Tolkien's Elves | Types of elves explained

In Deep Geek - Insight and intelligent discussion on Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, The Witcher and more.

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Writing credit for this video - Matthew Theriault

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[NvardQueen]

Every time I see something really complicated and difficult to understand, I label it "Tolkien 's classification of Elves"

[eumaies]

You would think there would be more tales of the original Avari. They must have been pretty interesting and might be still alive.

[richardaproche]

wonderful video as always - am often struck by the similarities between Tolkien's elves and the Tuatha De Danann in Irish mythology, the "fair folk" - there's also a rumour that he may have taken inspiration for Gollum from a cave in Co Clare named after a Saint Colm, Poll na gColm (pronounced "powl na gollum"), in the Burren.

[thefurrybstard]

Glad I found this channel.
You Sir, are a True Scholar!

[DoomMomDot]

I've always been curious why Tolkien's elves are so different than those in many other stories - his are wise, ancient, and capable of kindness. other stories show them as chaotic, as likely to prank you as help you, and sometimes downright cruel without cause.

[SuperMrMuster]

Hey! Can you make a video about what the non-hero, non-ruler, everyday commoner elves are like? It's hard to imagine these people doing anything besides singing and writing poetry all day, but surely there have to be elf janitors? Elf farmers who push their fingers into the soil every day. Elf store-clerks, handymen, merchants, the works. Do the elves of Arda not need these professions?

[dougisballin]

Love this topic and hoping for more like this! Thank you Robert

[Cmdtheartist]

Well, that's that. Finally. Maybe now there'll be fewer barroom brawls and knifings now. I have lost count of how many Quendi/Noldor/Teleri based eye gougings I've been a part of. And I'm not proud of that.

[belleviewbibliophile]

You explain this a lot better than that other guy;)

[franciscordon]

Thanks for sharing, this is a fascinating topic!

[Istari]

Thank-you, very interesting and helpful!

[noahg]

Oh my I’ve waited for this video for so long hahahahaha

[FX]

Great video on the elves. I would be very grateful if you wanted to make a video on the origin of elves in general before Tolkien. There's too many references to them in too many cultures going back at least centuries for Tolkien to have just invented them.

[Hamvicraft]

that's impressive !!! keep it upp thx for slimpfying itt to me !!

[hollyhartwick]

That description of elves' souls reminds me of how the Thalmor of Elder Scrolls lore view their connection to the world. Similar but with more resentment, it should be noted. So much so that they seek to destroy Nirn to free themselves from their bodies and return to a divine state. I would be willing to bet that whoever wrote that bit of TES lore was influenced by Tolkien elves.

[aroseu]

I think it should be specified that where the elves first woke up was actually a location in Middle Earth called Cuiviénen, and not the Undying Lands.

[mt_baldwin]

I've always wondered what the dark elves did after Sauron's defeat, in the "age of men." They've lived in their lands, wherever they are, since the beginning of the first age, lived longer on their land than any other race besides the valar. Did they just leave to the west too? To a land they've only vaguely heard about tens of thousands of years ago? Of all the elves this must have been the most painful for them to go in the age of men.

[tylercooper]

In everquest gnomes are tinkerers, focusing mainly upon intelligence

[suchal_]

Omitting their kinslaying in the Undying Lands was a huge mistake. That's the most important and interesting event in their history.

[kreuzrittergottes]

rop isnt tolkein, and therefore should not be included here.