The Silmarillion

The Silmarillion

by

J.R.R. Tolkien

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Elendil Character Analysis

Elendil is the son of Amandil and the leader of the Elf-friends. Righteous and thoughtful, he escapes the fall of Númenor with his followers and founds the kingdom of Arnor in Middle-earth. When Sauron takes power in Mordor and attacks Gondor, the kingdom founded by Elendil’s sons (Isildur and Anárion), Elendil founds the Last Alliance and joins forces with the elves of Gil-galad to attack Mordor. At the end of a seven-year siege on Sauron’s tower, Sauron emerges and personally kills Elendil. His sword breaks beneath him and isn’t reforged until his descendant Aragorn’s lifetime.
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Elendil Character Timeline in The Silmarillion

The timeline below shows where the character Elendil appears in The Silmarillion. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Akallabêth
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...faithful to Ilúvatar, are led by Amandil, a counselor of the king, and his son Elendil, whose sons are Isildur and Anárion. Sauron hates Amandil and convinces Ar-Pharazôn to dismiss him... (full context)
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When Elendil and his sons hear a rumor about it, Isildur travels in disguise to Ar-Pharazôn’s court... (full context)
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Amandil hears about Ar-Pharazôn’s plan and tells Elendil that he’ll try to sail secretly to Valinor to ask Manwë for mercy and aid.... (full context)
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Elendil and the Elf-friends prepare to leave, filling their ships with supplies, treasures from Númenor, and... (full context)
Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age
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At that time, Elendil, whose ship comes ashore in Lindon, leads his people east and establishes a kingdom in... (full context)
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...things far away) between Gondor and Arnor to protect the land and watch their enemies. Elendil often visits the seeing stone in Emyn Beraid—towers in Arnor that face the sea—and it’s... (full context)
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...with his wife and sons, carrying a seedling from the tree. He tries to find Elendil as Anárion defends Osgiliath. (full context)
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Elendil and Gil-galad decide to unite against Sauron, forming a group called the Last Alliance, and... (full context)
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...including the death of Anárion. Finally, Sauron leaves his tower and kills both Gil-galad and Elendil, whose sword breaks beneath him as he falls. However, Isildur cuts the One Ring from... (full context)
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...His servants are scattered, though not completely destroyed. Some men “turn from evil” and follow Elendil, while others continue to serve Sauron and hate the countries of the west. Sauron’s tower... (full context)
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...but there aren’t enough men and Númenoreans left after the war to maintain the cities Elendil built. In the time of the seventh king after Valandil, the men of Númenor become... (full context)
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...reforged in Rivendell and given to the heir of Isildur, Aragorn, who is very like Elendil. Saruman is overthrown in Isengard, and a great battle is fought outside of Minas Tirith,... (full context)