Ellidyr
Encyclopedia
Ellidyr is a fictional character
in the Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander
. He plays a tragic, pivotal role in the second book of the series, The Black Cauldron
.
Ellidyr is described as a prince
, the son of a king who had nothing left to leave his son but "his name and his sword." He is deeply sensitive about his poverty, and covers this with arrogance, treating all whom he does not see as social equals with disdain and contempt. Adaon
, with the aid of a magic talisman
, sees this as a "black beast," sitting on Ellidyr's shoulders and tormenting him.
Shortly after arriving at Caer Dallben
, Ellidyr quarrels with and offends Taran
; their interactions afterward are marked with friction for most of the rest of the book. When Taran, Princess Eilonwy
, Fflewddur Fflam
and Gurgi
are bogged down by the Black Crochan
, Ellidyr only agrees to help them after they promise to allow him to have the glory of recovering the Crochan to himself.
Later, when Ellidyr has been captured by an enemy along with Taran and his companions, Ellidyr finally comes to wisdom and realizes what sort of person he has been. He makes amends by destroying the Crochan (only a living person throwing himself into the Crochan, knowing that to do so is fatal, will accomplish this). Afterwards, Ellidyr is buried with honour, along with Islimach, his horse; the horse threw herself from a cliff right after Ellidyr's death.
Ellidyr is described as having extraordinary strength and seems to only truly love Islimach. Though arrogant, he is not evil and swears to Taran though he would have taken credit for finding the Crochan, he would have seen it destroyed and never would have used it to create Cauldron-Born
. Despite their obvious differences, Ellidyr and Taran are in fact very similar. Both are headstrong, brash, and search for ways to sate their desires for honor and glory. However, it eventually is proven that Taran values his companions and their mission over his own honor. Ellidyr too comes to realize that there are more important things than his own glory, and it is after his noble sacrifice that he is honored among his comrades.
Parallels could be drawn from him to one of the villains of The Mabinogion Evnisien whom, although he is much more villainous (Murdering his own nephew to continue a war) also sacrifices himself in the end, by throwing himself into the cauldron of that story, giving up his life and ending the cauldron, which was the basis of Ellidyrs cauldron.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander
Lloyd Alexander
Lloyd Chudley Alexander was a widely influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books...
. He plays a tragic, pivotal role in the second book of the series, The Black Cauldron
The Black Cauldron
The Black Cauldron can refer to:* The Black Cauldron , the second novel in The Chronicles of Prydain series* The Black Cauldron , the Disney animated film based on The Chronicles of Prydain book series...
.
Ellidyr is described as a prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
, the son of a king who had nothing left to leave his son but "his name and his sword." He is deeply sensitive about his poverty, and covers this with arrogance, treating all whom he does not see as social equals with disdain and contempt. Adaon
Adaon
Adaon is the son of the Chief Bard Taliesin, in Lloyd Alexander's fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. He is featured solely in the second book, The Black Cauldron, although he is mentioned in the third and fifth books. He is a gifted minstrel, though not yet an official bard, a...
, with the aid of a magic talisman
Amulet
An amulet, similar to a talisman , is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—, to...
, sees this as a "black beast," sitting on Ellidyr's shoulders and tormenting him.
Shortly after arriving at Caer Dallben
Caer Dallben
Caer Dallben is a cottage farm within the lands of Prydain and the starting point for each book of Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain. It is also the setting for the series' final chapter....
, Ellidyr quarrels with and offends Taran
Taran (character)
Taran is a fictional character in The Chronicles of Prydain series, as well as in the film and game named after the second novel, The Black Cauldron.-Profile:...
; their interactions afterward are marked with friction for most of the rest of the book. When Taran, Princess Eilonwy
Princess Eilonwy
Princess Eilonwy is a fictional character in Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain and wife of High King Taran in the Chronicles of Prydain and also appears in Disney's 1985 animated film The Black Cauldron...
, Fflewddur Fflam
Fflewddur Fflam
Fflewddur Fflam, son of Godo, is a cantrev lord in the fictional country of Prydain in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain. He is referred to as a King, but it is made clear that he is a very minor king of a tiny kingdom at best, much less important than the High King who rules Prydain. His...
and Gurgi
Gurgi
Gurgi is a fictional character in The Chronicles of Prydain, the series of fantasy novels by Lloyd Alexander. Gurgi is the hero Taran's faithful companion, appearing in all five books.- Profile :...
are bogged down by the Black Crochan
Black Crochan
The Black Crochan is a large, magical iron cauldron that features prominently in the second book of the Chronicles of Prydain, The Black Cauldron. It is used in the production of Cauldron-Born, the undead soldiers of the Death-Lord Arawn...
, Ellidyr only agrees to help them after they promise to allow him to have the glory of recovering the Crochan to himself.
Later, when Ellidyr has been captured by an enemy along with Taran and his companions, Ellidyr finally comes to wisdom and realizes what sort of person he has been. He makes amends by destroying the Crochan (only a living person throwing himself into the Crochan, knowing that to do so is fatal, will accomplish this). Afterwards, Ellidyr is buried with honour, along with Islimach, his horse; the horse threw herself from a cliff right after Ellidyr's death.
Ellidyr is described as having extraordinary strength and seems to only truly love Islimach. Though arrogant, he is not evil and swears to Taran though he would have taken credit for finding the Crochan, he would have seen it destroyed and never would have used it to create Cauldron-Born
Cauldron-Born
In Lloyd Alexander's series of fantasy books The Chronicles of Prydain, the Cauldron-Born are a race of deathless warriors in the service of Arawn, Death-Lord of Annuvin.- Origins :...
. Despite their obvious differences, Ellidyr and Taran are in fact very similar. Both are headstrong, brash, and search for ways to sate their desires for honor and glory. However, it eventually is proven that Taran values his companions and their mission over his own honor. Ellidyr too comes to realize that there are more important things than his own glory, and it is after his noble sacrifice that he is honored among his comrades.
Parallels could be drawn from him to one of the villains of The Mabinogion Evnisien whom, although he is much more villainous (Murdering his own nephew to continue a war) also sacrifices himself in the end, by throwing himself into the cauldron of that story, giving up his life and ending the cauldron, which was the basis of Ellidyrs cauldron.