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11-24-2002, 01:38 AM | #1 |
Wight
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: With Tux, dread poodle of Pinnath Galin
Posts: 239
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Silvan Elves
As I've noted before despite the fading of the Elves in the Third Age, there does seem to be an exception in the case of the Silvan or Wood Elves of Rhovanion. Partly this is due to help they received from Noldor (High-elves that had lived in Eldamar or decendents of those who had), Sindar and Green-Elves who left Lindon and came among them during the Second and Third Age.
By the later Third Age, these Silvan Elves were contained in two principal places, but in those places they had strong robust populations. In Lothlorien, they were ultimately ruled by Celeborn and Galadriel, but only after the darkening of Moria and the passing of Amroth, although Galadriel and other Noldor (some refugees of Eregion), as well as Sindar and Laiquendi, had lived in Lothlorien and probably did so to some extent until the end of the Third Age, contributing to its strength, culture and beauty, despite the misgivings of Nimrodel and other Silvan Elves of similarly conservative mind. Eventually, a derivation of Sindarin was the main tougue spoken there. In Thranduil's realm, Noldorin colonist were probably nonexistent, but besides Thranduil's family, a significant number of other Gray and Green-Elves were likely counted among the Wood-Elves there. The Common Speech and/or some Silvan tongue seem to be the main languages of the Mirkwood elves. But who were the true Silvan Elves? In my distant youth, I had once thought they were Avari who finally wondered West, but that doesn't seem right, although perhaps some of those on the Great March who turned aside at the Sea of Rhun were numbered among the Elves of Mirkwood. But they were really not Avari in any significant way. Rather, the Silvan Elves seem to be Eldar, if not nearly as great as those that did dwell in Beleriand -- They are the Nandor, who at the Second Sundering were led aside by Denethor, and eventual resided at times in various places East and South of Beleriand, into which some eventually entered and became the Green-Elves. So, then are these Silvan Elves drawn to the Sea like Legolas to go to Eldamar? I believe that, yes, they are, and that many had already left through Gondor as Amroth and Nimrodel attempted to do. Eventually in the Fourth Age, I believe that most of the Nandorin Elves also went to the Gray Havens, like the Noldor and the other Telerian Elves that hadn't left with Olwe, or they went down the Anduin. It's entirely possible, though, that not all Nandorin Elves did so, and they would be the only Eldar who stayed and faded in Middle-Earth. [ November 24, 2002: Message edited by: Man-of-the-Wold ]
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The hoes unrecked in the fields were flung, __ and fallen ladders in the long grass lay __ of the lush orchards; every tree there turned __ its tangled head and eyed them secretly, __ and the ears listened of the nodding grasses; __ though noontide glowed on land and leaf, __ their limbs were chilled. |
11-26-2002, 08:19 PM | #2 | ||
A Northern Soul
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Valinor
Posts: 1,847
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Quote:
Letter No. 144 Quote:
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...take counsel with thyself, and remember who and what thou art. |
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11-29-2002, 01:44 PM | #3 | |
Wight
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: With Tux, dread poodle of Pinnath Galin
Posts: 239
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Considered Eldar? Perhaps, not by you. I believe as you say that the Eldar are those who went on the Great March. The First Sundering, determined who was Eldar and who was Avari, and it seems the Avari never enter into the Books afterwards at all, except via oblique references such as being the early helpers of the Secondborn.
In contrast, the Silvan Elves are of the Telerin branch of the Eldar, split-off at the Second Sundering, and thus Eldar (albeit barely) but with the right and inclination (for the most part) to eventually depart into the West as attempted by Amroth and Nimrodel, and likely successfully done eventually in the Second, Third and Fourth Ages my most of their kind. To wit, I offer the following from the Unfinished Tales, which is a quote of Tolkien from a late 'etymological discussion' in Appendix A of the History of Galadriel and Celeborn: Quote:
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The hoes unrecked in the fields were flung, __ and fallen ladders in the long grass lay __ of the lush orchards; every tree there turned __ its tangled head and eyed them secretly, __ and the ears listened of the nodding grasses; __ though noontide glowed on land and leaf, __ their limbs were chilled. |
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