The Second Age Read Along - Part 2 - Week 3: UT: The History of Galadriel and Celeborn

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#What we’re reading today

This week we are reading the fourth section of Part Two in Unfinished Tales called “The History of Galadriel and Celeborn and of Amroth King of Lorien”. Read everything in this section until you arrive at the Appendices, we are reading those next week.

#Resources

Maps:

• Atlas of Middle-earth, Relocation of Refugees
• Atlas of Middle-earth, Advent of the Dark Years
• Atlas of Middle-earth, Last Alliance
• From Amazon, Late Second Age

Family Trees from The Silmarillion:

• The Elf Kindreds
• The House of Finwë (Galadriel’s family)
• The Descendants of Olwë and Elwë (Galadriel is one)

#Before you read

After our first looks at Númenor that have been the majority of our readings so far, we’re finally taking a peek into where most of the other Second Age material lies: continental Middle-earth, specifically in the lives of two (perhaps) more well known characters, Galadriel and Celeborn. You’ll soon encounter the literary troubles that arise when you look at the written material that surround these two, but these are some of the significant players both in the Second Age and the legendarium as a whole, so hopefully their literary issues only cause minor irritation at most.

Since the only finished products Tolkien made during his lifetime regarding the Middle-earth legendarium are The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, it's worthwhile to realize that most of the stories we have from the legendarium have multiple versions. Christopher Tolkien compiled them in the ways that he thought his father would have if he had the chance, either into a finished product like The Silmarillion (which even Christopher has made criticisms of) or in publications that show the various versions of the stories. This is our first reading that has a heavy focus on that facet, so don’t worry if you have trouble following along with all the different versions. Keep in mind what interests you, and enjoy the read!

This week’s selection also speaks of several events in the First Age, but the focus is on Galadriel and Celeborn during the First Age, so hopefully the extra tidbits aren’t too distracting. However, it might be useful to understand some of the various factions of Elves. I’ve listed here most of the ones in this reading, hopefully in the order you encounter them. I recommend coming to this list as you come across these names in the reading:

• Nandor = a subgroup of the Teleri that didn’t complete the journey the Teleri took in their youth (the majority of these didn’t cross the Misty Mountains and these stayed east of them)

• Teleri = the largest of the three original primary groups of Elves

• Vanyar = one of the three original primary groups of Elves; lived primarily with the Valar and no longer live in Middle-earth

• Noldor = one of the three original primary groups of Elves; this was the group that became ‘the Exiles’ to Middle-earth from Valinor due to various troubles they caused

• Sindar = ‘Grey-elves’; a subgroup of the Teleri that had come to the Great Sea before stopping during the Great Journey

• Dark Elves = the name ‘Dark’ for this group comes from not having seen the light of the Trees in Valinor, so this literally refers to any Elves that did not complete the journey across the sea (so the Teleri that set out who didn’t finish would be included); however, it is also commonly used to refer to Middle-earth Elves other than the Noldor and Sindar; in this reading, it is not explicit which one is the intended meaning (but it seems to me to be the second meaning)

• Green-elves = a subgroup of the Nandorin Elves that eventually moved westward over the Blue Mountains in the First Age and dwelt then near their relatives, the Grey-elves

• Silvan Elves = ‘Woodland Elves’; another name for the Nandorin Elves, except this excludes those that eventually did pass over the Misty Mountains (such as the Green-elves)

#After you read

For those that have read The Silmarillion, some parts of these readings were familiar. Galadriel’s move to Middle-earth is referenced there, as well as some of her doings. However, we now have many more details of what she did upon arriving in Middle-earth, as well as her actions after the First Age had ended. The readings regarding Galadrial and Celebron focus on three primary aspects:

1. Galadriel’s motivations for going to Middle-earth in the First Age and for staying at the end of it. Her lineage is explained, and through this we see that her father is not exiled, yet she goes with the part of her kin that were exiled. Her desire to be a leader in lands of her own is mentioned in some versions, as well as her pride, as possible reasons for going into exile. In some versions of the end of the First Age, she was banned from returning. In some she could go, but did not wish to return yet (possibly out of pride, possibly out of love for Celeborn).

2. How the couple met and ended up together. This facet of the history of Galadriel and Celeborn hinges primarily on the nature of Celeborn in the various versions. In one, he is a Teleri Elf that Galadriel met in Valinor that helped build a boat for and sailed with her to Middle-earth. Other versions have him as a Sindarin Elf, distantly related to Galadriel, that she found in a kingdom near the shores on her return to Middle-earth. One of the first mentioned versions has Celeborn as a Nandorin Elf that Galadriel met after departing eastward after arriving in Middle-earth.

3. Their movements and actions throughout the Second and Third Age. Most of the versions don’t have either Galadriel or Celeborn in leadership positions until the Second Age. Most versions have them as leaders in Eriador followed by Lórinand/Lórien (precursor to Lothlórien), although in one Galadriel initially heads there herself while Celeborn assists Elrond in Imladris. One version has Galadriel and Celeborn reside in Dol Amroth (a coastal city) before returning to Lórinand in its time of peril.

The versions all have contradictions regarding these points, along with many others. The readings continue to discuss two other points of interest that are related to Galadriel and Celeborn, thought they don’t deal with them primarily. These two points are Amroth and the Elessar.

• Amroth: in certain iterations, he is the son of Galadriel and Celeborn, and is a part of their movements and actions during the Second Age. Other versions, such as the narrative ‘Amroth and Nimrodel’ found in this reading, have him as a Sindarin prince of Lórien, son of Amdír. The narrative tells how Amroth fell in love with Nimrodel who will not marry him. To win her over he agrees to find her a safe place to reside in Middle Earth, choosing the land of Gondor. Nimrodel and Amroth became separated, and Amroth finds a ship sailing for the Grey Havens but Nimrodel is not to be found. Nimrodel’s fate is unknown and is the cause for much speculation, but as for Amroth, he caused the ship to the Grey Havens to delay because of his love for Nimrodel. A storm came through, forcing the ship to depart, but Amroth was last seen swimming, calling for Nimrodel. There are other variations on the details of this story as well.

• Elessar: there are a few variations on the origin of the jewel called the Elessar. In one, an Elven jewel-smith in Gondolin named Enerdhil crafts a gorgeous green jewel that can heal hurts, which eventually is taken into Valinor. Its return from Valinor has two variations: the first that Gandalf brought it back to Middle-earth and gave it to Galadriel, the other that Celebrimbor, out of love for Galadriel, made a replica that was not as effective. Another version has it that Celebrimbor made the original Elessar that went into Valinor, as well as the successive copy.

From these readings, we get a sense of Galadriel and Celeborn and their involvement in the Second Age: a remnant of the First Age, assisting in various ways to help resist Sauron, which then continues into the Third Age.

#Discussion questions

• Having seen now pretty much all versions regarding the history of Galadriel and Celeborn, if you were tasked with compiling their history into a single narrative, what elements from these versions would you keep? Which elements would you not use?
• Celebrimbor’s role changes dramatically from version to version. How much do you think this influences the interpretation readers have on his character?
• In some iterations, Galadriel refuses the pardon that the Valar offer, choosing to stay in Middle Earth. Did she make the right choice? Did she know that evil would return, or was she more interested in having freedom from the Valar?
• The use of a flet or of having housing in the treetops is unique to Lorien, as they didn’t have access to stone to build dwellings on the ground, and the flets enabled them to see enemies from good vantage points. How would Elves normally structure their homes?
• The Elven Ring that Galadriel has is Nenya, the ring of Water. Bearing in mind that Galadriel is always called to go to the West, does the fact that she carries Nenya have any other implications?