[ Daily Tolkien ] A Tolkien Virgin: Of Men

Tolkien Online ^ | December 14, 1999 | Mark-Edmond

[JameRetief]

A Tolkien Virgin: Of Men
by Mark-Edmond

The Journey Continues

It's a beautiful thing to me that Men first come into contact with the Dark Elves that never joined in the journey to Valinor and don't know but rumors of the Valar. I can't explain exactly why it is so great. Maybe it's because the Dark Elves are no longer merely lost and without hope of seeing Valinor. Now, they have a special purpose: to welcome Men into the world and teach them. Remembering how long ago it was that the Dark Elves were lost when they fled Orome and Nahar, that they should now come back as an important element in this grand legend of Tolkien's is very cool indeed.

It's a definite style of Tolkien's in the Silmarillion to mention in passing an incredibly intriguing story that may or may not be told later. Right now I'm refering to Beren son of Barahir who is the only Elf ever to return from the mansions of the dead. What a great story would that be, huh?! Sheesh. There's also mention at the very end of Earendil and Elwing (apparently the offspring of elf/man relationships) and their child Elrond--only slightly less intriguing. I suppose the imagined hearers of these tales would be Elves (I'm sure you're sick of my pointing that out), and they would all probably be familiar with these great legends that Tolkien mentions in passing. So, as frustrating as it may be, again kudos to Tolkien for adding these tidbits in to make the grand story more fascinating.

Author: Mark-Edmond
Published on: December 14, 1999

The next Tolkien Virgin article continues with The Silmarillion: Of the Return of the Noldor

[JameRetief]

The Daily Tolkien articles by various authors	The Tolkien Virgin articles by Mark-Edmond
ARTICLES 01-10
ARTICLES 11-20
ARTICLES 21-30	ARTICLES 01-10
ARTICLES 31-40	11) Of the Sindar
41) Love in the Trees	12) Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor
42) The Philosophical Etymology Of Hobbit	13) Of Men
43) Exploring Tolkien's Fourth Age
44) Origin and History of the Ents

[JameRetief]

Your Tolkien Virgin Ping!

Read along with a Tolkien Virgin as he discovers and comments on the history of Middle Earth as he reads it for the first time.  These articles start with The Silmarillion, journeys through The Hobbit, and finishes with the epic Lord Of The Rings.  At the pace of 2 articles per week (Mondays and Fridays) the articles will wrap up about the same time that the final movie of the Lord Of The Rings story is released. 

If anyone would like for me to ping them directly when I post the Tolkien Virgin articles or my Daily Tolkien articles let me know. I hope that you enjoy them!

[Restorer]

Actually, Beren was a Man. But he'll find that out.

According to JRR's later writings, a great many of the Elves have returned from the Dead.

Beren was the only Man to achieve this feat.

[ecurbh]

Ring Ping!!