Is Thranduil actually Daeron? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

***Sharkû*** · 12-08-2002, 06:17 PM

I don't think there is good evidence to assume they are the same, but it may well be that the image of Dairon, especially as in the Lay of Leithian, influenced the image of the Elven-King in the Hobbit.

Passages such as "and in the branches of an oak, / or seated on the beech-leaves brown, / Dairon the dark with ferny crown / played with bewildering wizard's art" (HoME III, iii)

"Dairon she found with ferny crown / silently sitting on beech-leaves brown" (ibid.)

seem to echo the appearance of Thranduil.
There is also a note to the Lay which mentions that Dairon wandered [to the forests in] the east [and south].

I suppose there may have been a connection in the origin of the literary characters, therefore, anything else would be too vague and unfounded speculation.

12-08-2002, 06:17 PM	#2
*Sharkû* Hungry Ghoul Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 1,719	I don't think there is good evidence to assume they are the same, but it may well be that the image of Dairon, especially as in the Lay of Leithian, influenced the image of the Elven-King in the Hobbit. Passages such as "and in the branches of an oak, / or seated on the beech-leaves brown, / Dairon the dark with ferny crown / played with bewildering wizard's art" (HoME III, iii) "Dairon she found with ferny crown / silently sitting on beech-leaves brown" (ibid.) seem to echo the appearance of Thranduil. There is also a note to the Lay which mentions that Dairon wandered [to the forests in] the east [and south]. I suppose there may have been a connection in the origin of the literary characters, therefore, anything else would be too vague and unfounded speculation.