The Truth Behind Thranduil: The First Elf Tolkien Wrote

In an interesting claim, Assistant Lee Pace suggested that Thranduil was the first elf that J.R.R. Tolkien wrote about. However, this assertion needs to be re-evaluated based on the history and precedence within Tolkien's works. Let's delve into his journey and explore the origins of the elves in Middle-earth.

Tolkien's Early Elven Stories

Tolkien began penning his rich tales of Middle-earth long before the Hobbit and certainly long before the classic timeline of the troubles of Bilbo Baggins. His journey started with the tragic and romantic story Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin.

This work was initially written between 1917 and 1919, during the time Tolkien served outside the trenches of World War I. He would spend his free time crafting this detailed narrative, which he would later share with his wife for critical scrutiny. This early work marked the beginning of what would become the vast and intricate history of Middle-earth.

The Publication of The Hobbit and the Early Elves

The publication of The Hobbit in 1937 marked a significant milestone in Tolkien's literary career. However, it is important to note that this was not his first foray into the world of Middle-earth. The Hobbit primarily focuses on Bilbo Baggins and the dwarves, but it does introduce several early elf characters, particularly Elrond, a pivotal figure in the later lore.

However, Elrond, while a crucial character, was not the first elf Tolkien wrote about. Elrond is portrayed as a half-elf (Peredhil) named Elrond Half-elven, who chose to join the Elven kind. Yet, he is not consistently referred to as the first elf Tolkien wrote. Tolkien wrote the first full elf, Thranduil, well before the publication of The Hobbit.

The Case of Thranduil

Thranduil, the Elven King of Greenwood the Misty, is a significant character in The Hobbit, but he is not the first elf Tolkien wrote. In fact, Thranduil is not explicitly named in some of the earliest parts of the story. Instead, he is referred to as the Elven King or other designation. This is a common practice in older manuscripts when the author decides to revise or polish the character details for clarity or plot development.

Thranduil made his first full appearance in The Hobbit, but the character's development did not start there. Tolkien had earlier written stories that included more fully developed elves, such as when he was working on the narrative of Tuor and Gondolin, establishing the rich lore of Middle-earth that would later be refined and expanded in his other works.

Conclusion

While the statement that Thranduil was the first elf Tolkien wrote is understandable, it is not accurate based on the broader scope and narrative timeline of Tolkien's works. Thranduil's character development in The Hobbit came after his earlier, more substantial mentions in stories like that of Tuor and Gondolin. Tolkien's vast and intricate world of Middle-earth is filled with a rich and diverse cast of characters, and it is essential to understand the chronological flow of his creative journey.