The Survival of Quenya in Post-War Middle-earth: An Elven Tongue After the 'War of Wrath'

In J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings universe, the ancient and beautiful language of Quenya holds a special place among the Elven tongues. This article explores the question of whether Quenya remained a living language in Middle-earth and the Undying Lands after the 'War of Wrath,' as described in the Silmarillion.

Quenya: A Language of Great Importance

Quenya, one of the High Elven languages, was the tongue primarily spoken by the Noldor and other High Elves of Aman. It was a language of great beauty and significance, used for poetry and formal communication. Even when the Noldor returned to Middle-earth, Quenya remained a language of nobility and learning.

The Ban in Doriath

Not all regions of Middle-earth followed this tradition. The King Thingol of Doriath, however, took a different approach. Thingol's realm was influential and significant, but his ban on Quenya in Doriath is well-documented in The Silmarillion. This ban, rooted in the desire to exclude the Noldor and their connections to Feanor, was a localized measure affecting only the inhabitants of Beleriand under Thingol's rule.

Thingol's Motivations

Thingol's ban on Quenya was not a unilateral and eternal prohibition. It was a reaction to the First Kinslaying during the youth of the Elves, and it served as a form of tit-for-tat against the Noldor. The primary reason for the ban was not a universal imposition but a specific response to the threat posed by the sons of Feanor and their encroachments on Doriath.

Quenya was the primary language of the Noldor, and thus its use was common among the Sons of Feanor who had returned to Middle-earth. Thingol's ban was a calculated decision to diminish the influence of the Noldor in his realm, but it did not extend beyond the borders of Doriath.

Quenya in the Undying Lands

In the Undying Lands, the use of Quenya continued unabated. These lands, Valinor, were the domain of the Eldar of Aman, where Quenya remained the primary language. It was a linguistic melting pot, where the Elves of the Noldor maintained their connection to their ancestral tongue while adapting to the unique cultural and linguistic environment of Aman.

Quenya in Middle-earth

While Thingol's ban in Doriath was a significant setback, it did not represent a total prohibition across Middle-earth. However, as more Elves died or left, Sindarin became more popular. The Sons of Fingolfin, including those of the Gwilym branch, remained staunch users of Quenya. Their knowledge and use of the language were not only preserved but were also employed in significant ways, such as the line of Elrond, who maintained a facility in Quenya.

Examples of Quenya in Middle-earth

Despite the waning popularity of Quenya in Middle-earth, there were still significant examples of its use. In The Lord of the Rings, Gildor Inglorion is described as using Quenya when Frodo implores him to speak in "High-Elven." Moreover, Frodo's recognition of the language and his discussion of it with his companions suggests that Quenya was still spoken among those who valued their heritage and knew the ancient tongue.

Conclusion

Therefore, while Quenya faced localized bans, it did not become forever forbidden in both Middle-earth and the Undying Lands. Doriath's ban was a specific measure within the tumultuous history of the First Age, and the Undying Lands remained a bastion of Quenya. Middle-earth, though more dominated by Sindarin, still saw Quenya retained in the hands of its keepers, conveying the enduring legacy of an ancient and noble language.

Key Takeaways

Quenya was not universally banned in Middle-earth or the Undying Lands. Thingol's ban in Doriath was a local measure and did not extend beyond Beleriand. Quenya remained a language of significance in the Undying Lands and among some Elves in Middle-earth.

References

Tolkien, J. R. R. (1977). The Silmarillion. George Allen Unwin.