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golindseygo wrote:
"The article seems contrary to most that I have read concerning the Noldor. The writer contends that 'half the Tatyar(Noldor) remained as Avari.' Later he attributes "the Green Elves of Ossiriand were in fact Avari, Tatyarin Avari." How's that?"

The article draws upon information published in THE WAR OF THE JEWELS and other volumes of THE HISTORY OF MIDDLE-EARTH (a series of twelve books published by Christopher Tolkien, documenting his father's work on various mythologies which led to the publication of THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE SILMARILLION). My essays usually summarize bits and pieces of information which is scattered across as many as twenty Tolkien books.

And what I wrote was: "...After Denethor's death some of his people left Ossiriand and settled in Arthorien, the southeastern march of Doriath. These were called the Guest-elves, and some of them appear to have been Tatyarin Elves in origin."

The Guest-elves were a very small group of Elves living in Doriath. Saeros, the Elf who tormented the young Turin, was one of those Guest-elves.

"The writer also lumps the Eglath (later the Sindar) and the Falathrim together. This is completely wrong as these groups were separately formed and (initially) did not associate for the most part."

Both groups were Sindarin Elves.

The name "Sindar" was given by the Noldor to just the Elves of Mithrim (a region in Hithlum, technically OUTSIDE of Beleriand), but it was later extended to include all of the Elves who acknowledged Thingol as their king. That includes the Falathrim as well as the Eglath.

"The writer also speculates that the Silvan Elves were part of the 'Nelyarin Avari which made as far west as Anduin, and there they mingled or supplanted the Nandor who were still living in Greenwood and Lothloren'. Why do the Nandor need replacing? The Nandor who remained in Greenwood would likely be referred to as Silvan by their kin who followed Lenwe to the Vales of the Anduin."

The information is derived from Tolkien's "Quendi and Eldar" essay, published in THE WAR OF THE JEWELS. It is as accurate as any summarization of non-canonical Tolkien material can be.

Hi! Thanks for the reply. I really enjoy reading these articles.

I also have C. Tolkien's Histories and have noticed 'continuity' problems from time to time. Christopher acknowledges this as his father's work was massive in scale and written over a large period of time. The references to the Avari may be an example of early work which J.R.R. chose not to develop in full in the LOTR et al.

Your point on the Sindar is well made. The Falathrim were associated by others as part of the Sindar, but I have never thought of them that way myself.

Sorry if my comments seemed too critical. It is wonderful to read such thoughtful and mentally stimulating work as you are so graciously providing.