Elrond

Elrond
Tolkien character
In-universe information
RaceHalf-elven, choosing the fate of Elves
Book(s)The Hobbit (1937)
The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)
The Return of the King (1955)
The Silmarillion (1977)
Unfinished Tales (1980)

Elrond Half-elven is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. Both of his parents, Eärendil and Elwing, were half-elven, having both Men and Elves as ancestors. He is the bearer of the elven-ring Vilya, the Ring of Air, and master of Rivendell, where he has lived for thousands of years through the Second and Third Ages of Middle-earth. He was the Elf-king Gil-galad's herald at the end of the Second Age, saw Gil-galad and king Elendil fight the dark lord Sauron for the One Ring, and Elendil's son Isildur take it rather than destroy it.

He is introduced in The Hobbit, where he plays a supporting role, as he does in The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. Scholars have commented on Elrond's archaic style of speech, noting that this uses genuinely archaic grammar, not just a sprinkling of old words. The effect is to make his speech distinctive, befitting his age and status, while remaining clear, and avoiding quaintness.[1][2] He has been called a guide or wisdom figure, a wise person able to provide useful counsel to the protagonists.[3] It has been noted that just as Elrond prevented his daughter Arwen from marrying until conditions were met, so Tolkien's guardian, Father Francis Xavier Morgan, prevented Tolkien from becoming engaged or marrying until he came of age.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kullmann 2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Shippey 2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Nelson 2002 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rosebury 2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).