Are elves mortal or immortal?












2














In Lord of the Rings Three Thousand years before the story Elrond is seen fighting in the war against Sauron. But after three thousand years he is still seen young. So I am guessing that elves are immortal.



But in the battle of Helm's Deep many elves die fighting Saruman's army. So they can't be immortal.



So are they mortal or immortal? How can Elrond's not aging be explained?










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  • They do not age but can be killed by physical damage. Same as vampires in other franchises. Or androids.
    – Gaius
    1 hour ago












  • Immortal does not mean "cannot be killed"....it's a general misconception.
    – Paulie_D
    1 hour ago
















2














In Lord of the Rings Three Thousand years before the story Elrond is seen fighting in the war against Sauron. But after three thousand years he is still seen young. So I am guessing that elves are immortal.



But in the battle of Helm's Deep many elves die fighting Saruman's army. So they can't be immortal.



So are they mortal or immortal? How can Elrond's not aging be explained?










share|improve this question
























  • They do not age but can be killed by physical damage. Same as vampires in other franchises. Or androids.
    – Gaius
    1 hour ago












  • Immortal does not mean "cannot be killed"....it's a general misconception.
    – Paulie_D
    1 hour ago














2












2








2


1





In Lord of the Rings Three Thousand years before the story Elrond is seen fighting in the war against Sauron. But after three thousand years he is still seen young. So I am guessing that elves are immortal.



But in the battle of Helm's Deep many elves die fighting Saruman's army. So they can't be immortal.



So are they mortal or immortal? How can Elrond's not aging be explained?










share|improve this question















In Lord of the Rings Three Thousand years before the story Elrond is seen fighting in the war against Sauron. But after three thousand years he is still seen young. So I am guessing that elves are immortal.



But in the battle of Helm's Deep many elves die fighting Saruman's army. So they can't be immortal.



So are they mortal or immortal? How can Elrond's not aging be explained?







character the-lord-of-the-rings






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share|improve this question













share|improve this question




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edited 1 hour ago









Ankit Sharma

72.2k61379583




72.2k61379583










asked 1 hour ago









Nazgul

1,3393919




1,3393919












  • They do not age but can be killed by physical damage. Same as vampires in other franchises. Or androids.
    – Gaius
    1 hour ago












  • Immortal does not mean "cannot be killed"....it's a general misconception.
    – Paulie_D
    1 hour ago


















  • They do not age but can be killed by physical damage. Same as vampires in other franchises. Or androids.
    – Gaius
    1 hour ago












  • Immortal does not mean "cannot be killed"....it's a general misconception.
    – Paulie_D
    1 hour ago
















They do not age but can be killed by physical damage. Same as vampires in other franchises. Or androids.
– Gaius
1 hour ago






They do not age but can be killed by physical damage. Same as vampires in other franchises. Or androids.
– Gaius
1 hour ago














Immortal does not mean "cannot be killed"....it's a general misconception.
– Paulie_D
1 hour ago




Immortal does not mean "cannot be killed"....it's a general misconception.
– Paulie_D
1 hour ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















2














They can't die by age, but they can die by the sword or grief.



According to Tolkien, once Elf become adult, he stops getting older. They are also less vulnerable against physical damage, but they aren't immortal. The lives of Elves only endure as the world endures.



Elves could be slain or die of grief (their spirit leaves their body), but were not subject to age or disease.
When Elf dies, his spirt goes to Mandos for is judgement, and after a period of wating would be reimbodied.



According to wikipedia




Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In
addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which
would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die
of grief and weariness.



Spirits of dead Elves go to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor. After a
certain period of time and rest that serves as "cleansing", their
spirits are clothed in bodies identical to their old ones.
However, they almost never go back to Middle-earth and remain in
Valinor instead. An exception was Glorfindel in The Lord of the Rings;
as shown in later books, Tolkien decided he was a "reborn" hero from
The Silmarillion rather than an individual with the same name. A rare
and more unusual example of an Elf coming back from the Halls of
Mandos is found in the tale of Beren and Lúthien, as Lúthien was the
other Elf to be sent back to Middle-earth – as a mortal, however.
Tolkien's Elvish words for "spirit" and "body" were fëa (plural fëar)
and hröa (plural hröar) respectively.




The only "unkillable beings" in LOTR are the soldiers of The Army of the Dead. The Army of the Dead was cursed by Isildur with immortality in form of an existence as undead skeletons after they abandoned their oath in the War of the Last Alliance. Their only chance of dying was to fulfill their oath.






share|improve this answer































    1














    Yes they are immortal until killed:




    As told in The History of Middle-earth and in Tolkien's Letters, Elves had a different life cycle from Men. Most of the following information strictly refers only to the Eldar, as found in his essay Laws and Customs among the Eldar, found in Morgoth's Ring.



    Elves are born about one year from their conception. The day of their conception is celebrated, not the actual birthday itself. Their minds develop more quickly than their bodies; by their first year, they can speak, walk and even dance, and their quicker onset of mental maturity makes young Elves seem, to Men, older than they really are. Physical puberty comes in around their fiftieth to one hundredth year (by age fifty they reach their adult height), and by their first hundred years of life outside the womb all Elves are fully grown. Elven bodies eventually stop aging physically, while human bodies do not



    Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die of grief and weariness. - wikipedia







    share|improve this answer































      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes








      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      2














      They can't die by age, but they can die by the sword or grief.



      According to Tolkien, once Elf become adult, he stops getting older. They are also less vulnerable against physical damage, but they aren't immortal. The lives of Elves only endure as the world endures.



      Elves could be slain or die of grief (their spirit leaves their body), but were not subject to age or disease.
      When Elf dies, his spirt goes to Mandos for is judgement, and after a period of wating would be reimbodied.



      According to wikipedia




      Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In
      addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which
      would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die
      of grief and weariness.



      Spirits of dead Elves go to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor. After a
      certain period of time and rest that serves as "cleansing", their
      spirits are clothed in bodies identical to their old ones.
      However, they almost never go back to Middle-earth and remain in
      Valinor instead. An exception was Glorfindel in The Lord of the Rings;
      as shown in later books, Tolkien decided he was a "reborn" hero from
      The Silmarillion rather than an individual with the same name. A rare
      and more unusual example of an Elf coming back from the Halls of
      Mandos is found in the tale of Beren and Lúthien, as Lúthien was the
      other Elf to be sent back to Middle-earth – as a mortal, however.
      Tolkien's Elvish words for "spirit" and "body" were fëa (plural fëar)
      and hröa (plural hröar) respectively.




      The only "unkillable beings" in LOTR are the soldiers of The Army of the Dead. The Army of the Dead was cursed by Isildur with immortality in form of an existence as undead skeletons after they abandoned their oath in the War of the Last Alliance. Their only chance of dying was to fulfill their oath.






      share|improve this answer




























        2














        They can't die by age, but they can die by the sword or grief.



        According to Tolkien, once Elf become adult, he stops getting older. They are also less vulnerable against physical damage, but they aren't immortal. The lives of Elves only endure as the world endures.



        Elves could be slain or die of grief (their spirit leaves their body), but were not subject to age or disease.
        When Elf dies, his spirt goes to Mandos for is judgement, and after a period of wating would be reimbodied.



        According to wikipedia




        Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In
        addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which
        would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die
        of grief and weariness.



        Spirits of dead Elves go to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor. After a
        certain period of time and rest that serves as "cleansing", their
        spirits are clothed in bodies identical to their old ones.
        However, they almost never go back to Middle-earth and remain in
        Valinor instead. An exception was Glorfindel in The Lord of the Rings;
        as shown in later books, Tolkien decided he was a "reborn" hero from
        The Silmarillion rather than an individual with the same name. A rare
        and more unusual example of an Elf coming back from the Halls of
        Mandos is found in the tale of Beren and Lúthien, as Lúthien was the
        other Elf to be sent back to Middle-earth – as a mortal, however.
        Tolkien's Elvish words for "spirit" and "body" were fëa (plural fëar)
        and hröa (plural hröar) respectively.




        The only "unkillable beings" in LOTR are the soldiers of The Army of the Dead. The Army of the Dead was cursed by Isildur with immortality in form of an existence as undead skeletons after they abandoned their oath in the War of the Last Alliance. Their only chance of dying was to fulfill their oath.






        share|improve this answer


























          2












          2








          2






          They can't die by age, but they can die by the sword or grief.



          According to Tolkien, once Elf become adult, he stops getting older. They are also less vulnerable against physical damage, but they aren't immortal. The lives of Elves only endure as the world endures.



          Elves could be slain or die of grief (their spirit leaves their body), but were not subject to age or disease.
          When Elf dies, his spirt goes to Mandos for is judgement, and after a period of wating would be reimbodied.



          According to wikipedia




          Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In
          addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which
          would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die
          of grief and weariness.



          Spirits of dead Elves go to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor. After a
          certain period of time and rest that serves as "cleansing", their
          spirits are clothed in bodies identical to their old ones.
          However, they almost never go back to Middle-earth and remain in
          Valinor instead. An exception was Glorfindel in The Lord of the Rings;
          as shown in later books, Tolkien decided he was a "reborn" hero from
          The Silmarillion rather than an individual with the same name. A rare
          and more unusual example of an Elf coming back from the Halls of
          Mandos is found in the tale of Beren and Lúthien, as Lúthien was the
          other Elf to be sent back to Middle-earth – as a mortal, however.
          Tolkien's Elvish words for "spirit" and "body" were fëa (plural fëar)
          and hröa (plural hröar) respectively.




          The only "unkillable beings" in LOTR are the soldiers of The Army of the Dead. The Army of the Dead was cursed by Isildur with immortality in form of an existence as undead skeletons after they abandoned their oath in the War of the Last Alliance. Their only chance of dying was to fulfill their oath.






          share|improve this answer














          They can't die by age, but they can die by the sword or grief.



          According to Tolkien, once Elf become adult, he stops getting older. They are also less vulnerable against physical damage, but they aren't immortal. The lives of Elves only endure as the world endures.



          Elves could be slain or die of grief (their spirit leaves their body), but were not subject to age or disease.
          When Elf dies, his spirt goes to Mandos for is judgement, and after a period of wating would be reimbodied.



          According to wikipedia




          Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In
          addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which
          would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die
          of grief and weariness.



          Spirits of dead Elves go to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor. After a
          certain period of time and rest that serves as "cleansing", their
          spirits are clothed in bodies identical to their old ones.
          However, they almost never go back to Middle-earth and remain in
          Valinor instead. An exception was Glorfindel in The Lord of the Rings;
          as shown in later books, Tolkien decided he was a "reborn" hero from
          The Silmarillion rather than an individual with the same name. A rare
          and more unusual example of an Elf coming back from the Halls of
          Mandos is found in the tale of Beren and Lúthien, as Lúthien was the
          other Elf to be sent back to Middle-earth – as a mortal, however.
          Tolkien's Elvish words for "spirit" and "body" were fëa (plural fëar)
          and hröa (plural hröar) respectively.




          The only "unkillable beings" in LOTR are the soldiers of The Army of the Dead. The Army of the Dead was cursed by Isildur with immortality in form of an existence as undead skeletons after they abandoned their oath in the War of the Last Alliance. Their only chance of dying was to fulfill their oath.







          share|improve this answer














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          share|improve this answer








          edited 35 mins ago

























          answered 1 hour ago









          Filip Kočica

          74812




          74812























              1














              Yes they are immortal until killed:




              As told in The History of Middle-earth and in Tolkien's Letters, Elves had a different life cycle from Men. Most of the following information strictly refers only to the Eldar, as found in his essay Laws and Customs among the Eldar, found in Morgoth's Ring.



              Elves are born about one year from their conception. The day of their conception is celebrated, not the actual birthday itself. Their minds develop more quickly than their bodies; by their first year, they can speak, walk and even dance, and their quicker onset of mental maturity makes young Elves seem, to Men, older than they really are. Physical puberty comes in around their fiftieth to one hundredth year (by age fifty they reach their adult height), and by their first hundred years of life outside the womb all Elves are fully grown. Elven bodies eventually stop aging physically, while human bodies do not



              Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die of grief and weariness. - wikipedia







              share|improve this answer




























                1














                Yes they are immortal until killed:




                As told in The History of Middle-earth and in Tolkien's Letters, Elves had a different life cycle from Men. Most of the following information strictly refers only to the Eldar, as found in his essay Laws and Customs among the Eldar, found in Morgoth's Ring.



                Elves are born about one year from their conception. The day of their conception is celebrated, not the actual birthday itself. Their minds develop more quickly than their bodies; by their first year, they can speak, walk and even dance, and their quicker onset of mental maturity makes young Elves seem, to Men, older than they really are. Physical puberty comes in around their fiftieth to one hundredth year (by age fifty they reach their adult height), and by their first hundred years of life outside the womb all Elves are fully grown. Elven bodies eventually stop aging physically, while human bodies do not



                Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die of grief and weariness. - wikipedia







                share|improve this answer


























                  1












                  1








                  1






                  Yes they are immortal until killed:




                  As told in The History of Middle-earth and in Tolkien's Letters, Elves had a different life cycle from Men. Most of the following information strictly refers only to the Eldar, as found in his essay Laws and Customs among the Eldar, found in Morgoth's Ring.



                  Elves are born about one year from their conception. The day of their conception is celebrated, not the actual birthday itself. Their minds develop more quickly than their bodies; by their first year, they can speak, walk and even dance, and their quicker onset of mental maturity makes young Elves seem, to Men, older than they really are. Physical puberty comes in around their fiftieth to one hundredth year (by age fifty they reach their adult height), and by their first hundred years of life outside the womb all Elves are fully grown. Elven bodies eventually stop aging physically, while human bodies do not



                  Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die of grief and weariness. - wikipedia







                  share|improve this answer














                  Yes they are immortal until killed:




                  As told in The History of Middle-earth and in Tolkien's Letters, Elves had a different life cycle from Men. Most of the following information strictly refers only to the Eldar, as found in his essay Laws and Customs among the Eldar, found in Morgoth's Ring.



                  Elves are born about one year from their conception. The day of their conception is celebrated, not the actual birthday itself. Their minds develop more quickly than their bodies; by their first year, they can speak, walk and even dance, and their quicker onset of mental maturity makes young Elves seem, to Men, older than they really are. Physical puberty comes in around their fiftieth to one hundredth year (by age fifty they reach their adult height), and by their first hundred years of life outside the womb all Elves are fully grown. Elven bodies eventually stop aging physically, while human bodies do not



                  Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die of grief and weariness. - wikipedia








                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



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                  edited 1 hour ago

























                  answered 1 hour ago









                  Ankit Sharma

                  72.2k61379583




                  72.2k61379583















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