Beren and the Silmaril

[Galin]

Originally Posted by Lefty Scaevola

Eldar includes those of the Teleri that started and quit the great journey, the Nandor as well as the Sindar.

According to The Lord of the Rings however, in Appendix F: 'The Elves far back in the Elder Days became divided into two main branches: the West-elves (the Eldar) and the East-elves. Of the latter kind were most of the elven-folk of Mirkwood and Lórien; but their languages do not appear in this history, of which all of the Elvish names and words are of Eldarin form.' Most of the elven-folk of Mirkwood and Lórien were 'East-elves' and their languages do not seem to be classed as Eldarin. And later, same source: '... and Eldar, the name of the Three Kindreds that sought for the Undying Realm and came there at the beginning of days (save the Sindar only).'

I note CJRT's interesting (and more recent than Silmarillion) entry for Eldar as published in The Children of Húrin: 'Eldar The Elves of the Great Journey out of the East to Beleriand.' This fits in fine with the Eldar or 'West-elves' of The Lord of the Rings.

In any event, to compare apples to apples, so to speak: the Three Unions (as revised for the second edition) in Appendix A concerns the Edain and the Eldar -- and according to the same book (Appendix F), the Silvan Elves of Mirkwood and Lórien are not considered Eldar.