Quenta Silmarillion

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Quenta Silmarillion is the third part of The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien. Quenta Silmarillion is translated as the "Tale of the Silmarils". The part is the longest in the book, consisting of twenty-four chapters.

Quenta Silmarillion deals with the history of Arda following the entrance of the Ainur as the Valar and Maiar (see Valaquenta). After the Valar's entrance, Arda was still lifeless and had no distinct geographical features. The initial shape of Arda, chosen by the Valar, was of a symmetrical continent lit by two lamps: one in the continent's north, and one in the south. However the lamps were destroyed by the vicious Melkor. Arda was again darkened, and the lamps' fall spoiled the perfect symmetry of Arda's surface, marring it. Two main continents were created that are of concern to the story: Aman on the far West, and Middle-earth to the East, over the Great Ocean.

Following this, Melkor hid himself from the Valar in an enormous fortress, Utumno. He also surrounded himself with horrible beasts, many of them Maiar in the form of fell animals, known as Balrogs. Balrogs were to remain his most faithful servants and soldiers ever after.

The Valar then made for themselves a home at the utmost West, upon Aman. On the East Coast of Valinor, Manwe and Varda took abode in Taniquetil, the highest peak of the Mountains in the East. On the coast would be Alqualondë, Home of the Teleri in Aman. Off the coast of Alqualondë was the Isle of Tol Eressea, where Ossë and Uinen (Maiar to Ulmo) abode. In the mainland would lay Formenos, the Stronghold of the Noldor Elves, where Finwë, Fëanor, and their kin would lay. Upon the Grove of Túna would lay Tirion, City of the Vaynar, led by Ingwë. The Halls of Mandos (The Valar who commanded the spirits of the dead) were in the far West. It was then that the Valar began to reshape Arda yet again, making it habitable and preparing it for the coming of the Children of Ilùvatar (Elves and Men). However everywhere they went, Melkor followed them spoiling the fruit of their labour and damaging their achievements. Thus, Arda was marred by Melkor's anger, envy and lust of power.

Utumno did not protect Melkor, however. He was taken prisoner and sentenced to three ages of imprisonment (300 Years of the Trees, 3,000 Years of the Sun). Utumno was laid bare; but all its evil was not destroyed. Before Melkor was taken captive, Arda witnessed the Awakening of the Elves, the first-born Children of Ilùvatar. Elves are described as anthropomorphic beings, who, however, are immortal and possess many virtues (beauty, health, ability to communicate with nature), beyond the share of Men. The elves were met by the Valar and invited to join them in the West; however Melkor managed to reach some of the Elves even earlier. It is said that from them he bred the hideous race of orcs whom both he and his follower Sauron used as soldiers.

Some of the elves refused to go westward. They became known as the Avari. Two houses of the Elves, the Vanyar and the Ñoldor crossed the Great Ocean with the help of the Valar. A third house, called the Teleri lingered on the eastern shore of the Great Ocean and in the west of Middle-earth. However, their leader Elwë Singollo was lost around this time. When the Valar came for the Teleri, Olwë Elwë's brother began to lead them. Some of the Teleri stayed behind, searching for Elwë. These were called the Sindar (Grey elves). At some time between the imprisonment of Melkor and his release, the Valar created the Two Trees, Laurelin and Telperion, which filled Arda with light.

There arose a mighty Elf among the house of Ñoldor, named Fëanor. Fëanor was skilled in crafts and his greatest achievement was the making of three wonderful jewels, the Silmarils. The Silmarils contained the light of the Two Trees of Valinor (as the land of the Valar was known).

By that time Melkor's captivity was over. However he returned to evil quickly. Through a vicious design he managed to destroy the Two Trees, slay Finwë, and steal the Silmarils. Then he fled eastward, back to Middle-earth.

The furious Fëanor followed Melkor (whom he re-named Morgoth). This was done against the will of the Valar, and during Fëanor's flight he slew many of the Teleri at Alqualondë, over their refusal to lend him their ships (Kinslaying). For this he and his followers were forbidden to approach Aman ever again. However, Fëanor ignored this punishment and managed to cross the Great Ocean eastward. He left his brother Fingolfin behind. However, Morgoth sent his forces out against Fëanor, and he was slain by Gothmog Lord of Balrogs. Years after this flight, in order to diminish the darkness, the Valar launched the Sun, so that it would dissolve Melkor's shadows. Varda also sent the Moon, to prevent Morgoth's darkness spreading in the night. Arien would pilot the Sun, and Tirion, the Moon.

Morgoth, because he possessed the Silmarils, returned to Middle-earth with more power than ever and built a new fortified empire, Angband with its capital at Thangorodrim. From there he waged war upon the Sindar. However, with the help of the Ñoldor who had just crossed the Ocean, the first onslaught of Morgoth's attack was thrown off. During the Coming of the Noldor the Sindar and Teleri at Balar (the Isle of the Teleri in Middle Earth) held off Morgoth's forces, in the Battle that would be known as the First Battle of Beleriand.

Following this, the Ñoldor settled with the Sindar in the West of Middle-earth, known as Beleriand. They adopted the Sindarin language instead of their native Quenya. This period of relative peace and stability was short-lived (at least by the Elves' standards). After Fëanor's death, Morgoth was able to capture Maedhros, Fëanor's eldest son. However, Fingon was able to rescue him. Thereafter many Elven kingdoms were built, including Hithlum, Vinyamar, and Nargothrond. Morgoth thought he could catch the elves at unawares, so he poured his armies out of Angband. However, Fingolfin was on his guard, and this led to the demise of Morgoth's forces in the Dagor Aglareb (Glorious Battle). After this victory, Fingolfin set up the Siege of Angband, which lasted 380 years.

As the host of Fingolfin completed its perilous crossing of the Helcaraxë (Grinding Ice), the sun rose for the first time, and Middle-earth witnessed the awakening of Men, the Secondborn (or the Followers). They did not meet the Eldar until nearly 300 years after their awakening. The three houses of the Edain sided with the elves, while many other types of Men sided with Morgoth. However, neither Elvish skill, nor human resolve succeeded in defying him. One after another, the domains of Elves and Men were destroyed and filled with evil. During this time, numerous battles took place. Fingolfin, Fingon, Turgon, Thingol (Elwë), and all but two of the sons of Fëanor, were wiped out one by one, as well as the humans who came to interceed into the lives of the elves. See Men of Beleriand

At last, more than five centuries after the flight of the Ñoldor, Eärendil, the son ofIdril Celebrindal and Tuor son of Huor set sail to the West with the only Silmaril that his ancestors managed to recover. He was allowed to land in Aman, and to plead the Valar for mercy towards the Elves and Men.

The Valar agreed to pardon the Ñoldor. They set out to fight Morgoth and were victorious. Morgoth was expelled from Arda forever. However during the conflict, the very continent of Beleriand was destroyed and sunk, thus forming a new shoreline for Middle-earth, hundreds of miles to the east. In effect, in order to save Beleriand from Morgoth the Valar had to drown it.

The Valar offered elves their pardon and the right to come to Aman. Many of them did indeed leave Middle-Earth, weary of centuries of warfare against the ever-growing evil. The tribes of Men that helped the elves were given a whole island of their own, on which they founded the kingdom of Númenor.

Eärendil's Silmaril became a bright star. One Silmaril was sunk in the water of the Great Ocean, and the third was lost in the depths of the Earth. Thus no trace remained on Middle-earth of the Two Trees of Valinor; but their influence lives on in the elements: air, water and fire/earth.

[edit] Chapters

• 12 - Of Men - This chapter tells of the coming of Men at the first rising of the sun, and of their relationship with the elves.