Middle-earth might not be held as a mirror to 1940s war-torn Europe, but voice of G-d states that there is at least one race in the saga with some clear Jewish vibes. Not the hobbits, though (seriously? Jewfro or no Jewfro, they practically scream English countryside) but... the dwarves. Kind of obvious really, with the guttural language, craftsmanship and the whole culture-within-a-culture deal.
Quoting the man himself:
“The dwarves of course are quite obviously, wouldn't you say that in many ways they remind you of the Jews? Their words are Semitic, obviously, constructed to be Semitic.”
“I do think of the 'Dwarves' like Jews: at once native and alien in their habitations, speaking the languages of the country, but with an accent due to their own private tongue..."
If you, like me, are forced to give up parts of your geekdom for something more resembling a traditional “life”, a lite version of the Dwarves = Jews theory can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_(Middle-earth), under the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings sections. Overall, could have been worse, though I object to the notion that all women of our people have beards. Maybe 30 per cent, tops.
Middle-earth might not be held as a mirror to 1940s war-torn Europe, but voice of G-d states that there is at least one race in the saga with some clear Jewish vibes. Not the hobbits, though (seriously? Jewfro or no Jewfro, they practically scream English countryside) but... the dwarves. Kind of obvious really, with the guttural language, craftsmanship and the whole culture-within-a-culture deal.
ReplyDeleteQuoting the man himself:
“The dwarves of course are quite obviously, wouldn't you say that in many ways they remind you of the Jews? Their words are Semitic, obviously, constructed to be Semitic.”
“I do think of the 'Dwarves' like Jews: at once native and alien in their habitations, speaking the languages of the country, but with an accent due to their own private tongue..."
If you, like me, are forced to give up parts of your geekdom for something more resembling a traditional “life”, a lite version of the Dwarves = Jews theory can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_(Middle-earth), under the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings sections. Overall, could have been worse, though I object to the notion that all women of our people have beards. Maybe 30 per cent, tops.