Mat Heathertoes: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
No edit summary
m (Removed nationality)
(15 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
One of the [[Big Folk]] who dwelt in [[Bree]], apparently an acquaintance of [[Barliman Butterbur]]. He became involved in the fighting that erupted there during the [[War of the Ring]], and he was among the five casualties (three Men and two Hobbits) that Butterbur later reported to [[Gandalf]].
{{men infobox
| image=
| name=Mat Heathertoes
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Bree]]
| affiliation=
| language=
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death={{TA|3019}}
| deathlocation=[[Bree]]
| age=
| notablefor=
| house=
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
{{quote|All good fellows, and they're missed|[[Barliman Butterbur]]<ref name="Bound"/>}}
'''Mat Heathertoes''' (died [[Third Age]] {{TA|3019|n}}) was a [[Bree-men|Man of Bree]].
__NOTOC__
==History==
With the [[War of the Ring]] raging in the South-east, many refugees came up the [[Greenway]] to [[Bree]]. Not all these refugees came with the same intentions: a group of [[ruffians]] was ousted from the town near the end of {{TA|3018}}. With the help of [[Bill Ferny]] and [[Harry Goatleaf]], they returned soon after New Year, and a fight ensued. The number of casualties on the side of the ruffians was not recorded, but five of the Bree-folk, three Men and two Hobbits, were killed. Mat Heathertoes was one of them.<ref name="Bound">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Homeward Bound]]"</ref>


[[category:Dúnedain]]
==Etymology==
''Mat'' was a name employed by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] to translate the common (but untranslated) Hobbit name '''Matta'''.<ref name="AppF">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[Appendix F]]'', "II: On Translation"</ref> The name '''Heathertoes''' was, like all surnames of the Men of Bree, a plant name,<ref name="Pony">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[At the Sign of the Prancing Pony]]"</ref> though this seems to have escaped Tolkien when he wrote [[Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings|a list for translators]]. In it he said ''Heathertoes'' was a Hobbit name, and was given in joke to the unshod Hobbits. While walking, they would gather twigs and moss between their toes.<ref name="nomen">{{HM|N}}, page 759</ref> However, Mat was most certainly a Man: given that two of the five were Hobbits<ref name="Bound"/>, and the last two named victims - [[Willie Banks]] and an [[Underhill Family|Underhill]] were both positively identified as Hobbits as well.<ref name="Pony"/><ref name="nomen"/>
 
==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Though the "set-to" with the ruffians is mentioned by Butterbur, he does not give the names of the casualties.<ref>[[Brian Sibley]], [[Michael Bakewell]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|The Lord of the Rings]]'', "[[Homeward Bound (episode)|Homeward Bound]]"</ref>
 
{{References}}
 
[[Category:Bree-men]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]

Revision as of 12:51, 23 May 2015

Mat Heathertoes
Man
Biographical Information
LocationBree
DeathT.A. 3019
Bree
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Mat Heathertoes
"All good fellows, and they're missed"
Barliman Butterbur[1]

Mat Heathertoes (died Third Age 3019) was a Man of Bree.

History

With the War of the Ring raging in the South-east, many refugees came up the Greenway to Bree. Not all these refugees came with the same intentions: a group of ruffians was ousted from the town near the end of T.A. 3018. With the help of Bill Ferny and Harry Goatleaf, they returned soon after New Year, and a fight ensued. The number of casualties on the side of the ruffians was not recorded, but five of the Bree-folk, three Men and two Hobbits, were killed. Mat Heathertoes was one of them.[1]

Etymology

Mat was a name employed by Tolkien to translate the common (but untranslated) Hobbit name Matta.[2] The name Heathertoes was, like all surnames of the Men of Bree, a plant name,[3] though this seems to have escaped Tolkien when he wrote a list for translators. In it he said Heathertoes was a Hobbit name, and was given in joke to the unshod Hobbits. While walking, they would gather twigs and moss between their toes.[4] However, Mat was most certainly a Man: given that two of the five were Hobbits[1], and the last two named victims - Willie Banks and an Underhill were both positively identified as Hobbits as well.[3][4]

Portrayal in adaptations

1981: The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series):

Though the "set-to" with the ruffians is mentioned by Butterbur, he does not give the names of the casualties.[5]

References