Few questions regarding LotR - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

littlemanpoet · 01-08-2003, 03:12 PM

Genetic differences? None.

Cultural? It isn't so much a matter of being from Mirkwood or Lorien or Rivendell, as whether the Elves in question were ever in Valinor, or Beleriand, or never got that far. The Elves who never got beyond the shores of Third Age Middle Earth are called the Moriquendi, the Dark Elves - not because of skin color, but because they never drew closer to the Light of Valinor than the shores of Middle Earth.

The Elves who went as far as Beleriand or Valinor differ from the Moriquendi in that they are the High Elves, having learned much from the Valar; those of Beleriand learned from Melian the Maia, as well as from the Noldor who returned from Valinor.

The High Elves are the Noldor, the Teleri, and the Vanyar. The Vanyar all went to Valinor. The Teleri are divided between those who went oversea and those who didn't, and the Noldor are divided between those who stayed in Valinor, and those who came back. Galadriel is a Noldo who came back. In fact, she is the last surviving pure Noldo who came back. Elrond and Arwen are mixed Noldor and Teleri (I think), as well as being half-elven.

To sum up, those Elves who are known as Elves of the Light, the High Elves, the Valaquendi, reached greater heights of wisdom, craft, valor, etc., than their woodland Moriquendi counterparts. Most of the Elves of Lorien are Moriquendi. Notice, of course, that there is little physical difference between Celeborn and Lindir. It's all a matter of where they've been what their history is.

I think that 'cultural' and 'fundamental' are basically the same thing, the way Tolkien set it up.

Philosophical? I'm not sure what you mean. I don't think of Elves as dealing much in philosophy, per se, though they definitely had great wisdom.

Hope that helps and doesn't overload/confuse.

[ January 08, 2003: Message edited by: littlemanpoet ]

01-08-2003, 03:12 PM	#3
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Genetic differences? None. Cultural? It isn't so much a matter of being from Mirkwood or Lorien or Rivendell, as whether the Elves in question were ever in Valinor, or Beleriand, or never got that far. The Elves who never got beyond the shores of Third Age Middle Earth are called the Moriquendi, the Dark Elves - not because of skin color, but because they never drew closer to the Light of Valinor than the shores of Middle Earth. The Elves who went as far as Beleriand or Valinor differ from the Moriquendi in that they are the High Elves, having learned much from the Valar; those of Beleriand learned from Melian the Maia, as well as from the Noldor who returned from Valinor. The High Elves are the Noldor, the Teleri, and the Vanyar. The Vanyar all went to Valinor. The Teleri are divided between those who went oversea and those who didn't, and the Noldor are divided between those who stayed in Valinor, and those who came back. Galadriel is a Noldo who came back. In fact, she is the last surviving pure Noldo who came back. Elrond and Arwen are mixed Noldor and Teleri (I think), as well as being half-elven. To sum up, those Elves who are known as Elves of the Light, the High Elves, the Valaquendi, reached greater heights of wisdom, craft, valor, etc., than their woodland Moriquendi counterparts. Most of the Elves of Lorien are Moriquendi. Notice, of course, that there is little physical difference between Celeborn and Lindir. It's all a matter of where they've been what their history is. I think that 'cultural' and 'fundamental' are basically the same thing, the way Tolkien set it up. Philosophical? I'm not sure what you mean. I don't think of Elves as dealing much in philosophy, per se, though they definitely had great wisdom. Hope that helps and doesn't overload/confuse. [ January 08, 2003: Message edited by: littlemanpoet ]