Fíriel (The Lost Road)
| Fíriel | |
|---|---|
| Númenórean | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Location | Númenor |
| Language | Eressëan |
| Family | |
| Parentage | Orontor |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Female |
Fíriel was the daughter of Orontor of Númenor according to the early version of the legendarium in The Lost Road.
History
She was a fair Númenórean maiden of the household of Elendil. While Elendil and his son Herendil were approaching their house, they heard Fíriel sing a sad song from a high window in the Eressëan tongue that Elendil and Herendil heard the first two lines of, beginning with "Ilu Ilúvatar en káre" ("The Father made the World")[1][2] and going until her voice fell into the question "O Ilúvatar, give me in that day beyond the end, when my Sun faileth?" Then Elendil said "E man antaváro? What will he give indeed?" Herendil complained, saying that she should not be singing such things, as people in Númenor were now singing that Melko would come back and give them the Sun forever, but his father despised those words.[3]
Etymology
Fíriel is only glossed in The Etymologies as a Noldorin name of Lúthien, meaning "Mortal Maiden", from feir ("mortal"), and -iel ("daughter").[4]
Other versions of the legendarium
While Tolkien eventually discarded the character of Fíriel, the name would later be used for other characters within the legendarium.
See also
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part One: III. The Lost Road, (ii) The Númenórean chapters", pp. 62-3
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies — Part One" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter and Patrick H. Wynne), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 45, November 2003, p. 12
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part One: III. The Lost Road, (ii) The Númenórean chapters":62-63
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry "PHIR-"
