Pointed Ears

[Snapdragon]

This is in reference to the following news article:
' "Nowhere in the book does it say that hobbits or elves have pointed ears." claims Mike Foster. "That's convention of fantasy illustration."

Foster, an English professor, has taught Tolkien classes at East Peoria's Illinois Central since the 1970s. The 55 year old scholar was recently interviewed about his thoughts on Tolkien, the Beatles, and the Jackson films.'

I think Douglas A. Anderson handled this topic well in his book tour discussion and in _The Annotated Hobbit_ (Houghton Mifflin, 2002). Apparently, Tolkien himself had said that he imagined hobbits with 'slightly pointed and "elvish"' ears. So not only do hobbits have pointed ears, but this implies that Tolkien felt that Elves ought to have them as well. Anderson goes on to say that 'In _Artist_, Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull note that Tolkien drew for himself on the telegram "a very inadequate pencil sketch of a hobbit...with the face left blank and with ears rather more than "slightly pointed"'(p. 33).

Is this information controversial? *l* I have heard people curmudgeonly claim before that only in the movies are hobbit ears pointed, but this seems to close the argument?

[Bonos-Girl]

well....when i read the books i always thought that they shuold have slightly pointed ears so i don't think that it is such a diversion from the books but i guess its all about what people imagine elves and hobbits etc to look like and no film adaptations of books can please everyone because everyone has a different image in their head about what everything looks like.

[Erana]

I agree whenever I imagagined Elves I always thought of tall ppl with nice pionty ears!

[squirrel]

its a well known fact that elves have pointy ears, it's just the way it is, right?

[Dana]

I have to agree - I have always pictured elves with pointed ears. Who hasn't?

[Elf angel]

Yup..pointy ears good :grin:

[HobbitFriend]

I like the pointy ears - i've always imagined Elves anyway with pointed ears and seeing both Elves and Hobbits in the movie with pointed ears - i really like them :)

[Idril]

as far as I remember in the books you can't find any hint about pointed ears, yet Tolkien mentioned them in his letters. I expect ,however, that the cast would be happier if PJ didn't find out that detail. That would save them time spent on picking the glue off their ears lol

[Lady Ashley]

LOL you're right...they would have been happier about less glue...

I always imagined Elves with pointy ears, I think. But pointy hobbit ears came a shock. I was like "Umm..since when did THEY have ponty ears??" But Tolkien wanted hobbit ear like that...Though it's still rather hard to "see" them like that when I read the books. To this day I still retain some of my own vision of the story, but that's another topic.

I think ppl would have been surprised if the elves didn't have pointy ears. ('Course who would pay attension?)

[Bonos-Girl]

i always thought hobbits had slightly pointed ears...not as much as elves...but still pointy!

[Idril]

maybe i'm wrong, but i think ,that in the movies it is hobbits who have noticeable pointed ears while elves have them only slightly pointed... :rolleyes:

[Altáriel]

My first boyfriend had a slighty pointed ear and the other was normal, he is so cute and i think he might have some elvish blood:naughty: :blush:

[Idril]

heheh..since 50 % of his ears were pointed i think he was halfelven , like elrond lol

[HobbitFriend]

lol that's awesome! i've never noticed anyone with pointed ears before! haha

[Idril]

with pointed ears yes, but with only one ear pointed?;) that's really rare !lol

[Altáriel]

roflmao roflmao roflmao
it is a pitty that he wasn't borned with both pointed!!!too bad...
yup, he might be half elven!!!!roflmao roflmao
Very elegant ear though!!!
I don't think his new girlfriend appreciate his pointed ear as much as i did:naughty: so sad....roflmao

[Idril]

Originally posted by Altáriel
...Very elegant ear though!!!

hahaha!! i like the way you describe the ear...it must have been really close relationship - you write about the ear with such...tenderness:)
and in my opinion - if i could have any - he should look for a girlfriend only among Tolkien's fans...lolroflmao

[*Mrs.Bloom*]

Hey everyone!!I'm new here...I love pointy ears!!
K!ss

[Idril]

helloooo, Mrs Bloom!

yep, i see you have weakness for pointed ears, and i think i can guess why:naughty:

[*Mrs.Bloom*]

Is it so obvious...??:blush:
I can't help myself,i :loveyou: legolas!!
Where are u from??
How old are u?
:)

[Idril]

hahah....after your last post nobody has any doubts lol

[Snapdragon]

*can't help but be amused at the course this topic has taken* :rolleyes:

[Idril]

sorry, Snapdragon ;)

[Samwise2]

Hi to one and all
Just a general question about hobbits i may be wrong ut it never says who the hobbit decended from it say the Gnomes (Noldoli) are the second kindred of the elves so who to say that the hobbit are not decendeds of Gnomes and elves mixed together which would explain the pointy ears, or where the just born the same way as the Elves and the Drawfs

[Bonos-Girl]

doesn't it say that hobbits are very closely related to humans. when it describes hobbits and stuff...i swear it does....

[Winyaél Greenleaf]

Is it just me or are Bilbo's ears kinda more pointy than the other hobbits' ears?

[Luvara]

Originally posted by Winyaél Greenleaf
Is it just me or are Bilbo's ears kinda more pointy than the other hobbits' ears?

I think you'r right! ;)

[Lorien]

Well maybe Tolkien thought that everyone believed elves had pointed ears so he didn't add it. What do you all say to that? :elfqueen:

[Luvara]

Perhaps you're right! :thumbs:

[Shadowfax]

Hey....new here, but also a definite fan of all things Legolas related and therefore pointy ear related!:grin: But yeah, I noticed Bilbo's ears were slightly different......
Also on a similar topic, did anyone think that Legolas's ears were of a slightly different pointyness to Elrond's and Arwen's? Maybe the Mirkwood elves have different pointy ears from Rivendell elves and also Lothlorien elves. Perhaps in Middle Earth you can tell where an elf is from from the size and shape of his pointy ears!lol
PS: I also knew someone with one pointy ear once. Intriguing....

[Bonos-Girl]

..or maybe...because orli liv and hugo have different shaped ears they couldn't make the points all the same...

[Snapdragon]

Or could it be because Arwen and Elrond's ancestors came from both races (of Men and Elves)? :)