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There is a scene in The Lord of the Rings (Book) where Éowyn switches to using "thou" and "thee" when begging Aragorn to take her with him when he takes the Pat

by slyall 3y ago

There is a scene in The Lord of the Rings (Book) where Éowyn switches to using "thou" and "thee" when begging Aragorn to take her with him when he takes the Paths of the Dead. If you don't know (as I didn't for a long time) that she has switched to intimate/informal language then the scene has less impact. Especially since Aragorn keeps things formal in his reply. http://coco.raceme.org/literature/lordoftherings/returnking/quotes/eowyn.php http://coco.raceme.org/literature/lordoftherings/returnking/...

calvinmorrison 3y ago
Also see, the sun also rises because hemmingway transliterated a ton of Spanish, including thees, thous, some colloquialisms
- panarky 3y ago
  You might be thinking of Hemingway's novelization of his experience supporting antifascists in the Spanish Civil War, "For Whom the Bell Tolls". He uses "thee" and "thou" to simulate the informal Spanish "tú".
  - calvinmorrison 3y ago
    Yes. That is the one! Good to read both
retrac 3y ago
This is a very common misinterpretation. A major factor behind such misinterpretation is probably the King James Bible. It heavily influences our sense of style even today. God is traditionally addressed with thou due to the intimate relationship, and today this is often misinterpreted as formal style. E.g. > Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
entuno 3y ago
This is very noticeable in the Athrabeth, where Finrod switches between "you" and "thou" when talking to Andreth throughout the conversation. Tolkien also talks in Appendix F of The Return of the King about how hobbits had largely lost the distinction between "you" and "thou" - so when Pippin speaks to Denethor in Minas Tirith and addresses him with the familial term, people assume that he must be royalty himself to address the Steward in such an informal manner.
- ffgjgf1 3y ago
  > must be royalty himself Technically I guess he was about as close to royalty as you can get in the Shire.

by slyall 3y ago

calvinmorrison 3y ago

Also see, the sun also rises because hemmingway transliterated a ton of Spanish, including thees, thous, some colloquialisms

panarky 3y ago
You might be thinking of Hemingway's novelization of his experience supporting antifascists in the Spanish Civil War, "For Whom the Bell Tolls". He uses "thee" and "thou" to simulate the informal Spanish "tú".
- calvinmorrison 3y ago
  Yes. That is the one! Good to read both

retrac 3y ago

This is a very common misinterpretation. A major factor behind such misinterpretation is probably the King James Bible. It heavily influences our sense of style even today. God is traditionally addressed with thou due to the intimate relationship, and today this is often misinterpreted as formal style. E.g. > Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

entuno 3y ago

This is very noticeable in the Athrabeth, where Finrod switches between "you" and "thou" when talking to Andreth throughout the conversation. Tolkien also talks in Appendix F of The Return of the King about how hobbits had largely lost the distinction between "you" and "thou" - so when Pippin speaks to Denethor in Minas Tirith and addresses him with the familial term, people assume that he must be royalty himself to address the Steward in such an informal manner.

ffgjgf1 3y ago
> must be royalty himself Technically I guess he was about as close to royalty as you can get in the Shire.