Something that I am learning about myself is that with being an Elf comes a bevy of issue. Yes, it is wonderful to express yourself as an Elvenkin and love nature and such, but it is not all dandelions and rainbows at times. We are still in the process of perfecting ourselves just like other souls.
One of the things many of us Elves need to work on is the use of the sharp tongue. This is a way to describe someone who can attack back with words that have a biting edge to them. When you have a broad vocabulary or lexicon as an Elf, this can cause you to know how to use it in times of defense.
I both am proud of this ability and ashamed of it.
I am learning this about me. I can be very sharp tongued and I noticed it in Tolkien’s Elves too. Also in the legends and stories of old, often times an Elf will speak harshly when confronted. When spoken kindly to an Elf, you get kindness in return. They have the power to speak harshly to others to make them feel “small”. It is not the happy choice of the Elf to do so, but much of the time, Elves like to put others in their rightful place when they speak out of line with them.
I do this a lot to those who act rude, crude, or just down right mean towards me or others. Much of the time, I will shoot a snide remark back that can chill me and them to the bone.
Tolkien writes, of Elrond, taking a swing at Dwarves:
“Who will you look to when we’ve gone? The Dwarves? They toil away in caverns, seeking riches. They care nothing for the troubles of others.”
And then he equally says a harsh thing about mankind:
Men? Men are weak. The Blood of Numenor is all but spent, its pride and dignity forgotten. It is because of Men the Ring survives. I was there, Gandalf. I was there three thousand years ago. I was there the day the strength of Men failed.
As you can see, you do not want to talk back or insult an Elf, often times it can come back to you tenfold.
This is a trait I am trying to be aware of and observe in myself. It seems Tolkien had a good understanding of me, and other Elves, whose choice of defense is their usage of language.
Whoever said, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words could never hurt me”, didn’t ever insult an Elf.
High Elven wisdom and Love 