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Telain

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Lórien Flets by Soni Alcorn-Hender
Telain (Sindarin, plural of Talan[1]), known in Westron as flets, were platforms built in the trees by the Galadhrim Elves of Lothlórien.

Contents

[edit] History

Telain were built high up Mallorn trees, created in the space where the trunk of the tree divided into many branches; they lacked walls, or even rails, and were only accessible via a lowered hithlain rope-ladder. They were mainly used as guard-posts and watch-towers around the edges of Lothlórien.[2]

In Caras Galadhon, however, telain were more common and served more of a ceremonial function: it was on a house built on a talan that the Fellowship met with Galadriel and Celeborn.[3]

[edit] Portrayal in Adaptations

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

Telain were retained in the film, although there were no moveable plaited screens or rope-ladders visible. In The Lord of the Rings the meeting with Galadriel and Celeborn took place inside a large hall built on a talan,[3] whereas in the film it took place on an open talan.

[edit] Etymology

The Sindarin word talan ("flat space, platform"; pl. telain) is a descendant form of Common Eldarin talam-.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Lothlórien"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Mirror of Galadriel"
  4. ↑ 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. 52
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