View Full Version : Does not being fully Elven affect looks?
Luinëcolloien
11-30-2002, 05:41 PM
I brought this up in different thread but I figured I should probably start a new thread for this...it's kind of strange. Here goes.
In the books, Elrond, Elladan, and Elrohir were all described as looking 'niether young nor old' (or something of that like, I don't have the exact quote, sorry.) But Galadriel, however, or Glorfindel or Legolas (who are all 100% pure Elven) are all assumed to look youthful and fair, correct? I don't think any of them were mentioned as looking that way (I could be wrong about this, forgive me if I am...)But does Elrond and his twin sons looking this way have something to do with them not being 100% Elven compared to the others, Galadriel, Glorfindel, or Legolas, who are all pure Elven?? I know this is strange, I was just thinking about it...and I wondered. Thanks for reading.
Nieninque
11-30-2002, 07:15 PM
I've wondered about that too... I noticed that Elrond, Arwen, and his sons all have dark hair. Perchance this is due to their human blood as well?
Raefindel
11-30-2002, 07:22 PM
If Elves show age anywhere, Tolkien seems to describe it being in their eyes. I wouldn't think being half Elven or 3/4 would make too much difference.
Susan Delgado
11-30-2002, 07:24 PM
No, they are Noldor. Noldor have dark hair. Galdriel was an exception because her grandmother was Vanyar.
MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie
11-30-2002, 07:39 PM
I think that elves just show age through how much they know and in their eyes as raefindel said. Now besides knowledge, wisdom, and their eyes, I think that they do not show any physical aging. They are not supposed to look old. The way tolkien describes them makes the elves more of a mystery and shows how complex they are. I think that if they are not 100% elvish, that might have some effect on their physical appearance but not too noticeable. I think that maybe since Elrond was so wise it would make him appear to look older but since he is an elf, in stead of looking young, he looks neither young nor old.
Arwen Imladris
11-30-2002, 08:10 PM
What about Cirdan? Was he not old looking?
Keeper of Dol Guldur
12-02-2002, 03:08 PM
I think they look older only for the same reason Aragorn and the Dunedain looked haggard and grim-endless years of strife in defending the world from the enemies. The Dunedain were said to be fair, but grim. They made the Rohirrim look like mere boys. And they were descended from Elros (Elrond's brother to the layman). So sure, that mortal sorrow and worried appearance may have shown a little.
amyrlis
12-02-2002, 06:07 PM
Arwen - it is my understanding that Cirdan was the oldest elf remaining in Middle Earth during the War of the Rings. He was among those at the awakening at Cuiviénen, but did not travel to Aman during the great sundering of the elves. So, he was very old, even among elves.
Man-of-the-Wold
12-05-2002, 11:01 PM
The first observation is a good one. Tolkien I think wants the Peredhil to be distinct from true Elves, especially Elrond, who is described in "The Hobbit" as a looking like a Man in his prime, which might not be entirely apt for any elfin-male.
In a sense, they would not be recognizably different from an Elf to someone simply seeing them, but also perhaps more able to pass as human.
Elrond and his children are frequently referred as having the life or beauty of the Elves, but they are not called Elves.
I think this is one reason why with Gil-Galad's death, Elrond does not become the new High-King of the Elves, as he might be entitled by royal lineage.
Túroch
12-06-2002, 01:43 AM
The reason that Elrond and his sons still seem elven is because of Elrond choice to remain with the destiny of the first-born. Although his bloodline might be 9/16 Eleven, 6/16 Human, 1/16 Maia (I calculated it, i'm such a geek) his his life and destiny still follows that of full blooded elves. There should be no difference in how old they look they are immortal. They don't show age they simply show the wisdom and grace that accomponies age.
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