transcription: in lotr the word "man" is only used for human men so now im imagining like, someone: "are you a man or a woman?" pippin: "im a hobbit" someone: "but whats in your trousers?" pippin: "mostly snacks"
this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2025
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Correction, Tolkien uses 'man' for 'human' in general, following Old English semantics.
More accurately it'd be, "are you were or wife?"
Thus it came to the ears of Hobbiton that a guest was come, who asked of Pippin whether, as one of the Men, he was a were or wife. "Neither", Pippin declared: "I am an Hobbit". But the visitor was yet unwilling to yield, and asked once more which was the matter below his belt. "Food, I suppose, my sir; elevensies, lunch, and possibly an afternoon meal, if I will."
Yes, until the infuriating plot break when Tolkien had Éowyn say "I am no man" and fucking succeeded in killing the Witch King with Merry. Then he was absolutely using 'man' to mean cisgender male human.
That is true, but note that Tolkien used a lowercase there. (I've corrected mine to be uppercase).