The Elven change in character - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Kitanna · 06-09-2005, 09:20 AM

When I first read The Hobbit my impression of the elves was that they were crazy pixies (or something of the like) hiding in the forest. Then with LOTR that all changed. It was Lalwendë who made the point that the elves could be more happy and carefree because there wasn't really much of a threat hanging over them. It goes the same for people, at one point in their life they can have fun and be carefree when some time later they are serious, then they can go back to being carefree later on.
So though the elves are happy-go-lucky and teasing of the dwarves in The Hobbit they, like many people, put that attitude away when something serious happens and it needs fixing.

Formendacil · 06-09-2005, 06:53 PM

It's a matter of protagonist as much as anything else, I think. Bilbo vs. Frodo. And no, I am not talking about the translator conceit.

In The Hobbit, we follow Bilbo. We follow his adventures and his tales. As such, the Elves that we see are the ones that are most likely to make contact with him. In general, those are the happier, more carefree ones. Remember, Bilbo is just a hobbit burglar, a curiosity in which silly elflings, and not great elf-lords, would be likely to place an interest in. In addition, Bilbo's own preference for Elven company seems to lean more to the "tril-lil-lil-lalliers" than to the Glorfindel bunch.

In the Lord of the Rings, by way of contrast, our protagonist carries the greatest trinket in middle-earth. What he does will decide history for millennia. Quite naturally, as we follow his journey, we are going to see quite a few more serious elf-lords than we will dancing elflings. In addition, Frodo's character is such that he gravitates more to the solemn and wise than Bilbo did. (Even in his old age, Bilbo keeps the company of Lindir and such, as well as more rogueish sorts like the Dunadan).

06-09-2005, 09:20 AM	#1
Kitanna Child of the West Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Watching President Fillmore ride a unicorn Posts: 2,132	When I first read The Hobbit my impression of the elves was that they were crazy pixies (or something of the like) hiding in the forest. Then with LOTR that all changed. It was Lalwendë who made the point that the elves could be more happy and carefree because there wasn't really much of a threat hanging over them. It goes the same for people, at one point in their life they can have fun and be carefree when some time later they are serious, then they can go back to being carefree later on. So though the elves are happy-go-lucky and teasing of the dwarves in The Hobbit they, like many people, put that attitude away when something serious happens and it needs fixing. __________________ "Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." - Mark Twain

06-09-2005, 06:53 PM	#2
Formendacil Dead Serious Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Perched on Thangorodrim's towers. Posts: 3,328	It's a matter of protagonist as much as anything else, I think. Bilbo vs. Frodo. And no, I am not talking about the translator conceit. In The Hobbit, we follow Bilbo. We follow his adventures and his tales. As such, the Elves that we see are the ones that are most likely to make contact with him. In general, those are the happier, more carefree ones. Remember, Bilbo is just a hobbit burglar, a curiosity in which silly elflings, and not great elf-lords, would be likely to place an interest in. In addition, Bilbo's own preference for Elven company seems to lean more to the "tril-lil-lil-lalliers" than to the Glorfindel bunch. In the Lord of the Rings, by way of contrast, our protagonist carries the greatest trinket in middle-earth. What he does will decide history for millennia. Quite naturally, as we follow his journey, we are going to see quite a few more serious elf-lords than we will dancing elflings. In addition, Frodo's character is such that he gravitates more to the solemn and wise than Bilbo did. (Even in his old age, Bilbo keeps the company of Lindir and such, as well as more rogueish sorts like the Dunadan). __________________ I prefer history, true or feigned.