Gulls: Difference between revisions

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Their association with the sea caused a great sense of longing for the journey to [[Valinor]] among [[Elves]] that were not familiar with their sound. One of those was [[Legolas]].<ref name="tLD"/>
Their association with the sea caused a great sense of longing for the journey to [[Valinor]] among [[Elves]] that were not familiar with their sound. One of those was [[Legolas]].<ref name="tLD"/>


==Other versions of the Legendarium==
==Other versions of the legendarium==
The [[House of the Wing]] wore [[swans|swan]] or gull-like feathers on their helmets.<ref name="Fall"/> The [[Lindar]] were at one point considered the "Lords of the Gulls" among many other names.<ref>{{LR|Quenta}}, p. 215</ref>
The [[House of the Wing]] wore [[swans|swan]] or gull-like feathers on their helmets.<ref name="Fall"/> The [[Lindar]] were at one point considered the "Lords of the Gulls" among many other names.<ref>{{LR|Quenta}}, p. 215</ref>



Revision as of 20:53, 15 June 2020

"To the Sea, to the Sea! The white gulls are crying,
The wind is blowing, and the white foam is flying.
"
Legolas[1]
File:Ted Nasmith - Gulls.jpg
Excerpt from illustration by Ted Nasmith

Gulls or mews were birds found on all shores in Arda.

History

Gulls were common in all sea-bordering lands (perhaps especially abundant on the cape of Bar-in-Mŷl, the "Home of the Gulls", in the land of the Falas[2]), and for that, they were often attributed to Ossë.[3] The Teleri that dwelt in the Havens were very fond of them, and their mewing welcomed Tuor to their land.[4] They were also known in Númenor[5] and Gondor.[6]

Their association with the sea caused a great sense of longing for the journey to Valinor among Elves that were not familiar with their sound. One of those was Legolas.[6]

Other versions of the legendarium

The House of the Wing wore swan or gull-like feathers on their helmets.[3] The Lindar were at one point considered the "Lords of the Gulls" among many other names.[7]

Etymology

In the Etymologies, one Noldorin and one Quenya word for "gull" appear, both from the same root: maew and maiwë.[8] A later recorded Sindarin word is mŷl,[2] which replaced gwael.[2]

In manuscripts related to the Etymologies Tolkien also experimented with the Noldorin form cuen, glossed as "small gull, petrel".[9]

Other fiction

In the story Roverandom, a seagull named Mew brings the dog Rover to the moon. On their way, Mew stops to visit other sea-birds, among them the "oldest and most important of all the Blackbacked Gulls".[10]

References