[Ithilien]

"They are proud and wilful, but they are true-hearted, generous in thought and deed; bold but not cruel; wise but unlearned; writing no books but singing many songs, after the matter of the children of Men before the Dark Years." -Aragorn, The Two Towers (Chapter 2, "The Riders of Rohan")

Aragorn comments that the Rohirrim are a wise race though many are unlearned in reading and writing.

My question is, is everyone in Rohan unlearned or are there a select few that can read and write.

My belief is that since Theoden was raised in Gondor it is most likely that as a royal he learned how to read, and probably taught his son how to read.

So is it likely that Eowyn and Eomer know how to read and write as well?

Sorry if it's difficult to sift through my stream of onsciousness. But if anyone can theorize on that, it'd would be great.

[BittenBuggy]

Throughout history, noble children were almost ALWAYS educated. One of the exceptions being Charlemagne, but he was just impossible to teach:lol:

People of high status (boys especially) learned how to read and write, and of course, members of the counsel would have to. I would bet if you're asking after Eomer and Eoywn that they could read.

[Saralitazie]

Yeah - what Beebs said. Very likely the lower classes would be much less educated than the nobles, simply because that's how it goes. But Eomer and Eowyn, almost definitely. Especially considering that Eowyn was a stubborn son-of-a-gun that went for whatever she wanted and didn't give up, as exemplified by her ending up on the Pelennor, kicking ass.

I think she would've gone after an education the same way, but that's just me

[Hathor]

Judging by Roherric culture, and the mention of "writing no books but singing many songs" indicates to me that the general popular memory is passed on through songs rather than books. Think of Britain (and much of Europe_ in, say, the Middle Ages and beforehand. No printing, so literacy was relatively rare, feudal system meant people really couldn't afford much education, ergo all events were passed on by song so that people remembered them.

So, Eowyn and Eomer would have been able to read as they would have been nobility. Basically. Boys would have needed it for matters of state (in trade with other literate countries) and most high-born girls were educated to help with the husbands. Again, I'm pulling this information from British history, a culture that's never been identical to Rohirric culture, but it's close enough!

[Eyborg]

I imagine that all the members of the royal family in Rohan could read and write - also the women. And generally most of the "higher status" people (like for instance Gríma Wormtongue).
As for the military (like Gamling and Háma), I'm not sure, but it's not impossible...

[Andreth]

I'll throw in my two cents here and say that in the Two Towers when Gimli, Aragorn and Legolas first met Eomer, it says that Eomer spoke with a manner and tone similar to the speech of Boromir, Man of Gondor. Theoden grew up in Gondor and it's said that even after his father was forced to come back to Rohan and take the throne that they continued to use the Gondorian speech in their household, even though it didn't make a lot of the Rohirrim too happy.

Theodwyn also grew up in Gondor and would have been taught their ways, so I don't see any reason why she wouldn't have passed those teachings along to her children, Eomer and Eowyn. And also, you'd think that someone who was potentially in line for the throne would need to know how to read and write to exchange correspondence with other countries, especially Gondor.

[Ithilien]

Thanks for the replies and reaching a general consensus. There is nothing I hate more than being unsure over a fact. Thanks again!

Lepeka

[miriel361]

[Taethowen]

[NancyBrooke]

[Andreth]

Thanks, Nancy. I knew they were of schooling age, so to speak, but you saved me from having to go look up dates and make sure. Thank you much.

[Ithilien]

[Andreth]

I found this yesterday and remembered this thread. Thought the quote might be of some use. From Peoples of Middle-earth pg 296:

"For instance, among the Rohirrim there can have been very few who did not understand the Common Speech, and most must have been able to speak it fairly well. The royal house, and no doubt many other families, spoke (and wrote) it correctly and familiarly. It was in fact King Theoden's native language: he was born in Gondor and his father Thengel had used the Common Speech in his own home even after his return to Rohan.

*The Kings and their descendants after Thengel also knew the SIndarin tongue - the language of the nobles in Gondor [Cf. Appendix A (II), in the list of the Kings of the Mark, on Thengel's sojourn in Gondor. It is said there that after his return to Rohan 'the speech of Gondor was used in his house and not all men thought that good.'] "

The only thing I have to comment on about the Egyptians and the use of scribes was that even though it was common for Royals to employ scribes to do the work, the Royals would have been taught how to reading/writing as part of the higher education they received. It stands to reason that if they knew how to read, they also knew how to write. Whether or not they willingly employed that skill when there were others to do it for them is another matter all together.

But I can see a scribe being used in any royal house, even Rohan.

[krazykataave]

I'm very glad i took time to read this thread! I also wondered about the reading ability of Rohan because of the verse first described.

Later reading in Rohan will fit more into the story i'm working on and i appreciate all the advice given - it should make things easier, and i didn't have to ask

Kat