Angrist
04-30-2002, 09:35 AM
Of Elves, Dwarves and Men.
In Middle-earth, the imaginary world created by J.R.R. Tolkien, there are many races. But most important and dominant of those are the Elves, the Dwarves and the Men. Who are they? What are they like? Where did they come from and where are they going?? Let's start with the beginning.
Of their creation
'There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made.'
Ilúvatar revealed to the Ainur a mighty vision and showed to them the world as it was to be. The task of the Ainur was to fulfil that vision and make that world, called Arda. So they did. They prepared the world for the coming of the Elves and Men, who were to be the inhabitants.
One of the Ainur, Aulë, the god of mining and smith-craft, could not wait for the Elves, and created his own race: the Dwarves. Like their creator, they loved delving and forging and they preferred to live underground in great cities hewn out of the rock.
Ilúvatar was aware of Aulë's deeds and he decided to put the Dwarves to sleep, until it was their time to awaken and walk upon the earth.
Aulë made seven Fathers of the Dwarves, and these slept through many ages until after the Awakening of the Elves.
When the world was ready, Ilúvatar gave life to the Elves, 'and while they dwelt yet silent their eyes beheld first of all things the stars of heaven. Therefore they have ever loved the starlight'.
Thousands of years later, the race of Men was awakened by Ilúvatar in the eastward regions of Middle-earth.
Of their appearances and their life spans
The Men in Middle-earth looked like the men we know today.
Most men had a life span of approximately 70 or 80 years. The exception to this were the Númenoreans, who were fair of face and tall. The span of their lives was thrice that of normal Men.
The Elves were the tallest of all the races, taller than Men, especially in the beginning, when their race was still young. After that, their size kept decreasing, until in the third age, they were almost as small as Men. Apart from a few who had lived since the beginning, none of the Elves had beards.
The gift of Elves was to have eternal life. They did not show any signs of age, but retained their fair appearance.
Dwarves were short: approximately three fifths of human size. Practically all Dwarves had long beards. It is said that even female Dwarves had beards. They were a tough and sturdy race, built to endure harsh circumstances and the dangers of Middle-earth.
They lived longer than Men, often reaching ages of 250 to 300 years.
Of wars
The Elves have always fought the Dark Lords, Morgoth and Sauron. Never have they served them, unlike other races. Only three times did Elves fight their own kin, but that was caused by Morgoth. Because when he stole the Silmarilli, Fëanor and his sons swore an oath to fight and pursue Morgoth and anyone who stood in their way, or kept the Silmarilli from them.
Elves fought for peace and freedom, almost never for personal enrichment.
Dwarves, on the other hand, often fought for gold, gems, and not of less importance, pride. The Dwarves were very retentive of the memory of injuries. Even the long War between Orcs and Dwarves was started to avenge one of their kings.
But they were not evil by nature, and few ever served the Enemy of free will, whatever the tales of Men may have told. For Men of old lusted after their wealth and the work of their hands, and there has been enmity between the races.
Certain groups of Men were always friends of the Elves, and have helped them in wars, and they were worthy allies. But they were also easy to deceive, and some groups have often served the purposes of the Dark Lords.
Of all races, Men had the greatest desire for power.
Later, when Men became the dominant race and more and more Elves left Middle-earth, the Númenoreans continued the long fight against the Enemy.
Of their languages
'Long [the Elves] dwelt in their first home by the water under stars, and they walked the Earth in wonder; and they began to make speech and to give names to all things that they perceived'. This old language evolved into two newer languages: High-elven and Grey-elven. Centuries later, the first was no longer a birth tongue in Middle-earth, but had become, as it were, an 'Elven-latin', still used for ceremony and for high matters of lore and song.
When the Men were created and had not yet met Elves, they made their own language. Through the ages, the language was enriched by the Númenoreans with words of the Elven languages. This language became so popular and widespread, that centuries later it became the Common Speech.
The Dwarves also had their own language that their creator Aulë had made for them. This language changed little by the years, because it had become a secret language, only used among themselves. They tended it and guarded it as a treasure of the past. Not even did they reveal to outsiders their true names, but always used names in the Common Speech.
Of their destinies
'The doom of the Elves was to be immortal, to love the beauty of the world, to bring it to full flower with their gifts of delicacy and perfection, to last while it lasts, never leaving it even when 'slain', but returning.'
When Elves died, their spirits went to the Halls of Mandos, a place in the land of the gods. There they stayed forever, mourning and grieving.
When Men died they really left the world. That was Ilúvatar's gift (or doom) to Men: to be free from the 'circles of the world'. Men themselves believed that there was indeed life after their death, and the gods had hinted at this, but nobody knew for sure.
It was told among the Elves that when the Dwarves died, they returned to the earth and the stone of which they were made, but that was not their own belief. 'For they said that Aulë cares for them, and gathers them to Mandos in halls set apart; and that he declared to their Fathers of old that Ilúvatar will hallow them and give them a place among the [Elves] in the End.'
Conclusion
As you have noticed, there are huge differences between the three races, and there is still so much more to tell about them!
But these were of course not the only races in Middle-earth! There were also Hobbits, Orcs, Trolls, Ents, Eagles and a lot more creatures! The only way to get to know all these fabulous beings is to read Tolkien's books. It will be an experience for life!
Stephan Moed, 24-04-02
In Middle-earth, the imaginary world created by J.R.R. Tolkien, there are many races. But most important and dominant of those are the Elves, the Dwarves and the Men. Who are they? What are they like? Where did they come from and where are they going?? Let's start with the beginning.
Of their creation
'There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made.'
Ilúvatar revealed to the Ainur a mighty vision and showed to them the world as it was to be. The task of the Ainur was to fulfil that vision and make that world, called Arda. So they did. They prepared the world for the coming of the Elves and Men, who were to be the inhabitants.
One of the Ainur, Aulë, the god of mining and smith-craft, could not wait for the Elves, and created his own race: the Dwarves. Like their creator, they loved delving and forging and they preferred to live underground in great cities hewn out of the rock.
Ilúvatar was aware of Aulë's deeds and he decided to put the Dwarves to sleep, until it was their time to awaken and walk upon the earth.
Aulë made seven Fathers of the Dwarves, and these slept through many ages until after the Awakening of the Elves.
When the world was ready, Ilúvatar gave life to the Elves, 'and while they dwelt yet silent their eyes beheld first of all things the stars of heaven. Therefore they have ever loved the starlight'.
Thousands of years later, the race of Men was awakened by Ilúvatar in the eastward regions of Middle-earth.
Of their appearances and their life spans
The Men in Middle-earth looked like the men we know today.
Most men had a life span of approximately 70 or 80 years. The exception to this were the Númenoreans, who were fair of face and tall. The span of their lives was thrice that of normal Men.
The Elves were the tallest of all the races, taller than Men, especially in the beginning, when their race was still young. After that, their size kept decreasing, until in the third age, they were almost as small as Men. Apart from a few who had lived since the beginning, none of the Elves had beards.
The gift of Elves was to have eternal life. They did not show any signs of age, but retained their fair appearance.
Dwarves were short: approximately three fifths of human size. Practically all Dwarves had long beards. It is said that even female Dwarves had beards. They were a tough and sturdy race, built to endure harsh circumstances and the dangers of Middle-earth.
They lived longer than Men, often reaching ages of 250 to 300 years.
Of wars
The Elves have always fought the Dark Lords, Morgoth and Sauron. Never have they served them, unlike other races. Only three times did Elves fight their own kin, but that was caused by Morgoth. Because when he stole the Silmarilli, Fëanor and his sons swore an oath to fight and pursue Morgoth and anyone who stood in their way, or kept the Silmarilli from them.
Elves fought for peace and freedom, almost never for personal enrichment.
Dwarves, on the other hand, often fought for gold, gems, and not of less importance, pride. The Dwarves were very retentive of the memory of injuries. Even the long War between Orcs and Dwarves was started to avenge one of their kings.
But they were not evil by nature, and few ever served the Enemy of free will, whatever the tales of Men may have told. For Men of old lusted after their wealth and the work of their hands, and there has been enmity between the races.
Certain groups of Men were always friends of the Elves, and have helped them in wars, and they were worthy allies. But they were also easy to deceive, and some groups have often served the purposes of the Dark Lords.
Of all races, Men had the greatest desire for power.
Later, when Men became the dominant race and more and more Elves left Middle-earth, the Númenoreans continued the long fight against the Enemy.
Of their languages
'Long [the Elves] dwelt in their first home by the water under stars, and they walked the Earth in wonder; and they began to make speech and to give names to all things that they perceived'. This old language evolved into two newer languages: High-elven and Grey-elven. Centuries later, the first was no longer a birth tongue in Middle-earth, but had become, as it were, an 'Elven-latin', still used for ceremony and for high matters of lore and song.
When the Men were created and had not yet met Elves, they made their own language. Through the ages, the language was enriched by the Númenoreans with words of the Elven languages. This language became so popular and widespread, that centuries later it became the Common Speech.
The Dwarves also had their own language that their creator Aulë had made for them. This language changed little by the years, because it had become a secret language, only used among themselves. They tended it and guarded it as a treasure of the past. Not even did they reveal to outsiders their true names, but always used names in the Common Speech.
Of their destinies
'The doom of the Elves was to be immortal, to love the beauty of the world, to bring it to full flower with their gifts of delicacy and perfection, to last while it lasts, never leaving it even when 'slain', but returning.'
When Elves died, their spirits went to the Halls of Mandos, a place in the land of the gods. There they stayed forever, mourning and grieving.
When Men died they really left the world. That was Ilúvatar's gift (or doom) to Men: to be free from the 'circles of the world'. Men themselves believed that there was indeed life after their death, and the gods had hinted at this, but nobody knew for sure.
It was told among the Elves that when the Dwarves died, they returned to the earth and the stone of which they were made, but that was not their own belief. 'For they said that Aulë cares for them, and gathers them to Mandos in halls set apart; and that he declared to their Fathers of old that Ilúvatar will hallow them and give them a place among the [Elves] in the End.'
Conclusion
As you have noticed, there are huge differences between the three races, and there is still so much more to tell about them!
But these were of course not the only races in Middle-earth! There were also Hobbits, Orcs, Trolls, Ents, Eagles and a lot more creatures! The only way to get to know all these fabulous beings is to read Tolkien's books. It will be an experience for life!
Stephan Moed, 24-04-02