Similarly, Laslett described the Third Age as an era of personal achievement and fulfillment and the Fourth Age as an era of final dependence, decrepitude, and death.
How can we differentiate distinct phases of aging in later life? Theorizations of the third and fourth age posit that later life often involves a time of continued growth and increased opportunity (the “third age”) as well as a time marked by growing cognitive, physical, and social losses (the “fourth age”).
Beginning with a consideration of Laslett's use of the term “the third age” to define a new stage of life characterized as an era of personal fulfillment and “the fourth age” as a period of dependency, decrepitude, and death, the entry then describes other models of this division of later life, based on either ...
The fourth age is “deep old age” (Blaikie, 1999) marked by progressive dependence and decline, by frailty and infirmity, by “extraordinary needs and vulnerabilities” (Baltes & Smith, 2003).
As shown in this graphic, some consider the third age as beginning at age 60. There are freedoms from earlier responsibilities, and new freedoms to do new things. Those in the third age benefit from emotional intelligence based on life experience.
The Third Age lasted for 3021 years, beginning with the first downfall of Sauron, when he was defeated by the Last Alliance of Elves and Men following the downfall of Númenor and ending with the War of the Ring and final defeat of Sauron, the events narrated in The Lord of the Rings.
Frodo closes the book, literally, on his and Bilbo's retelling of the final years of the Third Age. Screenshot: Warner Bros. Arda, the physical world J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is set on, has a history stretching far, far back before Frodo's adventure to destroy Sauron.
For her, the Fourth Age (oldest old) was typified by the onset of all the negative stereotypes of old age. Similarly, Laslett described the Third Age as an era of personal achievement and fulfillment and the Fourth Age as an era of final dependence, decrepitude, and death.
The Fourth Age began once Sauron was vanquished and the One Ring destroyed. The Shire and the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor were restored. It marked the ascent of Men and the final diminishing of the Elves. Gandalf, Elrond, Galadriel, Bilbo and Frodo sailed for the Undying Lands, as had most Elves on Middle-earth.
As of October 2020, Snyder's team has identified four distinct ageotypes: metabolic agers, or people whose immune systems age fastest; immune agers; kidney (or “nephrotic”) agers; and liver (or “hepatic”) agers.
The Fifth Age is one of the nine ages of the world. It is known as the Age of Plague and is the third Age of Ruin. The transitional point between the Fourth and Fifth Age seems to be the elven civil war. Between the Fifth and Sixth Age it appears to be Vermin Swarm conquering the Avrasi Empire.
In the third, final age, humanity would witness the final unification of all under the Holy Spirit with the spiritual guidance of spiritual men (Christian monks respectively), who would guide this world in an earthly Sabbath age.
The Fourth Age was held to have begun with the passing of the Ring-bearers over the sea from Mithlond on 29 September III 3021, though in Gondor it was reckoned as beginning on 25 March of the same year (that date being the second anniversary of the Downfall of Barad-dûr).
But, if we're speaking strictly of events inside the legendarium, then there's no mention of a Fifth Age. Of course, time goes on, so even if Tolkien didn't write it, logic tells us there'd probably be a Fifth Age, and more ages after that, until the Dagor Dagorath and the world is remade.
After the War
After the death of King Elessar, Legolas made a ship in Ithilien, and through Anduin, he left Middle-earth to go over the sea. His strong friendship with Gimli prompted him to invite Gimli to go to the Undying Lands; making him the first and only Dwarf to do so.
One common characteristic of the fourth age is: a high level of dementia.
Fourth Age
During this time, Dwarves from the Lonely Mountain helped rebuild cities in Gondor and the fortress of the Hornburg, and some went to the newly established Dwarven realm of the Glittering Caves where Gimli was lord.
Children (1 year through 12 years) Adolescents (13 years through 17 years. They may also be referred to as teenagers depending on the context.) Adults (18 years or older)
Frodo Baggins was a hobbit of the Third Age, the most famous of all Hobbits in the histories for his leading role in the Quest of the Ring. During this epic quest, he bore the One Ring to Mount Doom and there destroyed it, giving him renown like no other Halfling throughout Middle-earth.
Gandalf was one of the five Istari sent to Middle-earth by the Valar in the Third Age. In Valinor he was known as Olórin. Gandalf was instrumental in bringing about the demise of Sauron in T.A. 3019, chiefly by encouraging others and dispensing his wisdom at pivotal times.
Legolas was portrayed by Orlando Bloom. In the "official movie guide" for The Lord of the Rings, a birthdate for Legolas is set to 87 of the Third Age. This would make him 2931 years old at the time of the War of the Ring. This date for Legolas' birth was made up by the movie writers.
During the Fourth Age in Middle Earth, Mordor was not occupied by any kingdom as it was deemed too dangerous to be inhabited by any race or civilization. The last known event that took place in Mordor was the destruction of the One Ring by Frodo, which caused the entire land to crumble and its fortresses to fall.
All leaders and committee people give their time to their U3As voluntarily. Being a mutual self-help organisation, the costs of running U3A are kept very low. Ordinary membership subscriptions for 2022 are $45 for a full year, $30 if you join in Term 3, and $10 if you join in Term 4.
Third Ageedit edit source
The Dwarves fled Khazad-dum, which from then on was called Moria, which means "Black pit". Most of Durin's folk left for the Grey Mountains in the North, while some followed the new king, Thráin I, who briefly went to Erebor in T.A. 1999.