Gildor was an Elf from the descendants of Noldor’s House of Finrod. He had an encounter with Frodo Baggins at the boundaries of the Shire and engaged him when he saw his resemblance to Bilbo Baggins, the ring-bearer he knew. The young Halfling became Gildor's friend and later sought counsel from him while awaiting Gandalf's return. But he was ambiguous in his counsel, then Frodo mentioned that Gildor had done as expected of an Elf. Gildor's time of birth is unknown, as do many things about his lineage.
Biography
A group of Elves that included Gildor trod the path of The Shire in September of TA 3018 (corresponding to SR 141), singing without concern for what might escape them. They arrived in time for their presence to deter the Nazgul that sought Frodo. Gildor welcomed Frodo and his company of Halflings to the Elves’ company for the night, and the company of Frodo, Sam, and Pippin were lost in awe of the Elves’ glamor as it engulfed them.
The Elves’ eyes shone so brightly, as did their hairs. The traveling company finally stopped near Woodhall in a space around the Woody End, where the Elves served their Halflings companions with bread, fruits, and a drink with a glorious smell. Gildor stayed awake for a long time in the night because he was talking to his new Hobbit friend. He became fond of Frodo since the moment of their encounter, in which Frodo impressed him with the greeting “Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo” which means "a star shines upon the hour of our encounter". Gildor Inglorion sensed that Frodo was in danger with the Nazgul and to help him, but did not want to counsel him in the absence of Gandalf. He wanted to avoid Gandalf getting angry with him for meddling in his affairs.
Gildor suggested that Frodo should choose companions from his trusted friends and flee to safety from the Nazgul. Gildor gave Frodo his words before he proceeded on his journey with the other Elves: he told Frodo that he would watch his back in times of adversities by informing others to support him. Gildor fulfilled his promise on many occasions to support Frodo. He informed Aragorn when Frodo was in trouble; he helped Frodo reach Tom Bombadil in the Old forest, and also helped the Halflings and Aragorn escape the Nazgul by reaching out to Glorfindel to offer his support.
Before the Halfling company left the Elves' company, Gildor informed Frodo about his journey to the Undying Lands. He told Frodo that he and his company would stay in Endor for a while before they head to Mithlond, and then cross the Sea to the Undying Lands. The course of Gildor's wandering in Endor was not mentioned. However, three years after the encounter with Frodo. They met in Woody End for a second time when Gildor, Galadriel, Elrond, and the Wizard, Gandalf, embarked on the journey to Mithlond also the Grey Havens, he was with the Elves that left for the West.
The Elves’ eyes shone so brightly, as did their hairs. The traveling company finally stopped near Woodhall in a space around the Woody End, where the Elves served their Halflings companions with bread, fruits, and a drink with a glorious smell. Gildor stayed awake for a long time in the night because he was talking to his new Hobbit friend. He became fond of Frodo since the moment of their encounter, in which Frodo impressed him with the greeting “Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo” which means "a star shines upon the hour of our encounter". Gildor Inglorion sensed that Frodo was in danger with the Nazgul and to help him, but did not want to counsel him in the absence of Gandalf. He wanted to avoid Gandalf getting angry with him for meddling in his affairs.
Gildor suggested that Frodo should choose companions from his trusted friends and flee to safety from the Nazgul. Gildor gave Frodo his words before he proceeded on his journey with the other Elves: he told Frodo that he would watch his back in times of adversities by informing others to support him. Gildor fulfilled his promise on many occasions to support Frodo. He informed Aragorn when Frodo was in trouble; he helped Frodo reach Tom Bombadil in the Old forest, and also helped the Halflings and Aragorn escape the Nazgul by reaching out to Glorfindel to offer his support.
Before the Halfling company left the Elves' company, Gildor informed Frodo about his journey to the Undying Lands. He told Frodo that he and his company would stay in Endor for a while before they head to Mithlond, and then cross the Sea to the Undying Lands. The course of Gildor's wandering in Endor was not mentioned. However, three years after the encounter with Frodo. They met in Woody End for a second time when Gildor, Galadriel, Elrond, and the Wizard, Gandalf, embarked on the journey to Mithlond also the Grey Havens, he was with the Elves that left for the West.
Controversy
Some controversies surround the actual identity of Gildor. In Tolkien's work, he used the names, Finrod and Finarfin, for the same character. We can get a better view of his identity if we replace Finrod with Finarfin in "House of Finrod". [1] It is only with this that we can find a place for him as a member of the Noldor host that left Valinor with Fingolfin but then moved to Beleriand with Finrod. We can trace the controversy to Gildor Inglorion's description of himself when he stated that he was from the House of Finrod and his people had left for the sea. Part of the controversy mentioned was the argument that Gildor's byname, "Inglorion" meaning Inglor's son, indicated that he was Finrod Felagund's son since Finrod was previously known as Inglor. But this claim has no strong premises for it. According to the Silmarillion, Finrod Felagund was unmarried. He departed from his love, the Vanyar's Amarie who chose to remain in Valinor.
Finrod's only chance of having descendants was if he married in exile, which was unlikely. Another assumption was that he resurrected for love's sake after dying and moving to the Realm of Mandos, which did not happen since the first time Mandos considered resurrecting the dead for love's sake was after Luthien died. The only instance of return from death was in the re-embodiment of Glorfindel, who was sent as an emissary to Endor by the Valar. Tolkien made it clear that Glorfindel was the only instance of re-embodiment. The fact that Gildor referred to himself as an exiled elf. Further dispelled the assumption that he was a re-embodiment. Also, Orodreth and Idril were the only third-generation descent of Finwe to follow the exiled hosts.
It is noteworthy that Tolkien would randomly use names taken from his previous works, The Silmarillion, in The Hobbit. He did the same in the sequel's first draft, The LOTR. An example of such usage is Elrond in The Hobbit. There was no correlation between his name in The Hobbit and The LOTR until the book's third edition clarified it. Tolkien might have intended renaming the character, as he also wanted for Glorfindel but was unable to make these changes later. We can assume from Tolkien's behavior that the character of Gildor may have been created to be Fingon's son, but as the work became wider, he resolved to make him only a member of Finrod's household.
Finrod's only chance of having descendants was if he married in exile, which was unlikely. Another assumption was that he resurrected for love's sake after dying and moving to the Realm of Mandos, which did not happen since the first time Mandos considered resurrecting the dead for love's sake was after Luthien died. The only instance of return from death was in the re-embodiment of Glorfindel, who was sent as an emissary to Endor by the Valar. Tolkien made it clear that Glorfindel was the only instance of re-embodiment. The fact that Gildor referred to himself as an exiled elf. Further dispelled the assumption that he was a re-embodiment. Also, Orodreth and Idril were the only third-generation descent of Finwe to follow the exiled hosts.
It is noteworthy that Tolkien would randomly use names taken from his previous works, The Silmarillion, in The Hobbit. He did the same in the sequel's first draft, The LOTR. An example of such usage is Elrond in The Hobbit. There was no correlation between his name in The Hobbit and The LOTR until the book's third edition clarified it. Tolkien might have intended renaming the character, as he also wanted for Glorfindel but was unable to make these changes later. We can assume from Tolkien's behavior that the character of Gildor may have been created to be Fingon's son, but as the work became wider, he resolved to make him only a member of Finrod's household.
Usage of Gildor in Adaptations
In LOTRO, [2] Gildor features as an Elven realm's lord. He controlled the area of North Down's Lin Giliath. When Halbarad called upon him as reinforcement, he moved to Esteldin, which was the settlement for the Rangers.
