Rules      FAQ       Register        Login
It is currently March 28th, 2024, 8:05 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 24 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: Why are the elves in Middle Earth?
PostPosted: April 20th, 2007, 12:16 am 
Gondorian
Gondorian
User avatar

Joined: 10 April 2007
Posts: 249

Offline
If they long to sail over the sea to their 'home', Valinor, why were they in middle earth in the first place?

sorry for the elementary question,


Top
 Profile                  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: April 20th, 2007, 11:25 am 
Vala
Vala
User avatar

Joined: 02 January 2006
Posts: 5728
Location: Mithlond
Country: Slovakia (sk)

Offline
That's covered in The Silmarillion, but when they first sailed to Middle-earth, they did not have the sea-longing. That came on them after they had lived for a while in Middle-earth again.

But originally they sailed back to Middle-earth because Sauron's former master, Morgoth, had stolen the Silmarils (three really, incredibly beautiful jewels) from Fëanor, and the Elves wanted to get them back, so since Morgoth's fortress was in Middle-earth, the elves sailed there to get them back.

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile                  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: April 20th, 2007, 11:31 am 
Tolkien Scholar
Tolkien Scholar
User avatar

Joined: 08 April 2007
Posts: 7483
Location: Hiding in your closet =P
Country: Bulgaria (bg)
Gender: Female

Offline
But not all Elves leave Aman and Valinnor.Some are staying.The Noldor travel to Middle-earth.In the first few chapters Tolkiens desribes very good the how Middle-earth and how Elves,Men and Dwarfs come to live there.You must read "The Silmarilion".It a dreat book!

_________________

Image

Image
Return of the Rings 2011- make it happen


sig.set:by me;
my unbiological sissy is Aerlinn


Top
 Profile                  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: April 20th, 2007, 11:35 am 
Vala
Vala
User avatar

Joined: 02 January 2006
Posts: 5728
Location: Mithlond
Country: Slovakia (sk)

Offline
True, not all of the Elves left Valinor, but I kind of got the impression that dwarf was talking about those that were in Middle-earth.

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile                  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: April 20th, 2007, 11:37 am 
Tolkien Scholar
Tolkien Scholar
User avatar

Joined: 08 April 2007
Posts: 7483
Location: Hiding in your closet =P
Country: Bulgaria (bg)
Gender: Female

Offline
^Ops.haven't red the question properly.Sorry :blush:

_________________

Image

Image
Return of the Rings 2011- make it happen


sig.set:by me;
my unbiological sissy is Aerlinn


Top
 Profile                  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: April 20th, 2007, 11:40 am 
Gondorian
Gondorian
User avatar

Joined: 10 April 2007
Posts: 249

Offline
I have the Silmarillion, I just have been to busy to read it.

Thanks!


Top
 Profile                  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: April 20th, 2007, 11:53 am 
Vala
Vala
User avatar

Joined: 02 January 2006
Posts: 5728
Location: Mithlond
Country: Slovakia (sk)

Offline
Well, just so you know, dwarf, The Silmarillion clears up a lot of stuff, and it's really awesome. :D You should read it as soon as you have the time.

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile                  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: April 20th, 2007, 11:56 am 
Tolkien Scholar
Tolkien Scholar
User avatar

Joined: 08 April 2007
Posts: 7483
Location: Hiding in your closet =P
Country: Bulgaria (bg)
Gender: Female

Offline
^I can't disagree!!!I jusy red it and it's a great book!I love it!:)

_________________

Image

Image
Return of the Rings 2011- make it happen


sig.set:by me;
my unbiological sissy is Aerlinn


Top
 Profile                  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: June 11th, 2007, 5:50 am 
Dwarf
Dwarf
User avatar

Joined: 08 June 2007
Posts: 93
Location: Banja Luka

Offline
I agree with you!! :)

_________________
ImageImageImage


Top
 Profile       WWW            
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: July 16th, 2007, 10:43 pm 
Elf
Elf
User avatar

Joined: 29 May 2007
Posts: 1186
Location: Somewhere far away

Offline
I love reading in the silmarillion about how Eru created everything. It almost sounds like it was supposed to symbolize the story in Genesis. But Tolkien made sure to put in enough differences so that the two stories were not identical. ;)

_________________
~Follower of Christ~

~Extreme Evanescent~

~Claimed Elladan July 03, 2007~ :3


Top
 Profile                  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: July 21st, 2007, 4:07 am 
Queen of Eregion
Queen of Eregion
User avatar

Joined: 16 March 2006
Posts: 20465
Location: Gondolin
Country: Canada (ca)
Gender: Female

Offline
... I second that, Aerlinn! :)

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile       WWW            
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: August 23rd, 2007, 4:28 pm 
Vala
Vala
User avatar

Joined: 02 January 2006
Posts: 5728
Location: Mithlond
Country: Slovakia (sk)

Offline
I think that the Elves were meant to be in Middle-earth at the coming of man, to leave their mark on it and to guide the Younger Children, but while they might have been meant to live in Middle-earth up to and for a little while after that point, I don't believe that they were meant to live in Middle-earth forever.

I think that in the end, they were meant to be in Valinor, where they could live their endless lives in peace, away from death and passing-away, and fulfilling the Sea-longing.

Perhaps it would be better to say that I don't believe the Elves were meant to live in Middle-earth simply because I believe that Men were supposed to live there, and since Men were fated to rise to prominence and the Elves to fade in Middle-earth, it wouldn't make sense for the Elder Children to be 'meant' to live there. It seems more logical that they would be meant to go to Valinor in the end.

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile                  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: August 26th, 2007, 7:49 am 
Vala
Vala
User avatar

Joined: 02 January 2006
Posts: 5728
Location: Mithlond
Country: Slovakia (sk)

Offline
Well, Morgoth wasn't included in the Valar's plan, but it was mentioned in the Ainulindale that all of Morgoth's attempts to marr Iluvatar's creation would result in Iluvatar's glory and not Morgoth's--Iluvatar could apparently see the future (I'm pretty sure he could), so I think he knew what Morgoth was going to try to do.

And yes, the Elves were definitely meant to live on Arda, but that's the entire world, not just Middle-earth, so I think that due to the onset of Men, the Elves went to Valinor. Another thing that hints that they are meant to be there is that when they die, that's where they go. When they grow tired of mortal lands, that's where they go. They're immortal, but they all end up going to Valinor in the end, leaving Middle-earth to Men. That's just my opinion, true, but it's the one I've had since I first read The Silmarillion five years ago.

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile                  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: August 27th, 2007, 1:55 pm 
Vala
Vala
User avatar

Joined: 02 January 2006
Posts: 5728
Location: Mithlond
Country: Slovakia (sk)

Offline
Yes, but I still think that they were destined to go to Valinor anyways. I think that they were meant to be there.

But I notice that we're straying off topic. Again. We're really good at doing that. :P

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile                  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: August 31st, 2007, 7:12 am 
Movie Extra
Movie Extra
User avatar

Joined: 04 January 2007
Posts: 18

Offline
Ey, please don't mess with the elfs :P They are the race I loves in LOTR ^^,

_________________
~A life lived unexplored, is a life not lived~
----
Image


Top
 Profile                  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: August 31st, 2007, 3:41 pm 
Vala
Vala
User avatar

Joined: 02 January 2006
Posts: 5728
Location: Mithlond
Country: Slovakia (sk)

Offline
They're the coolest of the races that Tolkien created. Definitely. They're cooler than the Maiar and Valar, too.

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile                  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 24 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  




Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
Boyz theme by Zarron Media 2003