Elanor Gardner
Encyclopedia
Elanor Gardner, also known as Elanor the Fair, is a character in J. R. R. Tolkien
's fictional Middle-earth
legendarium
. She is the first child of Master Samwise Gamgee
and his wife Rose Cotton.
She was born March 25th, S.R. 1421 (which would be T.A.
3021), the first day of the Fourth Age
in Gondor
. Elanor was the only one of Samwise's children known to the Ring-bearer, Frodo Baggins
, and her name was a suggestion by him, a reference to the sun-star, a little golden flower blooming in the land of Lothlórien. This perfectly satisfied Sam's desire for a name that was both elvish and yet at the same time a simple flower-name as many hobbit-lasses had. The name was quite suitable, as Elanor had a notably elvish
appearance, including golden hair—an extremely rare trait among hobbits. Her great beauty was renowned and earned her the title 'the Fair.'
In 1436 Elanor became a maid of honour to Queen Arwen Evenstar, and in 1451 she married Fastred of Greenholm. Four years later Fastred was named Warden of Westmarch by the Thain
at the request of Samwise. Elanor and her husband then moved to the Undertowers on the Tower Hills where their family (becoming known as the Fairbairns of the Towers) would live for many generations.
After her father's passing to the Undying Lands in 1482, Elanor and her line became the keepers of the Red Book of Westmarch
. Her two children were Elfstan, born in 1454, and Fíriel.
Besides her presence as an infant in the last chapter of the published Lord of the Rings
, and the details noted in the appendices of that book, Elanor's most significant role was in the two versions of the written but unpublished epilogue of Lord of the Rings
, later published in The History of Middle-earth
volumes. In that epilogue we see Elanor talk with her father about the importance of the events that transpired in the story and also about the coming of King Elessar
and Queen Arwen
for a visit. Elanor's affectionate name for her father is Sam-dad, while Sam calls her Elanorellë.
In Peter Jackson
's Lord of the Rings movie trilogy
, a six-year old Elanor was played by Alexandra Astin, real-life daughter of Sean Astin
, the actor who played Samwise.
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's fictional Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
legendarium
Legendarium
Legendary may refer to:*A hagiography, or study of the lives of saints and other religious figures**The South English Legendary, a Middle English legendary*A legend-Entertainment:*Legendary, an album by Kaysha*Legendary...
. She is the first child of Master Samwise Gamgee
Samwise Gamgee
Samwise Gamgee, later known as Samwise Gardner and commonly as Sam, is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. Samwise is one of the chief characters in Tolkien's novel The Lord of the Rings, in which he fills an archetypical role as the sidekick of the protagonist, Frodo...
and his wife Rose Cotton.
She was born March 25th, S.R. 1421 (which would be T.A.
Third Age
The Third Age is a time period from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. The history of Middle-earth is to be taken fictionally as a history of the real Earth....
3021), the first day of the Fourth Age
Fourth Age
In the fictional world of middle earth "'the fourth age'" and the ages that preceded it, are time periods from J. R. R. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth, described in his fantasy writings...
in Gondor
Gondor
Gondor is a fictional kingdom in J. R. R. Tolkien's writings, described as the greatest realm of Men in the west of Middle-earth by the end of the Third Age. The third volume of The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, is concerned with the events in Gondor during the War of the Ring and with...
. Elanor was the only one of Samwise's children known to the Ring-bearer, Frodo Baggins
Frodo Baggins
Frodo Baggins is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium.He is the main protagonist of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. He was a hobbit of the Shire who inherited Sauron's Ring from Bilbo Baggins and undertook the quest to destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom...
, and her name was a suggestion by him, a reference to the sun-star, a little golden flower blooming in the land of Lothlórien. This perfectly satisfied Sam's desire for a name that was both elvish and yet at the same time a simple flower-name as many hobbit-lasses had. The name was quite suitable, as Elanor had a notably elvish
Elf (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Elves are one of the races that inhabit a fictional Earth, often called Middle-earth, and set in the remote past. They appear in The Hobbit and in The Lord of the Rings, but their complex history is described more fully in The Silmarillion...
appearance, including golden hair—an extremely rare trait among hobbits. Her great beauty was renowned and earned her the title 'the Fair.'
In 1436 Elanor became a maid of honour to Queen Arwen Evenstar, and in 1451 she married Fastred of Greenholm. Four years later Fastred was named Warden of Westmarch by the Thain
Thain
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, the Thain was the traditional military leader of the Hobbits of the Shire. The Hobbits first chose a Thain to "hold the authority of the king" when Arvedui, last King of Arnor, was lost and the kingship in the North discontinued. The...
at the request of Samwise. Elanor and her husband then moved to the Undertowers on the Tower Hills where their family (becoming known as the Fairbairns of the Towers) would live for many generations.
After her father's passing to the Undying Lands in 1482, Elanor and her line became the keepers of the Red Book of Westmarch
Red Book of Westmarch
The Red Book of Westmarch is a fictional manuscript written by hobbits, a conceit of author J. R. R...
. Her two children were Elfstan, born in 1454, and Fíriel.
Besides her presence as an infant in the last chapter of the published Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
, and the details noted in the appendices of that book, Elanor's most significant role was in the two versions of the written but unpublished epilogue of Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
, later published in The History of Middle-earth
The History of Middle-earth
The History of Middle-earth is a 12-volume series of books published from 1983 through to 1996 that collect and analyse material relating to the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, compiled and edited by his son, Christopher Tolkien. Some of the content consists of earlier versions of already published...
volumes. In that epilogue we see Elanor talk with her father about the importance of the events that transpired in the story and also about the coming of King Elessar
Aragorn
Aragorn II is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, one of the main protagonists of The Lord of the Rings. He is first introduced by the name Strider, which the hobbits continue to call him...
and Queen Arwen
Arwen
Arwen Undómiel is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. She appears in his novel, The Lord of the Rings, usually published in three volumes. Arwen is one of the Half-elven who lived during the Third Age.-Literature:...
for a visit. Elanor's affectionate name for her father is Sam-dad, while Sam calls her Elanorellë.
In Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson
Sir Peter Robert Jackson, KNZM is a New Zealand film director, producer, actor, and screenwriter, known for his The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , adapted from the novel by J. R. R...
's Lord of the Rings movie trilogy
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
, a six-year old Elanor was played by Alexandra Astin, real-life daughter of Sean Astin
Sean Astin
Sean Astin is an American film actor, director, voice artist, and producer better known for his film roles as Mikey Walsh in The Goonies, the title character of Rudy, and Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In television, he appeared as Lynn McGill in the fifth season of 24...
, the actor who played Samwise.