Course · Literature

“The Silmarillion”: Chapter by Chapter

A literary reading of J. R. R. Tolkien's “The Silmarillion”: chapters, names, ages, a map of the legendarium, recurring themes, and writing practice.

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Ainulindalë

Lesson 1. Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

5 exercises · Understand how Tolkien's creation myth works: Eru, the Ainur, the Music, and the place of evil in the design.

Lesson 2. Who's who

4 exercises · Tell apart the key entities of the creation myth: Eru, the Ainur, Melkor, Eä.

Valaquenta

Lesson 1. Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

5 exercises · Get to know the pantheon of the Valar and Maiar: who is responsible for what, and who is hostile to whom.

Lesson 2. Who's who

5 exercises · Confidently tell apart the Valar and their domains, and keep them apart from the Maiar and the fallen spirits.

Chapter 1. Of the Beginning of Days

Lesson 1. Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

4 exercises · Understand how early Arda was ordered: the Lamps, the Spring, the Valar's coming to Aman, and the Two Trees.

Lesson 2. Who's who

4 exercises · Tell apart the sources of light, the places, and the role of the Valar in ordering early Arda.

Chapter 2. Of Aulë and Yavanna

Lesson 1. Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

4 exercises · Work through the making of the Dwarves, Yavanna's thought about the Ents, and the theme of creativity and self-will.

Lesson 2. Who's who

4 exercises · Tell apart makers and what they made: Aulë and the Dwarves, Yavanna and the Ents/Eagles.

Chapter 3. Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor

Lesson 1. Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

4 exercises · Understand the awakening of the Elves, the division of their peoples, and the outcome of the Valar's war against Melkor.

Lesson 2. Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart the three kindreds of the Elves and the chapter's key figures.

Chapter 4. Of Thingol and Melian

Lesson 1. Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

4 exercises · Work through the meeting of Thingol and Melian, the birth of Doriath, and the meaning of their union.

Lesson 2. Who's who

4 exercises · Tell apart Thingol, Melian, their kingdom, and their descendants.

Chapter 5. Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië

Lesson 1. Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

4 exercises · Understand how the Elves settled in Aman, the founding of Tirion, and the genealogy of the houses of the Noldor.

Lesson 2. Who's who

5 exercises · Confidently tell apart the lords of the three kindreds and the three branches of the house of Finwë.

Chapter 6. Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor

Lesson 1. Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

5 exercises · Work through Fëanor's genius and pride, the making of the Silmarils, and Melkor's cunning.

Lesson 2. Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart Fëanor, his deeds, his kin, and Melkor's role in this chapter.

Chapter 7. Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

5 exercises · Understand what the Silmarils are and why they became the cause of strife; work through the figure of Fëanor and Melkor's first lies among the Noldor.

Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart Finwë's sons and the chapter's other key figures; understand Melkor's role as a sower of strife.

Chapter 8. Of the Darkening of Valinor

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

5 exercises · Understand the alliance of Melkor and Ungoliant, the death of the Two Trees, and the theft of the Silmarils; grasp why this “darkening” is a cosmic catastrophe.

Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart the players in the catastrophe: Morgoth, Ungoliant, Finwë, Yavanna; keep the roles of destroyers and guardians apart.

Chapter 9. Of the Flight of the Noldor

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

5 exercises · Understand the Oath of Fëanor, the Kinslaying at Alqualondë, the Prophecy of the North, and the burning of the ships; grasp how the Doom of the Noldor begins.

Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart the leaders of the Flight (Fëanor, Fingolfin, Finarfin), the Teleri and their king Olwë, and the voice of doom, Mandos.

Chapter 10. Of the Sindar

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

5 exercises · Understand who the Sindar are, the figures of Thingol and Melian, the origin of Doriath, and the meeting of the two lovers; learn about the Dwarves and the first shadows of evil.

Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart Thingol, Melian, the Sindar, the Dwarves, and the realm of Doriath; keep Elves, Maiar, and Dwarves apart.

Chapter 11. Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

5 exercises · Understand how the Sun and Moon came from the last fruit and flower of the Trees, Fingolfin's crossing of the Grinding Ice, and the Hiding of Valinor.

Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart the Maiar of the Sun and Moon (Tilion, Arien) and the guardians of the Trees (Yavanna, Nienna); understand the role of Fingolfin and the Helcaraxë.

Chapter 12. Of Men

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

5 exercises · Understand who Men are in the legendarium, how they differ from the Elves (the Gift of Death), and when and how they awoke.

Who's who

5 exercises · Clearly tell Men and Elves apart by their nature and fate; keep the names of the peoples and their traits apart.

Chapter 13. Of the Return of the Noldor

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

5 exercises · Understand the events of the Noldor's arrival in Beleriand: the death of Fëanor, the capture and rescue of Maedhros, the first battles with Morgoth, and the founding of the kingdoms.

Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart the leaders of the houses of Fëanor and Fingolfin (Maedhros, Fingon) and Morgoth's captain (Gothmog), and understand how the crown of the Noldor changed hands.

Chapter 14. Of Beleriand and its Realms

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

4 exercises · Get a clear map of Beleriand: which Noldorin lords and which peoples hold each region and how the Siege of Angband is arranged, and understand the logic behind this geography (light in the west, darkness in the north).

Who's who

5 exercises · Confidently tell apart the lords of the Noldor and the Sindar and link each to his land; keep the houses of Fingolfin, Finarfin, and Fëanor apart.

Chapter 15. Of the Noldor in Beleriand

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

3 exercises · Understand how Gondolin and Nargothrond were built, how Thingol learned the truth about the Kinslaying at Alqualondë and banned the Quenya tongue in Doriath, and what role letters and secrecy play in the fate of the Noldor.

Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart the builders and keepers of the Noldorin cities; remember who was named Felagund, who created the runes, and who Melian is.

Chapter 16. Of Maeglin

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

3 exercises · Work through the story of Eöl, Aredhel, and their son Maeglin; understand how the future betrayal of Gondolin is set up and which recurring motifs (darkness, smithcraft, forbidden love) are heard here.

Who's who

5 exercises · Keep Eöl, Aredhel, Maeglin, and Turgon apart; remember how they are related and what becomes of each.

Chapter 17. Of the Coming of Men into the West

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

3 exercises · Understand how Men (the Edain) first come to Beleriand, who the Three Houses of Men are, how Finrod and Bëor meet, and what place this alliance of Elves and Men holds in the overall design of the legendarium.

Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart the Three Houses of Men and their leaders, remember who befriended Finrod, and keep the chieftains of Men apart.

Chapter 18. Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

4 exercises · Work through the turning point of the war: the Battle of Sudden Flame, the end of the Siege of Angband, and Fingolfin's heroic death in single combat with Morgoth; understand its meaning as the high point of the Noldor's tragic greatness.

Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart those caught up in the catastrophe: who fell, who survived, who Glaurung is, and what roles Sauron and Thorondor play; keep Fingolfin apart from the other lords.

Chapter 19. Of Beren and Lúthien

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

4 exercises · Work through the central tale of “The Silmarillion”: the love of the mortal Beren and the Elf-maiden Lúthien, the Quest of the Silmaril, Finrod's death, the return of Beren and Lúthien from the Halls of Mandos, the roles of Huan and Carcharoth, and the meaning of choosing mortality.

Who's who

6 exercises · Confidently tell apart the heroes of the tale (Beren, Lúthien, Thingol, Melian, Finrod, Huan, Carcharoth, Celegorm, and Curufin) and remember each one's role and fate.

Chapter 20. Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

4 exercises · Understand how and why the Union of Maedhros collapsed, and what place the Nirnaeth Arnoediad holds in the Doom of the Noldor.

Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart the key figures of the battle: the leaders of the Union, the traitors, and those who decided the outcome of the fight.

Chapter 21. Of Túrin Turambar

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

3 exercises · Trace Túrin's tragedy as a story of cursed fate, pride, and unwitting incest, and see its links to myth and the legendarium.

Who's who

5 exercises · Confidently tell apart the characters of Túrin's tragedy: his kin, friends, enemies, and those he destroyed by mistake.

Chapter 22. Of the Ruin of Doriath

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

3 exercises · Understand how the Silmaril and the Oath of Fëanor destroyed the most ancient Elven kingdom, and trace the two times it was laid waste.

Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart the rulers and heirs of Doriath and those who laid it waste, and remember the family line leading to Elwing.

Chapter 23. Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

3 exercises · Understand how the last stronghold of the Noldor fell and why betrayal from within proved more terrible than a siege.

Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart the defenders of Gondolin and its traitor, and understand the family ties and the role of Ulmo's messenger.

Chapter 24. Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

4 exercises · Understand the climax of the First Age: how Eärendil's plea brought salvation and how Morgoth was cast down.

Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart the heroes of the end of the First Age and understand who did what with the three Silmarils.

Akallabêth (The Downfall of Númenor)

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

4 exercises · Understand the rise and fall of Númenor as a parable about mortality, pride, and the temptation of immortality.

Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart the key figures of Númenor: the last king, the tempter, and the founders of the future kingdoms of Men.

Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age

Breakdown: what matters and what's interesting

4 exercises · Understand how the Rings of Power and the One Ring were made and how this part joins “The Silmarillion” to “The Lord of the Rings.”

Who's who

5 exercises · Tell apart the makers and bearers of the Rings, understand who received the Three, the Seven, and the Nine, and recognize the figures who lead to “The Lord of the Rings.”

The Silmarillion as a whole: ages, names, and themes

Lesson 1. A map of the legendarium

6 exercises · Bring the five parts of the book together into a single chronology and learn to keep the ages, peoples, names, and central themes in mind.

Lesson 2. Writing about “The Silmarillion”

5 exercises · Write a short analysis of the legendarium: a thesis, 2–3 examples from different parts of the book, and an overall conclusion.