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The Silmarillion
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Read The Silmarillion

The Silmarillion (1977) (edit title/settings)

by J. R. R. Tolkien (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

The tales of The Silmarillion were the underlying inspiration and source of J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginative writing; he worked on the book throughout his life but never brought it to a final form. Long preceding in its origins The Lord of the Rings, it is the story of the First Age of Tolkien's... read more

Summary edit see section history

Posthumously edited by Christopher Tolkien this book is the heart of the material that J.R.R. Tolkien worked from to write his Lord of the Rings series.
The book literally starts at the beginning, with the creation and moves forward following the doings of those who shaped the world to... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Posthumously edited by Christopher Tolkien this book is the heart of the material that J.R.R. Tolkien worked from to write his Lord of the Rings series.
The book literally starts at the beginning, with the creation and moves forward following the doings of those who shaped the world to make it ready for it to be inhabited. The inhabitants are finally found by the world shapers (not makers) and are educated by them. After receiving this education one of the elves creates a work of great beauty. The story gently revolves around the creation of, theft of and recovery of that work - the Simarils.

Characters/People edit see section history

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Quotes edit see section history

  • “I see the ring, son of Barahir, and I perceive that you are proud, and deem yourself mighty. But a father's deeds, even had his service been rendered to me, avail not to win the the daughter of Thingol and Melian. See now! I too desire a treasure that is withheld. For rock and steel and the fires of Morgoth keep the jewel that I would possess against all the powers of the Elf-kingdoms. Yet I hear you say that bonds such as these do not daunt you. Go your way therefore! Bring to me in your hand a Silmaril from Morgoth's crown; and then, if she will, Lúthien may set her hand in yours. Then you shall have my jewel; and though the fate of Arda lie within the Silmarils, yet you shall hold me generous.”
    Thingol
  • “But of bliss and glad life there is little to be said, before it ends; as works fair and wonderful, while still they endure for eyes to see, are their own record, and only when they are in peril or broken for ever do they pass into song.”
  • “"Farewell, O twice beloved! A Túrin Turambar turun ambartanen: master of doom by doom mastered! O happy to be dead!"”
    Nienor Níniel
  • “"Thus it was in Gondolin; and amid all the bliss of that realm, while its glory lasted, a dark seed of evil was sown."”
    J.R.R. Tolkien
  • “"Last of all Húrin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed; and it is sung that the axe smoked in the black blood of the troll-guard of Gothmog until it withered, and each time that he slew Húrin cried 'Aurë entuluva! Day shall come again!' Seventy times he uttered that cry; but they took him at last alive..."”
    J.R.R. Tolkien
  • “"But the dawn is brief and the day full often belies its promise."”
    J.R.R. Tolkien
  • “"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."”
    J.R.R. Tolkien
  • “"Fëanor was the mightiest in skill of word and of hand, more learned than his brothers; his spirit burned as a flame. Fingolfin was the strongest, the most steadfast, and the most valiant. Finarfin was the fairest, and the most wise of heart..."”
    J.R.R. Tolkien
  • “"...for if joyful is the fountain that rises in the sun, its springs are in the wells of sorrow unfathomed at the foundations of the Earth."”
    J.R.R. Tolkien
  • “"None and none! What I have left behind I count now no loss; needless baggage on the road it has proved. Let those that cursed my name, curse me still, and whine their way back to the cages of the Valar! Let the ships burn!"”
    Feanor
  • “"Then Fingolfin beheld (as it seemed to him) the utter ruin of the Noldor, and the defeat beyond redress of all their houses; and filled with wrath and despair he mounted Rochallor his great horse and rode forth alone, and none might restrain him. He passed over Dor-nu-Fauglith like a wind amid the dust, and all that beheld his onset fled in amaze, thinking Oromë himself was come; for a great madness of rage was upon him, so that his eyes shone like the eyes of the Valar. Thus he came alone to Angband's gates, and he sounded his horn, and smote once upon the brazen doors, and challenged Morgoth to come forth to single combat. And Morgoth came."”
    J.R.R. Tolkien
  • “"Hail Eärendil, of mariners most renowned, the looked for that cometh at unawares, the longed for that cometh beyond hope! Hail Eärendil, bearer of the light before the Sun and Moon! Splendour of the Children of Earth, star in the darkness, jewel in the sunset, radiant in the morning!"”
    Eönwë
  • “"And Elwing chose to be judged among the Firstborn Children of Ilúvatar... and for her sake, Eärendil chose alike, though his heart was rather with the kindred of Men and the people of his father."”
    J.R.R. Tolkien
  • “"Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here forever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and from me a new star shall arise. Farewell!"”
    Huor
  • “"Yet the lies that Melkor...sowed in the hearts of Elves and Men are a seed that does not die and cannot be destroyed; and ever and anon it sprouts anew, and will bear dark fruit even unto the latest days."”
    J.R.R. Tolkien
  • “"If it has passed from the high and beautiful to darkness and ruin, that was of old the fate of Arda Marred; and if any change shall come and the Marring be amended, Manwe and Varda may know, but they have not revealed it."”
    J.R.R. Tolkien
  • “"Melkor hated the Sea, for he could not subdue it. It is said that in the making of Arda he endeavoured to draw Ossë to his allegiance, promising to him all the realm and power of Ulmo, if he would serve him. So it was that long ago there arose great tumults in the sea that wrought ruin to the lands. But Uinen, at the prayer of Aulë, restrained Ossë and brought him before Ulmo; and he was pardoned and returned to his allegiance, to which he has remained faithful. For the most part; for the delight in violence has never wholly departed from him, and at times he will rage in his wilfulness without any command from Ulmo his lord. Therefore those who dwell by the sea or go up in ships may love him, but they do not trust him. "”
    J.R.R. Tolkien
  • “But the dawn is brief and the day full often belies its promise.”
Show all 18 quotes from this book

Setting & Locations edit see section history

  • Arda: The created world.
  • Valinor: Aman, the Blessed Realm, the undying home of the Valar.
  • Middle-earth: The mortal lands of the world.
  • Angband: Morgoth's northern country.
  • Thangorodrim: Morgoths fortress and home.
  • Beleriand: All the lands east of the Blue Mountains of Middle-earth; the theater of most of the Silmarillion.
  • Gondolin: The Hidden city of Turgon, set in a plain amidst the Encircling Mountains.
  • Doriath: The woodland realm of Thingol and Melian, guarded by the Girdle of Melian.
  • Nargothrond: The cavernous realm of Finrod Felagund.
  • Numénor: The island home of the Edain, near to Valinor, given as a reward for their efforts against Morgoth. Was sunk by the Valar at the end of the Second Age, when the Men of Numénor grew too greedy and ambitious.
  • Oiolosse: Where the hall of Manwe and Varda sits, the tallest of all the mountains on Earth.
  • Illuin: Lamp set upon a pedestal in the North of Middle-earth by the Valar.
  • Ormal: Lamp set upon a pedestal in the South of Middle-earth.
  • Taniquetil: The highest of the mountains of the world. Home of Manwe.
  • Tol Eressea: Land where dwelt the Teleri, for a time.
  • Alqualonde: The Haven of the Swans
  • Foremenos: A stronghold north of Valinor made by Feanor and his sons.
  • Menegroth: The Thousand Caves. Created by the Dwarves at the behest of King Thingol.
  • Ossiriand: The Land of the Seven Rivers
Show all 19 settings

Organizations edit see section history

  • Ainur: The Holy Ones; the first and mightiest, beings created by Eru Ilúvatar; they are divided into the Valar and the Maiar.
  • Valar: The Powers of Arda who live on the Western continent of Aman; there are fourteen of them and they helped to begin the shaping of Arda through the music of Ilúvatar
  • Maiar: People of the Valar but of less degree. The helpers of the Valar - came into Ea with the Valar.
  • Elves: The Firstborn, the Elder Children of Ilúvatar;the eldest and noblest of the speaking races of Middle-earth.
  • Eldar: Elves who accepted the summons of the Valar, undertook the Great Journey, and were ennobled by their life in Aman
  • Avari: Elves who didn't accepted the summons of the Valar - Silvan Elves
  • Vanyar: The first and smallest of the Kindreds of the Eldar; they seemed to love high culture and pursued it to brilliance, also called Fair Elves
  • Noldor: The second clan of the elves; the noldor are accounted the greatest of the Elves in lore and smithcraft; also called Deep Elves
  • Teleri: The third clan and also largest of the three houses of the Elves; Sea-Elves
  • Sindar: The Gray Elves of Beleriand. Elves of Light, fairest of all the Elves; wisest and skilled.
  • Khazad: The dwarves. Called the Naugrim ("stunted people" )and Gonnhirrim ("Masters of Stone") by the the elves.
  • Men: The second race of beings created by Ilúvatar; also called After-born, Edain, Atani "The Second People".
  • Great Eagles: The messengers and spies of the King of Arda who possessed the ability to see through most physical matter except for the deepest blackness of Morgoth's evil pits.
  • Dragons: Also known as Uruloki. Created by Morgoth; immortal, powerful, and cunning. Their first was a mutilated Maia.
  • Orcs: Elves deceived and mutilated by Morgoth.
  • Ents: The silvan counterparts to the Eagles: they are tree-herders meant to protect Arda.
  • Istari: The Wizards; sent by the Valar to restore peace to Middle-earth, they never reveal their true identities. The most important are named by the elves Mithrandir, Curunir, and Radagast.
  • Ungoliant: Supreme spider being that Melkor created. Many offspring were spread out through the dark lands of Middle Earth. Shelob is one.
Show all 18 organizations

First Sentence edit see section history

There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Iluvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made.

Table of Contents edit see section history

List of Illustrations
Foreword
Preface to the Second Edition

I. Ainulindale

II. Valaquenta

III. Quenta Silmarillion
1. Of the Beginning of Days
2.Of Aulë and Yavanna
3. Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor
4. Of Thingol and Melian
5. Of Eldamar and the Prines of the Eldalië
6. Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor
7. Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor
8. Of the Darkening of Valinor
9.Of the Flight of the Noldor
10. Of the Sindar
11. Of the Sun and Moon and Hiding of Valinor
12. Of Men
13. Of the Return of the Noldor
14. Of Beleriand and its Realms
15. Of the Noldor in Beleriand
16. Of Maeglin
17. Of the Coming of Men into the West
18. Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin
19. Of Beren and Lúthien
20. Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad
21 Of Túrin Turambar
22. Of the Ruin of Doriath
23. Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin
24. Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath

IV. Akallabêth

V. Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age

Tables
Genealogies:
I The House of Finwe
II The Decendents of Olwe and Elwe
III The House of Boer
IV and V The House of Haldor and The People of Haleth

The Sundering od the Elves

Note on Pronunciation
Index of Names
Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindain Names

Glossary edit see section history

Show all 18 glossary entries

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • Creation: The Silmarillion tells the story of creation of Middle Earth and how elves, dwarves, men, and wizards came into being. It also explains how evil was created or allowed to develop, setting the stage for the events in the Lord of the Rings.
  • Fate: Describe this theme.
  • Life/Death/Afterlife

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 13 of 27 in Middle-Earth. (universe)
This is book 46 of 99 in National Public Radio's Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy. (authoritative list)
This is book 1 of 10 in Publishers Weekly Bestselling Novels In 1977. (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. J. R. R. Tolkien (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. Christopher Tolkien (Editor)
  2. Guy Gavriel Kay (Editor) - Assisted Christopher Tolkien with his father's notes during the publication of this work.

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: George Allen & Unwin Ltd
Country: England
Publication Date: 1977
ISBN: 0-04-823139-8
Page Count: 365

Awards edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

Hard to read even for an adult; would recommend reading either as an adult or with care after the age of 13. There are a lot of names, and there is no single story to follow. Plus, with all the tragedy and kingdoms ending there may be some difficult things to grasp, like "why?"

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • The Hobbit
  • Fiji
  • The Mabinogion
  • The Elder Edda
  • Beowulf

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