Noldor - Other Versions of The Legendarium

Other Versions of The Legendarium

In the early versions of Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium (see: The History of Middle-earth), the Noldor were most often called Noldoli or Gnome. They were still called Gnomes in early editions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. They were also the ones who spoke the language, then called Noldorin or Gnomish, that ultimately became Sindarin of later versions.

As the Elven realms of Beleriand were destroyed, virtually all the Noldor were enslaved by Morgoth as his thralls, working in the mines of Angband. They developed a tongue called múlanoldorin. Those who escaped were mistrusted by other Elves.

In these early works, Morgoth is able to dominate the minds of the Elves wherever they go, by instilling his fear in them. Even the escaped thralls are thus not truly free.