Moriquendi: Difference between revisions

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An exception to this categorization was King [[Thingol]], who had been in [[Valinor]] as an ambassador of the Elves, and saw the [[Light of Valinor]]. Though he did not complete the journey, and therefore considered one of the ''Úmanyar'', he was not a Dark Elf and was reckoned under the [[Calaquendi]].<ref>{{S|4}}</ref> However, the term was used as an insult by the [[Sons of Fëanor]] to King Thingol.<ref name=de/>
An exception to this categorization was King [[Thingol]], who had been in [[Valinor]] as an ambassador of the Elves, and saw the [[Light of Valinor]]. Though he did not complete the journey, and therefore considered one of the ''Úmanyar'', he was not a Dark Elf and was reckoned under the [[Calaquendi]].<ref>{{S|4}}</ref> However, the term was used as an insult by the [[Sons of Fëanor]] to King Thingol.<ref name=de/>


The term "'''Dark Elf'''" seems to hold an additional special (unexplained) meaning, as it is given as a special title of [[Eöl]] of [[Nan Elmoth]].
The term "'''Dark Elf'''" seems to hold an additional, unexplaine) meaning, as it is given as a special title of [[Eöl]] of [[Nan Elmoth]].{{fact}}


==Other versions of the legendarium==
==Other versions of the legendarium==

Revision as of 20:39, 12 February 2021

"Those Elves the Calaquendi call the Úmanyar, since they came never to the land of Aman and the Blessed Realm; but the Úmanyar and the Avari alike they call the Moriquendi, Elves of the Darkness, for they never beheld the Light that was before the Sun and Moon."
― "Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor"

The Moriquendi (singular Moriquende) were the Elves of Darkness, who did not behold the Light of the Two Trees of Valinor.

History

Out of the 144 unbegotten Elves to awaken at Cuiviénen, 82 chose to remain and thus became the Avari, outnumbering the population of those who went to Aman.[1][note 1] Of the Eldar who joined the Great March, there were some who didn't finish it, and remained in Middle-earth: those were the Úmanyar ("Those not of Aman"), typically Sindar and Nandor. All those were typically "Dark Elves".

However in the period of the Exile of the Noldor, "Dark Elves" referred to the Elves of Middle-earth other than the Noldor and the Sindar, thus being equivalent more or less to the Avari[2] and the Nandor. The Avari had remained in the East or passed the Blue Mountains and lingered in Beleriand.

An exception to this categorization was King Thingol, who had been in Valinor as an ambassador of the Elves, and saw the Light of Valinor. Though he did not complete the journey, and therefore considered one of the Úmanyar, he was not a Dark Elf and was reckoned under the Calaquendi.[3] However, the term was used as an insult by the Sons of Fëanor to King Thingol.[2]

The term "Dark Elf" seems to hold an additional, unexplaine) meaning, as it is given as a special title of Eöl of Nan Elmoth.[source?]

Other versions of the legendarium

Tolkien said that in his earliest conception, the Dark Elves were "imagined as wandering about, and often ill-disposed towards the 'Light-Elves'". Later he considered an additional use of the term: "sometimes applied to Elves captured by Morgoth and enslaved and then released to do mischief among the Elves." He thought that this latter idea should be taken up for Eöl.[4]

Inspiration

In Norse mythology, there are the Light Elves (Ljósálfar) and the Dark Elves (Dökkálfar or Svartálfar), a tradition which was well known to J.R.R. Tolkien.[5]

Notes

  1. In other words, the Dark Elves consisted of the 57% of the Unbegotten Elven population in the beginning of days.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar"
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names", entry "Dark Elves"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Thingol and Melian"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: III. Maeglin"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, "Appendix A: Origins of the Legend", p. 359
Elves
(Quendi · People of the Stars · Firstborn · Elder Kindred)
Three Kindreds:
(Eldar · Eldalië · Edhil)
 Vanyar (Fair-elves · Minyar) · Noldor (Deep-elves · Tatyar) · Teleri (Lindar · Nelyar)
Calaquendi:
(High-elves · Amanyar)
 Vanyar · Noldor · Falmari
Úmanyar:  Sindar (Grey-elves · Eglath · Falathrim) · Nandor (Green-elves · Silvan Elves)
 Moriquendi:  Úmanyar · Avari (Cuind · Hwenti · Kindi · Kinn-lai · Penni · Windan)
See also:  Awakening of the Elves · Sundering of the Elves · Great Journey