Glorfindel reincarnated

[cellurdur]

Originally Posted by jallanite

That Elrond and Arwen are always called “Half-elven” makes sense, considering the different destinies of Elves and Men. But where does Tolkien explicitly state that neither Elrond or Arwen were not in any sense Eldar? In their genealogical origins Elrond and Arwen were part Maia. So of course Tolkien would not generally state that Elrond was an Elda pure and simple, because he wasn’t. Tolkien does mention that Elrond preferred to trace his descent from Thingol rather than from Eärendil and Elwing.

You appear to me to be over-emphasizing that the name Half-elven (Pereldar) is different from Elven (Eldar), something no-one has denied. Why do you wish to emphasize this difference is if it matters for the purpose of this discussion of Glorfindel?

Tolkien states emphatically that Arwen was not one of the Eldar.

"Arwen was not an elf, but one of the half-elven who abandoned her elvish rights"-Letter 345

Another example is Arwen tells Aragorn the children of Elrond have the life of the Eldar. They are not part of the Eldar.

"Do not wonder! For the children of Elrond have the life of the Eldar."-LOTR

It was just an example of how Tolkien is usually very precise with the words he uses. Glorfindel was not one of the elves, who remained in ME, but returned to help in the fight against Sauron. So it would be wrong to place him alongside the other elves that did stay.