Talk:Elves in Middle-earth/GA1

GA Review

Article (edit | visual edit | history) · Article talk (edit | history) · Watch

Reviewer: Whiteguru (talk · contribs) 04:18, 17 August 2020 (UTC) Herein begins the review for Good Article nomination. GA review – see WP:WIAGA for criteria

Due this being a long article, the GA review shall be broken into the same sections of the Article, in order to make matters manageable.

Noted.

Origins

1. Is it reasonably well written?
   1. The etymology of Elf (as used in Middle Earth by Tolkien) is short and sharp. The link to Elf handles a longer exploration of the uses of Elf in Germanic languages, along with Old and Middle English.
      • Noted.
   2. The citation of the South English Legendary and its accompanying translation serves to introduce Elves from myth and legend; however I am not so sure that the sub-heading Almost Angels is substantiated by any of this content. It would seem to require some more information to confirm any reference to "almost angels".
      • Trying to say they're a class of halfway beings, neither fully on Earth like Men, nor fully in Heaven like Angels, both in the South English Legendary and in Tolkien. I suppose 'Halfway beings' will do as a working title; better suggestions welcomed.
   3. The inclusion of Galadriel indeed has been expelled from Valinor, presumes the reader has prior information or has read one or another books. In this wise, a reader would be at a loss to understand this particular inclusion.
      • Added gloss and wikilink for Galadriel (and just above for Valinor also).
   4. Elf or Fairy is an excellent excursus into the terminology, its transition in the writings of Tokien and T.H. White (a useful comparison and commentary) its uses in the trenches of WWI along with other applications and the nascent associations the word "fairy" was beginning to attract. Tolkien's essay On Fairy-Stories wraps up sourcing and etymology of the terms and their origins as far as Tolkien was concerned and his final applications. Good.
      • Thank you.
   5. Reconciling multiple traditions tackles a lot of material by way of conflicting legends and mythologies extant in different sources. The link to In Proper Names provides a very useful context for this section and understanding how different morphologies used the prefix Elf in its various namings. This is quite a useful section exposing the origins of some of the characteristics and skills of Elves. A perception of the many layered impression of depth is achieved.
      • Thank you.

---

Here endeth the review in part, the part being Origins; the next section of the review will be Development.

This is a work in progress, not complete. --Whiteguru (talk) 05:27, 17 August 2020 (UTC)

Development

1. Is it reasonably well written?
   1. The influence of J.M.Barrie and the Catholic poet Francis Thompson are noted. The excerpt from Goblin Feet is noteworthy as it gives an appreciation of early alliteration in writing, and what is to come.
      • Noted.
   2. Exposing the influences for The Book of Lost Tales is restrained and well done. Reference to Ljósálfar of Norse mythology is appropriate as this delineates both the evolution and diminution of Elven folk in Tolkien's narratives.
      • Noted, thank you.
   3. References to the Welsh Mabinogion, Arthurian romances and the legends of the Tuatha Dé Danann are salutary and illustrate influences on the evolution of the idea of Elf in this work. The Mabinogion has strong influence as do the narratives of Tuatha Dé Danann. Translation of these into elements of Christian hagiography and eschatology are well known, and in the case of much legendary materials, ultimately destructive in the hands of monks.
      • Noted.
   4. The reference to Tolkien's personal Catholic Theology is important, for few know that Tolkien was brave and inveigled modern legends from Biblical legends. The larger Elves may even be reflected in Genesis 6:4, The Nephilim were in the earth in those days.
      • Noted.
   5. The evolution of the more serious mediaeval Elves from the semi-divine Elf to diminutive Fairy is well illustrated in the dialogue of Galadriel.
      • Thank you.
   6. The reference to Tolkien's comments on the Elves purposes in creating the Three Rings is illustration of both the evolution and the end of the Elves. Well crafted.
      • Noted.
   7. In summary, the matter of tracing the development of Elf in the writings of Tolkien is well handled, with reference to both etymology and sources that had strong influences upon the writing. Much of this influence is mythic, that is, myth that enters the creative mind and emerges in this, that, and the other form with varia names, shapes and sizes as was well noted by Christopher Tolkien, Carpenter and other critics.
      • Noted.

---

Here endeth the review in part, the part being Development; the next section of the review will be Fictional History.

This is a work in progress, not complete. --Whiteguru (talk) 05:57, 18 August 2020 (UTC)

Fictional History

1. Is it reasonably well written?
   1. Awakening is a concise summary of the awakening of the 144 and their discovery by Oromë and hints at the development of language.
   2. Sundering: a difficult section to make a precis of, for different groups of the Quendi took up so many paths. Citing Dickerson is correct, for the narrative unfolds with Tolkien's skill at developing languages. He is, first, a philologist.
   3. Exile is the minor excursus that introduces the Silmarils, and the chicanery of Melkor and his renaming to Morgoth, and leads the reader unto the centenary wars.
   4. Wars of Beleriand gives a terse overview of a number of conflicts that lead to the War of Wrath and the defeat of Morgoth. This leads to some reflection on how Tolkien deals with evil, for eventually, the immortals lose the war (on evil) and retreat from Middle Earth.
   5. Second and Third Ages traces the beginnings of varia departures to Valinor, hints and the creation of the One Ring and the Three Rings, and the gradual abandonment of Middle Earth.
   6. Fourth Age takes up the movements to Valinor in detail, the decline of Elves, the rise of the Age of Men and introduces a signal concept, "rustic folk of dell and cave" which hints at the entire cycle of Elves and their modern depictions in Faerie, as noted by Tolkien. The references are succinct and appropriate.

Noted, thank you.

Characteristics

1. Is it reasonably well written?
   1. There is a short account of the life-cycle of Elves, the marriage customs with monogamy, and the lived values of the marriage bond. The division of life tasks, occupations and husbandry is noted, although Tolkien might have a tough time with feminists in this day and age. The Halls of Mandos receive a brief treatment, suggesting that this is not the place for discussion of Purgatory, but rather, the illumination of immortality of Elves and how they retain their bodies, and identity, and perhaps, spirit of place, hinting at the final journey to Valinor.

• Noted. I've added a 'further' link to Women in The Lord of the Rings, which addresses those issues.

Elvish Languages

1. It is Broad in its coverage?
   1. Tolkien said that his stories grew out of his languages. There is little more to say except to link to the full article on Elvish languages

• Done.

Adaptations

1. It is Broad in its coverage?
   1. Reference to Peter Jackson's film adaptation is succinct, as this receives more coverage in several other articles.

---

Here endeth the review in part, the part being from Fictional History to Adaptations. Other matters relating to the review and evaluation will be taken up anon.

This is a work in progress, not complete. --Whiteguru (talk) 06:08, 21 August 2020 (UTC)

References

• Ref 2 is a dead link.

• Fixed.

• Ref 20 has an invalid checksum on the ISBN

• Fixed.

If we can get these sorted, we can wind up the review. It is a challenging work, what to put in, what to leave out. On the whole, balance is achieved. Great references, great further reading, very tempting ... --Whiteguru (talk) 07:46, 21 August 2020 (UTC)

Many thanks, done all those. Chiswick Chap (talk) 07:58, 21 August 2020 (UTC)

---

Conclude Review

1. It is factually accurate and verifiable.
   1. Notes are succinct and appropriate.
   2. Primary References: all from Tolkien and his works.
   3. Secondary references were examined, verified and well laid out. Errors noted have been rectified.
2. It is Broad in its coverage.
   1. This is actually concise nearly to the point of being terse and laconic. Nonetheless, there is sufficient coverage of the history and development of Elven folk in Tolkien's narratives.
3. It follows the neutral point of view policy.
   1. Coverage is considered neutral; there is no bias nor leaning toward any particular depiction of Elves despite many wars ending in disaster and the departure of most Elves from Middle Earth.
4. Is it stable?
   1. This page is very old. It commenced life in 2002 and there have been 597 editors at work on the page. The top 10 editors have made 90% of all edits, and whereas in the past there have been challenges about out of context information, etc, there has been an earlier peer review accepted by editors. At present, the page appears stable, and is having a high number of page views.

5. It is illustrated by images and the (few) images are appropriate and infomative.
   1. The talk page takes up in-universe comments (as do previous talk pages, so caution prevails on what gets into the page (it is fantasy).
6. Overall:
   1. Pass Y