A Day in the Life of an Elf

[Diamond18]

I think Elves were considered as children until well after 14...I read this in some fanfic by mark12_30. Referenced something by Tolkien in respect to Elven coming of age. Argh! I hate vague inklings of thought...I'll have to get that exact quote.

[ October 21, 2002: Message edited by: Diamond18 ]

Here it is!

From HoME, J. R. R. Tolkien:
From OF THE LAWS AND CUSTOMS AMONG THE ELDAR PERTAINING TO MARRIAGE AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO... Aelfwine's Preamble.


The Eldar grew in bodily form slower than Men, but in mind more swiftly. They learned to speak before they were one year old; and in the same time they learned to walk and to dance, for their wills came soon to the mastery of their bodies....
...For at the end of the third year mortal children began to outstrip the Elves, hastening on to a full stature while the Elves lingered in the first spring of childhood. Children of Men might reach their full height while Eldar of the same age were still in body like to mortals of no more than seven years. Not until the fiftieth year did the Eldar attain the stature and shape in which their lives would after- wards endure, and for some a hundred years would pass before they were full-grown.

So I'd guess that if the Elves had any sort of organized schooling for their children, it would last for hundreds of years rather than up to 14. (If you think I've paid too much attention to that small remark, sorry, but it got me to thinking...and that's always dangerous [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] )

[ October 21, 2002: Message edited by: Diamond18 ]