Are Elves vegatarian?

[Lotrelf]

I did not say being Firstborn would keep them from killing or hunting. It was a general question since Elves were the most spiritual creatures, and they loved nature. So their affection towards natural things i.e. Trees and Animals etc. would be dear to them. They instead of hunting or killing, would preserve them.

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

I did not say being Firstborn would keep them from killing or hunting. It was a general question since Elves were the most spiritual creatures, and they loved nature. So their affection towards natural things i.e. Trees and Animals etc. would be dear to them. They instead of hunting or killing, would preserve them.

Er- what exactly is your point here, Lotrelf? If an author explicitly says his characters do something, how can you argue they don't?

[mhagain]

One thing we can say that Elves probably don't eat is mushrooms.

This comes from a passage omitted from the Druedain material in UT but given in Of Dwarves and Men:

To the astonishment of Elves and other Men they ate funguses with pleasure ... the Eldar did not eat these things.

Tolkien struck this passage out, noting that it was "too like Hobbits", so it's up to us to decide if this was also a rejection of Elves not eating mushrooms.

Note also that he said "Eldar", so the Avari possibly do eat them.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by mhagain

Note also that he said "Eldar", so the Avari possibly do eat them.

Since Mîm the Petty-Dwarf said of the "proud ones from over the Sea" that they were "too proud to delve", I would be inclined to think they weren't all that keen on eating things they had to dig out of the ground. I can see them eating berries and things from vines and trees more easily.

Anyway, there's not "mushroom" for doubt that they at least ate meat.

[Galin]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Anyone, there's not "mushroom" for doubt that they at least ate meat.

I like it when people go to the truffle of adding a pun in their response.

[mhagain]

Originally Posted by Galin

I like it when people go to the truffle of adding a pun in their response.

Amid all the seriousness it's good to see someone who's a fun guy.

[Alfirin]

Originally Posted by mhagain

Amid all the seriousness it's good to see someone who's a fun guy.

Me too, so long is it doesn't breach the forum's morels.

[Lotrelf]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

Er- what exactly is your point here, Lotrelf? If an author explicitly says his characters do something, how can you argue they don't?

I did not argue. I did not know that Professor had explicitly said something about this. I found that out from here. I didn't start this thread to "argue", but to know if They ate meat or not. After first few replies I couldn't make my mind to agree, but now, after, so much has been said I believe Elves ate meat and were non-vegatarians.

And, Yes, I asked this question because in The Hobbit 1, Dwarves are NOT served meat.

[Morthoron]

Vegetables are what Elves eat when they can't get hobbit.

[Lotrelf]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Vegetables are what Elves eat when they can't get hobbit.

Can't get Hobbit for what?

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

Can't get Hobbit for what?

Dinner.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Can't get Hobbit for what?

Dinner.
__________________

Or as (in Doctor Who) Madame Vastra replied when Jenny asked her how she found Jack the Ripper.

"Delicious." (Hey, that red liquid she enjoys isn't wine).

[Lotrelf]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Dinner.

Oops! Are you sure you're talking about the Elves? Your description sounds more like that of Sauron or Morgoth's.

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

I did not argue. I did not know that Professor had explicitly said something about this. I found that out from here. I didn't start this thread to "argue", but to know if They ate meat or not. After first few replies I couldn't make my mind to agree, but now, after, so much has been said I believe Elves ate meat and were non-vegatarians.

And, Yes, I asked this question because in The Hobbit 1, Dwarves are NOT served meat.

I am pretty sure the movie Elves are meant to be vegetarian, yes. As someone said already, this is such a common trope of later fiction that people often just assume it applies to Tolkien's work as well- and I guess Jackson is one of those people.

And I'm using "argue" to mean "put forward a case", not "fight".

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Vegetables are what Elves eat when they can't get hobbit.

More misinformation. There is clear evidence that Elves made and consumed this as a staple.

Originally Posted by Nerwen

I am pretty sure the movie Elves are meant to be vegetarian, yes. As someone said already, this is such a common trope of later fiction that people often just assume it applies to Tolkien's work as well- and I guess Jackson is one of those people.

It does indeed seem to fit the mold of Elves, or other beings associated with "nature" as being incapable of using fellow creatures for anything. Never mind the fact that it's awfully difficult to live on berries and bark, and walk around naked in the woods in winter due to an a refusal to use pelts or hides.

[mhagain]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

It does indeed seem to fit the mold of Elves, or other beings associated with "nature" as being incapable of using fellow creatures for anything.

Trouble is that Elves being particularly close to nature is another of those later tropes that gets retroactively applied to Tolkien.

Tolkien's own Elves had no problems with living in cities, working in mines and quarries, building great roads, etc. Turgon's people were almost exclusively urbanized, and Tumladen must have been very heavily farmed. Círdan's people lived in walled cities.

Sure, there wouldn't be a haze of industrial pollution over Gondolin, but you could pitch it at a similar technology level as the Roman Empire, say. Maybe Elvish aesthetics would balk at raw sewage flowing in the streets, but otherwise it seems to fit.