Concerning Elf-friends

[HerenIstarion]

What about the case of Gondor? Do you think that all the people of Gondor are Elf-friends, because they are such staunch opponents of Sauron (unlike Rohan who only interferes when necessary)? Or is it only the noble houses and the masters of lore who are Elf-friends, since they speak the language? OR, is Elf-friend simply a hereditary title, as such applying to anyone descended from the Elendili, regardless of political leaning or knowledge of language?

I'd say people of the noble houses and masters of lore, since they are who speak elvish, but only with some definite conditions in mind. First of all, attitude would matter, and such people would still require formal 'naming'.

Let us consider Denethor, Boromir and Faramir, per instance - Denethor is definitely not 'elf-friend', since he confines his service to Gondor and Gondor only, and does not care very much of what happens to Elves (or anyone else) outside his boundaries:

[Denethor]
Yet the Lord of Gondor is not to be made the tool of other men’s purposes, however worthy. And to him there is no purpose higher in the world as it now stands than the good of Gondor

Boromir is neither, for he shows, even if slightly so, negative attitude towards Lady and her Golden Wood:

'Indeed deep in the wood they dwell,' said Aragorn, and sighed as if some memory stirred in him. `We must fend for ourselves tonight. We will go forward a short way, until the trees are all about us, and then we will turn aside from the path and seek a place to rest in.'
He stepped forward; but Boromir stood irresolute and did not follow. 'Is there no other way? ' he said.
`What other fairer way would you desire? ' said Aragorn.
`A plain road, though it led through a hedge of swords,' said Boromir. `By strange paths has this Company been led, and so far to evil fortune. Against my will we passed under the shades of Moria, to our loss. And now we must enter the Golden Wood, you say. But of that perilous land we have heard in Gondor, and it is said that few come out who once go in; and of that few none have escaped unscathed.

Faramir may be qualified (he is descendand of Three houses, he speaks Sindarin and is positively attuned towards Elves), but I feel he still requires an encounter and naming for that:

No indeed, Master Samwise,' said Faramir, `for I am not learned in Elven-lore. But there you touch upon another point in which we have changed, declining from Númenor to Middle-earth. For as you may know, if Mithrandir was your companion and you have spoken with Elrond, the Edain, the Fathers of the Númenoreans, fought beside the Elves in the first wars, and were rewarded by the gift of the kingdom in the midst of the Sea, within sight of Elvenhome. But in Middle-earth Men and Elves became estranged in the days of darkness, by the arts of the Enemy, and by the slow changes of time in which each kind walked further down their sundered roads. Men now fear and misdoubt the Elves, and yet know little of them. And we of Gondor grow like other Men, like the men of Rohan; for even they, who are the foes of the Dark Lord, shun the Elves and speak of the Golden Wood with dread.

Even if he himself is not the one to shun the Elves, most of Gondorians do. The chain of thought is as follows - people who shun Elves are not elf-friends. One of such people would not be considered otherwise unless proving himself. Such a proof may not be presented without personal encounter.

As for the tongue:

To his amazement, as he listened Frodo became aware that it was the Elven-tongue that they spoke, or one but little different; and he looked at them with wonder, for he knew then that they must be Dúnedain of the South, men of the line of the Lords of Westernesse.

The spoken Sindarin makes Frodo leap to coclusion that Mablung and Damrod are of noble house (besides being of Ithilien origin) It is to be assumed that not all of Gondorians do speak Sindarin (noble houses and lora masters, as indicated, do), and members of Faramir's Company must be chosen ones of Numenorean blood, for, allegedly, those are stronger of will and body and would serve better for 'commando' operations Faramir is engaged in.

[Voralphion]

I don't believe simply speaking the elven languages qualifies one as an elf friend. The people are only said to be descended from elf friends of old, but are not described as elf friends themselves. The people of Gondor had long ceased all contact with the elves, and therfore cannot be described as elf friends. To be an elf-friend, I think that one has had to have had dealings with the elves, and probably done a service to the elves, such as Aldarion, the greatest elf freind among men at that time, who did much in helping Gil Galad defend against the shadow in the east. Frodo is perhaps described by Gildor as an elf friend because he is the heir of Bilbo, a elf friend known in Rivendell.
In order to be considered an elf friend, I believe one would have to have had positive dealings with the elves, and probably helped them in some way.

[Kuruharan]

Not to display my rampant bias (as if I would ever do anything like that ) but it seems to me that being an elf-friend is something that is restricted to Men or Mannish creatures (read hobbits). At least I can't recall a time when, oh, just to pick an example, a dwarf was called an elf-friend.

On the providing service to the Elves front, going back to the First Age, the Dwarven kings of Belegost were always faithful allies of the elves and saved their bacon at the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. However, Azaghal was never bestowed the title of Elf-friend posthumously.

Although, I must admit that this post is based to an embarassing degree on pure unreasoning first reaction. I'm not sure, but there might be a reference that I'm forgetting.

[The Saucepan Man]

At least I can't recall a time when, oh, just to pick an example, a dwarf was called an elf-friend.

Gimli was called Elf-Friend, presumably for his part in healing the old enmity between the races and for the special affection which Galadriel held for him. After all, you don't get to go to Valinor without being pretty much in with the fair folk. As far as I can recall, though, he is the only example.

[Kuruharan]

Ha! I knew I had to be overlooking something obvious!

Is my face red?

[The Saucepan Man]

Is my face red?

just as long as it doesn't clash with your beard.

[Alaksoron]

Going back to your first post, HerenIstarion, I believe Eomer was not considered an Elf-friend because he did not really care for the Elves. He was a strong believer in the race of men even to the point of prejudice, and if you read with discernment you will find that this is a point whcih the books really stress. One thing many of you seem to be suggesting (albeit without realizing) is that we humans are expected to render service to the Elves as a superior race. This presents a real problem to me because I see Elves as more of the Guide and Protector of the weaker, fallen *little brother* race, mankind.