What is a topic in Tolkien's works that you'd like to see explained? Let me know!

"can we please stop changing our names? I don't even know how to introduce myself anymore" - unknown elf

Taking the Elves to Valinor is almost like herding cats

So basically, when you read the Silmarillion you will need to stop every page or so and review this video.

I was so alone in my obsession with this material in 4th grade. I envy kids today who can connect with other like-minded fans all over the world. It was just me, my imagination, and my dog eared copy of the Silmarillion.

When you think all of this is extremely complex, just think that we are trying to understand them from an established lore. Tolkien created them all in his mind.

Vanyar is pretty straightforward. They went straight to Aman and never left. Noldor also went straight to Aman, but while some never left, most followed Feanor back to Beleriand, and some also lived in Middle Earth. The Teleri is where it gets confusing. Some did go to Aman, but most of them stayed behind, either in Beleriand or Middle Earth, and they were given names based on where they stopped.

"Elves...so.many.Elves!!!" - C.S. Lewis to J.R.R. Tolkien

I can’t stop watching nerd of the rings :)

I'm not sure if this was an oversight or maybe just not included it because it's already so much dense information, but the three elvish leaders Ingwe, Finwe, and Elwe (Thingol) all went to Valinor first, before coming back and bringing the rest. That means that despite being a Sindar, Thingol has personally seen the light of the trees.

Tolkien seemed to have an underlying concept that the older/earlier one was, the more powerful one was. In that case, the Vanyar must have been awe inspiring in their power. They merely chose not to meddle with Middle Earth but chose to stay in Valinor. Everyone seems smitten with the power of the Noldor like Feanor and Galadriel but I suspect there were Vanyar elves far older than these 2 Noldor whose power dwarfed theirs. It's just that they were never documented.

This is a great explanation. I'd love a breakdown of elven relics, like when and who made the swords, the palantiri, the rings, all that.

My dude. Nothing in Eä has plagued me more than this topic. To be perfectly honest, I'm still pretty confused lol but will rewatch it at least a dozen times. Thanks so much for making this video in particular. I've been binging hard since I found your channel last week!

The biggest eyeopener for me? That they travelled from east to west. Somehow where exactly on the map they came from had never stuck in my brain and that confusion made keeping track of the threads of the story and names so much more difficult. To see it visualised like this is extremely helpful. Thank you!

Best elves introduction I've ever seen, a must-watch for every Tolkien readers.

The Dwarven clans should definitely have a video of their own too!

I'd love to see a video on the history and significance of Helm's Deep! Maybe it could be an entire series on the prominent fortresses throughout Middle-Earth?

Fun fact, Beleg was one of the original elves that awoke. This is noted in the Lay of the Children of Hurin where it is is said he knew no sire.

I must admit. My passion for Arda came with the films. I never really came around reading the books but played the online-game. Thanks to your videos I can appreciate much of the detail that flowed into the game and you made me order the book “the hobbit” this morning :3 thank u

Loved the video. Would like to learn more about the origins of men

As a Tolkien aficionado since the late 1970s, I say "Well done." As an aside; my senior quote in my HS yearbook was the first time the Black Speech was ever written down in that publication. One ring to rule them all. One ring to find them. One ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them. "Ash nazg durbataluk. Ash nazg ginbatul. Ash nazg thrakataluk. Ag burzum-ishi krimpatul."

When I was eight years old I spent so much time trying to get understand this. It took me decades, lol

After watching the Tolkien documentary I am really amazed by how a single man can create and make ideas and fantasies super complex all on his own and make it very believable and comprehensive Not to mention making up believable new words and names of characters and places that sounds RIGHT to what it intends to portray

Best Tolkien channel ever!

You forgot to mention that Thingol was uniquely of both the Calaquendi and Silvan elves, having been an ambassador of the Teleri and dwelling in Valinor for a short time.

OMG THIS IS so helpful I tried to make my own list and i was getting lost in it 😩 bless you for this

Love your work, but I think it's important to mention how the three elf kings visited the west before the elves journeyed west. I also don't think Luthien is Sindarin because Elwe saw the light of the trees so his line aren't dark elves.

The fact that Tolkien came up with every single one of these all within his mind is both impressive, admirable, and inspiring. I have deep respect for Tolkien.

the most concise and best explanation thus far on youtube

It's amazing how Tolkien's elves translate to the other fantasy settings. Like Warhammer, Warcraft, and Elder Scrolls.

I would love to see more of the Vanyar fleshed out, who they were, what they did, how they lived, what made them honored above Noldor even unto the Noldor, and how they played a part in the War of Wrath/legacy. So little is known about them even though they are honored above all other elves.

The depth of Tolkien's imagination is beyond compare... and this is just one aspect of his Legendarium. I've been reading Tolkien since 1977 and I still find new stuff every time I re-read.

So pretty much all the elves in the third age were originally Teleri? The only elves from the other clans I remember are Galadriel and Glorfindel, both of Noldor. Elrond had roots in all elven clans.

Entertaining, educational, and binge worthy, this is legitimately the coolest channel on KZfaq.

I think if I was a neighborhood developer I’d use these names as street names..

Man, of all the works in Tolkien's Legendarium, the Silmarillion resonates the most. If you've read that and then read the subsequent installments, you can get a full sense of the loss the elves feel in the Second and Third Ages. Truly a masterpiece in every sense of the word.

This is a great video with a lot of helpful information. There's a few things that I'd like some clarification on though. You said the Elves that reached Aman were called the High Elves. I was under the impression that was a name for the Vanyar alone as it was one of the (numerous) cognomens for the Vanyar. The Vanyar were the High Elves, the Noldor were the Deep Elves, the Falmari the Sea Elves, the Falathrim the Shore Elves, the Sindar the Grey Elves, the Laiquendi the Green Elves, the Nandor the Brown Elves, the Silvan the Wood Elves, etc. Maybe it's just different sources, but I had the impression that the Silvan Elves were a sort of amalgamation of the Nandor Elves who stayed east of the Misty Mountains intermixing with the surviving Laiquendi who went west after Beleriand's destruction, some Avari, and -maybe- some Sindar who intermingled, though Silvan rulers were mostly derived from high Sindar lords. I've heard that the Avari were originally led by a Tatyar and a Nelyar and eventually formed six tribes, but the canonicity of this was questionable. Also, I'm SO curious about the original kings of the original three clans: Imin of the Minyar, Tata of the Tatyar, and Enel of the Nelyar. What happened after they were replaced by Ingwe, Finwe, and Elwe?

I was lucky enough to have a teacher, who introduced us to the Hobbit in 6th grade. One of the very few fun books we read in school. Shortly after, I first read LOTR for the first time and I think have read it 7-8 times since. Tolkien was such a master and I will be forever grateful for his work. Its nearly 30 years, since I read the Hobbit for the first time, but the whole Tolkien universe is still such a source of inspiration for me and may even have a lot more power in todays everyday life times for humans than most will suspect.

My Mom is dying from cancer, and one night when I got off a video call from my fiancé, he knew I was still very upset. He couldn’t shake his concern and called me back and sort of caught me crying again, alone. He proceeded to read the next chapter of the Silmarillion to me, since we both love Tolkien, he knew I was rereading, and he has an awesome reading voice (he’s going into narration work until he’s certified to teach, so proud), the gesture was really sweet, and it helped calm me down a lot. It was Chapter 4 of Quenta Silmarillion, though, and while I do LOVE Tolkien, it IS one of those chapters that make me think the Bible very strongly (Israelites wandering the desert for 40 years and some groups branching off). While it did get into some Melkor stuff in the back half, it was a bit dense. I’m really glad he read it with me; it made it more enjoyable to comment on the little things. We also reread the paragraphs leading up to chapter three, at my behest, because I wanted to hear his reaction, which I predicted. Yavanna was super pumped she got the Ents to be a thing, to protect the trees, as they were defenseless and her heart ached for them most, being under the dominion of Man. She goes and to Aule is like, “Honey, I’m home! Guess what I accomplished! Ha, it’ll be great, and your guys will have to think twice before mistreating trees!” And HE replies, verbatim, “Nonetheless, they will have need of wood.” Basically, “Yeah yeah, protect all you want, but they’re gonna do what they’re gonna do, your trees are still friggin screwed, lady.” He basically shrugged at all her work. My fiancé, as I expected, lowered his head in reflected shame and discomfort and somberly said, “Damn.” 😂 On my Kindle versions of books I know when to mark “Jon-damn,” in them, knowing that if he ever reads them and I’m RIGHT, it’ll be close to everything I ever wanted in a relationship. He’s been amazing through all of this, and I’m sure it’s not the last time we’ll end up reading the Silmarillion to get my mind off of distressing stuff. It’s hard to lose your mom, but usually you talk to your best friend about that. When your best friend IS your Mom, it kind of... it’s one of the worst two for ones around.

This actually legitimately helps a bunch, especially with the visualization of the journey and where each group stopped off or returned to. It's one thing to read and memorize the names, it's another thing to have a region represented with them. Nice work.

I've been subscribed to many Tolkien channels here on KZfaq but this one is starting to be my favorite one. Excellent job on the research and presentation, as always.

Glad I am not the only one struggling with the names. Very helpful video 👍

You left out that thingol has seen the light of the trees. That was a good part of his animosity towards the noldor for thinking themselves above the Sindar and him in particular.

This is literally so incredibly helpful as I have tried so many videos to help myself understand their concept. Thanks!

Just started reading the Silmarillion and this definitely was a lot of help, actually helped me understand the elves in general a lot more.

Excellent!. Reading about these groups was much akin to reading about the ancient Chinese dynasties. 6 Emperors have the same name spread out over 3 dynasties and 1000 years type stuff. This helps immensely.

We always appreciate your hard work and dedication towards these videos. Love from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰🤝🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿.

Another example of your videos highlighting the interconnection of this entire world... I really have enjoyed reading the books for myself along with having the understanding your clarifications allow us to enjoy. LOTR is a work of art that goes unseen because of it's complexity but your work has also magnified it! Thank You!

Thank you! really nice video. Please do the dwarves just like this. Where each clans awoke from and their migration to each halls. Thank you again!👍👍

Great video as usual! Although you missed the fact that 3 emissaries crossed the sea first to meet with the Valar and came back the convince the elves to leave, one of these is Thingol. So although he dwells with the Moriquendi he is in fact a Calaquendi as he saw the light of the two tree's

Excellent summary of the Tolkien elves. I have been reading Tolkien's works and studying background works about his sub-creation since 1972. Your concise explanation of the elves is the first I've heard of its kind. Keep up the good work. Namarie.

This is now my fave KZfaq LOTR lore channel. The others are great but yours are explained SOOO much clearer. Thanks for all your work bro!

I always thought it was funny that the Noldor were called Gnomes. It's my favorite trivia question... "were there gnomes in middle earth"

I would love to see a series made by you about the ENTIRE history of Arda. From the songs of the Valar, through the age of the lamps, tree's and first and second age. I especially love the way you make your video's with maps and moving characters. That would be awesome

I love Tolkiens world but remembering everything can be overwhelming at times. Videos like this really help. Thank you

This video is incredibly helpful! The different groups of elves was always so confusing to me. This really helps make more sense of it. Thank you!

Great stuff. Looks like I've forgotten just about everything from The Silmarillion. I need to correct that. :)

Just a minor correction - the Sindar, especially in Doriath, though not Calaquendi, should also not be referred to as Moriquendi. Partly because their king, Thingol, saw the light of the trees, partly because the light of the trees shone from Melian.

This is my favorite video you’ve done. I’m so so impressed. I LOVE the graphics. Thank you so much for this.

This is the clearest breakdown of the elves’ clans I’ve ever seen. Thanks 🙏

Could you do a video on the cultural or lifestyle differences between the silvan elves and high elves? Obviously you describe why origin of the groups here, but we don’t learn much about WHAT makes them different from one another. Elrond says silvan elves of Mirkwood are “less wise” but they are ruled by Thranduil of the Sindar (High elf). What does that mean?

Quickly becoming one of my favorite channels. Keep up the good works.

Good summary but you've omitted a very important detail. Elwe, as the leader of the Teleri, initially traveled with the appointed leaders of the Vanyar and Noldor to Valinar alongside Orome, as ambassadors of the Eldar. Having seen the might of the Valar, all three elven kings returned to guide their respective clans back to Aman. It was when guiding the Teleri back that Elwe came upon Melian and lost his way. Thus the Teleri were left in disarray. Some were gathered under Elwe's brother, Olwe, and made the journey to Valinar, while others remained and became the Sindar. Because he alone of the Sindar had seen the light of the trees, Elwe (Thingol) was also counted as a high elf (Calaquendi), a distinction that could be claimed by all in his lineage.

My main motivation was to get the gist of the Desolation of Smaug scene where Tauriel mentions how Thranduil wouldn't want to pledge his son Legolas to what she said was, "a lowly Silvan elf." I based that to mean that Legolas was of more royal/higher blood and that Silvan was like lowest of the low elven blood. After seeing this, Legolas was a Sindar elf who's clan made it across the Misty Mountains, but didn't make it Valinor whereas Tauriel's kind stayed behind the Misty Mountains to settle in Mirkwood/Lorien area. Thus, it doesn't really seem the type of elf was the reason Thranduil would let Legolas court Tauriel, but just that Thranduil wanted a more royal blooded elf for his son. My hunch was that Legolas would have been one of like the Noldor or something like that, but glad to know that's not the case!

in only 7 minutes? You got skills, buddy.

Finally an accurate video that actually covers what it says it's going to cover, unlike most of the LOTR videos out there. Good job :)

Man every time i watch you video i fall more in love in Tolkien’s creation. Really glad i stumble upon this page of yours !

Aaaah, I’ve so been looking forward to this! Thank you!! 🙊🤩 Your videos are a gift from Iluvatar himself and so. darn. helpful. And entertaining 😁

Good lord, this is a lot to grasp. Great video!

This video skips a small but important detail. Before the Elves would agree to embark on the journey to Valinor, each of the three clans sent a single emissary to go first with Orome and see the Blessed Land and report back. The emissary for the Teleri was none other than Thingol himself. As stated in the video, his faction of the Teleri which stayed behind were known as the Sindar in later times. While the Sindar were Moriquendi, having never made the journey to Aman, their king Thingol alone was counted among the Calaquendi as he had been there. So while you can say "the Sindar are Moriquendi," it's technically not correct unless you say "except Thingol."

This is the most efficient and understandable explanation of all this I have ever seen. Well done.

I'm coming into this late, but your videos are the best I've found on the Tolkien legendarium! I can tell you work hard to deliver this in-depth content. Much thanks.

I'd love to have gotten Tolkien's thoughts on the actual populations of these elves as they moved around. What did he mean when he say 'most' of the Teleri moved to Aman, or that 'the greater whole' of the Noldor moved to Beleriand?

"If you get Left Behind You Get A New Name..." LOL, That sums up the Different Elves in a Nutshell!!! Well, the Men of Middle Earth is also strange, very likely most of the people who get confused are only 3rd Age readers... So I say for all those people the Men and maybe the Dwarves of Middle Earth of Arda!!! Why not Hobbits because are Easy to Understand and Valar and Maiar that group is smaller... *Weird I looked at a book that had this, can't borrow it anymore, because I have finished High School*

You do an excellent job of giving us an overview of the Elf clans.

The fantastic content from this channel got me back into LOTR in a more immersive way than I could have ever imagined. Thank you!

Nerd of the rings you should do a video on the kingdoms of elves.

An army of the Vanyar returned to Middle Earth for The War of Wrath

I can't even begin to tell you how helpful this video was! Great work!

Probably one of the more complex topics you've covered. So many groups and migrations!

Would love a video on the Travels of Ulmo :)

0:24 144, "a number called by the hobbits one Gross, though the word was not considered proper to use of people." "Many of the [elves] ...were insulted, feeling sure that [Eru had only created them] ...to fill up the required number, like goods in a package. 'One Gross, indeed!' [they snorted, 'So vulgar!']."

I can't keep up with it even with the explanations you give. The fact this all came out of Tolkien's brain.....is just incredible.

This was extremely helpful. I've been a Tolkien fan my whole life and basically resigned myself to the fact that I will never understand what you just illustrated perfectly.

Literally serched for a guide like this a week ago becouse I got really confused about the million of "sub-teleri" elf groups, so this video comes super handy! Also I didn't know there were so few elves that awoke, a.k.a. the "OG elves", I always thought their numbers were around the many thousands. How did they become so numerous by the late FA? I know the fact they are immortal helps a lot and there are literally thousands of years between ages, but I always thought the elves had a low birth rate regardless of their long lifespan. Like, for example Elrond only has 3 children despite the fact he's like 8500 years old? Also, is there any clarification about what "awoke" means? like, were the elves just sleeping there since the creation of Arda? Wasn't the Sea of Helcar created when one of the two lamps crashed into the ground? Idk, seems cataclysmic af to me for them to sleep throught that... Also, how come Melkor or his beasts didn't find them when they were sleeping? I mean, they were just lying there i guess?

Complex area: a video on all the different names of the Descendants of Finwë (& their origins/meanings) would be really helpful for my tiny little memory :')

Wow, thank you for this video. I've been looking for something like this for a long time. It is really hard for me to keep up with by reading the Silmarillion alone. Thanks so much for the clarification, it really helped!!

This is 😍absolutely fantastic. Of all the books, movies, youtube, etc. this finally allowed me to understand the Elves. LOTR is my favorite work - since I was a teenager. Nerd of the Rings is the hands-down best source for really absorbing the saga. I can't thank you enough.

Dwarves and Men next plz

Elf1: "I am a Noldor." Elf2: "I am an Eladrin." Elf3: "I am a Teleri." Drow to Elf2: "I am pretty sure we aren't where we are supposed to be."

The Amazon series coming out has me bingeing all your videos again. Ugh. ALL THESE ARE SO GOOD. 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

Thank you so much for your videos. I feel really relaxed watching them. If I could make one request it would be to maybe put in the description of your videos some kind of roadmap on what videos should we watch if we want to follow the story chronological order. Greetings from LOTR fan from Croatia.

I'm really interested in the geography of Arda and how the world changed from the beginning of the world to the end of the Third Age. Also, your videos are awesome and I wish you could breakdown my research for me.

Another great video! Question, tho: am I mistaken to remember that Elwe/Thingol was a Calequendi? Wasn’t there a small group of elves that went to Aman and then returned to convince other elves to go there? I believe Elwe/Thingol was part of this group, and this happened before he met Melian, the meeting of whom kept him from going back with the second, larger group. So although most of the elves in his realm were Morequendi, Elwe was Calequendi. Is this right, or am I misremembering?

I so so so appreciate that you explain everything so clearly. Please keep doing those videos.

I'm fairly new to the channel but very glad I discovered it. I'm a huge Tolkien fan and have been since my dad read The Hobbit to me back when I was about seven. I actually had him turn around and read it to me a second time I loved it so much. Anyway... Thank you very much for doing a video on the sundering of the elves since that was one of the harder parts of the Silmarilian for me to keep straight. Your way of showing travels and events with maps and icons makes them much easier to visualize and keep in my head. Keep up the great work and all the best wishes for your channel's continued growth and success. You deserve. Lothron i galad -o i elena mír- bo cín níf

Well, I'm still confused, but it's a much more organized confusion now. Thank you.

No matter how many times I read or listen to the elves' history, I'll NEVER remember it, lol.

Since its hard to remember, I keep returning to this amazing guide every time, truly great content

One of the most useful videos for Tolkien's Fandom. I tried to do this with a family tree when I read the Silmarillion but here video enables a more clear view. Great job ! And less headaches.