When did J. R. R. Tolkien write the first draft of The Fall of Gondolin introducing Glorfindel?
J. R. R. Tolkien wrote the first draft of The Fall of Gondolin between 1916 and 1917, introducing a character named Glorfindel at that time.
Questions about Glorfindel
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What happened to Glorfindel during his escape from the siege of Gondolin in the First Age?
Glorfindel fought a Balrog to its death during an ambush while escaping with Tuor and Idril through the Encircling Mountains above the city. His body was recovered by the great eagle Thorondor and buried under a stone cairn where yellow flowers grew.
Why did Christopher Tolkien decide that both characters named Glorfindel should be one person?
Christopher Tolkien eventually decided that both characters should be one and the same person as Tolkien's ideas evolved over decades regarding reincarnation and the fate of Elves. This decision allowed the original Glorfindel who died fighting a Balrog to return to Middle-earth on a mission similar to that of the Istari.
How did Peter Jackson change the role of Glorfindel in the 2001 live-action film compared to the book?
Peter Jackson transferred Glorfindel rescue function to Arwen who took Frodo to the Ford and summoned floodwaters to disperse the Nazgûl. The core story of rescuing Frodo remained central but shifted hands across different interpretations of Tolkien work.
What video games featured Glorfindel as a playable hero unit or non-player character after 2000?
Glorfindel appears as a non-player character in the 2002 video game The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring voiced by Steve Staley. The 2006 real-time strategy game The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II featured him with silver-blond hair while riding Asfaloth as one of the playable hero units of the Elvish faction.