Qenya

Quenya is conceptually the forerunner of Quenya. This u-less spelling was for a long time used by Tolkien for the name of this language ; it is now employed in the study of his invented languages to name its forms anterior to The Lord of the Rings. It is not a homogenous entity, but a continuum of ever changing conceptions which go from the first tries in 1915 to the 40s. The extracts we propose here are put in a roughly chronological order, the last ones are very close to the coming Quenya.

Narqelion - Autumn. Tolkien's first poem in Elvish, published and discussed in Vinyar Tengwar n° 40.

Sí qente Feanor - Now said Feanor . A prose text associated to the Book of Lost Tales, published and discussed in Parma Eldalamberon n° 15.

Nieninque - Snowdrop. A poem published in The Monsters and the Critics, pp. 215-216.

Earendel - Poème publié dans The Monsters and the Critics, pp. 215-216.

Oilima Markirya I - The Last Ark. First version of the poem, published in The Monsters and the Critics, pp. 213-214. The final version in Quenya can also be found on this website.

Oilima Markirya II - The Last Ark. Second version of the poem, published in The Monsters and the Critics, pp. 213-214. The final version in Quenya can also be found on this website.

The Elves at Koivienéni - A sentence published in Vinyar Tengwar n° 14, with additions in n° 27.

The Two Trees - A sentence reconstituted after Tolkien's drafts, published in Vinyar Tengwar n° 27

 A sentence in "Arctic" - The Father Christmas Letters, pp. 30-31.

The straight road (Qenya) - The Lost Road, p. 47. A corresponding version in Old English can also be found on this website.

Elendil and Herendil - Sentences picked up in The Lost Road, pp. 59, 61 et 63.

Fíriel's song - The Lost Road, p. 72.

Galadriel' lament, preparatory version - The Treason of Isengard, pp. 284-285. The final version in Quenya can also be found on this website.

Atalante - Fragments of a lament on the downfall of Númenor. Sauron Defeated, p. 247. The Lost Road p. 47 contains similar fragments. A corresponding version in Adûnaic and Old English can also be found on this website.