Did Denethor, Boromir, and Faramir Have Elven Blood?

In J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, Denethor, Boromir, and Faramir do not possess elven blood in a literal sense. They originate from the line of Men, specifically the Dúnedain, who have a more noble heritage linked to the Edain, the first Men to ally with the Elves during the First Age.

However, their lineage holds several nuances:

Denethor: The Last Ruling Steward of Gondor

Denethor, as the final steward of Gondor, has a lineage that is purely human. It is important to note that the Dúnedain, including the stewards, are considered to have a more noble heritage than ordinary Men due to their ancestry tracing back to the Edain. Despite this noble lineage, Denethor himself is not directly linked to elven blood.

Boromir and Faramir: Sons of Denethor

Boromir and Faramir are the sons of Denethor. Like their father, they are fully human with no direct elven ancestry. While they do not have elven blood, their noble heritage and the long history of the Dúnedain may instill a certain kinship with the Elves, particularly in terms of wisdom and valor.

Numenorean Heritage: Aragorn

Although Denethor, Boromir, and Faramir do not have elven blood, in Tolkien's works, only one Numenorean had elven blood, which is Aragorn. He is a direct descendant of Elrond's brother Elros, a half-Elven or Peredhil. The Valar granted Elrond and Elros the choice between becoming an Elf or a Man. Elrond chose immortality as an Elf, while Elros chose mortal life as a Man.

Aragorn, being a descendant of Elros, can use the healing power of the athelas, a plant that has curative properties unique to the Elven heritage. Other ordinary Numenoreans lack this ability.

House of Hurin: The Lineage of Denethor, Boromir, and Faramir

Denethor, Boromir, and Faramir are part of the House of Hurin, an ancient Numenorean family of royal blood, belonging to the Elendili, also known as the Faithful, a group of Men who escaped the fall of Numenor. Their ancestors were pure Numenoreans, meaning they came from the race of Men, not the Numenorean line tracing back to the first King of Numenor, Elros Tar-Minnyatur.

While Aragorn is from the line of the Kings of Numenor, originating from the descendants of Elros, Denethor, Boromir, and Faramir do not have any Numenorean blood through their ancestral lineage.

In summary, while Denethor, Boromir, and Faramir do not have elven blood, their lineage is deeply rooted in the noble traditions of the Dúnedain, which may infuse them with a unique sense of kinship with the Elves. Aragorn, however, stands out as the only Numenorean with elven blood, distinguishing him from his ancestors and contemporaries in the context of Tolkien's legendarium.