of your last point. First of all, Anduril does shine, in its own way, at
Helm's Deep. Second, do we see any swords made be the High Elves during
the Second or Third Age? If not, how do we know they don't
shine?
“I dislike Allegory - the conscious and intentional allegory - yet any attempt to explain the purport of myth or fairytale must use allegorical language. (And, of course, the more 'life' a story has the more readily will it be susceptible of allegorical interpretations: while the better a deliberate allegory is made the more nearly will it be acceptable just as a story.)” (From Tolkien Letter # 131.)
