Can Elves die by hunger?

[Veritas]

I was just wondering, elves can only die when they're killed by someone, but can they die by hunger? I mean, they must eat and drink, but if they haven't got any food?

In the books is never mentioned that they hadn't got any food, I thought.

[Rosa_Baggins]

They prob can but after a long time if you know what i mean.
Elves are only immune to sickness not physical wounds.

[Lomelinde]

Elves could probably survive starvation a lot longer than Men of course, but they also would eventually succumb to it. Elves are immune to disease and aging- that's about it. So I would imagine that they could die without physical sustenance for a prolonged time.

Why do you think there's lembas? smilies/wink.gif

[Naurlothwen]

They would, although elves are immortal they still die. They are only immortal in the sense that they dont get sick and that they dont grow old thus they don't die like humans do. The average human will die of old age or a sickness because of old age or even just a sickness at any age.

If elves dont grow old and are immune to sickness then they have fewer ways in which they can die but still do die smilies/eek.gif
Elves still need to have food so that their bodies can function.(heh heh I sound like some health teacher or nutrition expert blugh
smilies/biggrin.gif )

[Nufaciel]

Actually, elves can be reborn. Check out Morgoth's Ring, where Tolkien talks about Elvish rebirth. Glorfindel dies in the Silmarillion, but is reborn and comes back to Middle-earth. (He and his horse help to save Frodo's butt! smilies/smile.gif

[Naurlothwen]

BUt they die!!!! The point alone isnt to trilling.
If they've died from famine or watever they still have died! reborn or no reborn
smilies/eek.gif

[Veritas]

tnx, just what I wanted to know! smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/wink.gif smilies/cool.gif

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Can't elves alo die from a broken heart>(I'd be dead now hee hee)

[orlandoandsaran]

Yes, elves can die from a broken heart.

[Lilly Loamsdown]

This leads me to a question I've been meaning to ask,Can elves get sunburned?
I mean they have fair skin right,so tecknicly
They could get sunburned easily.(Unlike me) smilies/biggrin.gif

[orlandoandsaran]

LOL Lily!
Well, maybe at that time they had special creams or sometin that doesn't make them have sunburn which could last a whole life time.
Ahaha...i'm just talkin crap!
Gee...i'm not sure bout that. But i think the elves usually wore long sleeved clothes so they hardly got any sunburn.
And maybe their hair protected their necks..
smilies/tongue.gif smilies/tongue.gif

[Tarthang]

Sure, elves get sunburned just like everyone else. But first you have to get them out from under the forest shade.

[Morquesse]

Whoa, I understand about the hunger issue, but rebirth? What the heck? Is that like reancarnation? smilies/eek.gif
Thanx for any explanation.

~M

[Melephelwen]

This is probably(sp?) off topic, but I read another book last week. (It was very inspired by LotR, and written by one of the guys, who helped editing the Sil. (His name's Guy Gavriel Kay - anybody read anything by him?))
Anyways, there was this deiena (have no idea what that is, so don't ask.) She was very beautiful (like Lúthien or so) and immortal. But only if she kept living like her specie. (Deiena's can't live in the sea, so when she threw herself into it she died. Elsehow she would have lived forever.)
I'm not describing this very well, but I hope you can understand me! smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Naurlothwen]

heh heh well I for one have o admit that I got none of what you just said Melephelwen
smilies/eek.gif sorry
Anyhow elves may or may not be able to sunburn but i think that an Elf being sunburned is VERY rare.they live in the forest-the sun may shine but not brightly enough there. Second once the sunlight gets into the forest, there wont be enough of it or enough strenght behind it to get sunburned.

Im sure though that evles who've gone travelly may get sunburns however. smilies/cool.gif

[Melephelwen]

Anyways, there was this deiena (have no idea what that is, so don't ask.) She was very beautiful (like Lúthien or so) and immortal. But only if she kept living like her specie. (Deiena's can't live in the sea, so when she threw herself into it she died. Elsehow she would have lived forever.

Okay, then I'll try again smilies/wink.gif
I've looked through the book today, and I found out, that a deiena is some kind of a forest spirit.
This deiena (Lisen) was created with a small part of all of the gods (Nearly wrote 'books' - silly me! smilies/rolleyes.gif ) She was very beautiful; and immortal - but only as long as she stayed on the earth (best with the forests) because deiena's dies if they touch the sea. smilies/eek.gif
She couldn't go to the sea, because deiena's can't survive there; they would go outside their natural bounds. smilies/frown.gif
Uhm... kinda forgot why I started writing this at all... hehe... smilies/rolleyes.gif
Could it be something like the same with Elves?

(Hope I explained it better this time smilies/biggrin.gif )

[Vinyaampawen]

Well I was wondering if elves could die of hunger too. Did you notice in the FOTR that Legolas never ate anything? Rather he was always on sentry duty watching out for any signs of dangerlike orcs, Sauron or the ringwraiths.

I know elves can die of a broken heart.

In the First Age Sauron captured elves and bred them with orcs. Did they die then? Did Sauron kill them?

smilies/cool.gif

[Keeper-of-Vilya]

Ok this is not exactly on topic but is still along the lines of what can elves tollerate. My question is this - Elrond was a healer, and a very powerful healer at that ! If he had been mortaly wounded in battle, would he have been able to heal himslef or would he have died like any other? I am wondering about this because I am writing a fanfic and have found myself in this situation. Thanks for any ideas you all have about this ! smilies/smile.gif

[Naurlothwen]

Elrond was a healer, and a very powerful healer at that ! If he had been mortaly wounded in battle, would he have been able to heal himslef or would he have died like any other?
hmmmm good question, I think that it is easier to heal others than it is yourself. When your in pain or unconsious or any of that is is very hard to go about healing yourself (if you ask me) because naturally your in no state to heal yourself. When your are mortaly wounded the chances of your having strength to heal yourself is minimal.
ummmmmmm so my answer would be yes he'd die like any other

[Naurlothwen]

..... and no he would not be able to heal himself smilies/eek.gif

[Vinyaampawen]

Sorry to post this again but I never got an answer to my initial questions. I was wondering if elves could die of hunger too. Did you notice in the FOTR that Legolas never ate anything? Rather he was always on sentry duty watching out for any signs of dangerlike orcs, Sauron or the ringwraiths.
I know elves can die of a broken heart.

In the First Age Sauron captured elves and bred them with orcs. Did they die then? Did Sauron kill them?

If anybody has any possible answers to my questions, I would appreciate hearing from you. Thank you!!!
smilies/smile.gif smilies/eek.gif

[Naurlothwen]

Sorry to post this again but I never got an answer to my initial questions. I was wondering if elves could die of hunger too.

ummmm well if you havent noticed thats what we were trying to determine.
yes the posts strayed but we have been giving our I ideas (I speak for eveyone who posted something on this question) it is hard to determine things that werent explained in the books so I at least can not give you a definite answer although I give you ideas of the possible answer.

[Vinyaampawen]

Well then maybe there is not an "answer". (sigh....) smilies/cool.gif

[Anna Licumo]

If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to ask my own question.
It said in the book, Elves 'sleep' my mixing alertness with dreams. It seems to have the same recuparation powers as normal sleep, and seems a lot evolutionarly better. So, if they are fully alert, or at least fully capable, how come Legolas didn't keep watch all the time? It says they made everyone take turns- why? He can keep watch and sleep at the same time- and catch up on any lost rest the next day traveling! He also seems to have the keenest eyes and hearing in the group, so wouldn't he be the best sentry? And wouldn't it make more sense to have everyone get a full nights rest instead of losing hours?
Maybe there's something obvious I'm missing, just wondering if anyone could help me. Thanks!

[Raefindel]

Yes, Elves can die of hunger. They can die of wounds,They can die of a broken heart, they just don't GET SICK or OLD.

As for the question of sleep, there si an older discussion on the subject. Perhaps it will help you, Anna.


And Welcome to the DOwns, Anna. Enjoy your time here.
Do Elves Sleep (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=10&t=000380)

[ June 15, 2002: Message edited by: Raefindel ]

[Anna Licumo]

Thank you! Interesting on what everyone thinks, although I still can't puzzle out why they were so adament about switching sentries. Tradition? Did they feel bad if they didn't share in the work?
Hmmmm... Time for tea. Perhaps the answer well float up then. Tea can solve just about anything!

[Vinyaampawen]

Anna, I certainly don't mind if you ask your own question. But in my experience at the Barrow-Downs other people's questions can answer or propose theories that shed light on your initial inquiry. smilies/smile.gif smilies/wink.gif smilies/cool.gif smilies/eek.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

[Fingolfin of the Noldor]

Though perhaps directly relevant I think it is important to add that Tolkien is pretty clear that when it comes to the hroa(body) those of the Quendi and the Atani are in essence the same the dispartiy lying primarily in the fea(soul) and the quality of union between the two.

[Gayahithwen]

In the First Age Sauron captured elves and bred them with orcs. Did they die then? Did Sauron kill them?

I think what it actually says is that:

But of those unhappy who were ensnared by Melkor little is known of a certainty. For who of the living has descended into the pits of Utumno, or has explored the darkness of the councels of Melkor? Yet this is held true by the wise of Eressë, that all those of the Quendi who came into the hands of Melkor, ere Utumno was broken, were put there in prison, and by slow arts of cruelty were corrupted and enslaved; and thus did Melkor breed the hideous race of the Orcs in envy and mockery of the Elves, of whom they were afterwards the bitterest foes. For the Orcs had life and multiplied after the manner of the Children of Ilúvatar; and naught that had life of it's own, nor the semblance of life, could ever Melkor make since his rebellion in the Ainulindalë before the Beginning: so say the wise. And deep in their dark hearts the Orcs loathed the Master whom they served in fear, the maker only of their misery. This it may be was the vilest deed of Melkor, and the most hateful to Ilúvatar.

I hope this answers your question smilies/smile.gif

[Vinyaampawen]

Thank you Gayahithwen!!!!!! smilies/smile.gif smilies/wink.gif smilies/cool.gif smilies/eek.gif