I noticed as I was re-reading The Hobbit the other day that they never say the name of the Elvenking of Mirkwood. He's only refered to as the Elvenking. Does anybody have any ideas as to his name? Just wondering.

_________________
Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers!
I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me.
A day may come when the courage of Men fails
When we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship
But it is not this day
An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Man comes crashing down
But it is not this day!

Thranduil.

_________________

Ah, thank you! But how did you know that Thranduil is his name?

_________________
Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers!
I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me.
A day may come when the courage of Men fails
When we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship
But it is not this day
An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Man comes crashing down
But it is not this day!

Because Thranduil is Legolas' father and the King of Mirkwood in the trilogy. Since the Hobbit isn't that long before the trilogy, and they are, after all, elves, it must be the same person. Also, I believe in the Council Gloin mutters "You were not as kind to me" or something along those lines (when they were speaking of Gollum) when Legolas was saying how they treated Gollum, and then Gandalf said it wasn't the time to bring up old grievances. He wouldn't've mentioned it if it wasn't the same court that had run it.

_________________


^ Sig set by Goldy!

Ah! That explains it. Thank you! I can't believe I didn't catch that before! *Slaps self for being dumb*

_________________
Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers!
I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me.
A day may come when the courage of Men fails
When we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship
But it is not this day
An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Man comes crashing down
But it is not this day!

No, you're fine. Sometimes things just slip straight past you...happens to all of us. Glad I could help!

_________________


^ Sig set by Goldy!

I too wish Tolkien had mentioned the elvenking's name in the Hobbit. It's interesting how in the Hobbit he has a modest-sized part to play, and is nameless. In LotR he's just referenced in regards to his son, but despite his tiny part we're finally told his name!

_________________
Starting October 13th: globe trotting from my kitchen. Follow along on Cook In Fifty-Two

Maybe he hadn't thought of his name yet, or hadn't confirmed it or the connection or something, when the Hobbit was written.

_________________


^ Sig set by Goldy!

I believe this is pretty much exact!

_________________
'Come bite the apple and I'll crawl around your heart'

Yes it was the same person Gandlaf was talking about in FOTR! It say his name in the extras when Haldir greets Legolas in the golden woods, look at the link below!
http://www.tuckborough.net/elves.html#Thranduil

_________________

I think his name is also mentioned in the Council of Elrond scene where Legolas is addressed as Thranduil's son.

_________________

Faith isn't the ability to believe long and far into the misty future.
It's simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step Joni Erickson Tada

At firs I was like:
"Craig Parker as Thranduil?"
"Sure! Why not."
*see a picture*
*surprised*
"In costumes they look like each other! "

_________________

banner by me
married Andúril 20/08/12

You hit the nail on the head Aerwyn.

There was no 'Thranduil' or 'Legolas' at this point in Tolkien's imagination... well there was a Legolas actually, but when Tolkien wrote The Hobbit this character was a Noldorin Elf of Gondolin rather. Tolkien would later lift the name for the character we know as Legolas, make Legolas the son of the Elvenking, giving the Elvenking a name too of course.

John Rateliff (author of The History of The Hobbit) draws a comparison to the Elvenking and Thingol, although the pros and cons of this connection are a bit longish to go into.