Speaking of Legolas...

Top 36. Feb 7, 2002 10:40 AM

» desertblue - Re: Re: why send Legolas in the first place?

In response to message posted by proudfoot:

Good points, thank you.

-- posted by desertblue

Top 37. Feb 19, 2002 6:25 PM

» Ithildin - re: Why Legolas?

Some additional comments on possible reasons Legolas was chosen…
Perhaps Gandalf had much to do with Legolas being selected for the Fellowship? After the Battle of Five Armies Thranduil gave Gandalf an open invitation to his house and since the woodelves there would have been the one of the best sources of information about goings on around Dol Guldur, he probably stopped in frequently, especially after the evil in Mirkwood began to increase again. Though not stated in the books, I tend to believe that Legolas knew Gandalf well and the Wizard was well acquainted with Legolas’ capabilities. I also personally believe it is likely the Elven-prince already knew Aragorn as well, he could have visited with Gandalf. It is possible they had worked together before, and an established team that works well together is an asset in almost any situation.
I would think that Gandalf and Elrond would have discussed the potential composition of the Fellowship and Gandalf may have recommended competent folk he was familiar with even over “more powerful” persons he had not worked closely with before. Gandalf clearly recognized ability overlooked by others and was also prone to giving the unproven a chance to prove themselves.
I think foresight may have played an important role also. I believe both Elrond and Gandalf trusted to their sense that those individuals who were drawn to Rivendell at that particular point in time were destined to go.
The Elven lords at Rivendell, though very learned in many things, and trained and experienced in the more formal methods of warfare, probably did not possess the unique set of silvan skills evident in Legolas - at least not honed to the degree of his, for he had used these skills to survive and protect his kingdom on a daily basis for who-knows-how-many years. And the mission to destroy the ring would be an undercover operation calling for just such skills as he possessed.
Just some food for thought…

-- posted by Ithildin

Top 38. Mar 13, 2002 7:05 PM

» Laurelena - Re: re: Why Legolas?

In response to message posted by Ithildin:

Here are a few more thoughts I had to add regarding why Legolas was chosen. If memory serves me, he came to the council to report on what happened to Gollum, how he had escaped from his captivity among the elves of Mirkwood. He regretted that they had failed to keep him, and in fact it was because of their pity that he was given the opportunity to escape. I think that Legolas would have wanted to help, since he felt that he bore some responsibility (or represented his people who did) for failing to keep Gollum imprisoned.

I also wonder how much Elrond and the others were aware of the affect that the ring would have on the other members of the party. Certainly Boromir had wanted to use the ring rather than destroy it, and it worked on him, but it was a temptation to many, such as Galadriel, and Gandalf, who were wise enough to refuse to use it. Was it a consideration as to who could be trusted, or who was too powerful to risk putting them in temptations way. While Legolas was an excellent fighter, he would not be considered powerful in the same way as some of the elf lords who lived in Rivendell.

-- posted by Laurelena

Top 39. Mar 13, 2002 11:41 PM

» Michael_Martinez - Re: Re: re: Why Legolas?

In response to message posted by Laurelena:

The Ring would have tempted anyone it might have come into contact with. It even tempted Bombadil, although Bombadil had no ambitions, and therefore didn't succumb to the Ring's lure. It may be that Legolas, Gimli, Merry, and Pippin all got off easily enough because the Ring had its limits. It was tormenting Frodo and Boromir for sure, and had been rejected by both Gandalf and Aragorn with some effort on their parts. It was working its way down the list, and perhaps if Frodo had stayed with the Company others would have succumbed to the Ring's lure eventually.

He certainly believed he had to leave them for their own sakes.

-- posted by Michael_Martinez

Top 40. Mar 14, 2002 5:59 PM

» Eldanuumea - Re: Re: Re: re: Why Legolas?

In response to message posted by Michael_Martinez:

This is not really a response to the Legolas topic...I'd like to start a new discussion of the Eowyn-Arwen "problem" and I'm not sure how to start a new one. Mr. Martinez, maybe you could help me out on this.
I've read the four parts of The History of Middle-Earth presenting the many drafts and outlines of Tolkien for the trilogy. I am dumbdounded by Tolkien's sudden, unhinted-at thrusting of "Finduilas, daughter of Elrond" into the trilogy after the last battle. Originally he had intended Eowyn and Aragorn to marry....a union which would be far more satisfying to many of us than the Arwen-Aragorn connection, which seems an add-on. Can you shed any light on why Tolkien suddenly brought in Arwen after rejecting Aragorn as a suitor for Eowyn because he was "too old and grim"?

-- posted by Eldanuumea

Top 41. Mar 19, 2002 3:52 AM

» HELSA - Re: legolas and the lay of Nimrodel

In response to message posted by lindil:

I too have enjoyed this look into Legolas' past. But what of the time between the downfall of Sauron and Legolas and Gimli's voyage to sea (a period of approx 200 years I reckon) was nothing ever written in detail of this period. If not it is a pity as the relationship between Legolas and Gimli was great and they must of had a few adventures together during this time.
Hardly anything is mentioned in the appendices at the end of LOTR books. Out of all of the Fellowship there seems to be very little written about these two characters which is a shame as they are possibly two of the most popular from what I have read. If however I have missed anything please let me know as I have not as yet read any of Tolkiens other publications.

-- posted by HELSA

Top 42. Mar 30, 2002 6:19 PM

» peppermint68 - Legolas's age

Though no one really knows Legolas's age there are some clues you can use get an idea of how old he is. First is that Thranduil Brought elves back to wisdom in the beginning of the first age. Tranduil became king before Sauron finished the construction of Barad-Dur, about 1600 years into the first age.Elrond was a mixture his father was Nolder and his mother was Sindar.4864 years passed since the consruction of Barad-Dur. We now know that he was at least that old.but I think he went back further so that in my geuss he was about 6000 years old during the war of the of the ring.Now we know for a fact that Arwen was born in year 241 of teh third age,when Elrond was 3740.Right? You still with me? OK. The point of this all is that if Thranduil was around 6000 years old then it is possible that Legolas was born around the same time as Arwen.When add that all up you should figure out that Legolas is probably 2773 years old, like Arwen.

-- posted by peppermint68

Top 43. Mar 31, 2002 8:59 PM

» Michael_Martinez - Re: Legolas's age

In response to message posted by peppermint68:

I fear your history is a little faulty. Thranduil became king of the Elves of Greenwood the Great only after his father, Oropher, died in the War of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men (although the Appendix in LoTR says that Thranduil was one of the Sindarin adventurers who established kingdoms in the east, these two "facts" are not irreconcilable -- one can simply accept them both, assuming Thranduil went eastward with his father).

The eastern migration of the Sindar occurred early in the Second Age, probably between the years 500 and 1000, possibly between the years 500 and 700.

Elrond was somewhat unique in waiting so long to marry, although Gil-galad appears to have never taken a wife.

My feeling is that, since Legolas was not mentioned in the War of the Last Alliance, he probably had not yet been born. He could be about Arwen's age, or somewhat younger, or somewhat older.

-- posted by Michael_Martinez

Top 44. Mar 31, 2002 9:06 PM

» Michael_Martinez - I didn't realize you had posted this question here, as well as

I didn't realize you had posted this question here, as well as sent it by email. Since I've been unable to check Suite101 every day, that's perfectly understandable.

So that people will know I didn't mean to ignore you, I did respond to your email. Here is what I wrote:

I have long regarded the Aragorn/Arwen story as a reflection of the Beren/Luthien story, which was itself an homage Tolkien wrote to his own love for his wife, Edith. She was three years older than he and they were both orphaned while young. They met when Tolkien was sixteen years old. Both lived in the same boarding house. Tolkien's guardian forbade him to see Edith, and she eventually became engaged to someone else. But when Tolkien came of age, he visited her and asked her to marry him. She agreed. It was a very difficult time for them both, and soon after they were married World War I began. So there is a great deal of personal history in Tolkien's stories about Beren and Luthien and Aragorn and Arwen.

I think that, when he was working on THE LORD OF THE RINGS, Tolkien felt something wasn't quite right with Eowyn's role in the tale. And as he made changes, he saw an opportunity to bring his Beren and Luthien tradition forward.

-- posted by Michael_Martinez