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{{disambig-more|Spirit|[[Spirit (disambiguation)]]}}
{{disambig-more|Spirit|[[Spirit (disambiguation)]]}}
'''Spirits''' refers to beings whose nature in essence were of non-corporeality.
'''Spirits''' are the essential beings who generally dwell in the [[Unseen]], and whose nature generally does not include a corporeal body.
 
[[Ilúvatar]] creates spirits from nothing through the [[Flame Imperishable]].<ref>{{S|Ainu}}</ref>


==Groups==
==Groups==


===Ainur===
===Ainur===
 
{{main|Ainur}}
*''Main article: [[Ainur]]''
Before [[Eä]], [[Ilúvatar|Eru]] [[Creation of the Ainur|created]] the spirits known as the [[Ainur]], the Holy Ones. The greater were called [[Valar]] and the lesser [[Maiar]].<ref name=SII>{{S|II}}</ref>
 
Before [[Eä]], [[Ilúvatar|Eru]] created the spirits known as the [[Ainur]], the Holy Ones. The greater were called [[Valar]] and the lesser [[Maiar]].<ref name=SII>{{S|II}}</ref>


Some of the spirits were associated with a certain [[Wikipedia:Classical element|element]], or physical phenomenon:  
Some of the spirits were associated with a certain [[Wikipedia:Classical element|element]], or physical phenomenon:  
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===Evil spirits===
===Evil spirits===


All Ainur originally adhered to Eru, but the Vala [[Morgoth|Melkor]] became corrupted and fell from the grace of [[Ilúvatar|Eru]].<ref name=SII/> Melkor "''gathered to himself spirits out of the voids of Eä that he had perverted to his service''", and these became known as the [[Úmaiar]] or [[demons]].<ref>{{MR|P2}}, pp. 53 (§17), 79 (commentary to §30)</ref> The "spirits of shadow" mentioned above were probably among these.
All Ainur originally adhered to Eru, but the Vala [[Morgoth|Melkor]] became corrupted and fell from the grace of [[Ilúvatar|Eru]].<ref name=SII/> Upon the creation of [[Arda]], Melkor "''gathered to himself spirits out of the voids of Eä that he had perverted to his service''", and these became known as the [[Úmaiar]] or [[demons]].<ref>{{MR|P2}}, pp. 53 (§17), 79 (commentary to §30)</ref> The "spirits of shadow" mentioned above were probably among these.


In the late [[Third Age]], spirits of "''evil vigilance''" are said to have abode in the [[Two Watchers]].<ref>{{RK|VI1}}</ref> The [[Barrow-wights]] are furthermore said to be evil spirits who had entered in deserted mounds, stirring the bones of the dead.<ref name=Eriador>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>
In the late [[Third Age]], spirits of "''evil vigilance''" are said to have abode in the [[Two Watchers]].<ref>{{RK|VI1}}</ref> The [[Barrow-wights]] are furthermore said to be evil spirits who had entered in deserted mounds, stirring the bones of the dead.<ref name=Eriador>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>
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[[Tom Bombadil]] was probably a "spirit" (of some sorts) of the earth.<ref name=coghill>Tolkien described Tom as "The spirit of the this earth made aware of itself": [[Letter to Nevill Coghill]] (Excerpt reproduced [http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/tom-bombadil-addenda-corrigenda/ here]</ref> [[Goldberry]] and the [[River-woman]] would perhaps belong to such an order.<ref>{{webcite|articleurl=http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Bombadil4Spirits.html|articlename=What is Tom Bombadil? Viable Theories: A Nature Spirit?|author=Steuard Jensen|website=[[Tolkien FAQ]]}}</ref>
[[Tom Bombadil]] was probably a "spirit" (of some sorts) of the earth.<ref name=coghill>Tolkien described Tom as "The spirit of the this earth made aware of itself": [[Letter to Nevill Coghill]] (Excerpt reproduced [http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/tom-bombadil-addenda-corrigenda/ here]</ref> [[Goldberry]] and the [[River-woman]] would perhaps belong to such an order.<ref>{{webcite|articleurl=http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Bombadil4Spirits.html|articlename=What is Tom Bombadil? Viable Theories: A Nature Spirit?|author=Steuard Jensen|website=[[Tolkien FAQ]]}}</ref>


The ''[[fëar]]'' are the spirits (souls) that inhabit the bodies of the [[Children of Ilúvatar]]; fëar also were sent to inhabit the [[Ents]].<ref name=L247>{{L|247}}</ref> [[Unbodied]] fëar, could be controlled by necromancy<ref>{{MR|P3II3c}}, p. 224</ref> (See also: [[undead]]).
The ''[[fëar]]'' are the spirits (souls) that inhabit the bodies of the [[Children of Ilúvatar]]; Some fëar also, and "spirits from afar", were sent to inhabit the [[Ents]].<ref name=L247>{{L|247}}</ref><ref>{{S|Aule}}</ref> [[Unbodied]] fëar, could be controlled by necromancy<ref>{{MR|P3II3c}}, p. 224</ref> (See also: [[undead]]).
==Other names==
==Other names==
In [[Quenya]], a collective name for the spirits is ''[[ëalar]]''.<ref name=MR>{{MR|P3I3}}, p. 165 (commentary on § 18)</ref>
In [[Quenya]], a collective name for the spirits is ''[[ëalar]]'', actually meaning "beings".<ref name=MR>{{MR|P3I3}}, p. 165 (commentary on § 18)</ref> Another word was [[súlë|''thúlë'', later ''súlë'']], from the [[Sundocarme|root]] [[THŪ]], related to words for "wind".<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, THŪ-</ref> It was also the name for one of the [[tengwar]].<ref>{{App|Letters}}, Note, ''The names of the letters''</ref>


==Other versions of the legendarium==
==Other versions of the legendarium==
In an early version of Tolkien's mythology, tiny, gleaming spirits appear dancing in [[An Evening in Tavrobel|a poem]] about [[Tavrobel]].<ref>{{ATB|A2}}, pp. 284-5></ref>
In ''[[An Evening in Tavrobel]]'', an early poem from Tolkien's youth, tiny, gleaming spirits appear dancing in [[Tavrobel]].<ref>{{ATB|A2}}, pp. 284-5></ref>
 
In a draft of ''[[In the House of Tom Bombadil]]'', Tom explains that [[Old Man Willow]] is a "grey thirsty earth-bound spirit" that had "become imprisoned in the greatest Willow of the [[Old Forest|Forest]]".<ref>{{RS|Tom}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 11:01, 14 October 2023

The name Spirit refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Spirit (disambiguation).

Spirits are the essential beings who generally dwell in the Unseen, and whose nature generally does not include a corporeal body.

Ilúvatar creates spirits from nothing through the Flame Imperishable.[1]

Groups[edit | edit source]

Ainur[edit | edit source]

Main article: Ainur

Before Eä, Eru created the spirits known as the Ainur, the Holy Ones. The greater were called Valar and the lesser Maiar.[2]

Some of the spirits were associated with a certain element, or physical phenomenon:

  • Air spirits: Spirits shaped like hawks and eagles delivered messages to Manwë as he sat in his throne in Ilmarin upon Taniquetil.[3]
  • Fire spirits: The Maia Arien is said to have been "from the beginning a spirit of fire".[4] Melkor seduced some of the fire spirits, which became known as the Balrogs.[5]
  • Water spirits: A host of spirits followed Ulmo to maintain the waters of Arda, of whom the Maiar Ossë and Uinen were the greatest.[6] Perhaps Salmar, and Goldberry and the River-woman were such water spirits.
  • Shadow spirits: It is told that Morgoth sent "spirits of shadow" against Tilion, as he hated the light of the Sun and Moon.[4]

Evil spirits[edit | edit source]

All Ainur originally adhered to Eru, but the Vala Melkor became corrupted and fell from the grace of Eru.[2] Upon the creation of Arda, Melkor "gathered to himself spirits out of the voids of Eä that he had perverted to his service", and these became known as the Úmaiar or demons.[7] The "spirits of shadow" mentioned above were probably among these.

In the late Third Age, spirits of "evil vigilance" are said to have abode in the Two Watchers.[8] The Barrow-wights are furthermore said to be evil spirits who had entered in deserted mounds, stirring the bones of the dead.[9]

Other[edit | edit source]

Tom Bombadil was probably a "spirit" (of some sorts) of the earth.[10] Goldberry and the River-woman would perhaps belong to such an order.[11]

The fëar are the spirits (souls) that inhabit the bodies of the Children of Ilúvatar; Some fëar also, and "spirits from afar", were sent to inhabit the Ents.[12][13] Unbodied fëar, could be controlled by necromancy[14] (See also: undead).

Other names[edit | edit source]

In Quenya, a collective name for the spirits is ëalar, actually meaning "beings".[15] Another word was thúlë, later súlë, from the root THŪ, related to words for "wind".[16] It was also the name for one of the tengwar.[17]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In An Evening in Tavrobel, an early poem from Tolkien's youth, tiny, gleaming spirits appear dancing in Tavrobel.[18]

In a draft of In the House of Tom Bombadil, Tom explains that Old Man Willow is a "grey thirsty earth-bound spirit" that had "become imprisoned in the greatest Willow of the Forest".[19]

See also[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

Ainur
Valar Lords Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · Melkor
Valier Varda · Yavanna · Nienna · Estë · Vairë · Vána · Nessa
Maiar Arien · Blue Wizards · Eönwë · Gandalf · Ilmarë · Melian · Ossë · Radagast · Salmar · Saruman · Tilion · Uinen
Úmaiar Sauron · Balrogs (Gothmog · Durin's Bane) · Boldogs
Concepts and locations Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Ainulindalë: The Music of the Ainur"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Account of the Valar and Maiar According to the Lore of the Eldar"
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Beginning of Days"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor"
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Enemies"
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Beginning of Days" ("Salmar came with [Ulmo] to Arda, [...] and Ossë and Uinen also, to whom he gave the government of the waves and the movements of the Inner Seas, and many other spirits beside.")
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman", pp. 53 (§17), 79 (commentary to §30)
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Tower of Cirith Ungol"
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  10. ↑ Tolkien described Tom as "The spirit of the this earth made aware of itself": Letter to Nevill Coghill (Excerpt reproduced here
  11. ↑ Steuard Jensen, "What is Tom Bombadil? Viable Theories: A Nature Spirit?", Tolkien FAQ (accessed 24 April 2024)
  12. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 247, (dated 20 September 1963)
  13. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Aulë and Yavanna"
  14. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (II) The Second Phase: Laws and Customs among the Eldar, Of Re-birth and Other Dooms of Those that go to Mandos", p. 224
  15. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (I) The First Phase: 3. Of the Coming of the Elves", p. 165 (commentary on § 18)
  16. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", THŪ-
  17. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing", "The Fëanorian Letters", Note, The names of the letters
  18. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Christina Scull & Wayne G. Hammond (eds), The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "Once upon a Time and An Evening in Tavrobel", pp. 284-5>
  19. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Return of the Shadow, "The First Phase: VI. Tom Bombadil"
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