Prince Legolas Greenleaf, Dwarf-friend - Epic Character History (Updated)
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2021
- Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of the Woodland Realm and friend of Dwarves, was an instrumental member of the Fellowship of the Ring, and he would be perhaps the most renowned Elf in Tolkien’s writings. Thank you all so much for watching, let me know your thoughts on Legolas in the comments below! As always, a great thanks to the online artists whose visual works made this video possible! If you are one of the artists, please let me know and I will post your name and a link to your work in this description!
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Lord Gimli, Elf-friend - Epic Character History:
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Let’s not forget Legolas’ main role in the Fellowship: little sh*t.
Legolas: “If wizards can summon fire, surely you’d melt this snow!”
Gandalf: “If elves could leap mountains, surely you’d go fetch the sun!”
Legolas: *runs far forward*
Gandalf: “Where are you going?”
Legolas: “I’m off to fetch the sun!”
😂😂😂
Lol legolas is right gandalf could of melted the snow lol
Gimli: Typical elf never understanding sarcasm
One of my favorite quotes from the duo in the book:
. 'I should be grateful for the part [the trees] have played, but I do not love them. You may think them wonderful, but I have seen a greater wonder in this land, more beautiful than any grove or glade that ever grew: my heart is still full of it. 'Strange are the ways of Men, Legolas! Here they have one of the marvels of the Northern World, and what do they say of it? Caves, they say! Caves! Holes to fly to in time of war, to store fodder in! My good Legolas, do you know that the caverns of Helm's Deep are vast and beautiful? There would be an endless pilgrimage of Dwarves, merely to gaze at them, if such things were known to be. Aye indeed, they would pay pure gold for a brief glance!'
'And I would give gold to be excused,' said Legolas; 'and double to be let out, if I strayed in!'
'You have not seen, so I forgive your jest,' said Gimli. 'But you speak like a fool. Do you think those halls are fair, where your King dwells under the hill in Mirkwood, and Dwarves helped in their making long ago? They are but hovels compared with the caverns I have seen here: immeasurable halls, filled with an everlasting music of water that tinkles into pools, as fair as Kheled-zâram in the starlight.
'And, Legolas, when the torches are kindled and men walk on the sandy floors under the echoing domes, ah! then, Legolas, gems and crystals and veins of precious ore glint in the polished walls; and the light glows through folded marbles, shell-like, translucent as the living hands of Queen Galadriel. There are columns of white and saffron and dawn-rose, Legolas, fluted and twisted into dreamlike forms; they spring up from many-coloured floors to meet the glistening pendants of the roof: wings, ropes, curtains fine as frozen clouds; spears, banners, pinnacles of suspended palaces! Still lakes mirror them: a glimmering world looks up from dark pools covered with clear glass; cities. such as the mind of Durin could scarce have imagined in his sleep, stretch on through avenues and pillared courts, on into the dark recesses where no light can come. And plink! a silver drop falls, and the round wrinkles in the glass make all the towers bend and waver like weeds and corals in a grotto of the sea. Then evening comes: they fade and twinkle out; the torches pass on into another chamber and another dream. There is chamber after chamber, Legolas; hall opening out of hall, dome after dome, stair beyond stair; and still the winding paths lead on into the mountains' heart. Caves! The Caverns of Helm's Deep! Happy was the chance that drove me there! It makes me weep to leave them.'
'Then I will wish you this fortune for your comfort, Gimli,' said the Elf, 'that you may come safe from war and return to see them again. But do not tell all your kindred! There seems little left for them to do, from your account. Maybe the men of this land are wise to say little: one family of busy dwarves with hammer and chisel might mar more than they made.'
'No, you do not understand,' said Gimli. 'No dwarf could be unmoved by such loveliness. None of Durin's race would mine those caves for stones or ore, not if diamonds and gold could be got there. Do you cut down groves of blossoming trees in the spring-time for firewood? We would tend these glades of flowering stone, not quarry them. With cautious skill, tap by tap - a small chip of rock and no more, perhaps, in a whole anxious day - so we could work, and as the years went by, we should open up new ways, and display far chambers that are still dark, glimpsed only as a void beyond fissures in the rock. And lights, Legolas! We should make lights, such lamps as once shone in Khazad-dûm; and when we wished we would drive away the night that has lain there since the hills were made; and when we desired rest, we would let the night return.'
'You move me, Gimli,' said Legolas. 'I have never heard you speak like this before. Almost you make me regret that I have not seen these caves. Come! Let us make this bargain-if we both return safe out of the perils that await us, we will journey for a while together. You shall visit Fangorn with me, and then I will come with you to see Helm's Deep.'
'That would not be the way of return that I should choose,' said Gimli. 'But I will endure Fangorn, if I have your promise to come back to the caves and share their wonder with me.
What he said. ×2
And thus marks a beginning of a true friendship. One that does not waiver but only bickers... one for the ages..
Glad you posted this. For my part, it’s the most beautiful prose Tolkien ever wrote, at least that I’ve read. And he gave it to Gimli, which I love.
Gimli doesn't say a lot in these books, but when he speaks it's poetry.
Pin it.
"Final count......42."
Everyone's favorite archer 🏹
My favorite quality about him is that he's the bookend on the conflict between elves and dwarves; almost the complete antithesis of first and second age elevs. Heartwarming to see once enemies turn to friends
I always get misty eyed wen I see that picture of old Gimli getting off the boat in valinor with him
That's true undying friendship 😭❤
I love Legolas as a character, but I still feel like the movies did Gimli dirty a bit. Especially with having Legolas win the competition instead lol don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of the film trilogy as well. They just kind of made Gimli look like he was a much less formidable member of the fellowship.
Sauron: I have an army
Aragorn: We have a Legolas
Sauron: Oh, sh**
Since I read the book for the first time when I was eleven, Legolas has always been my favourite character because he embodies the grace, the bravery, the skills, and the kindness of the Elves.
"Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an elf."
"What about side by side with a friend?"
"Aye. I could do that."
Something about the friendship between Legolas and Gimli always makes me happy lol
I see men of the west, I click. Simple.
This and nerd of the rings are the only things Tolkien you need in life. Well besides the books. Thank you yoiston
I too follow this routine.
Lol
Thanks Yoiston
@@derrickhighley3762 there are lots of other great channels too.
What a sycophant…
@@OaksArmorial had to Google that…….so glad I did I’ll be using it a lot. I know a few ass lickers haha
Galadriel's words are beautifully prophetic for the sea eventually calling for Legolas to sail west.
For the longest time as a child having only seen the movies i always thought the nazgul were the fell beasts themselves, it caused me a lot of confusion until i watched all these videos. Thanks for the upload, i loved it.
You aught to read the books. Start with The Silmarillion.
@@rezarfar i want to , maybe when my son starts school itll be quiet enough to read sometimes.
@@Black-Sun_Kaiser you should try audiobooks, i prefer to read too but like you, rarely have time, audiobooks are a nice compromise.
Legolas; "And you have my Bow!"
Arwen; "And You are my Beau!"
Fun with homophones.😁
"I haven't the heart to tell you. For me the grief is still too near."
Legolas has always been one of my favorite characters both in the books and movies. He may be recognized as a great warrior he's also a deeply interesting character from his development with Gimli to his more mystical and mysterious quotes that give a more aloof vibe to him. I also adore the movie's very subtle character arc with him coming to terms with death.
I was listening to a Witcher lore video when I saw the notification for this and was like, "be right back, Witcher."
Can we just agree that Legolas is one of (if not) the best archers in any mediums. Like seriously, he rarely runs out of arrows to shoot. 😅😂
Honestly he’s one of my favourite characters, him and Gimli are the best.
Legolas has always been my favorite character in the entirety of Middle Earth.
Often I come to these vids to listen again about the tales I have already heard. It doesn't matter that I know how the stories go, they're great whenever someone tells them. And you do such a great job at the tellin'! Today i was surprised that I didn't already know what Legolas's name meant, so that was nice too.
I am currently resting by the Brandywine river in the Shire, enjoying some pipeweed. Just had a tussle with some unsavory characters trying to shake down a Hobbit by the name of Mosco.
Didn't know Hobbits could jump kick....
Anyways, great video sir! I didn't like Legolas as much as I did Gimili, but Legolas is no less awesome or important. He was Gimili's brother from another mother.
One of my favorite parts of Lord of the Rings War in the North is if you're playing as Farin of Erabor you can speak with Legolas and have a heartfelt discussion about the relationship between Dwarves and Elves and hopes for a stronger friendship between the two peoples.
I really liked that part a lot.
He only ever says you have my bow to frodo and never says another thing to him. Epic guy
Refuses to elaborate further 🧝♂️
Read the books. Movies are like fanfiction.
Outstanding telling, as always. His friendship with Gimli really makes Legolas a character that truly stands the test of time.
The Legend of Legolas. Member of the Fellowship. Now I feel like I wish there could be more adventures with him.
I have a theory his mother was a Noldor elf. Just a theory but it would tie in nicely with his sea-longing, eventual friendship with dwarves and even his father’s very non-isolationist behaviour towards the Noldor as opposed to his father. As some survivors of the Eregion downfall escaped into the wild, where Oropher’s realm was, I always thought that is how Legolas’ parents met. Legolas also has the same name as a Gondolin Noldor elf (Laicalasse) which might be a nod to part-Noldor parentage. Just my headcanon. There was even a great theory I read on an artists’ blog that Thranduil married Lalwen, one of Finwe’s daughters.
how could, has not Thranduil cut off ties with his cousin Celeborn in Lothorien just because the latter one was married to a Nojdo (Galadriel) - who happened to be a distant cousin of Thranduil too? So how could Thranduil have been married to a Noldo himself?
I have just woken up from a morning rest to eat some food that my brothers brought in for breakfast and then I just saw this popping up. 😊
5:17 I love that artwork of Legolas, but minor spoiler ... the artist goofed by showing the arrow knocked and drawn on the WRONG side of the bow. 😉
@@Enerdhil Knocking on the wrong side of the bow is akin to driving a ferarri fitted with bicycle tires instead of slicks ... just because you can doesnt mean you should, esp when in combat.
And yes, I realize you were probably joking. 😉
@@Enerdhil Free compliments, esp unsolicited ones that happen to be true, can be a dangerous weapon if used nefariously (re: Sauron in Numenor).
Use that talent responsibly in the years ahead, friend. 😉
I am a relatively new fan of the in depth lore of LOTR and your videos mean the world to me!! Im learning so much! Thank you 😊
Ahh yes another upload! Time to stop what I'm doing to listen to the loremaster!!
Thank you Yoystan for another great one 🍃
There are beautiful overlaps between Finrod and Legolas . A friend to all the children of Erü , who for honour and friendship would risk so much.
Thank you for the video my friend.
How I truly enjoy this channel so much, thank you so much for continuing to make amazing content Yoystan :)
Fantastic breakdown good job mate
Thank you, Yoystan
Alright finally able to catch a vid and it’s awesome
Love the video! I really wished we knew more about him then what we do. Also your comparison to Beleg is quite on the dot. I never thought about until you mentioned it but the similarities are definitely there especially with his skill in wielding of the knives and bow.
That was beautiful!!
Thx my friend, you bring joy to my life.
Another great video
Some of this artwork is magnificent!!!
One does not simply scroll past a Men of the West epic character history.
It is folly.
Without a doubt one of my favorite characters he was ddefiantly in the battle of the five armies amazing video as always 💓can't wait for the next one good old Gimli and Legolas
Has anybody noticed that Legolas NEVER runs out of arrows? Lol 😆.
he's not allowed. the boss said so
He rarely did 🤣🤣
he ran out at the end of the hobbit when sniping from that tower on ravenhill
@@scottyoung4814 aww that's right, I forgot about that lol
If anyone remembers Everquest, its called Endless Quiver.
Thanks for suggesting I relax.
That was indeed Epic. Great Story.
Bravo Mellon! Keep up the great work! I shout ECTHELION!
I have an idea for a theory video:
What if Saruman when he was a top of orthanc after he was confronted by gandalf and the others after his defeat actually repented and assisted them against the Sauron's remaining plans. I find this interesting as I would wonder how things will go and if even Grima repents and maybe assist the free people.
Always love your videos!
You are amazing! You make LOTR and before amazing!!
You have my like and my subscription!
Long flowing locks, a chiseled boy and mind, this video might as well be a autobiography or perhaps a draw my life of you, my young Yoyboy
I could be wrong here, but in the book fall of gondolin. They speak about legolas the Greenleaf helping to escort the survivors through the woods to safety. And if that's true he was not born in the third age. But I'm not a pro, you guys do way more investigating in these things than I do I just wanted to bring it to your attention
Great mention here! That particular Legolas is a different Elf, one of the High Elves of Gondolin. Perhaps Legolas was named after him 😄
That picture at 2:50 I forgot that dictionary existed that was a good one
According to movies his mother died in Angband which should make him quite old compared to how to book adaptation of him. Wish the book version would have given us a clue
Legolas was not only one of the greatest warriors to stand opposed to the shadow in the War of the Ring, but one of the greatest heroes to ever live. An Elf willing to stand as a member of the Fellowship and die side by side with a friend. I wonder... did the great ranger Yoystan ever fight alongside, or meet the Prince of the Woodland Realm?
In my travels through Mirkwood, I have long taken council with the Prince of the Realm! His wisdom is a delight in that dark forest.
@@MenoftheWest You keep good company my friend, there are few more skilled at traversing dangers of Eryn Lasgalen and battling the foul descendants of Ungoliant.
A really good video on my fav character. Love it. The only thing I was wondering...in which book is written that Legolas and Gimli come back to Aragorn soooo late? 20 FA? Can't imagine that it took them almost 20 years. Gimli and his people had to rebuilt the big gate, and Legolas had to tend to the Gardens in Minas Thirith. Could you please tell me where to find thus information?
Random question been subbed for awhile, do you play lotro? I play it very rarely because imo it’s quite immersive and the player base seems to average 30+ if you do and have a guild (they may be called something different it may be a fellowship instead) I’d love to join! Great video as always
How beautifully you read this. You did this epic character legolas a service
How many of us used Legolas as a character base in D&D?
Thanks
Nice!
Made me tear up, so damn good!
Finally, a decent reason for Glorfindel or others not joining the Fellowship.
He looks like Henry Cavill in the thumbnail. Good video man.
I have a hard time believing, but it's true. Legolas only spoke to Frodo once in the movies.
Lol right he only said you have my bow and that's it lol
Legolas has nothing to do with legos, which is a pity
Indeed: "Lego lass" sounds like the name of a girl who plays with blocks.....
They made lord of the rings Lego video games with legolas in it lol
“Dwarf-friend”…. I like it. Only Kings Celebrimbor & Felagund can compare in this regard
Last time I was this early some Elves were still children... I thought
Did you catch the mention of Legolas Greenleaf in the fall of Gondolin? How in one telling of it Legolas was there to help Tuor and Idrel escape after the fall of Glorfindel?
Do an Artifacts of Arda video about the Mirror of Galadriel
A Balrog of Morgoth.
What did you say?
Legolas is an absolute badass for sneaking a dwarf into Valinor and then flipping of Namo.
Apart from perhaps Celebrimbor, he was truly the greatest dwarf-friend to live.
@@Enerdhil well the continent of Aman in general, but yes, Tol Eressea. It was a mistake in my part to call it Valinor.
Are there any references about the lament of gandalf? What the elves spoke and felt. The effect it really took on the elves?
Here's an article that expands on that topic! Really great question!
tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Lament_for_Gandalf
@@MenoftheWest I've always wondered what they said and how it really took a toll on not just the elves but the free world of middle earth(until he shows up to be brought back from death)
@@MenoftheWest thank you for that link! That eliminated one good question Ive had for years.
Also, I love on the homepage to that link, there is an 'on this day...' super informative! Who made this site?
I've realised he is my favourite character from LOTR.
I remember when I saw the most prettiest elf Maiden she was beautiful until someone pointed out saying that was a man elf I do not like talking about it
😂😂😂
Thank you for your work.
Rather, as Tongans say growing up, "Malo e ngaue!!"
Please pardon the cultural reference as quite unfortunately, the idiomatic English translation does not carry the same gravity & depth that the phrase does within the Tongan culture. It just doesn't do it justice I assure you, it is spoken with good intentions.
Also, I'm referring to Culture, in the sense that it has been defined as "something perceived; something felt".
(Those who were raised in the Kingdom of Tonga, but are now residing in other countries know what I mean. Likewise, regarding other Cultures, This definition applies.)
I just watched your new vid on gundabad before this an had to re-watch this to see if you mentioned anything about legolas' mum in this one seeing as you didn't in the gundabad one. Didn't legolas say in the Hobbit his mum was born there or something like that ? I guess that was made up just for the film then ?
Next to faramir he's my favorite of tolkiens characters
I am new to the expandef universe of Middle-Earth but I am pretty sure Legolas Greenleaf is mentioned in the book:The Fall of Gondolin?
He apparantly helped some people escape.
I’ve never read the books but one thing I don’t get is if Legolas is a prince, why didn’t he rally his kin to any of the battles?
Was this the same Legolas mentioned in the Fall of Gondolin?
can you do a Fingon video
Okay, but why is there that one picture where Gimli looks like Asterisk the
Gaul?
Should do a collaboration video with The Broken Sword guys.
@@Enerdhil They should still do at least one video together. I get the three is a crowd thing, but you don’t have to be a douche about it bud. I think it would be awesome.
@@Enerdhil Sorry my bad bud.
To the sea? So we could have had Legolas climb into the ship ahead of Frodo at the end and quip about the key quality of Lembas bread?? Missed opportunity, I say!
Simon Pegg instead of Martin Freeman as Bilbo
Any thoughts?
got to do gimili next.
Got you covered! ruclips.net/video/RPBdP7BV9_0/видео.html
❤
also he was with Bilbo on Hobbit movies
Does legols have any high elf blood or is he purely sindar?
@@Enerdhil so Mirkwood is basically all silvan and Avari elves?
You say he was likely born in the early 3rd age. However, "The Fall of Gondolin, The Original Tale", mentions Legolas a few times during the escape as Gondolin is being destroyed. Here's the glossary entry: "Legolas Greenleaf: An Elf of the House of the Tree in Gondolin, gifted with extraordinary night-sight." So, at least in this very early writing of Tolkien's, Legolas was present in the 1st age.
that was a mistake by Tolkien. Gondolin was a city of the Noldor while the Legolas from LotR is a Sinda and his family hails from Doriath
Please make a video on ‘what if Smaug claimed the one ring from Bilbo’. There’s no such video which throws some light on this possibility.
Is this a reused name of the Legolas Greenleaf of Gondolin from the first age? Thought it strange they were both Greenleaf.
Legolas means greenleaf in sindarin, it’s not really a surname so much as a translation. Every Legolas would be greenleaf
👍🏻
THEY ARE TAKING THE HOBBITS TO ISENGARD
Why Legolas said *I cannot come back now* in the events of the Hobbit.
👍👍
Nice video, but...
*That still only counts as one!*
Legolas in definitely one of the bros that are elves in Arda! Tied with Finrod and Beleg, (If you know more let me know) they are friends with different races and respects them after some time!!!
It's weird to me that in the 1978 LOTR the person they got as Legolas is Anthony Daniels the Actor of C3P0 and he replaced Glorfindel!!! I find it weird because I am like why is C3P0 playing Legolas!!!
Thanks Mellon, for Updating your Legolas ECH, Until a video on Glamdring...Marion Baggins Out!!!
I don't understand why people put Legolas's age at around 500 years in The Lord of the Rings. We know that Legolas Greenleaf appears in The Fall of Gondolin, which was set in the 1st Age of the Sun. Some have tried to suggest that this was a different Legolas, but there's zero evidence for that.
In History of Middle Earth Vol. 12 "The Peoples of Middle Earth" published in Part 2, Last Writings, Tolkien talks about whether Glorfindel of the First Age was the same as Glorfindel of Rivendell. He says, "At any rate what at first sight may seem the simplest solution must be abandoned: sc. that we have merely a reduplication of names, and that Glorfindel of Gondolin and Glorfindel of Rivendell were different persons. This repetition of so striking a name, though possible, would not be credible."
In Legolas's case, it's an even more striking name: not just a single name but "Legolas Greenleaf". The repetition of so striking a name, though possible, would not be credible? Indeed! It would be strange indeed if there were but two characters called "Legolas", two called "Greenleaf", and both of those were called "Legolas Greenleaf"! It has to be that Legolas Greenleaf of Gondolin is Legolas Greenleaf of the Third Age. And there is not one jot any writings of Tolkien to contradict that.
So what's Legolas's age? From the Fall of Gondolin to the end of the Third Age is about 6,542 years. Legolas was not a child at the Fall of Gondolin, so we can say a minimum of about 6,600 years, and probably significantly older. As for a maximum age, we know that Legolas is not a High Elf, which is to say he has never seen the light of the two trees, which suggests he was born in the age of the Sun. That would put a maximum limit on his age of about 7,042 years at the end of the Third Age.
I believe somewhere in the HoME there is a reference that 1st Age Legolas survived the War of Wrath and then sailed west to Tol Eressëa. Living in Gondolin, he would have almost certainly been one of the Noldor. Legolas of the Fellowship was the grandson of Oropher, a Sindar elf from Doriath, which doesn't fit at all with living in Gondolin, particularly given the poor relations between Doriath and the Noldor.
He's not Gimli, but he's close.
What if... Glorfindel had been chosen instead of Legolas?
Yep! Yet another character with the same first and last name