Introduction
The purpose of this article is to
chronicle knowledge of Elves in general. For this reason, events or facts which
focus on a specific group of Elves will not be in great focus, and some may not be
mentioned.
Information from the Silmarillion and Lord of the Rings
Elves are the firstborn of the
Children of Eru. They call themselves Quendi, meaning “those who speak with
voices.” The Vala Oromë named them Eldar in their own tongue, which means
“People of the Stars,” though this name later only applied to those who
accepted the summons to Aman.
Characteristics/Nature
Elves are immortal, in that their
bodies are designed to last until the end of Arda.1 They do not die
physically unless they are slain, or their grief is great enough that they wish
to die. Sickness and pestilence can’t kill them. Their bodies in the beginning
were similar to that of mortals and were more easily destroyed. Men and Elves were
originally of similar stature and body strength, but Elves had greater wisdom,
skill, and beauty. The Calaquendi surpassed the Moriquendi in these as the
Moriquendi did Men, though the Sindar came closest to the Calaquendi.2
Of the Noldor and Sindar, the
Noldor had the greater power of mind and body, were greater warriors and sages,
built with stone, and loved hill slopes and open lands. The Sindar had fairer
voices, were more skilled in music, loved woods and riversides, and some still
wandered without a settled abode. The Nandor were also known to wander (S 94),
as were the Avari.3 These differences would set them apart from
other Elves as well.
Upon physical death, Elves go to
the Halls of Mandos, to reflect on their life and await a time when they may be
restored to a body, if they wish. Once restored to a body, they are free to
live in Aman.
Elves are similar in nature to the
Ainur, though less in might and stature. Their presence affects the land where
they live.For example, the land of Eregion at the end of the Third Age
still remembers the Noldor who had lived there in the Second.4
Enhanced forms of this can be seen in Rivendell and Lothlorien, where the lands
are preserved by Elven rings.
Hair color among Elves is generally
divided by their house. The Vanyar had blonde hair, while the Noldor had dark
hair. Some Teleri had silver hair (Celeborn and Elwë are mentioned to have
silver hair). Some Silvan Elves, who were Teleri, appear to have had blonde
hair as well.5Union between the
Elf groups would naturally allow for deviations from the norm (Finarfin’s house
being such, as the son of a Noldo and a Vanya).
Elves have some level of perception
that allows them to understand the minds of others. When Finrod first came
across Men, he found “he could read in (their) minds such thoughts as they
wished to reveal in speech.”6Gandalf, Elrond, and Galadriel also
spent nights communicating without word.7
Awakening
The Elves awoke beside the shores
of Cuiviénen “as Varda ended her labours (of creating new stars and
constellations),... when first Menelmacar strode up the sky and the blue fire
of Helluin flickered in the mists above the borders of the world.”8
The first sound they heard was water flowing and falling over stone. They dwelt
by those waters for a long time, naming everything they perceived, before Oromë
came upon them.
Relationship with the
Valar
Since the stars were the first
thing they saw, all Elves share a reverence for Varda above any other Vala or
Valie.
Oromë was the first of the Valar to
come upon the Elves, though it’s believed that Melkor was first aware of them.
Upon Oromë’s return to Aman, the
Valar were convinced to make war upon Melkor so that Arda could be safe for the
Children of Eru. The Valar then summoned the Elves to live with them in Aman.
The Elves, having only seen the Valar in their wrath, were concerned. Therefore,
three emissaries were chosen from among them to go to Aman, and then return to
tell about it to the others. These three were Ingwë, Elwë, and Finwë.
Relationship with Melkor
and his minions
Melkor sought to estrange Elves and
the Valar, and when he was aware of them sent spies among them, sending some as
dark riders to cause the Elves to fear Oromë’s riding. Thus, when Oromë did
come among them, many hid, and many ran in fear and were lost. Melkor hated the
Eldar, and saw them as the reason for his downfall. Of the Calaquendi, the
Vanyar were suspicious of him, and he didn’t bother with the Teleri. Only the
Noldor listened to him.
The wise
among the Elves of Eressea believe that Orcs have their origin in those Elves
who ran into the wild at Oromë’s coming, that Melkor imprisoned them,
corrupting them and enslaving them.9 The Sindar took them to be
Avari who had become evil and savage in the wild.10
During the
Wars of Beleriand, Morgoth captured and enslaved many Elves, including Noldor,
whom he put to work in his mines. Some of these he feigned to free, though they
were still enthralled to him, and thus sowed distrust among the Eldar for those
who did escape in truth.
Relationship with Men
The first dealings of Elves and Men
were with the Moriquendi in the east. They taught Men many things, among them
their speech. This proved helpful when the first Edain came over the Ered Luin
and were found by Finrod, as Finrod was able to recognize parts of their
speech.11
In Beleriand, many Noldor welcomed
what they saw as a new ally in the war against Morgoth, and Men were greeted by
both Noldor and Sindar, but Thingol would not allow them in Doriath. The
Green-Elves of Ossiriand were not as friendly toward Men, declaring them
unfriends for hewing wood and killing animals.
Other men came out of the east
later, under the leadership of Bor and Ulfang. Those who followed the former
proved faithful, while those following the latter were in Morgoth’s service, or
came to be in his service.
The three houses of Edain continued
to have a friendly a relationship with the Elves, except for the King’s Men of
Numenor in the Second Age, as that people fell into fear of death and jealousy
of Valar and Elves, and the Black Numenoreans of the Third Age who continued to
serve Sauron after Numenor was sunk.
Relationship with
Dwarves How long the Dwarves had been
trafficking east of the Ered Luin is unknown, but they had already come into
contact with the Nandor by the third age of Melkor’s captivity, and trade with
them is likely.
The Sindar
were the first Elves in Beleriand to deal with Dwarves. They first came across
the Petty-dwarves, and not know what they were, hunted and killed them. When
the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains came into
Beleriand during the second age of Morgoth’s captivity, the Sindar realized
they were a speaking people like themselves, and both parties benefited from
trade. Tension arose between the Sindar and the Dwarves when Thingol had a
Silmaril set into the Nauglamír, and the Dwarves who did the work coveted the
Silmaril. They slew Thingol and then returned to their halls, rallying their
armies to invade Doriath.
The
greatest friendship between Elf and Dwarf was between the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm
and the Noldor of Eregion in the Second Age of the Sun.12
Divisions of the
Elves
The first sundering of the Elves
came about with the summons to Aman. All those who accepted the summons were
called by the name Oromë had given all Elves: Eldar. Those who refused were
called Avari: The Unwilling.
The Eldar included all of Ingwë’s
people, and most of Finwë’s and Elwë’s peoples. Ingwë’s group became known as the
Vanyar, the Fair Elves. The Noldor (Deep Elves) Finwë’s group. The largest
group was the Teleri, who due to their size were led by Elwë and his brother
Olwë. They tarried often because they were not wholly of a mind to leave
Middle-earth. The Teleri delighted in the Sea, and those who reached Aman were also
known as the Falmari (Sea-Elves).
Those of the Eldar who reached Aman
were called Calaquendi (Light-Elves) and Tareldar (High-Elves).13
The Eldar who did not come to Aman were called Úmanyar by the Calaquendi. The Úmanyar and the Avari were classified together as Moriquendi (Dark-Elves).
A large group of Teleri led by
Lenwë left the march when the host of the Eldar reached the AnduinRiver.
He led them southward, and his people became known as the Nandor (“Those who
turn back”).
Later during the ages of Melkor’s
imprisonment, upon hearing of the might of Elwë (aka Elu Thingol) and his realm, a group of Nandor
were led into Beleriand by Lenwë’s son Denethor. With the loss of Denethor in
the first battle of the Wars of Beleriand, those of this group who did not
merge themselves with the Sindar turned to secrecy and became known as the
Laiquendi (Green-Elves) for the color of their clothing.
Silvan Elves (also called the
Woodland Elves), based on their geographical location, appear to be the Nandor
of the First Age who did not follow Denethor into Beleriand, and thus should be
Eldar. However, Appendix F of Return of the King doesn’t recognize them
as Eldar.14
The Maia Ossë convinced a group of
Teleri to remain on the shores of Middle-earth. These became the Falathrim, and
Cirdan was their lord. They were the first mariners and shipmakers in
Middle-earth.
Of those Eldar who remained in
Middle-earth, those who took Elwë as their king (which was the majority of the
Eldar of Beleriand) became known as the Sindar (Grey-elves), and were the
fairest, wisest, and most skilful of the Elves of Middle-earth.
Weaponry In Aman,
the first weapons were made by the Noldor at the instigation of Melkor. Swords,
axes, and spears are specifically named, and others are hinted at. Shields are
also mentioned.
When
Menegroth began storing weapons to defend itself from Melkor’s minions, Thingol
had the aid of the Dwarves. Axes, spears, and swords were the weapons of choice
in this case as well.
The
majority of Teleri outside of Thingol’s forces, both in Middle-earth and Aman,
were lightly armed. The Teleri of Aman were mostly armed with slender bows
during their battle with the Noldor 15. The Nandor had no steel
weapons 16
Fading
Once the dominion of Man began, Elves were fated to
dwindle and fade from Middle-earth. The end of the Third Age of the Sun
marked the end of the Elves’ time in Middle-earth. The only option for
avoiding this fate was sailing West to Aman. top
Information beyond the Silmarillion and Lord of the Rings
The
terms “Eldar” and “Quendi” (or Qendi) changed meanings a few times
throughout the writing, sometimes either one referring to all Elves,
and others to specific groups. Unless otherwise noted, information in
this section is included only if there is certainty it would apply to
all Elves.
Awakening Book of Lost Tales 1
gives some commentary on the Elves’ knowledge prior to their awakening.
Nolemë (-> Finwë) says, “For meseems I awoke but now from
a sleep eternally profound, whose vast dreams already are forgotten.”
Tinwë (-> Elwë) comments that “his heart told him that he
was new-come from illimitable regions, yet he might not recollect by
what dark and strange paths he had been brought.” Inwë (->
Ingwë) knew nothing of from where (outside of Arda) they came or
how they got to Arda.17
Appearance
The physical “beauty “of Elves can best be described
by a quote from Book of Lost Tales part 2, in which Tolkien
“wrathfully” comments on a “’pretty’ or ‘ladylike’” depiction of
Legolas:
“He was tall as a young tree, lithe, immensely
strong, able swiftly to draw a great war-bow and shoot down a Nazgul,
endowed with the tremendous vitality of Elvish bodies, so hard and
resistant to hurt that he went only in light shoes over rock or through
snow, the most tireless of all the Fellowship.”18
This should be evidence that the physical beauty of
Elves is gender appropriate: male Elves have attractive masculine
qualities, and females attractive feminine qualities.
Hair color among Elves was generally related to
clan. Nearly all Minyar (Vanyar) had yellow or deep golden hair.19 Noldor were mostly dark-haired (brown or black), though there were those among the Noldor with red hair.20
The Teleri also had dark hair primarily, but silver hair was a trait
that appeared occasionally, particularly among those sharing near or
remote kinship with Elwë.21
Birth and Growth
“Laws and Customs Among the Eldar” in Morgoth’s Ring contains much information on this subject, and is the source of the information in this section.22
Elves are born one year after conception. Their
bodies grow slower than Man’s but their mind grows more swiftly. They
learned to speak, walk, and dance within this year, as “their wills
came soon to the mastery of their bodies.” Elves reach adulthood at
fifty years, though some would continue to grow until their hundredth
year. Children were few, but dear to the parents, seldom having more
than four.
The bodies and spirits of Elves are coherent, and as
time passes and the thoughts and desires of an Elf changes, so do the
impulses and moods of their bodies. Children are usually born in a
space of time shortly after marriage (short as the Eldar measure time).
Elves believe that in begetting and bearing
children, a greater share of their strength and being goes into it than
for mortals. Elves are not easily deceived by other Elves, and are
seldom swayed by desires of the body only, “but are by nature continent
and steadfast.”
Outside of biological differences and natural
inclinations of gender, men and women among Elves are equal. “There are
no matters which among the Eldar only a ner (man) can think or do, or others with which only a nis
(woman) is concerned.” For example, the arts of healing were typically
practiced by the nissi, while the neri bore arms when necessary. The
ability of the nissi in healing, however, was considered due to their
abstaining from hunting and war, not from being a woman. Likewise, “in
dire straights or desperate defense, the nissi fought valiantly, and
there was less difference in strength and speed between elven-men and
elven-women that had not borne child than is seen among mortals.”
Elves and Men
“The Cottage of Lost Play” says Elves and Men in
Tolkien’s early notes were “of a size” in former days, and that the
“smallness, filminess, and transparency” were an aspect of their
fading. It’s likely Tolkien was coming to reject a diminutive statue
being tied to fading by the time he was rewriting “The History of Eriol
or Aelfwine.”23
In a section titled “Miscellaneous Matters” of the
chapter “Turambar and the Foalokë”, there is a mention that Elves
were “conceived to be of slighter build and stature than Men.”24
“The History of Eriol or Aelfwine” mentions a
prophecy that one day Elves will fight a war against Melko(r)’s forces.
If Men join them, the Two Trees will be rekindled and their light will
spread over Arda. If Men oppose them, it will be the end of the Elves.25 It is also mentioned that Elves couldn’t breathe the same air as Men of equal or greater number.
“The Fall of Numenor” in The Lost Road says that
Elves hastened their fading by warring with Thu (Sauron) at the end of
the Second Age, and that this was the last service of the Firstborn to
Men.26
Death, Reincarnation, Fading
Elvish reincarnation into their children is first
mentioned in “The Music of the Ainur” as the fate of those Elves who
are slain or die of grief.27 By this means, the Elf population stayed constant.
Chapter 2 of The Shaping of Middle-earth
says Elves would have to wait in Mandos for a thousand years, or the
pleasure of the Gods (Valar), before they could be “recalled to free
life.”28
The “Quenta Silmarillion” version in The Lost Road
says that once they are able to leave Mandos, they are either leave as
spirits, “taking form according to their own thought, as the lesser
folk of the divine race,” or reborn into their children.
“Laws and Customs Among the Eldar” tells of the
greater dominance of the Elven spirit over its body than Man’s over
his. This dominance increased as time passed, consuming the body, the
end result being what is called “Elven fading.” At the last, the body
is merely a memory held by the spirit, and thus they became deathless.29 This group of Lingerers in Middle-earth is not to be confused with the Houseless.
Upon death, Elven spirits are summoned to Mandos,
that they are free to refuse. Doing so, however, leaves them weaker to
the counter-summons from Morgoth. Refusal most commonly came from
Avari. In the time after Morgoth’s removal from Arda, many Elves who
died in Middle-earth refused the summons, choosing to wander Arda
“Houseless.” These bodiless Elves desire to deal with the living,
though it is forbidden by the Valar. Some of them desire bodies, though
they aren’t willing to attain them lawfully, and thus are dangerous to
commune with.30
The Appendix of Part IV of Morgoth’s Ring
mentions a manuscript titled “Reincarnation of Elves” where Tolkien
discusses at length the issue. In this paper, he decides that rebirth
as a child is impossible for Elves. Since the fëa (spirit) and
hroa (body) are fitted to each other, and the body has a physical
descent, making it different from the spirit’s original body, it would
have to be a condition of pain for the spirit thus reborn.31
A note in The Peoples of Middle-earth says that Elvish bodies quickly disintegrate and vanish after their spirits leave them.32
Weaponry
The Elves were armed during the Great Journey, but
only with spears and bows and arrows, “weapons of the chase.”33
Elf Population Proportions
The information in this section can be found in The War of the Jewels, Part IV “Quendi and Eldar.”34
According to legend preserved (almost identically)
by the Amanyar and the Sindar, there were originally three Elf Clans
derived from the three Elf-fathers (and their followers): Imin, Tata,
and Enel, meaning One, Two, and Three. The clan names thus became
Minyar (“Firsts”), Tatyar (“Seconds”), and Nelyar (“Thirds”). Of the
original 144 Elves that awoke, they were divided among the three clans:
14, 56, and 74, respectively. The proportions based on these numbers
were maintained (more or less) until the Separation (the Sundering of
the Eldar and the Avari).
Of the Minyar it is said that none were Avari (thus
all were Vanyar). The Tatyar were evenly divided (the half that chose
to go to Aman becoming Noldor). The Nelyar were the most reluctant, but
had a greater sense of unity with their clan, and so many who had
originally chosen to be Avari became Eldar when it was clear Elwë
and Olwë, their chieftains, were leaving (and thus, were the
Teleri).
Part C offers this chart displaying Proportions of
Eldar and Avari among the Elf clans. Remember these are relative
proportions based on the original 144 Elves.
Minyar
14:
Avari 0
Eldar 14
Tatyar
56:
Avari 28
Eldar 28
Nenyar
74:
Avari 28
Eldar 46 < Amanyar Teleri
20; Sindar and Nandor 26
Gesture Systems
In addition to their spoken languages, Elves had gesture systems for
when speech was unwise. Unlike Dwarven Iglishmek, however, which was
designed to be used close at hand to discuss matters amongst themselves
without being understood by outsiders, Elven gesture-systems were
primarily used to communicate at a distance.35 top
References/Citations
The Silmarillion 1“Of the Beginning of Days” 8,9 “Of the Coming of the Elves and the
Captivity of Melkor”
“Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië”
“Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor” 15 “Of the Flight of the Noldor” 10,16 “Of the Sindar” 2 “Of Men” 6,11“Of the Coming of Men into the West”
“Of the Ruin of Beleriand” 3,12“Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age” 13 Index of Names, Entry: Eldar
The Fellowship of the
Ring 4 “The Rings Goes South” 5 “Lothlorien”
The Return of the
King 7 “Many Partings” 14 Appendix F, Section I, Subsection: “Of the Elves”
The History of Middle-earth Series:
Book of Lost Tales Part 1 17 Chapter V: “The Coming of the Elves and the Making of Kor” 27 Chapter II: “The Music of the Ainur”
Book of Lost Tales Part 2 18, 23, 25 Chapter 6: “The History of Eriol or Aelfwine and the End of the Tales” 24 Chapter II: “Turambar and the Foalokë”
The Shaping of Middle-earth 28 Chapter II: “The Earliest ‘Silmarillion’”, Section 7 (SoME 21)
The Lost Road and Other Writings 26 Part 1: “The Fall
of Numenor and the Lost Road”, Section II: “The Fall of Numenor”,
Chapter IV: “The Further Development of the Fall of Numenor” (26 LR 29)
Morgoth’s Ring 33 Part 2: “The Annals of Aman”, Section 4
Part 3: “The Later Quenta Silmarillion”, Section II: “The Second Phase”, “Laws and
Customs Among the Eldar” 22, 29 Subsection: “Laws and Customs Among the Eldar etc.” 30 Subsection: “Of Death and Severance of the Fëa and Hrondo [>Hroa]” 31 Part 4: “Anthrabeth Finrod Ah Andreth”, Appendix
The War of the Jewels
Part 4: “Quendi and Eldar” 19, 21, 34 Part C: “The Clan-names, with notes on other names for divisions of the Eldar” 35 Appendix D: “*Kwen, Quenya, and the Elvish (especially Noldorin) words for ‘Language’”
The Peoples of Middle-earth
Part 2: “Late Writings” 20 Chapter XI: “Shibboleth of Fëanor” 32 Chapter XIII: “Last Writings”, Note 24 top