Feanor Self-Important?

[akhtene]

he was just the first of the immigrating Elves to set foot on Aman

This couldn't be, as Feanor wasn't among the ambassadors invited by the Valar (his father Finwé was). Feanor was born in Tirion.

Oh, following your brother's logic, maybe he was the first of the Eldar born in Aman? I'm not sure of that.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

My problem with the Silm is that I read it front to back last summer, and have been reduced to flipping through it occasionally since then. I don't own the book [yet], and usually it takes me a few days after I need it to actually get a hold of it. My question was more along the lines of "Could it be that we were jumping to conclusions about Feanor's arrogance, and that he was simply stating the obvious and we overthought it?"

Fea

[the phantom]

Oh, following your brother's logic, maybe he was the first of the Eldar born in Aman? I'm not sure of that.

I'm at school so I don't have my books, but I remember reading in HoME that Tolkien wanted Feanor to be the first-born of the Eldar. All the older Elves (Finwe, Elwe, etc.) were never born, they just woke up. Tolkien thought that the significance of being the first naturally born Child of Eru in the world would perhaps partly explain his ridiculous potency.

In one of his drafts Feanor was actually born in ME and his mother died by falling off a cliff while the Elves were passing through the Misty Mountains (on their way to Valinor). But Tolkien didn't keep this of course and had Feanor born after the journey's end. I can't remember if the idea of Feanor being the first born stayed intact through this change in the story.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Welcome back to the thread, my phan-tasmic friend. I'd never heard this about Feanor's birth. Which volume of HoME is it in? Although that question is somewhat meaningless, as I [very ashamedly] will admit to not having read any of HoME. But I do plan on ordering them through my local library once I have some free time again...

Fea

[the phantom]

Which volume of HoME is it in?

It is in Volume X (Morgoth's Ring).

Although that question is somewhat meaningless, as I [very ashamedly] will admit to not having read any of HoME. But I do plan on ordering them through my local library once I have some free time again...

Well, if you manage to find the time (I never knew a teenage artist's schedule was so cramped) then you should read Volume X. It's definitely the best one (in my sometimes almost humble opinion).

But I'll give you a taste of the book real quick here. Tolkien wrote this at one time but crossed it out-

Here they dwelt for a year, and here Indis wife of Finwe bore him a son, eldest of all the second generation of the Eldar.

This was right before they crossed the Misty Mts (and you'll notice the name Indis was used instead of Miriel).

And then Chris Tolkien wrote this a bit later-

The two passages concerning Indis wife of Finwe...are notable as the first indications of what would become a major further development in the Valinorian legend, though the stories told here bear no relation to the later narrative. These briefly sketched ideas may have been merely passing, rejected as soon as jotted down; but they show my father's concern with Feanor, feeling that the greatness of his powers and formidable nature were related to a singularity of origin- he was the first-born of the Eldar: that is to say, he did not 'waken' by Kuivienen, but had a father and mother, and was born in Middle-Earth.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Well, if you manage to find the time (I never knew a teenage artist's schedule was so cramped) then you should read Volume X.

1) The Book: will do. It involves some special ordering and an unguessable wait in time, but I'll get it and read it some time soon.

2) The Schedule: You'd be surprised. You've got to keep in mind that this is an over-achieving teenage artist, about to start her senior year, who's dead exhausted and still hasn't managed to get her room cleaned (I've seriously been trying for over a week, but things keep coming up!).

I can't remember if the idea of Feanor being the first born stayed intact through this change in the story.

I'll assume that your memory is still foggy on this subject, but does anyone else know if Feanor retained his firstborn status in later versions?

Fea

[the phantom]

The Book: will do. It involves some special ordering and an unguessable wait in time

So, I guess there's not a Borders (or another similar bookstore) anyplace close to you? That's too bad. Send me enough money and I'll mail you my copy and just buy myself a new one tomorrow.

You've got to keep in mind that this is an over-achieving teenage artist, about to start her senior year, who's dead exhausted and still hasn't managed to get her room cleaned

Hee hee. My room doesn't get cleaned once football season starts.

And looking back, I've determined that I had more free time my senior year than any other year (well, except when I was four years old). Once you take your ACT/SAT all the work is over (if you scored well, that is). Then you can stop doing homework and let your grades take a plunge cause they don't care as long as you tested high and passed your senior classes.

Than again, I was a slacker (definition: figured out how to get a little work to go a long way, now a days corporations call this practice "working smarter, not harder"). I suppose if you're an "over-achieving" sort of person then you're going to be short of Tolkien time your entire life. Poor thing.

but does anyone else know if Feanor retained his firstborn status in later versions?

Sounds like a job for Maedhros, or one of the other Revised-Silmarillion people.