From Duriez and Tyler:

Elves, the second group of the Eldar on the westward journey from Cuiviénen, led by Finwe. They had a thirst for knowledge, and great skill in craftsmanship - symbolizing high culture . . . Noldor means “knowledgeable.” To the Noldor belonged the family of Fëanor, who became caught in the Doom of Mandos. Fëanor’s creation of the Silmarils ranked with the work of the Valar. Galadriel also belonged to the Noldor.” - Duriez

Their role in the affairs of Middle-earth is therefore one of awakening and teaching, rather than creation . . . The Elves were the Quickeners of intellect, and articulation; they did not, strictly speaking, ‘invent’ these gifts; but they stimulated them, in themselves and in others . . .

“Finwë was their first King; his sons were Fëanor, Fingolfin and Finarfin…

“The Noldor were the Craftsmen of the Eldar, and their skills were wonderous. The greatest of all this people in both crafts and lore was Fëanor, and the greatest of all his achievements were the three marvellous Jewels, the Silmarilli, which captured the blessed Light of the Two Trees within their depths and returned it . . .

“Born during the Eldest Days, in Tirion the Fair, Fëanor was a prodigy among Elves. Amazingly skilled at matters of craft, and with a formidable intellect which made him the foremost loremaster and inventor of his people, he embodied the dynamic principle of activism, and was constantly at work, learning, experimenting, storing, devising, practising, polishing and developing; until he had altogether redirected his inherent drives, away from ‘passive’ understanding and contemplation, towards ‘active’ subcreation of the highest order. So he is remember for lore, and for skill, but not for wisdom . . .

“Fingolfin was accounted by the Noldor the bravest of the three sons of Finwë; but although there had been enmity between himself and Fëanor, like the latter, Fingolfin unwisely chose to avenge te death of their father and repay the hurts offered to their House, and he too rebelled against the Valar . . .

“Though the youngest of the three brothers, [Finarfin] was accounted by the Eldar the wisest, for he alone forsook the march into exile, and repented of the rebellion, and thus return from Araman to Eldamar with a great many of his people, to continue dwelling with the Valar, and with the ‘Fair-elves’, the Vanyar.” - Tyler



Namárië.