Are elves bored in Valinor? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

blantyr · 11-10-2011, 07:29 AM

One might get glimpses of Valinor in Rivendell and Lorien. In The Hobbit, when Bilbo returns after the bulk of his adventures, the elves are still singing silly songs which imply adventures are risky and not fun while all along sensible elves have been drinking and singing. In the Fellowship of the Ring the tone of Rivendell is much more somber. Mount Doom is in flames, and it is clear that the last round of adventures just can't be ignored. Still, there were songs in the Chamber of Fire. How can one be bored when there is opportunity to sing?

There might be many interpretations of the elves, and many distinct and diverse elven cultures even within the Tolkien tradition. I have role played variants who value beauty over conflict, and don't have difficulties seeing many of Tolkien's elves sharing such values. In many fantasy environments I've read of and played in, the struggle for power and fascination with conflict is a human flaw rather than an elven trait.

Those who stayed behind in Valinor would be precisely those who rejected the struggle for power and fascination with conflict. I would assume they would generally be less war like and aggressive than the elves one sees in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

11-10-2011, 07:29 AM	#2
blantyr Wight Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Settling down in Bree for the winter. Posts: 208	Glory? One might get glimpses of Valinor in Rivendell and Lorien. In The Hobbit, when Bilbo returns after the bulk of his adventures, the elves are still singing silly songs which imply adventures are risky and not fun while all along sensible elves have been drinking and singing. In the Fellowship of the Ring the tone of Rivendell is much more somber. Mount Doom is in flames, and it is clear that the last round of adventures just can't be ignored. Still, there were songs in the Chamber of Fire. How can one be bored when there is opportunity to sing? There might be many interpretations of the elves, and many distinct and diverse elven cultures even within the Tolkien tradition. I have role played variants who value beauty over conflict, and don't have difficulties seeing many of Tolkien's elves sharing such values. In many fantasy environments I've read of and played in, the struggle for power and fascination with conflict is a human flaw rather than an elven trait. Those who stayed behind in Valinor would be precisely those who rejected the struggle for power and fascination with conflict. I would assume they would generally be less war like and aggressive than the elves one sees in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.