Elves and Men

For once the Sketch and the Quenta (I'm on section 7 of Christopher Tolkien's artificial divides) are nearly identical. Typically the Quenta expounds significantly on the Sketch. This brief section talks about Elves and Men and their main difference: longevity and brevity. We often think of Tolkien's Elves as immortal--even Tolkien himself called them such: "Immortal were the Elves, and their wisdom waxed and grew from age to age, and no sickness or pestilence brought them death" (p. 100, The Shaping of Middle-earth). And yet the definition of immortal means undying and the Elves certainly were able to be killed.

But as Tolkien indicates their spirits went to Valinor where after an age they may be recalled to life. In Tolkien's later musings on the mythological nature of his sub-created Middle-earth he coined a better term for the Elves: serial-longevity. They were bound to the earth and as long as it lives so do they. It gives the impression of immortality, especially in the eyes of Men where our span of years is so very few. And while death is not yet presented as the gift of Men in these early writings we can see the idea that the souls of Men are not bound to the world forming. I would think that should be a great encouragement to us; our souls are not bound to this world. And yet it's the fear of the unknown that drives us to live for every pleasure while living, or spend our lives searching every religion and philosophy to understand what's next, or doing everything possible to fight aging and remain youthful and attractive.

And while I love Tolkien's Elves, while I try to look at my unavoidable death with faith rather than fear; I can say rather resolutely that I would not want to be bound to this world as long as it circles the sun.