Ok, this is like scholarly minutia, but it belongs to me.
Trotter's name was changed to Strider (among others). Good choice most would agree. The development of Aragorn's character and the need for a less "hobbity" name are detailed in the History of Middle Earth at length.
But as far as I could find, it's still not clear how Tolkien decided to ditch Trotter. I read the whole History (the LoTR part at least) waiting for the explanation of what must have been an editorial reality check ("That's a dumb name.") But there's no mention of what led to the name change, or even a question, like "Hmm, on April 20th I thought about other names for The King." Aragorn was Trotter until the final drafts of the book were finished. So when did they change his name, and how'd that happen?
I was rather crushed when that wasn't addressed in Christopher T's books. Little questions like that kept me reading a sometimes dry text (in the last bit when it was mostly little editorial changes. I did like the part about Tolkien trying to make the phases of the moon consistant. A great look at an author's obsession/dedication.)
So, there's my question for all scholars (this is a real question): is there any information on how and why Tolkien changed Trotter's name? Did he discuss it anywhere? Did Christopher? Inquiring hobbits want to know what happened to their greatest hero.
-- Edited by Bilbo Boots at 12:36, 2008-01-20
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Where was I reading (the Annotated Hobbit?) that Tolkien wanted Bilbo to put on boots in Rivendell for the trip over the mountains, but it got left out? Hobbits would have shoes, but they forgot!
Well, great thread, I have missed a good lore discussion. So, as far as I know Tolkien played with the whole concept of Aragorn for quite some time. In the beginning he was Trotter, one of the rangers. Then he decided that a Hobbit can not be a ranger and so the character would either be a Man or a Hobbit only associated with the rangers. After many otzher ideas including the character being actually Bilbo or some cousin of his or an Elf of Rivendell in disguise Tolkien eventually decided to make him a Man and a distant relative of Elrond. But, I do not think it is really said anywhere why exactly this change was made. I never really analysed this a lot as I was never really interested in early writings and the development of characters and I haven't read the HoMe so carefully either.
So...unfortunately I don't think I can help much there.
Could we move this thread to the other discussion that is similar or the other discussion to this thread? That way we are not having duplicates. Especially when one is forgotten. It looks bad when something is this old for people who come to look at the Forum and then see a topic that has not been worked on since January
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Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo! Ring a dong! hop along! fal lal the willow! Tom Bom, Jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!
