A question regarding Elves...

[Elvish Archer]

In the Trilogy, Legolas demonstrates on mulitple ocasions that Elves are at the lease "light of foot" and at best, weightless. My question is, which are they? Or is there an aspect I'm missing all together?

[Scott]

Elves are definitely not "weightless" (at least not in the sense that first comes to my mind), otherwise they would be able to jump as high as they wanted or even fly. Elves are however, the most graceful and agile sentient beings upon middle earth. They aren't "weightless," they just more or less have super-hero, mojo-esque moves.

[Lady Snickerdoodle]

it's probably an exaggeration, but I would definately go with light of foot because Legolas can walk on snow without leaving much of a footprint. I'd give you the exact quote but I gotta finish a report...

[Theron Bugtussle]

I always get weight and mass confused, but I would think the terms weightless and massless could be used interchangeably here. Weightless would also imply to me, an inability to use a bow. How could you apply force to pull the bowstring without mass? Similarly, there would be no mass to leverage a sword.

But does that mean light-footed is the only alternative?

[Jjudvven]

I think all they meant by light of foot is that he had the ability to walk quietly and softly, without disturbing the ground beneath him. All elves have this ability, being naturally athletic and graceful.

[Castamir]

Of course the Elves were "light of foot". Look when the Fellowship are climbing Carhadras. Legolas id able to walk on top of the snow without leaving footprints.

[Frodo Baggins]

Not to be overly nitpicky, but it never says in the books elves can walk on snow. Yes, it describes that Legolas, as other elves, was agile enough to run on snow, but that is different than walking. Walking up Caradhras I am sure he had to shove through the drifts like everyone else.

[Finwe]

Elves are so "in tune" with Nature, that when Nature is involved, they can do pretty much anything. For example, the much-contested issue of walking on snow. In the book, Legolas says that when you need to walk/travel through snow, you need an Elf. I think that pretty much takes care of the discussion.

[Gilbo]

While we're on the subject of Elves and their relationship to the physical world, I would like to know about the way Elves age. I know that it is slow, but I have questions. What about children? How long is an elvish youth? Does time work differently? Are they born and then age and grow as a human would? Do they spring forth full blown? I would hate to think that their teen years lasted for centuries. All those challenges and raging hormones. Then again, maybe Elves don't get zits and pre-date jitters. smilies/evil.gif

[Theron Bugtussle]

Frodo Baggins- watch out!! There is a Sméagol on this forum. smilies/smile.gif Just kidding...
Not to be overly nitpicky, but it never says in the books elves can walk on snow.I won't concede that point without the quote from the book, but... Yes, it describes that Legolas, as other elves, was agile enough to run on snow, but that is different than walking. Walking up Caradhras I am sure he had to shove through the drifts like everyone else. Well, being nitpicky myself, how can one "run on snow" without being able to "run on drifts" of snow? All a snowdrift is is unlevel snow.

[Eol Telemnar]

They are light on foot. They can fall. being wheightless, they would float, or rise, or fly or something, not walk. smilies/wink.gif

[Mungo of Bracegirdle]

Now, we are entering into my realm of study. But I don't think that JRRT was going to write up Laws of Physics of Ea. Something tells me that that wasn't his realm of study. If the Elves were weightless, this would imply that they had no mass. No mass means no matter. No matter means they weren't made of several organic compounds. Now we have a real problem. There are several problems. Just one example, without organic compounds, they would not be able to smell the difference between spearmint and pumpernickle bread. I'm not going to get into the specific stereochemistry or biochemistry that is involved here, just because it wouldn't be appropriate for this forum. But the fact that Elves can smell, means they have organic compounds. Organic compounds implies matter. Matter implies mass. Mass implies weight. So my answer is yes Elves have weight and when JRRT says they are lightfooted, well, he means just that! Hope you have enjoyed your lesson in chemistry and physics today!

Cheers,
Mungo

[Sharkû]

Look at a human anatomy book and you know _what_ compounds Elves are made from smilies/cool.gif