About the "The Shibboleth of Fëanor" Forum

[Voronwë the Faithful]

This is perhaps the most important forum at The Hall of Fire. It is one of our primary goals to engage in serious discussion about the moral and philosophical implications of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as derivative works such as the films of Peter Jackson. Discussion of linguistic and other issues related to the creation of Middle-earth will naturally be entwined with these discussions.

The name "The Shibboleth of Fëanor" comes from an essay that Tolkien wrote that was published in The Peoples of Middle-earth, the last volume of The History of Middle-earth. It revolves around the change of þ to s in Noldorin Quenya, and the events with which this alteration became 'entwined'. Indeed it came about that (to Fëanor) the rejection of þ became a symbol of the rejection of Míriel and of himself, as the chief of the Noldor next to Finwë. For more information about this essay, or even better, to discuss this essay, go here.

The name therefore both symbolizes the quest for knowledge the Fëanor epitomized, and at the same time a warning against falling into the trap that helped doomed Fëanor. Oftentimes, disagreements can be caused (or exacerbated) by nothing more then a different way of using language (particularly in an international community). This is a good point to keep in mind when posting in this or any other forum at The Hall of Fire (or anyplace else, for that matter).