Andúril

From Tolkien Gateway
The name Andúril refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Andúril (disambiguation).
Andúril
Weapon
Noble Collection - Andúril.jpg
Andúril by the Noble Collection
Pronunciationan-doo-ril
Other namesFlame of the West
OwnerAragorn, Eldarion, High Kings of the Dúnedain
AppearanceLong sword
CreatorElven-smiths, reforged from Narsil (created by Telchar of Nogrod)
Rivendell, T.A. 3018
GalleryImages of Andúril
"Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.
"
Riddle of Strider

Andúril was the name for the sword Narsil after its reforging in Third Age 3018 for Aragorn, the heir of Isildur.

Appearance[edit | edit source]

Its blade had engraved the designs of Seven Stars between the rayed Sun and the crescent Moon[1], symbols of Elendil, and his sons Anárion and Isildur. It also had many cirth. The sword was very bright, with the light of the sun making it shine red, and in the light of the moon it shined cold.[1] Later, it was given an Elven sheath with a tracery of flowers and leaves wrought of silver and gold and the name Andúril and the lineage of the sword set in elven runes formed of gems.[2]

History[edit | edit source]

Narsil was a symbol of the kingship of Arnor and Gondor, but was broken at the end of the Second Age. Its fragments remained an heirloom for the Kings of Arnor, and the Chieftains of the Dúnedain.

Boromir, son of the Steward of Gondor, travelled to Rivendell for the Council of Elrond because of the prophetic dream of his brother Faramir. The dream told him to "seek for the Sword that was broken".[3]

"The Reforging of the Sword" by Darrell Sweet

Finally, after three thousand years, when Aragorn set out for the War of the Ring, Narsil was reforged by Elven smiths of Rivendell, and Aragorn renamed it "Andúril".

Aragorn carried the sword during his journey south as part of the Fellowship of the Ring, and fought with it, the Sword That Was Broken or the Sword Reforged. In his departure of Lothlórien, the first of the Gifts of Galadriel was Andúril's sheath, specially made for it.[2]

Aragorn often used the sword to help establish his credentials as the Heir of Isildur and the throne of Gondor.[4][5]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Andúril means "Flame of the West" in Quenya,[6] composed of andúnë ("west") and ril ("brilliance"). "West" here refers to Númenor.

Inspiration[edit | edit source]

Broken swords that are reforged are also seen in the Volsungasaga and the Nibelungenlied.[7]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

1978: The Lord of the Rings (1978 film):

Narsil is reforged after Rivendell, though this reforging is not shown. Neither Narsil nor Andúril are named.

1981: The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series):

Narsil is reforged after Rivendell, and Aragorn carries Andúril thereafter.

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game):

Because of Aragorn's warrior-persona in this video game, Andúril merely serves as a melee weapon upgrade after Rivendell.[8] Aragorn does not use the broken sword at any point prior. Notably, the sword's blade is constantly illuminated; it glows red during the day, and blue at night. In the game's credits, artist Jason Rosenstock is explicitly mentioned as the designer of Andúril.[9]

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

Narsil remains broken and Andúril is not reforged in the Fellowship of the Ring movie. Shards of Narsil are kept on a display in Rivendell.

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers:

In The Two Towers, when asked by Háma to disarm outside Meduseld, Aragorn is very reluctant, saying that normally he would give up his weapon, "if I bore now any sword but Andúril".[5] This scene and dialogue is omitted from the film on the grace that the sword Aragorn surrenders there was not Andúril.

2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:

Andúril is not forged from the shards of Narsil until late in the third film. Elrond had the sword reforged only after Arwen's pleading. He then took the sword to Aragorn in the camp of the Rohirrim at Dunharrow. Aragorn's acceptance of the sword, along with his decision at that time to take the Paths of the Dead, showed his willingness to accept his destiny of becoming king.
In the extended edition, the Mouth of Sauron refers to the blade as Elvish; this could either be a reference to its reforging or a mistake on behalf of the writers.[10]
Design-wise, Andúril does not differ significantly from its predecessor, Narsil. The only notable difference is the Elvish inscription running up the length of the blade.

2003: The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring:

Andúril is represented as a permanent upgrade called "Andúril's Fury" for Aragorn, who is represented as a hero unit. It makes his sword glow white as well as increasing his damage greatly, with bonus damage against enemy Heroes, Wraiths, and the Nazgûl.

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 Elven smiths of Imladris to reforge the sword into Andúril.[11]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Ring Goes South", at the beginning of the chapter in Rivendell
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Farewell to Lórien", at the beginning of the chapter in Lórien
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Riders of Rohan", when he met Éomer
  5. 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The King of the Golden Hall", when he was about to enter the Golden Hall
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 34 (form: Andūril)
  7. "Tolkien Society Anglo-Saxon Study Pack 2" dated 19 March 2014, The Tolkien Society (accessed 4 January 2020)
  8. Connie Veugen, "'A Man, lean, dark, tall': Aragorn Seen Through Different Media", published in Reconsidering Tolkien (edited by Thomas M. Honegger (read in PDF))
  9. Vivendi, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, User Manual, page 22, "Aragorn Sword Design"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens (adaptors), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (extended edition), "The Mouth of Sauron"
  11. Quest Arc: The Blade That Was Broken, Lorebook, lotro.com
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