Talk:Narsil

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Another change made for the movie was to make it a longsword, i.e. a two-handed (or one-and-a-half-handed) weapon. There is no evidence it was intended as such, all the more since these are weapons from the late high and late middle ages and the Renaissance. Tolkien describes in the HoME that the Numenoreans fought using shields. A weapon this long is not really practical in such a fighting style -besides, Narsil was forged by Dwarves.

In the hands of a strong person, there is no reason why a one-and-a-half-handed sword could not be used with a shield. The name itself derives from the fact that the swordsman can use it with one hand, or use half of his other hand for extra force, the sword being made light enough to use in one hand. ---

"The blade presumably was given to one of the Sons of Fëanor, possibly Curufin, to whom Angrist was given. It eventually came to Maglor, who would have given it to Elros."

Although well-informed and reasonable speculation, this statement is still just that -- speculation. To my knowledge Tolkien never revealed anything about Narsil's history prior to Elendil's time except that it was forged by Telchar, leaving a gap of about 3500 years in the sword's history. Gildir 20:11, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Light emitting? 3 Andúril vs Durendal 4 Removed text

[edit] Etymology

Does anybody know anything on the etymology of the syllable 'nar'? --Alif 02:34, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

Derivates of the root 'nar', meaning fire, can be seen in 'Narsil', 'Narya', 'Sammath Naur', et cetera. Also, the form 'anar', meaning Sun, derived from it appears in 'Minas Anor', 'Anarion', et cetera. The Sindarin and Quenya forms of this root are very similar, but I don't recall any information on the form of the common root in 'Primitive Quendian'. --CBDunkerson 08:41, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Light emitting?

There are several mentions of the sword having light (and being extinguished when it was broken), but this is not mentioned in the article. Strikes me as a significant identifier as far as swords go (in the same way that sting's glow when orcs are near makes it special). Any chance of somebody with a login adding something?

[edit] Andúril vs Durendal

Is the similarity in names between these two famed fictional swords a coincidence? Undoubtedly Tolkien knew Roland's Durendal, a fragment of which "indestructable" sword is allegedly stuck in a wall at Rocamadour.Afasmit 00:28, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Removed text

Unnecessary in my opinion:

Elendil the Tall was supposedly 7'11" (241 cm), so a sword especially made for him would be oversized for a man such as Aragorn; however, Narsil was forged by a Dwarf in the First Age, long before Elendil was born in the Second — it was unquestionably not especially made for him.

Uthanc 09:16, 30 December 2006 (UTC)