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.
Chapter guide
What this chapter is about
The Noldor come to Middle-earth and begin the long war for the Silmarils.
Barely landed, Fëanor rushes into battle and routs the Orcs (the Battle-under-Stars, Dagor-nuin-Giliath). But in the heat of pursuit he outruns his army, Balrogs overtake him, and Gothmog, their captain, wounds Fëanor mortally. Dying, Fëanor curses the name of Morgoth three times and makes his sons promise to keep the Oath; his body turns to ash.
By a trick Morgoth lures and captures Fëanor's eldest son, Maedhros, and hangs him by one hand from a cliff of Thangorodrim. He is rescued by Fingon, Fingolfin's son: unable to free him any other way, Fingon cuts off Maedhros's hand at the wrist. This deed reconciles the two feuding houses. In token of repentance Maedhros yields the crown of the Noldor to Fingolfin. The Noldor spread across Beleriand and besiege Angband.
Lesson notes
What this chapter is about
The Noldor come to Middle-earth and begin the long war for the Silmarils.
Barely landed, Fëanor rushes into battle and routs the Orcs (the Battle-under-Stars, Dagor-nuin-Giliath). But in the heat of pursuit he outruns his army, Balrogs overtake him, and Gothmog, their captain, wounds Fëanor mortally. Dying, Fëanor curses the name of Morgoth three times and makes his sons promise to keep the Oath; his body turns to ash.
By a trick Morgoth lures and captures Fëanor's eldest son, Maedhros, and hangs him by one hand from a cliff of Thangorodrim. He is rescued by Fingon, Fingolfin's son: unable to free him any other way, Fingon cuts off Maedhros's hand at the wrist. This deed reconciles the two feuding houses. In token of repentance Maedhros yields the crown of the Noldor to Fingolfin. The Noldor spread across Beleriand and besiege Angband.
Etymology and links
— Dagor-nuin-Giliath — “the Battle-under-Stars,” the second battle of the Wars of Beleriand (fought before the Sun first rose).
— Gothmog — Lord of Balrogs, Morgoth's chief captain; slayer of Fëanor and later of Fingon. In the tale of the fall of Gondolin he dies in single combat with Ecthelion.
— Maedhros — the eldest of Fëanor's seven sons; after his maiming he is called Maedhros the Tall. Despite the Oath, he is nobler than his brothers.
— Fingon — Fingolfin's eldest son, “the Valiant,” Maedhros's rescuer. The friendship of Fingon and Maedhros is a ray of light amid the feud.
— Thangorodrim — three peaks above Angband, Morgoth's stronghold. Angband — “the Iron Prison.”
— Balrogs — Maiar corrupted by Morgoth, demons of fire and darkness.
Link to “The Lord of the Rings”: the Balrog of this chapter is kin to the Balrog of Moria whom Gandalf will fight. They are creatures of the same, most ancient kind.
Doom and nobility
— The price of pride. Fëanor, greatest of the Noldor, dies almost at once, destroyed by the same fury that drove him. He never recovered the Silmarils. Genius without humility is powerless against darkness.
— Fingon's deed is the moral summit of the chapter: risking his life, he saves the son of his father's enemy. It is the first step toward healing the rift Fëanor made at Losgar. Tolkien shows that a curse can be softened by loyalty and mercy.
— Maedhros's renunciation of the crown is an act of humility, the opposite of his father's deed. The elder house yields power to the younger for the sake of unity.
— The Siege of Angband (a siege that lasted hundreds of years) is an illusion of victory: while Morgoth stands, the Doom of the Noldor is not lifted. All the later catastrophes of Beleriand will grow out of this siege.
— The Balrogs link “The Silmarillion” and “The Lord of the Rings” directly: an ancient evil that outlived the ages.