Light-elves
Light-elves was a name given to the Vanyar, the kindred of the Elves who came first to Valinor and never returned to Middle-earth.[1]
Comment
This is an old and rare term, used just once in The Hobbit and never again in any canonical source. This is probably to avoid confusion with "Elves of the Light", the Calaquendi, of whom the Light-elves formed just one part, together with the Noldor and the Falmari (called "Deep-elves" and "Sea-elves" in The Hobbit).
Tolkien also uses the term in a manuscript note concerning Eöl, referring to the ill-disposition of the 'Dark Elves' towards the 'Light-Elves'.[2]
Inspiration
In Norse mythology, there are the Light Elves (Ljósálfar) and the Dark Elves (Dökkálfar or Svartálfar), a tradition which was well known to J.R.R. Tolkien.[3]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Flies and Spiders"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: III. Maeglin", p. 320
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, "Appendix A: Origins of the Legend", p. 359
