Literacy in Middle-Earth?

[Lifstan]

Ps. well done everybody on generating another interesting/fun discussion! I'm only worried that Lifstan never checked back in, I hope he didn't get frightened away. Perhaps he just got more than he bargained for in terms of answers!!

I just did! Lots of vety interesting answers. Thanks!

[mirdanis]

I agree with the ideas of many others who have commented here about the extent of literacy in Middle Earth, to wit: that it would have been a skill possessed by the great and noble of many cultures, as well as by merchants and others who had dealings with foreigners, at least to some extent. Since my group just finished Ruins of the North, we’re looking for a new campaign, and I’m definitely interested in Oaths of the Riddermark. I love the idea of literacy becoming a new fashion in Rohan with the ascension of the Gondor-educated Thengel to the throne. My players seem to love Lore-heavy characters, and I know one of them wants to play an Elf of Lorien. Perhaps this could be a way for his character to break into Rohirrim society and be noticed by the King and Queen - offering his services to courtiers as a tutor.

There are some clues to the development of and attitudes towards literacy in Elven societies of the First Age in the Silmarillion. We know that the art of writing, and therefore also of reading, was first developed in Aman by the Noldo Rúmil of Tirion, and then improved upon by Fëanor, and hailed as a great invention. More or less concurrently, Daeron, the minstrel of the Sindar kingdom of Doriath, developed a set of runes that were used there, but apparently not to the extent that the Tengwar of Quenya were by the Noldor.

Later, when the Noldor returned to Middle Earth and Thingol, King of Doriath, learned of the circumstances under which this had occurred, he forbade the use of Quenya and of the Tengwar in his realm out of spite. The Elven-Realm of Mirkwood is a cultural descendant of Doriath, and Rivendell a cultural descendant of the Noldor in general and Gondolin in particular, so it makes sense that those respective cultural attitudes would have been handed down as well. Lothlórien is an unusual Elven realm in that it’s led by a Lady of the Noldor and her Sindarin husband, indeed himself a relative of Thingol; but the great majority of the population of Lorien seems to be Silvani, Wood-Elves, who very likely have no written language of their own. Perhaps someone more familiar with Unfinished Tales or History of Middle—Earth can say more on this topic.

[Falenthal]

one of them wants to play an Elf of Lorien. Perhaps this could be a way for his character to break into Rohirrim society and be noticed by the King and Queen - offering his services to courtiers as a tutor.

I've just started playing a PbF game of Oaths and my character is a Lórien Elf diplomat, sent to pay the Lord and the Lady's respect to the new King. But also to remain in Rohan for as long as possible so as to keep an eye of potential Saruman schemes (Galadriel hasn't exactly told my character so, but the Lady can read between the lines in my reports...). My excuse to remain in Rohan is, precisely, as the sindarin teacher of Thengel and Morwen's daughters. Being around in the Great Hall of Edoras with the daughters is a good way to eavesdrop on the nobles and courtesans and their hushed conversations thanks to my Keen Hearing...

[Rich H]

My excuse to remain in Rohan is, precisely, as the sindarin teacher of Thengel and Morwen's daughters. Being around in the Great Hall of Edoras with the daughters is a good way to eavesdrop on the nobles and courtesans and their hushed conversations thanks to my Keen Hearing...

That's a nice way of weaving in a non-Rohirrim character, good thinking!

[Falenthal]

My excuse to remain in Rohan is, precisely, as the sindarin teacher of Thengel and Morwen's daughters. Being around in the Great Hall of Edoras with the daughters is a good way to eavesdrop on the nobles and courtesans and their hushed conversations thanks to my Keen Hearing...

That's a nice way of weaving in a non-Rohirrim character, good thinking!

Thanks!
My other idea of PC was a young Man of Minas Tirith that was in charge of the royal family's horses back in Minas Tirith. When Thengel and his family moved to Edoras, he came with them to learn all he could about horse handling. What better experience for someone who loves horses, than to go live in Rohan?

[Rue]

Being around in the Great Hall of Edoras with the daughters is a good way to eavesdrop on the nobles and courtesans and their hushed conversations thanks to my Keen Hearing...

One tiny note--depending on what kind of Great Hall Thengel is running you might mean "courtiers" (members of the Court) not "courtesans" (ladies of ill-repute).

Love the idea of an elven tutor as a way to logically loiter in Rohan.

[Glorelendil]

Wandering off-topic...but this made me think of a potentially cool way to include a "Dunlending" character in a group of Rohirrim: a Rohirrim child/infant raised by Dunlendings, who has only recently decided to return to his home. So culturally very much a Dunlending...and treated that way by other Rohirrim...but still with a "right" to be included in the culture of his birth. Tons of fun roleplaying opportunities, for both the player and the LM.

[Falenthal]

Being around in the Great Hall of Edoras with the daughters is a good way to eavesdrop on the nobles and courtesans and their hushed conversations thanks to my Keen Hearing...

One tiny note--depending on what kind of Great Hall Thengel is running you might mean "courtiers" (members of the Court) not "courtesans" (ladies of ill-repute).

Love the idea of an elven tutor as a way to logically loiter in Rohan.

Thanks Rue! Of course, I ment "courtiers". In spanish the people of the court are called "cortesanos". You see it is very similar to "courtesans".

But an elven lady in a Great Hall full of courtesans would also make for a good alternative Middle-earth...

[Glorelendil]

...ehem...

[Otaku-sempai]

...ehem...

https://youtu.be/7VznI5fBbDY