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'''Narsil''' was the sword of King [[Elendil]] of the [[Dúnedain]].  It was later known as '''Andúril''' (see below).  The sword was forged during the [[First Age]] by the Dwarf [[Telchar]] of [[Nogrod]], making it a cousin to the blade [[Angrist]], which cut a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from the crown of [[Morgoth]]. The name contains the elements ''nar'' "fire" and ''thil'' "white light", referring to the [[Sun]] and [[Moon]]. The blade presumably was given to one of the [[Sons of Fëanor]], possibly [[Curufin]], to whom [[Angrist]] was given. It eventually came to [[Maglor]], who would have given it to [[Elros]].
[[Image:John Howe - Narsil.jpg|thumb|''Narsil'' by [[John Howe]].]]
'''Narsil''' was the sword of King [[Elendil]] of the [[Dúnedain]].  It was later known as '''[[Andúril]]'''.


In the [[Second Age]], Narsil was evidently to be found in [[Númenor]], presumably inherited by [[Elros]], its first king, who was a descendant of many Elven and [[Edain]] lords. Although nothing is said of Narsil during this period, it came into the hands of [[Elendil]], a distant descendant of [[Elros]], towards the close of the Second Age.
==History==
The sword was forged during the [[First Age]] by the famed Dwarven-smith [[Telchar]]. The blade presumably was given to one of the [[Sons of Fëanor]], possibly [[Curufin]], who also held [[Angrist]]. It eventually came to [[Maglor]], who likely gave it to [[Elros]].


Elendil used Narsil in the Siege of [[Barad-dûr]], but [[Sauron]] killed Elendil and the sword broke into two pieces under him as he fell.  Elendil's son [[Isildur]] took up the sword and used its shard to cut the [[One Ring]] from the hand of Sauron.  Isildur took the shards home with him. Shortly before Isildur was killed in the second year of the [[Third Age]] in the disaster at the [[Gladden Fields]], the shards were rescued by Ohtar (Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Appendix B. The Third year of the Third Age), squire of Isildur's oldest son. He took them to [[Imladris]], where Isildur's youngest son [[Valandil]] was fostered.
In the [[Second Age]], Narsil was an heirloom of the descendants of Elros, the first [[King of Númenor]]. Although nothing is said of Narsil during this period, it eventually came into the hands of [[Elendil]], a distant descendant, towards the close of the Second Age.


The '''Shards of Narsil''' were one of the heirlooms of the [[Kings of Arnor]], and after the Northern Kingdom was destroyed they remained an heirloom of the [[Rangers of the North]].  It was not reforged until the [[War of the Ring]] at the end of the Third Age.
Elendil carried Narsil in the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]], but [[Sauron]] killed him and the sword broke into two pieces under him as he fell. Elendil's son [[Isildur]] took up the sword and used its shard to cut [[the One Ring]] from the hand of SauronIsildur took the shards home with him. Shortly before Isildur was killed in the second year of the [[Third Age]] in the [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields]], the shards were rescued by [[Ohtar]], esquire of Isildur<ref>{{FR|Council}}</ref>. He took them to [[Rivendell]], where Isildur's youngest son [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] was fostered.


In 3019 TA Narsil was reforged in [[Rivendell]] as '''Andúril,''' ([[Sindarin]] for "'''Flame of the West'''"), for [[Aragorn]], the heir of Isildur.  He carried the sword during his journey south as part of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]], and it featured prominently at several points in the story, where it was sometimes referred to as the '''Sword that was Broken''' or '''The Sword Reforged.'''
The '''Shards of Narsil''' were one of the heirlooms of the [[Kings of Arnor]], and after the Northern Kingdom was destroyed they remained an heirloom of the [[Rangers of the North]].  It was not reforged until the [[War of the Ring]] at the end of the Third Age in Rivendell as '''[[Andúril]]''', the "Flame of the West", for [[Aragorn]], who was by that time the [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and heir of Isildur.


[[Boromir]], son of the [[Steward of Gondor]], travelled to [[Rivendell]] in time for the [[Council of Elrond]] because of the prophetic dream of his brother [[Faramir]], in which he was told to "seek for the Sword that was broken".  Aragorn often uses the sword to help establish his credentials.
He carried the sword during his journey south as part of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]], and fought with it in many instances. He referred to it as the "Sword That Was Broken" or "The Sword Reforged".


Narsil (broken and reforged as Andúril) acts as a symbol of the kingship of [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. As the Chieftain of the [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Rangers of the North]], Aragorn carries the fragments of the ancient sword, secret but ever vigilant, and the blade is reforged as Andúril when he sets out to reclaim his kingdom.  
== Etymology ==
''Narsil'' is a [[Quenya]] name meaning "red and white flame".<ref>{{HM|UI}}, p. 231</ref><ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 29</ref> The name is said to consist of the [[Sundocarme|stems]] NAR ("fire"; cf. ''[[Nár (Quenya)|nár]]'' "fire") + THIL ("white light"). It was a symbolic name, pointing to the [[Sun]] and the [[Moon]], the "''chief heavenly lights, as enemies of darkness''".<ref>{{L|347}}, p. 425</ref>


==Changes made in the film==
==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Narsil was not broken in two but in several parts, which were kept at Rivendell, and by Sauron stepping on it instead of it breaking as Elendil fell. The sword is not reforged into Andúril until the [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|third film]], when [[Arwen]] persuades [[Elrond]] to have [[Elves|Elven]] smiths reforge it from the shards and bring to Aragorn.


In [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]], Narsil was not broken in two but in several parts (which were kept at Rivendell), and is not reforged into Andúril until the [[Peter Jackson's The Return of the King|third film]], when [[Arwen]] persuades [[Elrond]] to have [[Elves|Elven]] smiths reforge it from the shards and bring to Aragorn. In the books, he actually wears the broken blade and shows it to the [[Hobbits]] when they meet at the [[Prancing Pony]] in [[Bree]], and its reforging prior to the departure of the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] is a decisive move toward kingship.
:In the books, he actually wears the broken blade and shows it to the [[Hobbits]] when they meet at the [[Prancing Pony]] in [[Bree]], and its reforging prior to the departure of the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] is a decisive move toward kingship.


Aragorn holds a reverence for [[Andúril]], Flame of the West, which is shown best in The Two Towers book, and is not shown in the film. When asked by [[Háma]] to disarm outside [[Meduseld]], he is very reluctant, saying that normally he would give up his weapon "if I bore now any sword but Andúril" (The Two Towers, The King of the Golden Hall). It is an omission from the film on the grace that the sword Aragorn surrenders there was not Andúril, but still rather interesting. However, the movie version of The Fellowship of the Ring does include a scene of Aragorn reverently placing the hilt of Narsil back into the display after Boromir dropped the hilt on the floor.
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The reforging of Narsil is experienced by the player in the quest arc called "The Blade that was Broken". The player sets out to find the last of the Silithair, shining adamants crafted by Elves of the house of [[Fëanor]] in days of old, in order for the Elf-smiths of [[Rivendell|Imladris]] to reforge the sword.<ref>[http://lorebook.lotro.com/wiki/Quest_Arc:The_Blade_That_Was_Broken Quest Arc: The Blade That Was Broken], Lorebook, lotro.com</ref>


'''2012-14: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''
:The shards of Narsil appear in [[Rivendell]].
==See also==
* [[Shards of Narsil]]
{{references}}


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[[Category:Quenya names]]
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Revision as of 02:37, 15 December 2013

Narsil by John Howe.

Narsil was the sword of King Elendil of the Dúnedain. It was later known as Andúril.

History

The sword was forged during the First Age by the famed Dwarven-smith Telchar. The blade presumably was given to one of the Sons of Fëanor, possibly Curufin, who also held Angrist. It eventually came to Maglor, who likely gave it to Elros.

In the Second Age, Narsil was an heirloom of the descendants of Elros, the first King of Númenor. Although nothing is said of Narsil during this period, it eventually came into the hands of Elendil, a distant descendant, towards the close of the Second Age.

Elendil carried Narsil in the Siege of Barad-dûr, but Sauron killed him and the sword broke into two pieces under him as he fell. Elendil's son Isildur took up the sword and used its shard to cut the One Ring from the hand of Sauron. Isildur took the shards home with him. Shortly before Isildur was killed in the second year of the Third Age in the Disaster of the Gladden Fields, the shards were rescued by Ohtar, esquire of Isildur[1]. He took them to Rivendell, where Isildur's youngest son Valandil was fostered.

The Shards of Narsil were one of the heirlooms of the Kings of Arnor, and after the Northern Kingdom was destroyed they remained an heirloom of the Rangers of the North. It was not reforged until the War of the Ring at the end of the Third Age in Rivendell as Andúril, the "Flame of the West", for Aragorn, who was by that time the Chieftain of the Dúnedain and heir of Isildur.

He carried the sword during his journey south as part of the Fellowship of the Ring, and fought with it in many instances. He referred to it as the "Sword That Was Broken" or "The Sword Reforged".

Etymology

Narsil is a Quenya name meaning "red and white flame".[2][3] The name is said to consist of the stems NAR ("fire"; cf. nár "fire") + THIL ("white light"). It was a symbolic name, pointing to the Sun and the Moon, the "chief heavenly lights, as enemies of darkness".[4]

Portrayal in adaptations

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

Narsil was not broken in two but in several parts, which were kept at Rivendell, and by Sauron stepping on it instead of it breaking as Elendil fell. The sword is not reforged into Andúril until the third film, when Arwen persuades Elrond to have Elven smiths reforge it from the shards and bring to Aragorn.
In the books, he actually wears the broken blade and shows it to the Hobbits when they meet at the Prancing Pony in Bree, and its reforging prior to the departure of the Fellowship is a decisive move toward kingship.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

The reforging of Narsil is experienced by the player in the quest arc called "The Blade that was Broken". The player sets out to find the last of the Silithair, shining adamants crafted by Elves of the house of Fëanor in days of old, in order for the Elf-smiths of Imladris to reforge the sword.[5]

2012-14: The Hobbit (film series):

The shards of Narsil appear in Rivendell.

See also

References

Weapons in Tolkien's legendarium
 Arrows:  Black Arrow · Dailir · Red Arrow
Axes:  Dramborleg · Durin's Axe
Bows:  Belthronding · Bow of Bregor · Bow of the Galadhrim
Knives:  Angrist · Barrow-blades · Morgul-knife · Sting
Maces:  Grond
Spears:  Aeglos
Swords:  Anglachel/Gurthang · Anguirel · Aranrúth · Dagmor · Glamdring · Glend · Gúthwinë · Herugrim · Narsil/Andúril ·  Orcrist · Ringil · Sword of Manwë