Arwen: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
No edit summary
 
(139 intermediate revisions by 55 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{sources}}
{{half-elf infobox
{{half-elf infobox
| image=[[Image:John_Howe_-_Arwen.jpg]]
| name=Arwen
| name=Arwen
| quenya=
| image=[[File:John Howe - Arwen.jpg|250px]]
| titles=Undómiel, Evenstar, Queen of Gondor
| caption="Arwen" by [[John Howe]]
| birth=[[Third Age 241|T.A. 241]], [[Rivendell]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈarwen]}}
| realm=[[Imladris]], [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| othernames=''Undómiel'' ([[Quenya|Q]]: "Evenstar")<br />''Elerondiel'' ([[Quenya|Q]])<br />''Elrenniel'' ([[Sindarin|S]])
| death=[[Fourth Age 121|F.A. 121]]
| titles=Lady of Rivendell<br />Queen of Elves and Men<br />Queen of Gondor
| age=2,901 years
| location=[[Rivendell]], [[Lothlórien]], [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| gender=Female
| position=
| affiliation=
| language=Primarily [[Sindarin]]<ref name="Languages">{{App|Elves}}</ref>
| birth={{TA|241}}
| birthlocation=
| rule={{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}}
| death=[[1 March]] {{FoA|121}}<ref>{{NM|P1xviii}}, p. 151</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Cerin Amroth]], [[Lothlórien]]
| age=2,901
| notablefor=Being granted the [[Gift of Ilúvatar]]
| house=
| heritage=[[Half-elven]] father, [[Elves|Elf]] mother
| parentage=[[Elrond]] and [[Celebrían]]
| parentage=[[Elrond]] and [[Celebrían]]
| heritage=[[Half-elven]] father, [[Elf]] mother
| siblings=[[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] (twins)
| spouse=[[Aragorn II]]
| spouse=[[Aragorn]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] and several daughters
| children=[[Eldarion]] and several daughters
| hair=Dark
| gender=Female
|}}
| height=
{{quote|[[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] saw her whom few [[mortals]] had yet seen; '''Arwen''', daughter of [[Elrond]], in whom it was said that the likeness of [[Lúthien]] had come on earth again; and she was called [[Undómiel]], for she was the [[Evenstar]] of her people.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[Many Meetings]]}}
| hair=Dark<ref name="Many">{{FR|Meetings}}</ref>
'''Arwen Undómiel''' (''Arwen'' is [[Sindarin|S]], pron. {{IPA|[ˈarwen]}}; ''Undómiel'' is [[Quenya|Q]], pron. {{IPA|[unˈdoːmi.el]}}), often called '''Arwen Evenstar''', was the betrothed of [[Aragorn II]]. She is the daughter of [[Elrond]] and [[Celebrían]] (and therefore grand-daughter of [[Galadriel]]). She rejects her [[Elves|Elven]] immortality (which she had the ability to do, since she was a [[half-elven|half-elf]], thus having the choice to be counted as an elf or a man) to marry Aragorn and die with him.
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Many"/>
| clothing=Grey raiment with girdle of silver leaves;<ref name="Many"/> silver and blue mantle<ref name="Tale">{{App|A1v}}</ref>
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
{{quote|[[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] saw her whom few [[mortals]] had yet seen; '''Arwen''', daughter of [[Elrond]], in whom it was said that the likeness of [[Lúthien]] had come on earth again; and she was called [[Undómiel]], for she was the Evenstar of her people.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[Many Meetings]]"}}
 
'''Arwen Undómiel''', often called '''Arwen Evenstar''', was one of the [[half-elven]], married to [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]]. She was the daughter of [[Elrond]] and [[Celebrían]].<ref name="Tale"/>
 
She was considered to be the fairest of the [[Children of Ilúvatar]] in the [[Third Age]], resembling [[Lúthien]] of the [[First Age]] who would never again appear in [[Ëa]]. Her romance with [[Aragorn]] was reminiscent of that between the Man [[Beren]] and the Elf Lúthien.  Like Lúthien, she rejected her [[Elves|Elven]] immortality to marry Aragorn and die with him.<ref name="Tale"/>


== History ==
== History ==
The romance between Aragorn and Arwen is reminiscent of that between the Man [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] and the Elf [[Lúthien]]. Few other marriages between Man and Elf are recorded in the annals.  
[[File:Anna Lee - Evenstar.jpg|thumb|left|''Evenstar'' by [[Anna Lee]]]]
 
Arwen was born in {{TA|241}} and was the younger sister of [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]].<ref name=TA>{{App|TA}}</ref> From her mother she inherited the [[Elfstone]].<ref name="CG">{{UT|6}}</ref> As one of the half-elven, she shared the right of her father to choose her fate. She lived most of her life in [[Imladris]], or in [[Lothlórien]] with her grandparents.<ref name="Tale"/>
 
Her father fostered the sons of the [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]], who were the exiled [[Heir of Isildur|Heirs of Isildur]].<ref>{{App|Eriador}}</ref> It was in {{TA|2952}} when she returned from Lothlórien to Rivendell when she met a young foster-son of her father, [[Aragorn]]. The young [[Dúnadan]] fell in love when he first saw her, though as he was still a youth, Arwen did not return his love.<ref name="Tale"/><ref name=TA/>


A very young Aragorn encountered Arwen for the first time at [[Rivendell]], where he had been living; she had been staying with her grandmother in [[Lórien in Middle-earth|Lórien]]. He fell in love with her when he first saw her, but it was not until they met many years later in Lórien that she fell in love with him.
Elrond insisted that Arwen could not marry Aragorn until he became king of both [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]. Whether Arwen chose to marry him and become mortal, or remain with her kin as one of the Elves, she would be parted from either Elrond or Aragorn forever.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Abe Papakhian - Lord of Rivendell.jpg|left|thumb|Arwen in Rivendell, art by [[:Category:Images by Abe Papakhian|Abe Papakhian]]]]
It was not until they met many years later in Lórien that Arwen returned Aragorn's love, and in {{TA|2980}} they plighted their troth on [[Cerin Amroth]]. Aragorn gave her the [[Ring of Barahir]].<ref name="Tale"/><ref name=TA/>


When the [[Hobbits]] arrived at [[Rivendell]], [[Frodo]] saw Aragorn with her at one point—the first hint of their relationship. Later, when the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] come to [[Lórien in Middle-earth|Lothlórien]], he remembers their earlier meeting.
In the years leading up to the [[War of the Ring]], the [[Misty Mountains]] and all lands eastward became dangerous, and at the request of her father, Arwen returned to Imladris in {{TA|3009}}.<ref name=TA/>


When [[Éowyn]] falls in love with Aragorn it is his fidelity to Arwen that forbids him from reciprocating, thereby motivating Éowyn's subsequent actions during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] which have major repercussions for the defence of Middle-earth. Arwen continually serves as inspiration and motivation for Aragorn, who must become King before he may wed her&mdash;not an insignificant task, considering the many long years he devotes to this cause.  
Arwen was later reunited with Aragorn when he brought the [[Hobbits]] to [[Rivendell]] during the [[War of the Ring]]. She was present at a feast attended by [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]. Later that night, she and Aragorn spoke together.<ref name="Many"/> When the Fellowship departed and [[Galadriel]] offered them [[Gifts of Galadriel|her gifts]], Arwen's Elfstone, given from Galadriel to Celebrían, and Celebrían to Arwen, was the gift for Aragorn. He would wear the Elfstone ever after.<ref name=Farewell>{{FR|Farewell}}</ref> This giving held the function of a wedding gift from the family of the bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref>


Before taking to the [[Paths of the Dead]], Aragorn is met by a group consisting of [[Dúnedain]], his people, from the North, and Arwen's brothers, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]]. They bring to him a banner on black cloth: a gift made by the hands of Arwen, and a sign that encourages him to take the difficult path. When it is unfurled at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] to reveal the emblem of [[Elendil]] in ''[[mithril]]'', gems, and gold, it is the first triumphant announcement of the King's return.
Arwen wove the [[Livery of Elendil]] for Aragorn from black cloth, decorating it with [[mithril]], gems and gold. She sent the banner with her brothers and a group of [[Rangers of the North]] to Aragorn before he took the [[Paths of the Dead]], thereby inspiring him to take the difficult path.<ref>{{RK|V2}}</ref> The banner was unfurled at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] to triumphantly announce the King's return.<ref>{{RK|V6}}</ref>
[[File:Janka Latečková - King and his Queen.jpg|thumb|right|''King and his Queen'' by Janka Latečková]]
After the defeat of [[Sauron]], Aragorn was crowned as [[King of the West]] and the new [[Reunited Kingdom]]; [[1 May|on that day]] Arwen and her father departed for [[Minas Tirith]]. On [[20 May]] they reached Lothlórien where they stayed for [[27 May|a week]] before Arwen resumed with her escort. On [[14 June]] she met her brothers and together they went to [[Edoras]] where they stayed [[16 June|two days]] before continuing to Gondor.<ref name="Chief">{{App|Chief}}</ref>
===Queen===
Arwen arrived to [[Minas Tirith]] on [[1 Lithe]] and wed Aragorn on [[Mid-year's Day]],<ref name="Chief" /> being the third [[Unions of Elves and Men|union of Elves and Men]]. Arwen chose a fate different from her father's and did not sail to the [[Aman|West]]. Instead, she gifted Frodo, as the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]], passage in her stead, as she foresaw that his burden would not be lifted. She also gifted him a necklace with a white gem. <ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref>


Arwen was actually a very distant relative of Aragorn, being his first cousin sixty-three times removed. By their marriages the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined. Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the Three Kings of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Olwë]] and [[Elwë]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]] blood through Arwen's great-great-great grandmother, [[Melian]].
As Queen of Gondor, Arwen maintained a close connection with Gondor's allies, as did her husband. In {{FoA|15}} they visited the [[Hobbits]] outside [[the Shire]] and she took as a maid of honour [[Elanor Gardner]], daughter of [[Samwise Gamgee]].<ref>{{App|Later}}</ref> She was mother of one son, [[Eldarion]], and at least two unnamed daughters. After Aragorn's death, Arwen departed from Minas Tirith and returned to the abandoned Lothlórien. There she stayed for a time until she gave up her life in {{FoA|121}} at [[Cerin Amroth]], and was buried there.<ref name="Tale"/>


Arwen gave up her life in [[Fourth Age 121]], at [[Cerin Amroth]] in Lórien, after the death of Aragorn.
== Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Arwen Undomiel.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{Pronounce|Arwen Undomiel.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Arwen''''' means "Noble Maiden" in [[Sindarin]], from ''[[ara]]-'' ("noble") and ''[[gwenn]]'' ("maiden").<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 205</ref> Tolkien remarked that it also means "greatly blessed" in [[Welsh]].<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[Letter to Mr Joukes|Letter to S.E.O. Joukes, 28 August 1967]]"</ref>
The [[Quenya]] form of her name is not entirely certain, but in his Quenya greeting, Aragorn refers to her again as "Arwen" (''Arwen vanimelda, namárië!'').<ref name=Farewell></ref> This suggests that the form ''Arwen'' itself is also coincidentally a valid, or at least understandable, Quenya calque (using ''[[ar]]-'', stem ''Arwend-''). 


== Etymology ==
==Other names==
'''''Arwen''''' means "Noble Maiden" in [[Sindarin]] (from ''[[ara]]-'' = "noble" and ''[[gwenn]]'' = "maiden"). The [[Quenya]] form of her name is not entirely certain, but as just a name, it is grammatically possible to calque ''Arwen'' to Quenya as '''[[Aranwen]]''' (pron. {{IPA|[aˈranwen]}} using ''[[aran]]-'' and ''[[vendë]]'', stem ''Aranwend-''; compare masculine ''[[Aranwë]]'') or '''[[Araven]]''' (pron. {{IPA|[ˈaraven]}} using ''[[ara]]-'', stem ''Aravend-''), but '''Arwen''' itself is also coincidentally a valid Quenya synthesis (using ''[[ar]]-'', stem ''Arwend-''), meaning the possibility that Arwen's name is the same in Sindarin and Quenya.  Her [[epessë]], '''[[Undómiel]]''', means "Evenstar", from ''[[Undómë]]'' "evening twilight" and ''[[elen|el]]'' "star".
Her [[epessë]], '''''[[Undómiel]]''''', means "Evenstar", from ''[[Undómë]]'' ("evening twilight") and ''[[elen|el]]'' ("star").


== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
She is also given the names ''Elrenniel'' and ''Elerondiel'', both meaning "Daughter of Elrond" in Sindarin and Quenya respectively.<ref>{{PE|Eldarin}}, p. 56</ref>
<center><gallery>
Image:Arwen viv lotr.JPG|<small><center>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)]]''</small></center>
Image:Arwen from Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings.jpg|<small><center>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy]]''</small></center>
</gallery></center>
'''1978: ''[[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Arwen does not appear.


'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
== Genealogy ==
:Arwen is voiced by [[Sonia Fraser]].
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves as well as the only line with [[Maia]] blood through Arwen's great-great grandmother, [[Melian]].
 
<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| FIN |y| EAW | | GLN | | TUO |y| IDR | | DIO |y| NIM | |FIN=[[Finarfin]]</br><small>''b. {{YT|1230}}''</small>|EAW=[[Eärwen]]</br><small>''b. {{YT}}''</small>|GLN=[[Galadhon]]</br><small>''b. {{FA}}''</small>|TUO=[[Tuor]]</br><small>''b. {{FA|472}}''</small>|IDR=[[Idril]]</br><small>''b. {{YT}}''</small>|DIO=[[Dior]]</br><small>''{{FA|470}} - {{FA|506|n}}''</small>|NIM=[[Nimloth of Doriath|Nimloth]]</br><small>''d. {{FA|506}}''</small>}}
{{familytree| | | |!| | | | | |!| | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!| | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | GAL |~|y|~| CEL | | | | EAR |~|~|y|~|~| ELW | | | |GAL=[[Galadriel]]</br><small>''b. {{YT|1362}}''</small>|CEL=[[Celeborn]]</br><small>''b. {{FA}}''</small>|EAR=[[Eärendil]]</br><small>''b. {{FA|503}}''</small>|ELW=[[Elwing]]</br><small>''b. {{FA|503}}''</small>}}
{{familytree| | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|^|-|.| | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | CLB |~|~|~|y|~|~|~| ELR | | | ELS | | | | | | |CLB=[[Celebrían]]</br><small>''b. {{SA|300}}''</small>|ELR=[[Elrond]]</br><small>''b. {{FA|532}}''</small>|ELS=[[Elros]]</br><small>''{{FA|532}} - {{SA|442}}''</small>}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| | | | | |:| | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | ELL | | ELO | | ARW |~|y|~| ARA | | | | | | |ELL=[[Elladan]]</br><small>''b. {{TA|130}}''</small>|ELO=[[Elrohir]]</br><small>''b. {{TA|130}}''</small>|ARW='''ARWEN'''</br><small>''{{TA|241}} - {{FoA|121}}''</small>|ARA=[[Aragorn|Aragorn II]]</br><small>''{{TA|2931}} - {{FoA|120}}''</small>}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | EDN | | DAU | | | | | | | |EDN=[[Eldarion]]</br><small>''{{FoA|1}} - {{FoA|220|n}}''</small>|DAU=''unknown<br/>daughters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>


'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
==Other versions of the legendarium==
:Arwen appears in Rivendell after the [[Council of Elrond]]. She has a brief dialogue with Aragorn, and recites several lines from the [[The Riddle of Strider|Riddle of Strider]]. No voice actress is specified, but it is likely [[Kath Soucie]].  
While writing the drafts of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' the character was named ''[[Finduilas]]''; only during the final proofreading in [[1949]] Tolkien changed the name to ''Arwen''.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. xxviii</ref>


'''2001-3: ''[[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
Tolkien considered to postpone the birth of Arwen from {{TA|241}} to {{TA|341}} , or even in {{TA|421}}<ref>{{NM|P1ix}}, p. 67.</ref>, to increase the interval between the birth of the twins and the birth of Arwen where the parents were at rest, and he assigned the error in dates to a "probable scribal origin" (with the inversion of numbers 241/421).
{{cleanup}}
:Arwen is played by [[Liv Tyler]]. Various additional scenes pertaining to Arwen are inserted, some of which deviate from the books and some of which seem inspired by ''[[The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen]]''.


:In the first film, she sneaks up to find Aragorn and single-handedly rescues [[Frodo Baggins]] from the [[Black Riders]] at [[Bruinen]], thwarting them with a sudden flood, summoned by an incantation. In the book, it was [[Glorfindel]] who put Frodo on horseback and sent him alone to flee the Black Riders, and Elrond and [[Gandalf]] who arranged the flood. Also, in the book, Frodo makes his own stand against the Black Riders; in the movie Arwen defends him. During this flight, Arwen wields the sword [[Hadhafang]], stated to have once been wielded by her father in film merchandise. This sword, however, does not appear in the books at all; in fact, in the books, Arwen is never mentioned as armed but she ''could'' have armed and defended herself as needed; see below.
==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Arwen in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Arwen 3.jpg|Arwen at the Ford of Bruinen in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Arwen.JPG|Arwen in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Arwen.jpg|Arwen in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
}}


:Following the aforementioned scenes, the deviations include a scene in which Aragorn has a dream about Arwen in which they kiss, a scene where Arwen has an argument with her father about leaving for [[Valinor]], and a scene where she actually departs for Valinor and then suddenly returns when she sees an image of her future son, Eldarion. In the books, it can hardly have been surprising to Arwen that she and Aragorn might have children together, since she herself is the descendant of two similar unions.
'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:Arwen does not appear in this film.


:Also, and perhaps most importantly, she apparently becomes sick with grief in the film version of ''The Return of the King'' — possibly over Aragorn's seemingly hopeless cause and his impending death — soon after she rides back from the road to the [[Grey Havens]]. Elrond takes the reforged [[Narsil]], now [[Andúril]], to Aragorn at Dunharrow, and tells him that her fate has become bound with the [[One Ring]], and that she is dying. However, no explanation is ever given for these statements, not even in the Extended Editions. Later, after the Ring is destroyed, Arwen shows up at Aragorn's coronation without any signs of illness.
'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Arwen is voiced by [[Sonia Fraser]].


'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:Arwen is a non-playable character and can be found in the Last Homely House in Rivendell.   
:Arwen appears in Rivendell after the [[Council of Elrond]]. She has a brief dialogue with Aragorn, and recites several lines from the [[Riddle of Strider]]. No voice actress is specified, but it is likely [[Kath Soucie]].  
===Reaction to Jackson's portrayal===
{{sources}}
{{cleanup}}
[[Image:Arwen.jpg|thumb|Arwen Evenstar]]
Arwen had a very small visible role in the books outside of the [[The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen|Appendix]] (due to Tolkien conceiving the character late in the writing; Aragorn was originally supposed to marry Éowyn, as related in ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]''). In addition to making Arwen a more visible character, the change employs the principle of "economy of characters". Characters like [[Glorfindel]] (the Elf who helps Frodo by lending him his horse and later aiding his companions in driving the Ringwraiths into the water in the book), who appear once and perform only a few tasks, are often excised from film interpretations.


In earlier copies of the script (when the movies were supposed to be filmed in two parts under a different production company), Arwen actually fought in the [[Battle of the Hornburg|Battle of Helm's Deep]] and brought the sword [[Andúril]] to Aragorn. Some attribute the elimination of her character from the sequence to an early script leak. Another story is that [[Liv Tyler]] herself felt that the character's involvement in Helm's Deep was inappropriate, and convinced Jackson and his team to leave her out of the sequence, although the team did film at least part of her planned appearance at Helm's Deep.
'''2001-03: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
:Arwen is played by [[Liv Tyler]]. Various additional scenes pertaining to Arwen are inserted, some of which deviate from the books and some of which seem to be inspired by ''[[The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen]]''.  


These changes have met with mixed reactions. Many fans were upset because they seemed to pander to the lowest common denominator — that in order to make Arwen a "worthwhile" or "strong" character, she had to be a warrior — while in the books, her strength stems from her brave choice to forsake immortality and live a mortal life with Aragorn, which did not involve martial skill. Furthermore, there is already a skilled female warrior present in the story — namely Éowyn, but she first appears in the second part of the film trilogy.  Some fans felt it odd to make it a point to insert a female warrior into a story which already had a prominent one, because this detracts from Éowyn's bravery in riding to battle. Also, he dominance at the Ford scene detracts from Frodo's bravery in the book (though admittedly the film Frodo is barely conscious - a case of Jackson "upping the ante").  However, in the second and third films in which Éowyn appears, Arwen's martial abilities are not shown at all.
:In the first film, she rescues [[Frodo Baggins]] from the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] at [[Bruinen]], thwarting them with a sudden flood, summoned by an incantation. In the book, it was [[Glorfindel]] who put Frodo on horseback and sent him alone to flee the Black Riders, and Elrond and [[Gandalf]] arranged the flood. Also, in the book, Frodo defends himself against the Black Riders, whereas in the movie Arwen defends him.  Arwen wields the sword [[Hadhafang]],a non-canonical sword that belonged to her father.  


Some criticize ''The Lord of the Rings'' for including few named female characters (though of course unnamed women are present, along with unnamed men) and thus accuse Tolkien of sexism. However, in the essay ''Laws and Customs among the Eldar'', which appears in ''[[Morgoth's Ring]]'', Tolkien writes that male and female Elves are in fact viewed in Elven society as equals, save for the fact that only the females are capable of childbearing and are thus viewed as literally holding the future of their people in their hands. It is for this reason that they traditionally refrain from going to war (although they are still trained in all the aspects of combat taught to male Elves), usually occupying themselves during wartime as healers. As the text itself states:
:There is a scene in which Aragorn has a dream about Arwen in which they kiss, a scene where Arwen has an argument with her father about leaving for [[Valinor]], and a scene where she actually departs for Valinor and then changes her mind and returns when she sees a vision of her future son, Eldarion.  


:''In all such things, not concerned with the bringing forth of children, the ''neri'' and ''nissi'' (that is, the men and women) of the Eldar are equal – unless it be in this (as they themselves say) that for the ''nissi'' the making of things new is for the most part shown in the forming of their children, so that invention and change is otherwise mostly brought about by the ''neri''. There are, however, no matters which among the Eldar only a ''nér'' can think or do, or others with which only a ''nís'' is concerned. There are indeed some differences between the natural inclinations of ''neri'' and ''nissi'', and other differences that have been established by custom (varying in place and in time, and in the several races of the Eldar). For instance, the arts of healing, and all that touches on the care of the body, are among the Eldar most practised by the ''nissi''; whereas it was the elven-men who bore arms at need. And the Eldar deemed that the dealing of death, even when lawful or under necessity, diminished the power of healing, and that the virtue of the ''nissi'' in this matter was due rather to their abstaining from hunting or war than to any special power that went with their womanhood. Indeed in dire straits or desperate defence, the ''nissi'' fought valiantly, and there was less difference in strength in speed between elven-men and elven-women that had not borne child that is seen among mortals. On the other hand many elven-men were great healers and skilled in the lore of living bodies, though such men abstained from hunting, and went not to war until the last need.'' '''''(Morgoth's Ring, The Second Phase, Laws and Customs Among the Eldar)'''''
:In addition, towards the end of the cinematic trilogy she apparently becomes sick, seemingly as a result of her forsaking her immortality. Elrond takes the reforged [[Narsil]], now [[Andúril]], to Aragorn at Dunharrow, and tells him that her fate has become bound with [[the One Ring]], and that she is dying. However, no explanation is ever given for these statements. It is possible that Elrond's comments of her dying is simply a metaphor of her becoming mortal, and that he is not implying she has a connection with the Ring, but that Arwens decision to stay means that her future, like the other free peoples of Middle-Earth, now rests on the destruction of the ring. Later, after the Ring is destroyed, Arwen is present at Aragorn's coronation without any signs of illness.


==Noun inflection==
'''2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
{|
:The voice of Arwen is provided by Slávka Halčáková. She only appears in person in the third series (season) of the adaptation, during the events of ''The Return of the King'', but is alluded to earlier.
|-
|valign="top"|{{qya-decl-nd|num=sg|Arave}}
|valign="top"|{{sjn-noun-vowel|num=sing|Arwen}}
|}


== See Also ==
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
* [[:Category:Images of Arwen|Images of Arwen]]
:Arwen can be found in a gazebo overlooking the path from [[Rivendell]] into the Misty Mountains. Her roles in the game was initially small, and her only significant interaction with the player was the passing of Elessar's banner that she made for [[Aragorn]] and bid the player to deliver to [[Halbarad]]. After the downfall of [[Sauron]], her prominence increases as [[Elrond]] and his household travel to [[Minas Tirith]] for her wedding. On their way towards [[Lothlórien]] from the lands of the [[Beornings]], Arwen asks her father to visit the cave in which her mother [[Celebrian]] was tormented by [[orcs]] before being rescued. She later discusses that experience with Lady [[Galadriel]].
 
'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Arwen resides in Rivendell, where players can discuss with her both historical and present subjects. While sporting the appearance of [[Liv Tyler]], her role is closer to the book than that in the movie: for example, she provides Halbarad and the Grey Company with the banner she had made for Aragorn, an event omitted from the movie adaptation. She is voiced by [[Courtenay Taylor]].


{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:House of Elrond]]
[[Category:House of Finarfin]]
[[Category:House of Olwë]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:Half-elven]]
[[Category:Gondorians]]
[[Category:Noldor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[de:Arwen]]
[[de:Arwen]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:elfes:semi-elfes:arwen]]
[[fi:Arwen]]
[[fi:Arwen]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:elfes:semi-elfes:arwen]]

Latest revision as of 14:53, 4 March 2024

Arwen
Half-elf
John Howe - Arwen.jpg
"Arwen" by John Howe
Biographical Information
PronunciationS, [ˈarwen]
Other namesUndómiel (Q: "Evenstar")
Elerondiel (Q)
Elrenniel (S)
TitlesLady of Rivendell
Queen of Elves and Men
Queen of Gondor
LocationRivendell, Lothlórien, Reunited Kingdom
LanguagePrimarily Sindarin[1]
BirthT.A. 241
RuleT.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 120
Death1 March Fo.A. 121[2] (aged 2,901)
Cerin Amroth, Lothlórien
Notable forBeing granted the Gift of Ilúvatar
Family
HeritageHalf-elven father, Elf mother
ParentageElrond and Celebrían
SiblingsElladan and Elrohir (twins)
SpouseAragorn
ChildrenEldarion and several daughters
Physical Description
GenderFemale
Hair colorDark[3]
Eye colorGrey[3]
ClothingGrey raiment with girdle of silver leaves;[3] silver and blue mantle[4]
GalleryImages of Arwen
"Frodo saw her whom few mortals had yet seen; Arwen, daughter of Elrond, in whom it was said that the likeness of Lúthien had come on earth again; and she was called Undómiel, for she was the Evenstar of her people."
― The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"

Arwen Undómiel, often called Arwen Evenstar, was one of the half-elven, married to Aragorn II. She was the daughter of Elrond and Celebrían.[4]

She was considered to be the fairest of the Children of Ilúvatar in the Third Age, resembling Lúthien of the First Age who would never again appear in Ëa. Her romance with Aragorn was reminiscent of that between the Man Beren and the Elf Lúthien. Like Lúthien, she rejected her Elven immortality to marry Aragorn and die with him.[4]

History[edit | edit source]

Evenstar by Anna Lee

Arwen was born in T.A. 241 and was the younger sister of Elladan and Elrohir.[5] From her mother she inherited the Elfstone.[6] As one of the half-elven, she shared the right of her father to choose her fate. She lived most of her life in Imladris, or in Lothlórien with her grandparents.[4]

Her father fostered the sons of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, who were the exiled Heirs of Isildur.[7] It was in T.A. 2952 when she returned from Lothlórien to Rivendell when she met a young foster-son of her father, Aragorn. The young Dúnadan fell in love when he first saw her, though as he was still a youth, Arwen did not return his love.[4][5]

Elrond insisted that Arwen could not marry Aragorn until he became king of both Gondor and Arnor. Whether Arwen chose to marry him and become mortal, or remain with her kin as one of the Elves, she would be parted from either Elrond or Aragorn forever.[4]

Arwen in Rivendell, art by Abe Papakhian

It was not until they met many years later in Lórien that Arwen returned Aragorn's love, and in T.A. 2980 they plighted their troth on Cerin Amroth. Aragorn gave her the Ring of Barahir.[4][5]

In the years leading up to the War of the Ring, the Misty Mountains and all lands eastward became dangerous, and at the request of her father, Arwen returned to Imladris in T.A. 3009.[5]

Arwen was later reunited with Aragorn when he brought the Hobbits to Rivendell during the War of the Ring. She was present at a feast attended by Frodo. Later that night, she and Aragorn spoke together.[3] When the Fellowship departed and Galadriel offered them her gifts, Arwen's Elfstone, given from Galadriel to Celebrían, and Celebrían to Arwen, was the gift for Aragorn. He would wear the Elfstone ever after.[8] This giving held the function of a wedding gift from the family of the bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.[9]

Arwen wove the Livery of Elendil for Aragorn from black cloth, decorating it with mithril, gems and gold. She sent the banner with her brothers and a group of Rangers of the North to Aragorn before he took the Paths of the Dead, thereby inspiring him to take the difficult path.[10] The banner was unfurled at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields to triumphantly announce the King's return.[11]

King and his Queen by Janka Latečková

After the defeat of Sauron, Aragorn was crowned as King of the West and the new Reunited Kingdom; on that day Arwen and her father departed for Minas Tirith. On 20 May they reached Lothlórien where they stayed for a week before Arwen resumed with her escort. On 14 June she met her brothers and together they went to Edoras where they stayed two days before continuing to Gondor.[12]

Queen[edit | edit source]

Arwen arrived to Minas Tirith on 1 Lithe and wed Aragorn on Mid-year's Day,[12] being the third union of Elves and Men. Arwen chose a fate different from her father's and did not sail to the West. Instead, she gifted Frodo, as the Ring-bearer, passage in her stead, as she foresaw that his burden would not be lifted. She also gifted him a necklace with a white gem. [13]

As Queen of Gondor, Arwen maintained a close connection with Gondor's allies, as did her husband. In Fo.A. 15 they visited the Hobbits outside the Shire and she took as a maid of honour Elanor Gardner, daughter of Samwise Gamgee.[14] She was mother of one son, Eldarion, and at least two unnamed daughters. After Aragorn's death, Arwen departed from Minas Tirith and returned to the abandoned Lothlórien. There she stayed for a time until she gave up her life in Fo.A. 121 at Cerin Amroth, and was buried there.[4]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Arwen means "Noble Maiden" in Sindarin, from ara- ("noble") and gwenn ("maiden").[15] Tolkien remarked that it also means "greatly blessed" in Welsh.[16]

The Quenya form of her name is not entirely certain, but in his Quenya greeting, Aragorn refers to her again as "Arwen" (Arwen vanimelda, namárië!).[8] This suggests that the form Arwen itself is also coincidentally a valid, or at least understandable, Quenya calque (using ar-, stem Arwend-).

Other names[edit | edit source]

Her epessë, Undómiel, means "Evenstar", from Undómë ("evening twilight") and el ("star").

She is also given the names Elrenniel and Elerondiel, both meaning "Daughter of Elrond" in Sindarin and Quenya respectively.[17]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the Half-elven were joined.[18] Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves as well as the only line with Maia blood through Arwen's great-great grandmother, Melian.

Finarfin
b. Y.T. 1230
 
Eärwen
b. Y.T.
 
Galadhon
b. F.A.
 
Tuor
b. F.A. 472
 
Idril
b. Y.T.
 
Dior
F.A. 470 - 506
 
Nimloth
d. F.A. 506
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Galadriel
b. Y.T. 1362
 
 
 
Celeborn
b. F.A.
 
 
 
Eärendil
b. F.A. 503
 
 
 
 
 
Elwing
b. F.A. 503
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Celebrían
b. S.A. 300
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elrond
b. F.A. 532
 
 
Elros
F.A. 532 - S.A. 442
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elladan
b. T.A. 130
 
Elrohir
b. T.A. 130
 
ARWEN
T.A. 241 - Fo.A. 121
 
 
 
Aragorn II
T.A. 2931 - Fo.A. 120
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eldarion
Fo.A. 1 - 220
 
unknown
daughters
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

While writing the drafts of The Lord of the Rings the character was named Finduilas; only during the final proofreading in 1949 Tolkien changed the name to Arwen.[19]

Tolkien considered to postpone the birth of Arwen from T.A. 241 to T.A. 341 , or even in T.A. 421[20], to increase the interval between the birth of the twins and the birth of Arwen where the parents were at rest, and he assigned the error in dates to a "probable scribal origin" (with the inversion of numbers 241/421).

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

Arwen in adaptations
Arwen at the Ford of Bruinen in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring  
Arwen in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)  
Arwen in The Lord of the Rings Online  

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

Arwen does not appear in this film.

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

Arwen is voiced by Sonia Fraser.

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game):

Arwen appears in Rivendell after the Council of Elrond. She has a brief dialogue with Aragorn, and recites several lines from the Riddle of Strider. No voice actress is specified, but it is likely Kath Soucie.

2001-03: The Lord of the Rings (film series):

Arwen is played by Liv Tyler. Various additional scenes pertaining to Arwen are inserted, some of which deviate from the books and some of which seem to be inspired by The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen.
In the first film, she rescues Frodo Baggins from the Black Riders at Bruinen, thwarting them with a sudden flood, summoned by an incantation. In the book, it was Glorfindel who put Frodo on horseback and sent him alone to flee the Black Riders, and Elrond and Gandalf arranged the flood. Also, in the book, Frodo defends himself against the Black Riders, whereas in the movie Arwen defends him. Arwen wields the sword Hadhafang,a non-canonical sword that belonged to her father.
There is a scene in which Aragorn has a dream about Arwen in which they kiss, a scene where Arwen has an argument with her father about leaving for Valinor, and a scene where she actually departs for Valinor and then changes her mind and returns when she sees a vision of her future son, Eldarion.
In addition, towards the end of the cinematic trilogy she apparently becomes sick, seemingly as a result of her forsaking her immortality. Elrond takes the reforged Narsil, now Andúril, to Aragorn at Dunharrow, and tells him that her fate has become bound with the One Ring, and that she is dying. However, no explanation is ever given for these statements. It is possible that Elrond's comments of her dying is simply a metaphor of her becoming mortal, and that he is not implying she has a connection with the Ring, but that Arwens decision to stay means that her future, like the other free peoples of Middle-Earth, now rests on the destruction of the ring. Later, after the Ring is destroyed, Arwen is present at Aragorn's coronation without any signs of illness.

2003: Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series):

The voice of Arwen is provided by Slávka Halčáková. She only appears in person in the third series (season) of the adaptation, during the events of The Return of the King, but is alluded to earlier.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Arwen can be found in a gazebo overlooking the path from Rivendell into the Misty Mountains. Her roles in the game was initially small, and her only significant interaction with the player was the passing of Elessar's banner that she made for Aragorn and bid the player to deliver to Halbarad. After the downfall of Sauron, her prominence increases as Elrond and his household travel to Minas Tirith for her wedding. On their way towards Lothlórien from the lands of the Beornings, Arwen asks her father to visit the cave in which her mother Celebrian was tormented by orcs before being rescued. She later discusses that experience with Lady Galadriel.

2011: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North:

Arwen resides in Rivendell, where players can discuss with her both historical and present subjects. While sporting the appearance of Liv Tyler, her role is closer to the book than that in the movie: for example, she provides Halbarad and the Grey Company with the banner she had made for Aragorn, an event omitted from the movie adaptation. She is voiced by Courtenay Taylor.

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of the Elves"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part One. Time and Ageing: XVIII. Elvish Ages & Númenórean", p. 151
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn"
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Farewell to Lórien"
  9. ↑ 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"
  10. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Passing of the Grey Company"
  11. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields"
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Chief Days from the Fall of Barad-dûr to the End of the Third Age"
  13. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Many Partings"
  14. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "Later Events Concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring"
  15. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 205
  16. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Letter to S.E.O. Joukes, 28 August 1967"
  17. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings: Eldarin Roots and Stems", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 56
  18. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Númenor"
  19. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. xxviii
  20. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part One. Time and Ageing: IX. Time-scales and Rates of Growth", p. 67.
Retrieved from "https://tolkiengateway.net/w/index.php?title=Arwen&oldid=386827"