What colour is Legolas` hair? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh · 07-02-2004, 08:24 AM

Obviously the real question here is 'What colour is Legolas' hare', which I don't think has a thread yet. Don't be so quick to assume that something's been discussed before just because there's a typo in the title.

Personally I don't think there's enough evidence to offer a satisfactory answer on this issue. Although The Fauna of Middle-earth ( HoME XIV) mentions that Thranduil was a breeder of chinchillas, the only pet that it mentions for Legolas is a guinea pig called Fluff. A footnote to letter #412 does mention, however, that Legolas' favourite colour was purple. Infer from that what you will.

Feanor of the Peredhil · 07-02-2004, 08:36 AM

I'd always assumed that the hare was brown, but when I think more of it, would Legolas want his own personal hare to be the same color as the rest of the hares in Mirkwood? He IS a prince, after all. If I were a prince [actually, princess] of the forest, I would certainly want my hare to be noticable. What would happen if the hare escaped, I ask you? It would just blend in. And I know that Elves are good and all that, when it comes to nature, but if you've got a forest full of brown hares, would you be able to pick one of them out from the bunch? Now that I've been thinking, Legolas's hare may very well have been blonde.

Fea

**The Saucepan Man** · 07-02-2004, 10:46 AM

Surely Mirkwood hares are black, like the Squirrels and Butterflies ...

wilwarin538 · 07-02-2004, 11:00 AM

Well thanks, it was helpful to read those old forums. I personally only had an image of Legolas being blonde since I saw the movies then read the books I never got my own Idea of what he looked like, but I think I would of thought of him as a blond since Arwen was mentioned to be noted for her dark hair I probably would have autimatically thought that dark hair was rare and that most elves were blond. but of course ive only resintly read the books so I dont know much about them,and I guess dark hair isnt that rare, im glad ive learned something, I deffinetly know were to go if I have more questions, thanks again.

Fordim Hedgethistle · 07-02-2004, 11:15 AM

Legolas' hare was probably black at first until he got bunnied by Christopher Tolkien at which point the hare became blonde. Of course, Legolas was almost late for the Council of Elrond, which would seem to imply that his hare was white.

***The Barrow-Wight*** · 07-02-2004, 11:36 AM

Since the original question has been answered many times in the past and properly linked to, this topic now belongs in Mirth. I'm moving it there. Thanks a lot, Squatter

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh · 07-02-2004, 01:07 PM

I resent my research being consigned to Mirth just because nobody else has the HoME extended edition.

Fordim has a very good point there: Legolas may well have had a white hare, which was the ancient symbol of poor timekeeping among the Sindar. It's possible, though, that he would have given any such pet a blue rinse. In his footnote, Tolkien says: "In fact Legolas was particularly fond of purple, especially as an artificial hair colour. His liking for it was so pronounced even for Thranduil's folk that it marked him out from his fellows from an early age."

Pets in Middle-earth were rare, particularly rodents, which have a tendency to eat beatifully crafted furniture and nibble perfect flowing locks. One of the few characters who does possess a dog, at least in early draughts of LotR, is Aragorn, whose West Highland Terrier would earn him drinks by balancing peanuts on its nose.

07-02-2004, 08:24 AM	#1
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh Spectre of Decay Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bar-en-Danwedh Posts: 2,178	A possible new direction for debate. Obviously the real question here is 'What colour is Legolas' hare', which I don't think has a thread yet. Don't be so quick to assume that something's been discussed before just because there's a typo in the title. Personally I don't think there's enough evidence to offer a satisfactory answer on this issue. Although The Fauna of Middle-earth ( HoME XIV) mentions that Thranduil was a breeder of chinchillas, the only pet that it mentions for Legolas is a guinea pig called Fluff. A footnote to letter #412 does mention, however, that Legolas' favourite colour was purple. Infer from that what you will. __________________ Man kenuva métim' andúne?

07-02-2004, 08:36 AM	#2
Feanor of the Peredhil La Belle Dame sans Merci Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: perpetual uncertainty Posts: 5,517	I'd always assumed that the hare was brown, but when I think more of it, would Legolas want his own personal hare to be the same color as the rest of the hares in Mirkwood? He IS a prince, after all. If I were a prince [actually, princess] of the forest, I would certainly want my hare to be noticable. What would happen if the hare escaped, I ask you? It would just blend in. And I know that Elves are good and all that, when it comes to nature, but if you've got a forest full of brown hares, would you be able to pick one of them out from the bunch? Now that I've been thinking, Legolas's hare may very well have been blonde. Fea __________________ peace

07-02-2004, 10:46 AM	#3
The Saucepan Man Corpus Cacophonous Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: A green and pleasant land Posts: 8,390	Raven hare'd Surely Mirkwood hares are black, like the Squirrels and Butterflies ... __________________ Do you mind? I'm busy doing the fishstick. It's a very delicate state of mind!

07-02-2004, 11:15 AM	#5
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	A hare-brained thread Legolas' hare was probably black at first until he got bunnied by Christopher Tolkien at which point the hare became blonde. Of course, Legolas was almost late for the Council of Elrond, which would seem to imply that his hare was white.

07-02-2004, 11:36 AM	#6
*The Barrow-Wight* Night In Wight Satin Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 4,043	Since the original question has been answered many times in the past and properly linked to, this topic now belongs in Mirth. I'm moving it there. Thanks a lot, Squatter __________________ The Barrow-Wight

07-02-2004, 11:00 AM	#4
wilwarin538 Fluttering Enchantment Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 2,508	Well thanks, it was helpful to read those old forums. I personally only had an image of Legolas being blonde since I saw the movies then read the books I never got my own Idea of what he looked like, but I think I would of thought of him as a blond since Arwen was mentioned to be noted for her dark hair I probably would have autimatically thought that dark hair was rare and that most elves were blond. but of course ive only resintly read the books so I dont know much about them,and I guess dark hair isnt that rare, im glad ive learned something, I deffinetly know were to go if I have more questions, thanks again. __________________ Comme une étoile amarante Comme un papillon de nuit C'est la lumière qui m'attire La flamme qui m'éblouit Fenris Muffin

07-02-2004, 01:07 PM	#7
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh Spectre of Decay Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bar-en-Danwedh Posts: 2,178	The Establishment cannot silence the quest for knowledge I resent my research being consigned to Mirth just because nobody else has the HoME extended edition. Fordim has a very good point there: Legolas may well have had a white hare, which was the ancient symbol of poor timekeeping among the Sindar. It's possible, though, that he would have given any such pet a blue rinse. In his footnote, Tolkien says: "In fact Legolas was particularly fond of purple, especially as an artificial hair colour. His liking for it was so pronounced even for Thranduil's folk that it marked him out from his fellows from an early age." Pets in Middle-earth were rare, particularly rodents, which have a tendency to eat beatifully crafted furniture and nibble perfect flowing locks. One of the few characters who does possess a dog, at least in early draughts of LotR, is Aragorn, whose West Highland Terrier would earn him drinks by balancing peanuts on its nose. __________________ Man kenuva métim' andúne?