Lucy Diamondsky
New Member
Elrond: Lord or Master?
What does it mean to be the Lord of Rivendell? Frodo, advised by Gandalf while still at Bag End, decides to leave the Shire and "make for Rivendell" and "the house of Elrond Halfelven ... where many of the Fair Folk still dwelt in peace." Frodo knows of Elrond but has never met him. We meet Elrond at the same time Frodo does, at the feast in Frodo’s honor. Elrond is seated at the high table with Gandalf and Glorfindel and "Frodo looked at them in wonder, for he had never before seen Elrond ... ." And of course neither have we. Elrond projects such presence that Gandalf, a powerful wizard and Glorfindel,“(a)n Elf-lord of a house of princes,” are elevated merely by association with him. They are "revealed as lords of dignity and power." But Elrond is “the Lord of Rivendell and mighty among both Elves and Men.” The context of these three descriptions suggests that “lord” refers to a generic high-status person but “Lord of Rivendell” is a specific honorific, a title with special meaning.
Our introduction to Elrond is by way of comparison to Gandalf and Glorfindel. Each of the three is described in parallel direct and figurative language, beginning with Gandalf. Gandalf's physical description includes, in the order given: stature - shorter (than Glorfindel and Elrond); hair – long and white; beard - silver; shoulders - broad; eyes - dark. He looks like “a wise king of ancient legend.” Glorfindel's physical description includes, in the order given: stature - tall and straight; hair - gold; face - fair; eyes - bright. Glorfindel's description concludes with two metaphors describing additional physical features, his brow and his hand: "on his brow sat wisdom, and in his hand was strength."
The description of Elrond is different from the others in both structure and content. His hair is dark and his eyes are grey, but the rest of his description is less specifically physical. His face was "ageless, neither old nor young." He appeared "(v)enerable ... as a king crowned with many winters" but "hale as a tried warrior in the fullness of his strength." The final Elrond observation – that he is “the Lord of Rivendell” - is unlike anything said of either Gandalf or Glorfindel. He is strongly linked to a place and they are not.
According to Debrett’s "Lord" is a form of address for generic nobles. (Reference guide to the United Kingdom's titled families. https://www.debretts.com/expertise/essential-guide-to-the-peerage/; https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/a-field-guide-to-british-noble-titles-whats-a-duchess.) That would be an appropriate form of address when speaking to Elrond. However, if the creation of a peerage is associated with land, also called a territorial designation, an appropriate form of address to the holder is "Lord + land," as in "Lord Rivendell." If Elrond is the “Lord of Rivendell” in that sense the form of address would probably be Elrond, Lord Rivendell but no one calls him that. Elrond certainly has a very close association with Rivendell, the place, as evidenced by his ability to command the river. Note however, that Tom Bombadil, who has a very close association with his “territory” and the authority to compel the trees and the rain to behave themselves, is not a “Lord” but is emphatically the “Master of wood, water and hill.” (see End Note)
After the narrator introduces Elrond as "Lord of Rivendell" the title is not used again, at least through the end of the Council of Elrond. At the dinner, Gimli observes to Frodo that he thinks "Master Elrond" will summon them shortly. When the party enters the hall after dinner, Elrond says "Awake, little master!” to Bilbo and Bilbo responds, "Wake up! I was not asleep, Master Elrond." Note the difference in capitalization. During the Council, Boromir requests leave to speak from "Master Elrond." Bilbo addresses him again as "Master Elrond" during the Council. The term "Master" is a traditionally appropriate, respectful form of address to a male person of higher status than the speaker.
Yet describing Elrond rather dramatically as "Lord of Rivendell” is surely intended to indicate significant status beyond the relative status indicated by use of the term “Master.” Does he have other powers over the land in addition to commanding the river? Can he compel the trees to obey him? Does he have power and authority to order the comings and goings of people in Rivendell? If he does, then who are the people he is ordering about? Are they his family? HIs extended kinship group? Is everyone who accepts his hospitality subject to his authority? He “sent out north, west and south” those in Rivendell who could “ride openly against the Nine,” one of whom was Glorfindel. Does Glorfindel acknowledge his authority?
At the conclusion of the Council, Elrond appoints the members of the Fellowship. All of the high-status attendees at the council accept Elrond’s appointments without demur. The only objection is raised by Pippin (Pippin!) arguably the person of least status. He declares he will not accept Elrond’s decision to exclude him. Pippin’s demand to be included is endorsed by Gandalf, and Elrond amends his initial roster of the Fellowship accordingly. As a result, we don’t know what happens to people who defy Elrond. What if others, besides Pippin, such as Erestor, or Galdor or even Glorfindel, had insisted they would go as well, whether or not sanctioned by Elrond?
End Note:
Galadriel, about whom we know nothing at this time, certainly is linked closely to the land of Lorien. She is sometimes referred to as the Lady of Lorien and other times as Lady Galadriel. Celeborn is sometimes referred to as Lord Celeborn, but most often as Celeborn without an honorific. When they escort Arwen to Minas Tirith they are identified as Lady Galadriel and Celeborn, Lord of Lothlorien, and Elrond is “Master Elrond, mighty among Elves and Men.”
What does it mean to be the Lord of Rivendell? Frodo, advised by Gandalf while still at Bag End, decides to leave the Shire and "make for Rivendell" and "the house of Elrond Halfelven ... where many of the Fair Folk still dwelt in peace." Frodo knows of Elrond but has never met him. We meet Elrond at the same time Frodo does, at the feast in Frodo’s honor. Elrond is seated at the high table with Gandalf and Glorfindel and "Frodo looked at them in wonder, for he had never before seen Elrond ... ." And of course neither have we. Elrond projects such presence that Gandalf, a powerful wizard and Glorfindel,“(a)n Elf-lord of a house of princes,” are elevated merely by association with him. They are "revealed as lords of dignity and power." But Elrond is “the Lord of Rivendell and mighty among both Elves and Men.” The context of these three descriptions suggests that “lord” refers to a generic high-status person but “Lord of Rivendell” is a specific honorific, a title with special meaning.
Our introduction to Elrond is by way of comparison to Gandalf and Glorfindel. Each of the three is described in parallel direct and figurative language, beginning with Gandalf. Gandalf's physical description includes, in the order given: stature - shorter (than Glorfindel and Elrond); hair – long and white; beard - silver; shoulders - broad; eyes - dark. He looks like “a wise king of ancient legend.” Glorfindel's physical description includes, in the order given: stature - tall and straight; hair - gold; face - fair; eyes - bright. Glorfindel's description concludes with two metaphors describing additional physical features, his brow and his hand: "on his brow sat wisdom, and in his hand was strength."
The description of Elrond is different from the others in both structure and content. His hair is dark and his eyes are grey, but the rest of his description is less specifically physical. His face was "ageless, neither old nor young." He appeared "(v)enerable ... as a king crowned with many winters" but "hale as a tried warrior in the fullness of his strength." The final Elrond observation – that he is “the Lord of Rivendell” - is unlike anything said of either Gandalf or Glorfindel. He is strongly linked to a place and they are not.
According to Debrett’s "Lord" is a form of address for generic nobles. (Reference guide to the United Kingdom's titled families. https://www.debretts.com/expertise/essential-guide-to-the-peerage/; https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/a-field-guide-to-british-noble-titles-whats-a-duchess.) That would be an appropriate form of address when speaking to Elrond. However, if the creation of a peerage is associated with land, also called a territorial designation, an appropriate form of address to the holder is "Lord + land," as in "Lord Rivendell." If Elrond is the “Lord of Rivendell” in that sense the form of address would probably be Elrond, Lord Rivendell but no one calls him that. Elrond certainly has a very close association with Rivendell, the place, as evidenced by his ability to command the river. Note however, that Tom Bombadil, who has a very close association with his “territory” and the authority to compel the trees and the rain to behave themselves, is not a “Lord” but is emphatically the “Master of wood, water and hill.” (see End Note)
After the narrator introduces Elrond as "Lord of Rivendell" the title is not used again, at least through the end of the Council of Elrond. At the dinner, Gimli observes to Frodo that he thinks "Master Elrond" will summon them shortly. When the party enters the hall after dinner, Elrond says "Awake, little master!” to Bilbo and Bilbo responds, "Wake up! I was not asleep, Master Elrond." Note the difference in capitalization. During the Council, Boromir requests leave to speak from "Master Elrond." Bilbo addresses him again as "Master Elrond" during the Council. The term "Master" is a traditionally appropriate, respectful form of address to a male person of higher status than the speaker.
Yet describing Elrond rather dramatically as "Lord of Rivendell” is surely intended to indicate significant status beyond the relative status indicated by use of the term “Master.” Does he have other powers over the land in addition to commanding the river? Can he compel the trees to obey him? Does he have power and authority to order the comings and goings of people in Rivendell? If he does, then who are the people he is ordering about? Are they his family? HIs extended kinship group? Is everyone who accepts his hospitality subject to his authority? He “sent out north, west and south” those in Rivendell who could “ride openly against the Nine,” one of whom was Glorfindel. Does Glorfindel acknowledge his authority?
At the conclusion of the Council, Elrond appoints the members of the Fellowship. All of the high-status attendees at the council accept Elrond’s appointments without demur. The only objection is raised by Pippin (Pippin!) arguably the person of least status. He declares he will not accept Elrond’s decision to exclude him. Pippin’s demand to be included is endorsed by Gandalf, and Elrond amends his initial roster of the Fellowship accordingly. As a result, we don’t know what happens to people who defy Elrond. What if others, besides Pippin, such as Erestor, or Galdor or even Glorfindel, had insisted they would go as well, whether or not sanctioned by Elrond?
End Note:
Galadriel, about whom we know nothing at this time, certainly is linked closely to the land of Lorien. She is sometimes referred to as the Lady of Lorien and other times as Lady Galadriel. Celeborn is sometimes referred to as Lord Celeborn, but most often as Celeborn without an honorific. When they escort Arwen to Minas Tirith they are identified as Lady Galadriel and Celeborn, Lord of Lothlorien, and Elrond is “Master Elrond, mighty among Elves and Men.”
