Wild Men

[Andorinha]

Excellent research material, Stormrider! Appears the Dunlendings have quite a varigated existence in Middle-earth. I'm trying to guess if JRRT ever had a real-life model in mind for them -- just as the Rohirrim are based on the Anglo-Saxons, are the Dunlendings based on the Celtic tribes who inhabited Britain and Ireland before the Saxons came?

[Fredeghar Wayfarer]

andorinha said:

Excellent research material, Stormrider! Appears the Dunlendings have quite a varigated existence in Middle-earth. I'm trying to guess if JRRT ever had a real-life model in mind for them -- just as the Rohirrim are based on the Anglo-Saxons, are the Dunlendings based on the Celtic tribes who inhabited Britain and Ireland before the Saxons came?

*bumps thread*

I'm not sure about the Dunlendings but this seems a very likely origin for the Druedain "Wild Men." Much about them reminds me of what I know of the Picts and other pre-Saxon Celtic tribes.

The Wild Men seem to be Tolkien's comment on indigenous peoples who are hated and feared and driven out by supposedly more "civilized" races. So it's equally likely that he could have been drawing from the experience of the Native Americans as an influence as well.

[Andorinha]

Hi Ya, Fredegar!

Yeah, that is another possibility, they certainly function in the same fashion as the indigenous tribal folks being over-run by higher weapons-technology invaders. I was also think, from the physical description of the Druedain, that MAYBE JRRT was looking at connections with Neanderthals, but I'm only speculating here!

I think, there may be a Letter where Tolkien admits to having read Zane Gray's cowboy stories, if that pans out, then we would have that sort of connection to bolster your idea.

Thanks!

[Stormrider]

As far as tribal folks being overrun by more advanced peoples, I guess you could draw a parallel with the American Indians; but I always thought that the Rohirrim used some of the Indian's techniques such as encircling their targets and aiming their arrows at their foes inside the circle.

To me the Wild Men seem more like the native tribes of Africa from several hundred years ago...or like the natives in PJ's King Kong movie but not as wild as they were. The Wild Men, while being something to fear if you were their enemy, seem to be more gentle and at peace among themselves.

[Andorinha]

I always wondered how the Woses got their Pukel Men statues into place at Dunharrow:

giphy.com/embed/3o7qDUJuiVy3ixsgxi

[Stormrider]

There you go! Makes sense to me!