How did you envisioned elves?

[Eyalan]

Before the movies came out, which gave us a slightly flat/human envisioning of elves, how did you envisioned elves for yourself?
I thought they were tall and bright as a lamp post even in daylight ;D

[Luthien]

Tall, beautiful, and merry and sad at the same time. Wise.

[Elenawen]

I never read the books before the movies came out, but I don't really envision them like they are in the movies anyway.
In my mind they're much more beautiful, and taller and wiser, and they sort of glow... Its hard to describe...

[Elnimara]

Shiny. Definitely shiny. In a blue sort of way. As Sam describes them, and like Luthien says, some of them merry as children, others wise as... something. And most both at the same time. I of course saw them as tall, and too fair for my Mortal mind to even imagine ^_^

[Telpeath]

I thought they would glow, even in the dark, like Arwen did except all the time. I dont know, I think they would smile alot more, but be very wise.

[Tar-Amon]

I always envisaged them as tall, perfect in face and form, and too beautiful to be acted by any-one human, I still think that really. I have a Noldor thing, so I never saw elves as blond after reading the Sil , ( I never really envisaged Legolas as blonde, it just said his father was, so I sort of assumed he might be, if I even thought about it, but I never really did ) as there is only the Golden House of Finarfin, hence Galadriel having fair hair. Glorfindel is golden haired through some Vanyar blood.

I always imagined the Noldor as being like dark bad-a$$ archangels, that strong and beautiful, but fierce and passionate and superb warriors. Stern, not given to laughter, sorrow and wisdom intermingled. Stronger than men, swifter than men, and taller, and their eyes filled with fire and light.

Tolkien put it beautifully in the Appendices

...has been used to translate both Quendi ' the speakers, the High Elven name of all their kind and Eldar, the name of the Three Kindreds that sought for the Undying Lands and came there at the beginning of days ( save the Sindar only). This old world was indeed the only one available, and was one fitted to apply to such memories of this people as Men preserved. But it has been diminished, and to many it may now suggest fancies either pretty, or silly, as unlike to the Quendi of old, as are butterflies, to the swift falcon.
They were a race high and beautiful, the older children of the world, and among them the Eldar were as kings, who now are gone; the People of the Great Journey, the People of the Stars. They were tall, fair of skin and grey eyed, though their locks were dark, save in the golden house of Finarfin; and their voices had more melodies than any mortal voice that now is heard. They were valiant, but the history of those who returned to Middle Earth in exile was grievous; and though it was in far off days crossed by the fate of the Fathers (of men), their fate is not that of Men. Their dominion passed long ago, and they dwell now beyond the circles of the world, and do not return.


There is a very interesting article, by a Russian here:

www.shelltown.net/~dangweth/elfsaga.html

( Yes it is quite complex )

Basically saying how the Elves of Europe really were descended from those like Tolkiens elves. - So Tolkien actually drew on very ancient myths.
The stupid imaged we have of Elves ( if we are not Tolkien readers ) are actually pretty recent.

[Eyalan]

Wow, you've got some great stuff! Thanks for sharing

[Miluiel Greenleaf]

I was one of those young'uns who had never even heard of LOTR until TTT had already been out for about four months. Never heard the stories as a kid because (quote) "Her imagination is wild enough already"(quote) And then my friend Sarah introduced me to the movies because they were her favourite of all time. And then I gradually fell in love. Not long after that, I was a rabid Leggy fan. So I kinda missed out on the pre-envisioning thingy.