Elfin Anatomy - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Phil The Balrog · 12-22-2001, 05:44 AM

Is it elfin or elvish or what? who cares, on to my query...

I just started reading the Shaping of Middle Earth (it reads alot like the Bible, I noted) and we have the Elves created or whatever. Now there are four kinds: Light Elf, Sea Elf, Deep Elf, and Dark Elf. My question is, are these elves any different from each other in form, physiology, or functionality (nice use of alliteration, no?)? I'm new to Tolkeinology so I have many probably basic questions. But I picure a Light Elf as blonde and air skinned, Gnomes as more squat, Sea Elves as thin and kind of mermaid-ish, and Dark Elves seem kind of... i dunno, more devious-looking. Or are they just different distinctions of elf in the same way that German-, Polish-, French-, and British-descended people are all pretty similar looking but of different blood?

Also, is there any explanation as to the origin of the soul? Elfin souls go to hall of Mandos for awhile and come back. Man souls go there and only Mandos knows whats next for men souls. Does Tolkein give any explanation as to the origin of these souls and are they the same souls as what we modern day humans possess?

I'm glad finals are over because Tolkeinology is really making me think. Thank goodness for 6 weeks of no college!

-Phil The Balrog
"Yeah, I have wings, but thy're mostly ornamental. This whip on the other hand... we're talkin fuctionality out the *** !" [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img]

12-22-2001, 05:44 AM	#1
Phil The Balrog Pile O'Bones Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 11	Elfin Anatomy Is it elfin or elvish or what? who cares, on to my query... I just started reading the Shaping of Middle Earth (it reads alot like the Bible, I noted) and we have the Elves created or whatever. Now there are four kinds: Light Elf, Sea Elf, Deep Elf, and Dark Elf. My question is, are these elves any different from each other in form, physiology, or functionality (nice use of alliteration, no?)? I'm new to Tolkeinology so I have many probably basic questions. But I picure a Light Elf as blonde and air skinned, Gnomes as more squat, Sea Elves as thin and kind of mermaid-ish, and Dark Elves seem kind of... i dunno, more devious-looking. Or are they just different distinctions of elf in the same way that German-, Polish-, French-, and British-descended people are all pretty similar looking but of different blood? Also, is there any explanation as to the origin of the soul? Elfin souls go to hall of Mandos for awhile and come back. Man souls go there and only Mandos knows whats next for men souls. Does Tolkein give any explanation as to the origin of these souls and are they the same souls as what we modern day humans possess? I'm glad finals are over because Tolkeinology is really making me think. Thank goodness for 6 weeks of no college! -Phil The Balrog "Yeah, I have wings, but thy're mostly ornamental. This whip on the other hand... we're talkin fuctionality out the *** !" [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img] __________________ -Yes, I'm Phil the Balrog.