The Silvan elves belonged to the Nandorin group and had descended from the supporters of Lenwe. Although captivated by the terrain and environment of the lands that lay to the east of the Misty Mountains, they were held back by fear from going across them in search of new lands. As a result, they gave up any attempt to join the great journey, chose to stay in the wide forests, and broke into disparate groups. We also understand from the Silmarillion that many Avari joined these disparate forest groups. Not much is known about the movements of the Nandors, the larger group to which the Silvan elves themselves belonged, except that they dispersed over the entire Vales of Anduin [1] over an extended period spanning a few centuries.
Some went southwards along the course of the Great River and reached the Mounts of Anduin, where they finally settled. Others went northwards into Eriador, where they met Denethor, who led them into Beleriand after crossing the Blue Mountains. They would subsequently become known as the Green Elves of Ossariland and struck a chord with Thingol, who welcomed them into their fold as their forgotten relatives who had strayed away long back. The remaining Nandor, who had gone neither north nor south but had stayed put in their place became the Silvan Elves, assuming the characteristics of the Avari, who had befriended them. They had moved far away from their original clan and even the language they spoke was altered so much that the Sindar and Noldor, who met them in the Second Age, found it difficult to follow them, even though the similarity between the dialects of the two groups was immediately discernible.
The meeting of the Silvan Elves with the Sindar and Noldor, however, proved greatly beneficial, as it helped in organizing the Silvan Elves and making them a wiser people. This encounter hit the final nail into the Silvan language, which remained only in the names of the people and places, but otherwise entirely replaced by the Sindarin Language, which became the common language spoken by all groups in the region. The coming together of the Silvan Elves with their long-lost kin, the Sindars, and the Noldor's, had been occasioned by the decimation of Beleriand, in the early part of the Second Age, which had forced the people who had survived to flee and seek refuge in the wooded vales, where the Silvan Elves lived. It was not long before the Sindar refugees started ruling over the Silvan Elves.
Some went southwards along the course of the Great River and reached the Mounts of Anduin, where they finally settled. Others went northwards into Eriador, where they met Denethor, who led them into Beleriand after crossing the Blue Mountains. They would subsequently become known as the Green Elves of Ossariland and struck a chord with Thingol, who welcomed them into their fold as their forgotten relatives who had strayed away long back. The remaining Nandor, who had gone neither north nor south but had stayed put in their place became the Silvan Elves, assuming the characteristics of the Avari, who had befriended them. They had moved far away from their original clan and even the language they spoke was altered so much that the Sindar and Noldor, who met them in the Second Age, found it difficult to follow them, even though the similarity between the dialects of the two groups was immediately discernible.
The meeting of the Silvan Elves with the Sindar and Noldor, however, proved greatly beneficial, as it helped in organizing the Silvan Elves and making them a wiser people. This encounter hit the final nail into the Silvan language, which remained only in the names of the people and places, but otherwise entirely replaced by the Sindarin Language, which became the common language spoken by all groups in the region. The coming together of the Silvan Elves with their long-lost kin, the Sindars, and the Noldor's, had been occasioned by the decimation of Beleriand, in the early part of the Second Age, which had forced the people who had survived to flee and seek refuge in the wooded vales, where the Silvan Elves lived. It was not long before the Sindar refugees started ruling over the Silvan Elves.
The Woodland Realm
It was well known that Elves with a Silvan origin were suspicious of dwarves. By contrast, they engaged in trade with men, with whom they maintained cordial relations. This was especially true of the elves from Mirkwood, a region which acquired its present name after the inimical influence of Sauron upon it in TA 1050. It was previously called “Greenwood the Great.” Bilbo Baggins was also affected by these Elves, from whom he was forced to rescue the dwarves of Thorin II's company, while he was on his way to the Lonely Mountain. They had also sent hosts to the War of the Last Alliance and, in Bilbo’s time, the Battle of the Five Armies One prominent elf who lived among the Silvan Elves but was not really of their stock was Legolas of the Fellowship of the Ring. His father hailed from Doriath before settling down among the Silvan Elves, while nothing is known about his mother, making his heritage at least partly that of Sindarin. The language and customs of the Silvan Elves had been so completely overshadowed by the Sindarin that hardly any trace of it remained by the end of the Third Age. The Sindars even made a conscious attempt to imbibe the language into their own in an attempt to return to the simple ways of the Silvans, which, however, was interrupted by the call of the Valar. Ultimately, Sindarin became the main language commonly spoken in the Woodland Realm.
Lorien
In Lorien, the Silvan Elves were part of a larger group of Tree people, known as the Galadhrim, the latter being themselves a blend of elves with Nandor, Noldor, and Sindar ancestries. The majority of the Sindars in Lorien had arrived there in the early part of the second Age from Beleriand as refugees. One of these Sindars, Amdir, had become the king of Lorien and was succeeded by his son Amroth after he was killed in the Battle of Dagoriad. Sindarin speaking elves from Noldor, led by Galadriel and Celeborn, came to Lorien through Moria, after the dismantling of Eregion. Galadriel was the daughter of Finadin, whose ancestry was of Noldor. Celeborn belonged to the Sindar of the Kingdom of Doriath. [2] After Amroth had gone in the Third Age, Galadriel and Celeborn were recognized as the Lady and Lord of Lorien. However, neither of them assumed the role of a king or queen.
The elves of Lorien also spoke a dialect of Sindarin but had altered it so much, by the time of the Lord of the Ring, that others speaking the same tongue could hardly understand them. This became evident when Frodo Baggins, who could speak a smattering of the language, attempted to communicate with them without success. Fortunately, there were some elves in Loren who were able to speak Westron and this helped in establishing communication with outsiders. Haldir was one such person from Loerien, whose familiarity with the Westron language enabled him to accompany Frodo Baggins and his group during their journey to Caras Galadhon.
The elves of Lorien also spoke a dialect of Sindarin but had altered it so much, by the time of the Lord of the Ring, that others speaking the same tongue could hardly understand them. This became evident when Frodo Baggins, who could speak a smattering of the language, attempted to communicate with them without success. Fortunately, there were some elves in Loren who were able to speak Westron and this helped in establishing communication with outsiders. Haldir was one such person from Loerien, whose familiarity with the Westron language enabled him to accompany Frodo Baggins and his group during their journey to Caras Galadhon.
Portrayal in Adaptations
Adaptations portray the Woodlands elves in a slightly different manner. In an adaptation for his film, Beorn depicts the Woodland Elves as a more threatening and vicious group with a lower level of sagacity compared to their counterparts from other regions. Visually, the Silvan Elves have been portrayed mostly as having red hair, although some are shown with brown hair too. The Silvan Elves are also portrayed as being sprightlier and more dexterous in battle. Tauriel is a notable example of Silvan Elves on the silver screen. Numerically, the Silvan Elves are a force to contend with as they turn out in large numbers (estimated to be more than 8000) in the film. His can be seen in the prelude to the Battle of Five Armies when Thranduil displays his entire army consisting of spearmen, swordsmen, and archers.
References
Categories:
Elven Peoples
