Catching Up to the Sil Discussion: Chapter 9

[Cerin]

(I've decided to edit the lists of terms, by chapter, into this post so that they are easier to find.)

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Ainulindalë

Ainur = the Holy Ones - offspring of Ilúvatar's thought; some abode with Ilúvatar beyond the confines of the World; some descended into the World, after which their power was forever contained and bounded in the World so that they are its life and it is theirs.

Arda - the Earth, set within the vast spaces of the World; a habitation in the Deeps of Time for the Children of Ilúvatar; a habitation in the midst of the vast halls of Eä; also called the Kingdom of Arda. (It would seem, then, that 'the vast halls of Eä' = 'the Deeps of Time' = 'the vast spaces of the World')?

Aulë - concerned with the fabric of the Earth; skill and knowledge scarce less than Melkor

the Children of Ilúvatar - Men and Elves; none of the Ainur had a part in their making

the Deeps of Time - amidst the innumerable stars

Eä - the World that is

Eru = Ilúvatar = the One - Creator

the Flame Imperishable - the creative power of Ilúvatar? Which abides first with Ilúvatar, but which he then sends into the heart of the World to bring it from the realm of thought to being?

Manwë - concerned with the airs and winds; noblest of the Ainur

Melkor - greatest gifts of power and knowledge, shared in the gifts of the other Ainur

Ulmo - concerned with water

the Valar - the Powers of the World; the Ainur who decided to descend into the World

the World - globed amid the Void, sustained therein but not of it

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Valaquenta

Valier - female Valar

Manwë dwells with Varda

Ulmo is alone

Aulë is spouse to Yavanna (sister of Vána)

Mandos (Námo) and Lórien (Irmo) are brothers

Mandos (Námo) is spouse to Vairë

Lórien (Irmo) is spouse to Estë

Nienna (sister of Námo and Irmo) dwells alone

Oromë is spouse to Vána (younger sister of Yavanna)

Tulkas is spouse to Nessa (sister of Oromë)

Manwë (surnamed Súlimo, Lord of the Breath of Arda) - dearest to Ilúvatar, understands most clearly his purposes; appointed to be first of all Kings: lord of the realm of Arda and ruler of all that dwell therein; his delight is in the winds and clouds, and in all the regions of the air.

Varda - Lady of the Stars; the light of Ilúvatar lives in her face; her power and joy is in light; Melkor fears her more than all others whom Eru made; Manwë and Varda are seldom parted, and they remain in Valinor; elves hold her most in reverence and love, name her Elbereth.

Ulmo - Lord of Waters; he is alone; next in might to Manwë; went seldom to the councils of the Valar; he has no need of any resting place; news comes to Ulmo that would otherwise be hidden from Manwë.

Aulë - little less might than Ulmo; his lordship is over all the substances of which Arda is made; smith and a master of all crafts, delights in works of skill; friend of the Noldor; Melkor was jealous of him, there was long strife between them; both desired to make things of their own and delighted in praise of their skill

Yavanna - Giver of Fruits, lover of all things that grow in the earth; in reverence next to Varda; Kementári in the Eldarin tongue.

Námo (Mandos) - Elder brother of Irmo (Lórien), Keeper of the Houses of the Dead, summoner of the spirits of the slain; knows all things that shall be, save only those that lie still in the freedom of Ilúvatar; Doomsman of the Valar, but pronounces his dooms and judgments only at the bidding of Manwë.

Vairë - weaves all things into her storied webs, the halls of Mandos are clothed with them.

Irmo (Lórien) - master of visions and dreams; his gardens in Lórien are the fairest of all places in the world.

Estë - healer of hurts and weariness

Nienna - sister of the Fëanturi; she dwells alone; mourns for every wound that Arda has suffered in the marring of Melkor; the sound of mourning was woven into the themes of the World before it began; her halls are west of West, upon the borders of the world; comes seldom to the city of Valimar, but rather to the halls of Mandos, brings strength and turns sorrow to wisdom.

Tulkas - greatest in strength and deeds of prowess, surnamed Astaldo, the Valiant; came last to Arda, to aid the Valar in the first battles with Melkor; delights in contests of strength, needs no steed.

Nessa - sister of Oromë, delights in dancing

Oromë - hunter, loved the lands of Middle-earth, called Aldaron (Tauron), the Lord of Forests; Nahar is his horse

Vána - the ever young, younger sister of Yavanna

Fëanturi - masters of spirits, Mandos and Lórien (Námo and Irmo)

Valaróma - horn of Oromë

Ulumúri - the horns of Ulmo

Maiar - other spirits whose being began before the World, of the same order as the Valar but of less degree; servants and helpers of the Valar; seldom appeared in form visible to Elves and Men

Ilmarë - the handmaid of Varda

Eonwë - the banner-bearer and herald of Manwë; his might surpassed by none in Arda.

Ossë - vassal of Ulmo, master of the seas that wash the shores of Middle-earth; spouse to Uinen

Uinen - the Lady of the Seas, whose hair lies spread through all waters under sky; can lay calm upon the waves.

Melian - served both Vána and Estë; dwelt in Lórien, tending the trees that flower in the gardens of Irmo, ere she came to Middle-earth.

Olórin - wisest of the Maiar; dwelt in Lórien and learned pity and patience from Nienna.

Morgoth - Melkor, the Dark Enemy of the World

Valaraukar - Balrogs

Sauron - Gorthaur the Cruel; in the beginning he was of the Maiar of Aulë

Taniquetil - tallest of all mountains on Earth

the Aratar - the High Ones of Arda: Manwë and Varda, Ulmo, Yavanna and Aulë, Mandos, Nienna, and Oromë. In Majesty they are peers, surpassing beyond compare all others, whether of the Valar and the Maiar, or of any other order that Ilúvatar has sent into Eä.

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Chapter 1 : Of the Beginning of Days

What a sad chapter this is. Melkor engages the Valar in the First War; he flees before Tulkas, and the Valar bring forth the Spring of Arda, with the two Lamps. Melkor then secretly founds his fortress, Utumno, polluting the Spring of Arda, and then comes forth in battle and destroys the two Lamps; their fire is poured over the Earth, forever marring the Valar's first designs for Arda.

The Valar then leave Middle-earth! and establish a blessed realm on the westernmost shores of the world. Here Yavanna sings forth the two trees of light. Middle-earth lies in darkness under the stars, and Melkor roams at will. Ulmo continues to dwell in the Outer Ocean, and by his power 'life coursed through many secret lodes, and the Earth did not die'. Yavanna would sometimes come and heal the hurts of Melkor, and Oromë would ride, too, at times and hunt the monsters and fell creatures of Melkor's kingdom.

The chapter ends with the strange tale of Elves and Men. Elves do not die until the world dies (unless they are slain or waste in grief), and do not leave the World; but Men leave the World when they die. Men shall join in the Second Music of the Ainur, but Ilúvatar has not revealed what he purposes for the Elves after the World's end.

the First War - before Arda was full-shaped, before anything grew or walked upon earth

the Little Kingdom - Arda

Illuin - northern Lamp of the Valar

Ormal - southern Lamp of the Valar

Isle of Almaren - home of the first dwelling of the Valar

Utumno - fortress of Melkor

Aman - westernmost of all lands upon the borders of the world; the Valar went there after their dwelling on Almaren was destroyed when Melkor came and broke the lamps and Middle-earth was thrown into tumult

the Outer Sea - called Ekkaia by the Elves, encircles the Kingdom of Arda; beyond it are the Walls of the Night

the Great Sea of the West - Belegaer; the eastern shores of Aman were the uttermost end of Belegaer

the Pelóri - the Mountains of Aman, highest upon Earth.

Taniquetil - highest mountain of the Pelóri upon which Manwë set his throne, called Amon Uilos by the Sindar

Valinor - the domain of the Valar, region behind the walls of the Pelóri; more beautiful than Middle-earth in the Spring of Arda; the Deathless dwelt there

Valmar - the city of the Valar

Ezellohar - green mound before the western gate of Valmar, also called Corollairë; there Yavanna sang a song of power, and Nienna watered it with tears

Máhanaxar - the Ring of Doom, the place of council of the Valar, near the gates of Valmar

Two Trees of Valinor - came forth upon Ezellohar; about their fate all the tales of the Elder Days are woven

Telperion - leaves of dark green, dew of silver light fell from its flowers

Laurelin - leaves of a young green with glittering gold; flowers spilled golden rain upon the ground, blossoms gave warmth and a great light

the Opening Hour - the first hour in which Telperion shone

Silmarils - fairest of all gems

Vanyar - best loved of the Elves by Manwë

Salmar - made the horns of Ulmo

the Outer Lands - Middle-earth, after the Valar went to Aman?

Nahar - the white horse of Oromë

Quendi - Elves

Atani - Men

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Chapter 2: Of Aulë and Yavanna

Aulë creates the Dwarves in secret, because he is impatient waiting for the designs of Ilúvatar to be fulfilled. Ilúvatar confronts Aulë, saying that it is beyond Aulë's power and authority to give the Dwarves independent life. Aulë then recognizes the folly of his act, and Ilúvatar forgives him, and gives life to the Dwarves, but says they must sleep until the Firstborn awaken upon the Earth.

Aulë then confides to Yavanna what he has done. She says that because the Dwarves were wrought in secret, his children will have little love for the things of her love. (This rather begs the question of whether she would have colluded with him in this overstepping of their bounds, had she known about the Dwarves.) Aulë says that not only his children, but the Children of Ilúvatar will also use the things of her realm, and have dominion over them. This thought distresses Yavanna, and she goes to counsel with Manwë.

Manwë asks what she holds dearest, and she points out that kelvar (I assume, animals) can flee or defend themselves, but olvar (plants) cannot, and she wishes that 'the trees might speak on behalf of all things that have roots, and punish those that wrong them!' We then learn that this idea was in the Song; Manwë has a meditative moment, wherein the Vision and will of Ilúvatar are reaffirmed and expanded, and Manwë reassures Yavanna that when the Children awake, her thought will summon spirits from afar who will dwell among the kelvar and olvar, and will be held in reverence. They then go on to speak of the Eagles. So here we have the origins of the Eagles and the Ents.

Seven Fathers of the Dwarves - the first Dwarves made by Aulë

Mahal - Dwarves name for Aulë, the Maker

kelvar - the animals of Yavanna

olvar - the plants of Yavanna

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

Middle-earth lies in a twilight under the stars for long ages while the Valar live in bliss in the light of the Trees. We are told that Yavanna put a sleep upon many of the things that had arisen in the Spring of Arda, so that they would not age, but would wait for a time of awakening to come.

Melkor continues to labour in bringing forth evil upon Middle-earth, corrupting creatures, breeding monsters and gathering spirits to Utumno, spreading his realm southward. He builds the fortress of Angband in the northwest, which is commanded by Sauron.

The Valar take counsel, and Mandos reveals that the Firstborn are fated to come in darkness and look first upon the stars. Varda then undertakes a great work, to make brighter stars for the Elves from the silver dews of the vats of Telperion. When her labours are done, the Elves awake at Cuiviénen.

Oromë riding forth discovers the Elves, and loves them. They are at first fearful, thinking him to be one of the spies of Melkor, and some flee and are lost. We are told that wandering Elves who are captured by Melkor are turned over time into Orcs.

Oromë then brings tidings of the Elves to the Valar; they take counsel together, deciding to deliver the Quendi from the shadow of Melkor. The Valar have a quick victory in the North-west, which is much broken as a result of the battle, and Melkor's servants flee to Utumno. There is a long and grievous seige there, whereby the shape of Middle-earth is greatly changed.

The Valar eventually prevail, but many of the evil servants of Melkor escape in the hidden caverns of Utumno and Angand, or disperse and roam the waste places of the world. Melkor is bound and brought to the Ring of Doom and cast into prison in the fastness of Mandos.

The Valar then decide that they want the Elves with them in Valinor! The Elves are reluctant, so Oromë chooses three ambassadors from among them to journey to Valinor and see the beauty that awaits them there. Then befalls the first sundering of the Elves, for some are persuaded to go to Valinor, others refuse, and still others start out but with some among them then becoming lost, or turning aside, or lingering on the shores of Middle-earth.

At length Oromë leads the Vanyar and Noldor over the mountains into the westernmost lands of Middle-earth, but they are frightened; Oromë then leaves them to take counsel with Manwë. After a long while the remnant of the Teleri also make it into the West.


Angband - fortress and armory of Melkor, on the north-western shores of the sea, commanded by Sauron

Cuiviénen - Water of Awakening, bay in the Inland Sea of Helcar, where the Elves first wakened

the Quendi - name the Elves gave to themselves

the Eldar - the people of the stars, name Oromë gave to the Elves, which was afterwards borne only by those who followed him upon the westward road

Battle of the Powers - when the Valar came forth against Melkor, and he was led captive to Valinor and put in the prison of Mandos

Angainor - the chain Aulë wrought to bind Melkor

Ingwë, Finwë, Elwë - chosen as ambassadors by Oromë to go to Valinor

the Avari - the Unwilling, the Elves who refused the summons to Valinor

Ingwë - most high lord of all the Elvish race; he led the smallest host and the first to set forth for Valinor; he never looked again upon Middle-earth

the Vanyar - the Elves of Ingwë, the Fair Elves, beloved of Manwë and Arda; few among men have spoken with them

the Noldor - the people of Finwë, the Deep Elves, friends of Aulë, renowned in song

the Teleri - the Sea-elves, last and greatest host to set out for Valinor; they tarried on the road and were not wholly of a mind to leave Middle-earth; delighted in water, those who came to the western shores were enamoured of the sea

Elwë Singollo (Greymantle) and Olwë - brothers, lords of the Teleri

the Eldalië - comprised of the three kindreds of the Elves who passed into the West in the days of the Trees, called the Calaquendi, Elves of Light.

the Umanyar - those of the Eldar who never came to the Blessed Realm

the Moriquendi - name given to the Avari and the Umanyar, Elves of the Darkness, for they never beheld the Light that was before the Sun and Moon

Lenwë, of the host of Olwë - he forsook the westward march and led a numerous people southwards down the great river (later he turned west again and led a remnant over the mountains into Beleriand)

the Nandor - Elves led by Lenwë, had greatest knowledge of living things

Beleriand - westernmost land of Middle-earth

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Chapter 4 - Of Thingol and Melian

Melian was a Maia, of the race of the Valar. She was the most beautiful of Lórien's people and the most gifted in songs of enchantment. She would sing at the mingling of the lights. She departed from Valinor when the Elves awoke, and filled the silence of Middle-earth with her voice and the voices of her birds.

At that time the Teleri rested in East Beleriand, and the Noldor to the west. Elwë of the Teleri would often go to meet Finwë in the dwellings of the Noldor; one such night in the forest of Nan Elmoth, Elwë heard the nightingales and the voice of Melian and came under a spell. He remained there with her, never to return to Valinor.

Elwë became a king renowned, and his people were all the Eldar of Beleriand, the Sindar, the Grey-elves, Elves of the Twilight. He was called King Greymantle, Elu Thingol and Melian was his Queen. They dwelt in the hidden halls of Menegroth, the Thousand Caves, in Doriath.

Thingol was great among the Eldar, alone of the Sindar having seen the Trees, and Melian also lent him great power. He was not counted among the Moriquendi, but with the Elves of the Light. From the union of Thingol and Melian came the fairest of the Children of Ilúvatar.


Melian - a Maia, of the race of the Valar, skilled in songs of enchantment; she left the gardens of Lórien for Middle-earth when the Elves awoke.

Elu Thingol - King Greymantle; so was Elwë Singollo called after he forgot his former people and dwelt with Melian

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Chapter 5 - Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië

Ulmo comes to speak with the Vanyar and Noldor on the shores of the sea as they contemplate crossing into Valinor. His words and music turn their fear of the sea into desire. Ulmo uproots an island and anchors it in the Bay of Balar; the Eldar are then borne to Valinor upon this island. A horn of the island is grounded in the shoals and broken off; this is the Isle of Balar.

The Teleri, dwelling in East Beleriand, hear Ulmo's summons too late and are left behind; others still search for Elwë and are unwilling to go. The Teleri then press on to the Western shores and dwell there in longing, with Olwë, Elwë's brother as King. Ossë and Uinen (Maiar of the seas) befriend and teach them.

The Noldor are grieved at their sundering from the Teleri, and after many years Ulmo agrees to bring the Teleri to Aman, if they will come (most are willing). Ossë is grieved at the thought of losing them and persuades some to remain. These are the Falathrim, the Elves of the Falas; they become makers of ships.

Kinsfolk and friends of Elwë Singollo also remain, seeking him, although they greatly desire to see the light of the Trees. They call themselves Eglath, the Forsaken People. They dwell in the woods rather than by the sea, which fills them with sorrow. They joyfully receive Elwë when he awakes from his trance and comes forth.

Ossë follows after the host of Olwë and when they are come to the coast he calls to them, whereupon they beg Ulmo to stay their voyage. Ulmo grants their request and Ossë roots the island of transport to the foundations of the sea (the Valar are not pleased). It is thereafter called Tol Eressëa, the Lonely Isle. There the Teleri live under the stars of heaven yet in sight of Aman; by this long sojourn apart the speech of the Teleri is sundered from the speech of the Vanyar and Noldor.

Even in the radiance of Valinor the Vanyar and Noldor desire to see the stars. To this end, a gap is created in the mountains of the Pelóri, the Calacirya, where the Eldar raise a high hill (Túna) and build their city (Tirion). Yavanna makes for them a tree like to a lesser image of Telperion (Galathilion).

Aulë and his people come often to the Noldor; these have a great thirst for knowledge and soon surpass their masters. The masons of the house of Finwë discover the first gem stones.

We learn of the family of Finwë.

Slowly the hearts of the Teleri are drawn towards the light that flows out over the sea to the Lonely Isle. They are torn between the love of the music of the waves and the desire to see their kindred and to look upon the splendour of Valinor; in the end, desire of the light is the stronger. Ulmo sends Ossë to teach them the craft of ship-building, and eventually they are drawn by swans to the shores of Eldamar.

As the ages pass the Vanyar forsake the city of Tirion and dwell rather upon the mountain of Manwë or about the plains and woods of Valinor, becoming sundered from the Noldor; but the memory of Middle-earth under the stars remains in the hearts of the Noldor, and they abide in the Calacircya, and in the hills and valleys within sound of the western sea. The peoples of Túna and Alqualondë draw together in these days.

River Sirion - River which empties into the Bay of Balar, the Bay of the Sea.

Isle of Balar - Isle to which Ossë often came; it was formed when the eastern horn of the isle of transport broke off in the shoals off the mouths of Sirion.

Falathrim - those Teleri persuaded by Ossë to remain; the Elves of the Falas. They had dwellings at Brithombar and Eglarest and were the first Mariners and the first makers of ships; Círdan the Shipwright was their lord.

Eglath - The Forsaken People; those who would not stop searching for Elwë, and so missed the last departure for Valinor. The desire of Aman was ever in their hearts.

Tol Eressëa - the Lonely Isle, when Ossë rooted the isle of transport to the foundations of the sea in the Bay of Eldamar, where the Teleri abode under the stars of heaven, yet within sight of Aman.

the Calacirya - the Pass of Light, the gap made in the great walls of the Pelóri so the Eldar could see the stars

Túna - the high hill the Eldar raised, upon which they built their city

Tirion - the city of the Elves

Mindon Elaliéva - the Tower of Ingwë, the highest tower in the city of Tirion

Galathilion - the tree after Telperion, which Yavanna made for the Elves, planted in the courts beneath the Mindon

Celeborn - seedling of Galathilion planted in Tol Eressëa, from which came Nimloth, the White Tree of Númenor.

Sons of Finwë:
Fëanor - mightiest in skill of sword and hand, more learned than his brothers; his spirit burned like a flame; Fingolfin - the strongest, most steadfast and most valiant; Finarfin - fairest and wisest of heart; afterwards friend of the sons of Olwë

Míriel Serindë - mother of Fëanor

Indis of the Vanyar - mother of Fingolfin and Finarfin

Eärwen - swan-maiden of Alqualondë, married Finarfin

Seven sons of Fëanor:
Maedhros the tall; Maglor the mighty singer; Celegorm the fair; Caranthir the dark; Curufin the crafty; Amrod and Amras, twins, the youngest, great hunters (as was Celegorm)

Children of Fingolfin:
(Sons) Fingon (afterwards King of the Noldor in the north of the world); Turgon (lord of Gondolin); (Daughter) Aredhel the White (Ar-Feiniel, loved to ride and hunt)

Children of Finarfin:
(Sons) Finrod the faithful (afterwards named Felagund), Orodreth, Angrod, Aegnor; they were as close as brothers to the sons of Fingolfin; (Daughter) Galadriel, most beautiful of all the house of Finwë

Elendë - Eldamar

Alqualondë - the Haven of the Swans, the mansions of Olwë

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Chapter 6: Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor

Míriel bore Fëanor and in doing so was consumed in body and spirit. Manwë delivered her to the care of Irmo in Lórien, but her spirit departed. Finwë lived in sorrow. For a time, he would go to sit beside Míiriel's body in Lórien (for her body remained unwithered); but then he went no longer, and thereafter gave all his love to his son.

Fëanor grew, and became of all the Noldor the most subtle of mind and skilled of hand. He discovered how gems and seeing stones could be made. He married Nerdanel, daughter of Mahtan, a great smith from whom he learned much. They eventually became estranged, as his later deeds grieved her; she bore him seven sons.

Finwë took a second wife, Indis the Fair, of the Vanyar. She was in all ways unlike Míriel. This second marriage displeased Fëanor, and he had no great love for Indis or her sons; he lived apart from them.

Melkor was brought before the thrones of the Valar. He looked upon their bliss with envy and hatred, but was able to hide such thoughts from them. He promised to aid the Valar in their works and help to heal the harm he had done. Manwë, being unable to see to the depths of Melkor's heart and unable in himself to comprehend evil, granted Melkor pardon; after a time of supervision he was allowed to go about Valinor freely, planning his revenge.

The Vanyar held Melkor in suspicion, because they dwelt in the light of the Trees and were content; to the Teleri he gave little thought, thinking them tools too weak for his designs. But the Noldor took delight in the hidden knowledge he could reveal to them, and some hearkened to words that it would have been better had they never heard.

Fëanor more than any other of the Eldalië hated Melkor; it was he who first named him Morgoth.


Noontide of the Blessed Realm - the fullness of its glory and bliss, when the three kindreds of the Eldar were gathered in Valinor, and Melkor was chained.

Curufinwë - Fëanor, Spirit of Fire

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

Fëanor pondered how the light of the Trees might be preserved, and he created the Silmarils, jewels of unknown substance that contained that light. Varda hallowed the Silmarils so that nothing of evil might touch them without being scorched and withered.

Melkor lusted after the Silmarils and his desire for them further inspired his attempts to end the friendship between the Valar and the Elves. He sowed subtle and cunning lies that eventually took root among the Noldor and poisoned the peace of Valinor.

Fëanor began to love the Silmarils with a greedy love, locking them away and forgetting that the light within them was not his own. The Valar were not pleased at this, wishing rather that the Silmarils had been committed to their keeping. Meanwhile Fëanor and Fingolfin grew proud and jealous of their rights and possessions as the elder sons of Finwë, and Fëanor believed a rumor begun by Melkor that Fingolfin and his sons sought to usurp the leadership of Finwë and of the elder line of Fëanor, and to supplant them by the leave of the Valar.

The Noldor began to forge weapons in this new climate of suspicion and distrust. Fëanor spoke open words of rebellion against the Valar. Finwë in concern summoned his lords to a council where Fëanor drew his sword against Fingolfin. For this he was brought before the Valar and banished from Tirion for 12 years, but not before answering questions that at last revealed the root of the unrest and the malice of Melkor.

Fëanor took refuge in Formenos and was joined by his father, leaving Fingolfin to rule the Noldor in Tirion. The Valar sought Melkor, but he eluded them and the light of the Trees seemed dimmed for this time, until Melkor fled Valinor through the Calacirya after his overtures to Fëanor were rejected.

Silmarils - three great jewels created by Fëanor, of unknown substance and containing the blended light of the two Trees

Formenos - stronghold dwelling of Fëanor and Finwë after Fëanor's exile from Tirion.

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Chapter 8 - Of the Darkening of Valinor

The Valar kept watch for Melkor in the north, thinking he had retreated to his old strongholds, not realizing he had instead gone far to the south, to the dark region of Avathar. There dwelt Ungoliant.

It is suggested that Ungoliant was corrupted to the service of Melkor back when he first looked down in envy upon the Kingdom of Arda, but she had since disowned him as master. She took the form of a monstrous spider; she hungered for light and hated it, sucking up what she could find and spinning it forth again in dark nets of gloom.

Melkor convinced Ungoliant to aid him in his revenge upon the Valar; they set out for Aman cloaked in the darkness of Ungoliant, which was as a void.

It was a time of festival in Valinor, both for the gathering of the fruits and to heal the evil that had arisen among the Noldor. The Vanyar, Noldor, Valar and Maiar were gathered upon Taniquetil, except for Finwë and the sons of Fëanor, who would not come among the Noldor while Fëanor was exiled. Fëanor himself had been summoned to the feast by Manwë. There he met Fingolfin before the throne of Manwë; they were reconciled in word, and Fingolfin offered an oath of loyalty to Fëanor.

The lights of the two trees were mingled as Fëanor and Fingolfin stood before Manwë, but in this very hour Melkor and Ungoliant came to Ezellohar. They sprang upon the mound; Melkor smote each Tree to the core with his spear, their sap poured forth on the ground and Ungoliant sucked it up, and then sucked from the wounds of the Trees. Her poison went into their tissues, and they died. She then emptied the Wells of Varda and swelled to a shape so vast and hideious that Melkor was afraid.

So the great darkness fell upon Valinor. In that hour was made a Darkness that was more than loss of light; it seemed a thing with a being of its own because it was made by malice out of Light, and it had power to enter the heart and mind and strangle the will. Manwë perceived this Darkness beyond dark moving northward, and he knew that Melkor had come and gone.

Oromë rode forth in pursuit with his host, but the Cloud of Ungoliant struck with blindness and dismay all those who approached, and Melkor and Ungoliant escaped.


Avathar - Abode of Ungoliant; narrow region, dark and unexplored, south of the Bay of Eldamar beneath the eastern feet of the Pelóri. There, beneath the sheer walls of the mountains and the cold dark sea, the shadows were deepest and thickest in the world.

Ungoliant - It was said that before she descended from the darkness that lies about Arda, Melkor corrupted her to his service; she took the form of a monstrous spider. She had disowned her Master, desiring to be mistress of her own lust, taking all things to herself to feed her emptiness. She hungered for light and hated it.


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Hey, folks! I've been trying to catch up to the Sil discussion since HoF opened, without great success.

I think it's easy to founder (or flounder) in the Sil because of its massive scope, and all the names, associations and events to keep straight.

So I thought it might help if those of us who aspire to discussing these great events but aren't up on our facts, could start over at the beginning together and work our way toward the discussion in progress.

I envision this as a question/comment thread to help gain currency with Sil facts (rather than an in-depth analysis thread, but of course, any and all comments are welcome).

To start with, how does one pronounce 'Ainulindalë'? I've been putting the accent on the second to last syllable.

[Sassafras]

Great thread idea, Cerin!



ai-nu-LIN-da-lë.

ai as in aisle

u as u in put.

Phonetically ... Eye-nu-LIN-dol-lay.

Hope that helps.

[Cerin]

Yes, thank you, Sass!

[Alatar]

I'd have actually said Eye-noo-LIN-dah-luh but we won't fall out over it

[Erunáme]

I'm pretty sure Sass is right...except I'd also say dah instead of do so Eye-noo-lin-dah-lay[or ley]). From what I've read, there is no 'uh' vowel sound in Quenya, but I could very well be wrong.

Here's something I've found through a link at Ardalambion (which is a very good source):

Finally, a note on the diaeresis. Tolkien used this sign in order to remind English speakers that e should be pronounced at the end of words, and that combinations such as Eä are two sounds, not a diphthong, as in Aldëa, Atalantë, hísië. Since this is completely unnecessary, it's usual not to use it in articles on Tolkienian linguistics.

I'm assuming Ainulindalë is Quenya as it has tons of vowels and Quenya was the first and high Elvish language. What's a Quenya word ending in ë that we've heard in the movies? Namarië. Nah-mar-ee-ey is the way I'd type it phoenetically...though I'm bad at that. Anyway, listen to the way Galadriel says the end of the word. I'd say the same goes for the end of 'Ainulindalë'.

If you don't trust Cate Blanchett's Galadriel, listen to the way Tolkien himself says it (scroll down and download the mp3):
http://www.salon.com/audio/2000/10/05/t ... index.html

Just because I'm a geek and have to keep researching: from the Quenya course I downloaded from Ardalambion. It has an extensive pronunciation section. Here's the part pertaining to what we are discussing:

Short e may be pronounced as in English end. In Quenya this sound also occurs in final position. Since word-final e is usually silent in English orthography, Tolkien often used the spelling ë in this position - and throughout this course, this spelling is employed consistently. This is only to remind English readers that in Quenya, this letter is to be distinctly pronounced. But since word-final e never occurs in spoken English, some speakers tend to substitute i or ey (following English practice in the rare cases of a final orthographic "e" being sounded, as when Jesse is pronounced "jessi", or karate is pronounced "karatey"). Quenya e should have the value described above in all positions. It must NOT be pronounced i, nor must there be a y-like sound creeping after it: lómë "night", morë "black", tinwë "sparkle".

Hmmm...according to that it seems the ending ë should be said like the e in end. But listening to Tolkien, it sure does sound like he says ey. Well, whatever, I'm fairly sure it's not uh.

[Alatar]

Sorry, I guess "luh" was an inaccurate phoenetic for what I meant. I suppose "leh" would be closer, but in "luh" I meant such a short vowel sound as "leh" as opposed to the elongated u of "uh" or the "y" sound of "lay"

I would also pronounce namárië with a short "eh" rather than "ey"

[truehobbit]

Well, I pronounce the vowels in the Elvish words like German vowels, so it's hard to describe, but I think I'm closer to Alatar's pronunciation than the others mentioned here.
Definitely no "y"-sound at the end, but a straight "e", such as I think Alatar describes, maybe a little more in the direction of a German "e"-sound, but that also depends on how long I make the vowel sound, and that can vary.

We should make recording of how we say things, and put it online!

ETA: thanks for the link to the Tolkien-sound sample! Yep, that would be my "e"-sound!

[Alatar]

Well I must admit to being very swayed by Martin Shaws pronunciation in the Unabridged Silmarillion recording. Here's a sample:

http://www.skynet.ie/~alatar/Ainulindalë.mp3

[Rowanberry]

To me, "leh" would be closest to the correct pronunciation of the last syllable, the vowel "e" like in "pen".

[Cerin]

So it would seem to be a shorter sound than the French accent égu (sp?), ex., that belongs over both e's in 'égalité'.


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[Alatar]

Yep. Much more like "eh" as in "Leg"

[Old_Tom_Bombadil]

Ainulindalë is a Quenya word, right? And Quenya is phonetically based on Finnish? How would the Finnish pronounce Ainulindalë?

I think the "German 'e'" that Hobby is referring to is called a schwa. It's an unaccented vowel sound, and is usually shown in dictionaries as an upside-down 'e'. This sound is very common in English. For instance, in the second syllable of open. I can understand why Hobby would be inclined to pronounce the final 'e' in Ainulindalë as a schwa, because that's how final 'e's are pronounced in German.

I don't know if Martin Shaw's pronunciation can be trusted. It sounded like he said "Tol-kin" rather than "Tol-keen". (The latter is correct.)

[Erunáme]

To me, "leh" would be closest to the correct pronunciation of the last syllable, the vowel "e" like in "pen".

To me pen and end are the same vowel sound.

Thanks for the Martin Shaw clip Alatar. to me his way of saying it is a bit more 'uh' than 'eh'.

(What odd music starting out the book! If I were asked to compose music to start off The Silmarillion that's not the direction I would have gone.)

[Erunáme]

Ainulindalë is a Quenya word, right? And Quenya is phonetically based on Finnish? How would the Finnish pronounce Ainulindalë?

As far as I know, and yup it's based on Finnish. Luckily we have a Finn among us.

edit: Another section of that Quenya course (forgive me, but I'm too lazy right now to put in all the bold and italic tags):

Vowels: Quenya vowels are pure. For people who want to pronounce Elvish vowels with some degree of accuracy, Tolkien recommended Italian vowels as a model (as did Zamenhof for Esperanto, by the way). Speakers of English have an ingrained habit of blurring many vowels, especially when they are not fully stressed; hence in a word like banana it is typically only the middle A that comes out as a "proper" A-sound. The two other A's, that are not stressed, are typically made to sound like a blurred, obscure "reduction vowel" that linguists call a schwa (from a Hebrew word for nothingness; English textbooks sometimes prefer the spelling "shwa"). But in Quenya all vowels, in all positions, must be clearly and distinctly pronounced; any tendencies to "blur" them must be strongly resisted.

edit #2: Can a friendly Shirriff delete the post of mine before this. Don't know how I managed to double post.

[Cerin]

Who is our Finnish member? Let's get them in here.

[Erunáme]

Rowanberry.

[Cerin]

Ah, Rowanberry! I see she has already graced us with her presence. Excellent!

[truehobbit]

Tolkien recommended Italian vowels as a model

Exactly!
When I'd written that I pronounce the vowels the German way, and that we should make recordings of how we read the texts, I thought of course of how lovely it sounds when Ber reads Elvish, and that that was because the vowels in the Romanesque languages are the most what I like to call "straight" - I also think of them as "pure", and of the German ones as "normal".

It's such a pity we can't use phonetic script here - all those descriptions are so useless as pronunciation varies regionally - but unfortunately few people know phonetic script - one of the most useful things we learned in the elementary linguistics classes at uni, IMO.

Anyway, yes, the "schwa" is the reduced sound you get for 'e' or 'a' (banana, the, element)

However, you are only partly right, Tom!
Yes, we have this weak sounding 'e', too, and I sometimes say the last "e" in Ainunlindale that way, because of the reason you mentioned - but it's stressed by the diaresis, that's why when I'm careful, I make it a bit longer, (as I said I vary in pronunciation) - and if it's longer, I use what I called a German "e".
When I say German "e", I can't possibly describe it, because the sound doesn't exist at all in the English language!
Cerin got it right, though: French "égalité" is a match (unless of course you pronounce it "eygalitey" )

[Cerin]

No diphthongs allowed in this discussion!

[Cerin]

I don't want to hurry anyone along from the lignuistic discussion, but here are a few notes from the Ainulindalë.

First, I must make it clear that if anyone detects a certain remedial approach here, it is not meant to imply that I think anyone else is mentally challenged!

Oh, no! It is all for my own benefit (and for anyone else who has trouble keeping the facts, names and associations of the Sil straight). You see, I've found it impossible to contemplate the metaphysical implications of things that I can't remember.

So if this thread seems plodding and repetitive, it is with the goal that we will eventually join the main discussion and soar in the clouds with Ath, Voronwë, Sass et al.

I thought I would list the terms and names from each chapter along with the text that describes them. Setting things down gives a higher retention rate for me, and perhaps they can also serve as a handy reference.

(Btw, 'Ainulindalë' is now tripping off my tongue with ease, thank you everyone!)


Ainur = the Holy Ones - offspring of Ilúvatar's thought; some abode with Ilúvatar beyond the confines of the World; some descended into the World, after which their power was forever contained and bounded in the World so that they are its life and it is theirs.

Arda - the Earth, set within the vast spaces of the World; a habitation in the Deeps of Time for the Children of Ilúvatar; a habitation in the midst of the vast halls of Eä; also called the Kingdom of Arda. (It would seem, then, that 'the vast halls of Eä' = 'the Deeps of Time' = 'the vast spaces of the World')?

Aulë - concerned with the fabric of the Earth; skill and knowledge scarce less than Melkor

the Children of Ilúvatar - Men and Elves; none of the Ainur had a part in their making

the Deeps of Time - amidst the innumerable stars

Eä - the World that is

Eldalië -

the Eldar -

Eru = Ilúvatar = the One - Creator

the Flame Imperishable - the creative power of Ilúvatar? Which abides first with Ilúvatar, but which he then sends into the heart of the World to bring it from the realm of thought to being?

Manwë - concerned with the airs and winds; noblest of the Ainur

Melkor - greatest gifts of power and knowledge, shared in the gifts of the other Ainur

Ulmo - concerned with water

the Valar - the Powers of the World; the Ainur who decided to descend into the World

the land of Valinor -

the Void -

the World - globed amid the Void, sustained therein but not of it

Progression of Melkor's Malice:

• it came into his heart to interweave matters of his own imagining that were not in accord with the first Great Theme of Ilúvatar, in order to increase the power and glory of the part assigned to himself
• had gone often into the void places seeking the Imperishable Flame, wanting to bring into being things of his own, impatient with the emptiness of the Void
• being alone had begun to conceive thoughts of his own unlike those of his brethren (these are the thoughts he wove into the first theme with discordant result)
• contended with the second theme of Ilúvatar
• tried to drown the music of the third theme (Melkor's theme seems now to be separate from Ilúvatar's theme)
• was filled with shame of which came secret anger (when Ilúvatar stopped the music and spoke to him)
• desired to subdue Elves and Men to his will
• meddled in all that was done in creating the Earth
• coveted the Earth
• strife between Melkor and the other Valar; he withdrew for a time
• envied the beauty of the Valar as they walked on the Earth
• descended upon Arda, first battle of the Valar with Melkor for the domination of Arda

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