High Elves and the Balrogs

[CSteefel]

Originally Posted by Mithadan

In my view, the duel between the Balrog and Glorfindel was basically rewritten as the duel between Gandalf and the Balrog, even to the details of the Balrog tumbling down from a great height and bouncing off the side of the mountain (because either his wings were injured or were shadows incapable of supporting his weight or.... never mind).

I would have liked to have seen Tolkien rewrite the duel of Ecthelion and the Balrog. Impaling a foe on the spike of one's helmet seems inelegant.

Yes, in fact I believe I posted something to this effect earlier. The parallels between Gandalf and Glorfindel are pretty striking, even beyond the Balrog fight.

As to the Balrog coming to Lothlorien, this seems to make no sense. Certainly the Balrog would not be able to overcome the protection of Lothlorien, since only Sauron (and probably then with the Ring) would be able to do so. In fact, it seems noteworthy to me that the Balrog stayed hidden in the deep recesses of Moria. There is no record of him ever venturing forth that I know of...

[Mithadan]

The parallels between Gandalf and Glorfindel are pretty striking, even beyond the Balrog fight.

I read somewhere, perhaps here, the theory that there exist in the Legendarium a class of "heroes" known as White Riders. That theory included both Glorfindel and Gandalf within this category, based upon their apparent power over opponents while on horseback and the fact that both seemed to possess an inner white light.