, 10:25 PM	#4
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	Or that Huan is Hnau, rearranged. (See Out of the Silent Planet by CS Lewis.) __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941