Voronwë

From Tolkien Gateway
(Redirected from Voronwë of Gondolin)
The name Voronwë refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Voronwë (disambiguation).
Voronwë
Noldo
Kimberly - Voronwe.jpg
"Voronwe" by Kimberly
Biographical Information
Other namesBronwë (S)
Aranwion (Q)
Abrazân (A)
PositionMariner
LocationNevrast,
Gondolin
AffiliationHouse of Fingolfin, Tuor
BirthF.A.
Nevrast
Family
ParentageAranwë and a kinswoman of Círdan
Physical Description
GenderMale
Eye colorSea-grey[1]
ClothingElven-mail with a great cloak[1]
WeaponryShort sword[1]
GalleryImages of Voronwë

Voronwë Aranwion was a mariner of Gondolin.

History[edit | edit source]

Voronwë was related to the House of Fingolfin through his father, Aranwë, a nobleman of Gondolin and to Círdan himself through his mother, who was one of the Sindar Elves of Falas.

He was sent by King Turgon to seek a passage to Aman and call on the Valar for aid against Morgoth. He delayed on the road, tarrying in Nan-tathren and because of this he was the final one to embark on the last ship that Círdan, at the request of Turgon, had built for them. After sailing for seven years without reaching the lands in the West, his ship attempted to return to Middle-Earth defeated. In a storm within sight of the coast the ship was wrecked and all save him were drowned. By the grace of Ulmo, Voronwë was saved from the wreck and washed ashore in Nevrast, near Vinyamar. He was sitting at its wall when he encountered Tuor and heard his story as the messenger of Ulmo and led him back to Gondolin.[2]

During the Fall of Gondolin he was ordered by Tuor to guard Idril. He escaped the sack.

It is said that he may have left Middle-earth with Tuor and Idril.[3]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Voronwë is Quenya for "Steadfast"[4] or "steadfastness".[5]

Other names[edit | edit source]

The Sindarin cognate for Voronwë was Bronwë.[5]

His epithet Aranwion was his patronymic, meaning simply "Son of Aranwë".[6]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aranwë
b. F.A.
 
unknown mother
 
Círdan
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
VORONWË
b. F.A.
 
 
 
 
 
 


Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In The Book of Lost Tales, his Qenya name Voronwë meant "the Faithful", but he was mostly known in Gnomish Bronweg ("the Constant One").[7] As in later works, he is the guide of Tuor, but also the father of Littleheart – a figure that does not recur elsewhere.[8]

According to the earlier and most accounts, he sailed with Eärendel on his voyages, not Tuor.[9]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"
  3. 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: V. The Tale of Years", p. 352
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names", entry "Voronwë"
  5. 5.0 5.1 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. 189
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, Index, entry "Aranwë"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I, entry "Bronweg"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin", passim
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta: [Section] 17"