physical description of elves?

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Yes, I personally can't stand it when elves are portrayed as 5-5 1/2 feet tall. Gimme tall Elves any day.

[Tar-Elenion]

Originally posted by Wayfarer
Interesting Factiod:
Elros was given, by tolkien, a height of 7'8". Thingol, the tallest of elves, was at one time given a height of nine feet.

Citation or quote, please.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I don't know what the quote is, but since one of the biggest Tolkien experts here (Inderjit) said that he was nine feet high, so I believe it.

[Wayfarer]

I can find a passage on the heights of men, for comparison...

...two rangar was often called "man-high," which at thirty-eight inches gives an average height of six feet four inches; but this was at a later date, when the stature of the Dúnedain appears to have decreased, and also was not intended to be an accurate statement of the observed average of male stature among them, but was an approximate length expressed in the well-known unit ranga.

...It is however said of the great people of the past that they were more than a man-high. Elendil was said to be "more than man-high by nearly half a ranga;" but he was accounted the tallest of all the Númenóreans who escapethe Downfall [and was indeed generally known as Elendil the Tall].

-The unfinished tales.

Allright, that makes Elendil about eight feet inches tall... :P

But let's look at something else: the tallest man in recorded history was 8' 11". Thingol, 'The tallest of the children of illuvatar', must have been at least taller than that.

[Tar-Elenion]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
I don't know what the quote is, but since one of the biggest Tolkien experts here (Inderjit) said that he was nine feet high, so I believe it.

The point is: did _JRRT_ say it?

Originally posted by Wayfarer
I can find a passage on the heights of men, for comparison...

The post I asked for a citation or quote for specifically states that:
"Elros was given, by tolkien, a height of 7'8". Thingol, the tallest of elves, was at one time given a height of nine feet."

I do not recall JRRT ever giving the specific height of Elros or Thingol. Can you provide the passage where JRRT says that?

The two and a half rangar height for Elendil makes him around 7'9" or 7'10".

[Wayfarer]

Tolkien did say he was the tallest of the eruhini ever. Which means he was /at least/ nine feet tall.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

My point was that as a Tolkien scholar said it, I presume that Tolkien said it.

[Tar-Elenion]

Originally posted by Wayfarer
Tolkien did say he was the tallest of the eruhini ever. Which means he was /at least/ nine feet tall.

In other words JRRT did not specifically say he was nine feet tall, that is all I am trying to ascertain.
Turgon was said to be the "tallest of the Children of the World, save Thingol" (UT, Of Tuor). Arakano was said to be the tallest of Fingolfin's sons (Fingon, Turgon and Arakano) (PoME, Shibboleth).

[Wayfarer]

I don't know if the height for thingol was given. But I do know that tolkien specifically mentioned elros being 7'8". He also said Elendil was nearly eight feet. So elves are tall. Not short! Nyah!

[Tar-Elenion]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
My point was that as a Tolkien scholar said it, I presume that Tolkien said it.

I would prefer an actual citation, as opposed to 'presumption'.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I guess that's where we differ. I believe in trusting those whom I know to be more knowledgable than myself.

Besides, it was because two Tolkien scholars said it that I didn't question.

[Tar-Elenion]

Originally posted by Wayfarer
I don't know if the height for thingol was given. But I do know that tolkien specifically mentioned elros being 7'8". He also said Elendil was nearly eight feet. So elves are tall. Not short! Nyah!

Could you provide a citation and quote in which JRRT: "specifically mentioned elros being 7'8"."?

What does Elves being tall have to do with the claim that JRRT "specifically mentioned elros being 7'8""?

If you would like a more specific mention of a 'general' height:
"Hobbits on the other hand were in nearly all respects normal Men, but of very short stature. They were called 'halflings'; but this refers to the normal height of men of Númenórean descent and of the Eldar (especially those of Ñoldorin descent), which appears to have been about seven of our feet."
PoME, Of Dwarves and Men

[Tar-Elenion]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
I guess that's where we differ. I believe in trusting those whom I know to be more knowledgable than myself.

Besides, it was because two Tolkien scholars said it that I didn't question.

Well then perhaps you can get Inderjit to supply the quote in which JRRT says that Thingol was nine feet tall. Or perhaps you can supply Inderjit's quote stating that JRRT said Thingol was 9' tall.

[Sister Golden Hair]

I don't recall any numbers, but I know that Tolkien does say that Thingol was the tallest of all the Eldar I believe.

[Tar-Elenion]

Yes, he does, but that is not in dispute. Some posters are (or were) alleging that JRRT made specific statements about the exact heights of Thingol and Elros. I merely wish to see the citation and quote for those specific statements.

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Tar-Elenion
Yes, he does, but that is not in dispute. Some posters are (or were) alleging that JRRT made specific statements about the exact heights of Thingol and Elros. I merely wish to see the citation and quote for those specific statements.

You are more and more like MM everyday.

[BeardofPants]

Don't know if this has been posted or not:

Unfinished tales :
'Thus two rangar was often called "man-high," which at thirty-eight
inches gives an average height of six feet four inches; but this was at a
later date, when the stature of the Dúnedain appears to have decreased, and
also was not intended to be an accurate statement of the observed average of
male stature among them, but was an approximate length expressed in the
well-known unit ranga. (The ranga is often said to have been the length of
the stride, from rear heel to front toe, of a full-grown man marching
swiftly but at ease; a full stride "might be well nigh a ranga and a half.")
It is however said of the great people of the past that they were more than
a man-high. Elendil was said to be "more than man-high by nearly half a
ranga;" but he was accounted the tallest of all the Númenóreans who escape
the Downfall [and was indeed generally known as Elendil the Tall]. The Eldar
of the Elder Days were also very tall. Galadriel, "the tallest of all the
women of the Eldar of whom tales tell," was said to be man-high, but it is
noted "according to the measure of the Dúnedain and the men of old,"
indicating a height of about six feet four inches.'

[Wayfarer]

I posted part of that. But yeah, again, Elendil was almost eight feet. :P That's tall.

[Ornelírë Mistë]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
Yes, I personally can't stand it when elves are portrayed as 5-5 1/2 feet tall. Gimme tall Elves any day.

I agree! In DnD, they say elves are a mere four to four and a half feet tall! Whether or not they are doing this to differ themselves from Tolkien or not, it's infuriating. And I also hated it when, before the LoTR craze, people said elves were very small and short.

[Sister Golden Hair]

Wel, I don't think it is done to differentiate them from Tolkien's Elves. Tolkien's Elves are actually the unique ones. When most people think of Elves, they think of the typical portrayal. Santa's helpers, the Keebler elves, etc. Tolkien's idea is very original, therefore, confusing to people that have not read the books.