Reading "The Silmarillion"

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892 -1973), best known as the author of The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954 -1955), was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford. He began creating bits and pieces of the greater mythology of his imaginary land of Middle-earth even before writing The Hobbit, and continued this labor of love on and off until his death. He planned to publish a coherent mythology but kept revising and changing the manuscripts, sometimes contradicting himself in the process. After his death, his son Christopher tackled the monumental task of making sense of his father's notes, with considerable encouragement from Tolkien's publisher, Houghton Mifflin. The result, The Silmarillion, was published in 1977. Since that time, Christopher Tolkien has admitted making mistakes - both conscious and accidental - in the rush to publish, and has subsequently published many of his father's notes in eleven volumes collectively known as The History of Middle-earth. In these works one clearly sees the evolution of Tolkien's ideas and appreciate the daunting task which Christopher undertook in producing the (admittedly flawed) work you are now reading. As you read it, think of Middle-earth as you would any "real" mythical or legendary place, paying attention to the incredible details which Tolkien painstakingly interwove in an attempt to breathe life into his universe.

Here is a brief biography of Tolkien.

We will spend five days discussing the book (and other pieces of Tolkien’s universe), exploring his creation myths as well as other astronomical connections. Your reading assignments break down as follows:

Day 1: The Ainulindalë, Valaquenta, and Chapters 1 and 2 of the Quenta Silmarillion; excerpts from letters (handout)

Day 2: Quenta Silmarillion Chaps 3-9

Day 3: Quenta Silmarillion Chaps 10-12, the opening page of Chapter 14, and excerpts from Morgoths Ring  (handout labeled Ainulindale C* and Myths Transformed Essay II)

Day 4: Quenta Silmarillion Chaps 23 and 24; Akallabeth

Day 5: excerpts from Morgoth's Ring (handout labeled Myths Transformed: essays VIII-X on Orcs) and the following websites:

Note that The Silmarillion is notoriously known as a difficult read, partially because of all the foreign names. Refer to the appendices, which include maps, family trees, and notes on pronunciations of Tolkien's languages.

Below are questions for each of the reading assignments. Turn in one copy of the answers (typed or NEATLY printed) at the beginning of the class period and keep another copy handy for class discussion. Remember you are being graded on this so it is expected your answers will be in your own words. If you feel the need to quote directly from Tolkien, note the page of your reference. Your answers do not have to be long to be considered correct.

 

Day 1: Reading questions

  1. What is Tolkien's opinion of science in general? Of technology in general? What are the important differences between science nad technology (to Tolkien)? Give examples from your readings to support your claim.
  2. Who is Iluvatar?  Who are the Ainur? The Valar? The Maiar?
  3. List the Valar by name (both male and female) and summarize the key feature(s) of each.
  4. Briefly explain how the universe began.
  5. What geological structure does Melkor's physical appearance remind you of?
  6. What astronomical object seems to be at the center of Tolkien’s universe?
  7. Who are "the children of Iluvatar"? Who are the "firstborn" and who are the "secondborn"?
  8. Briefly summarize the relationship between Aule and Yavanna. What is this supposed to symbolize?
  9. How were the dwarves created? By whom? What was the problem? What lesson are we supposed to draw from this?
  10. Who is the "rebellious angel" character of this work? How did he mar creation?
  11. What "gift" did Iluvatar give to humans? Do most people consider this a "gift" today?

       

Day 2: Reading questions

  1. How were the stars created? By whom?
  2. What is the origin of the name "Eldar"?
  3. What did the Elves witness when the Valar battled Melkor? What natural events does this myth seek to explain?
  4. What is the "sundering of the Elves"?
  5. How were the orcs created? By whom?
  6. How did the Elves get to the Blessed Lands?
  7. Who was Miriel? What was unique about her actions?
  8. What was Feanor’s greatest invention, and how were they made?
  9. What was Feanor’s fatal flaw? What previously mentioned theme do we see revisited here?
  10. What happened to the Two Trees? Who did this?
  11. What was the oath of Feanor and his sons?
  12. What was the "kinslaying"? As you will see, there are three such events in The Silmarillion.

      13.  

Day 3: Reading questions - only 4 of you picked up the handout at the end of class. You can get it in your HON 110 class on Wednesday

  1. How did life exist in Middle-earth without sunlight during the Sleep of Yavanna?
  2. What was Doriath’s political strategy of defense?
  3. How were the sun and moon created, according to The Silmarillion?
  4. What was the problem with their original motions? How was this "fixed"?
  5. How does Tolkien explain the phases of the moon? Eclipses?
  6. In the opening of Chapter 14, what natural event(s) is Tolkien trying to describe?
  7. How was the moon created, according to The Ainulindalë C*?
  8. How was the moon created, according to "Myths Transformed" essays IIa and IIb? [Ambar = Earth]
  9. What does Tolkien say about the possibility of other solar systems?

Note that we are skipping the next section of the book. Briefly, Beren, a mortal, married Luthien, daughter of Thingol and Melian, after procuring one of the Silmarils from Morgoth's iron crown. Beren died in the process, and Luthien managed to sway Mandos' cold heart into returning Beren to life. However, in return Luthien forfeited her immortality, a decision which became known as "the Choice of Luthien." Those of you who have seen or read The Lord of the Rings will recognize that this as the origin of the "Choice of Arwen." The Silmaril passed to their son, Dior, who was murdered (along with his two sons and many of his people) by the sons of Feanor in a botched attempt to reclaim the cursed jewel. This was the second kinslaying. Dior's daughter, Elwing, escaped with other refugees from Doriath and settled by the mouth of the River Sirion. We now pick up the tale of Elwing's marriage to Earendil and the third kinslaying.

Day 4: Reading questions

  1. What was Gondolin’s political strategy of defense? Was it successful? Explain.
  2. What phenomenon was seen in the sky when Gondolin was attacked?
  3. What was the "second marriage of Man and Elf"?
  4. How were the two lines of Half-elven joined? What was the "doom of the Half-elven" (i.e. what choice did they have to make)?
  5. Who was Gil-Estel? What astronomical object does he represent?
  6. Briefly, what happened to the structure of Middle-earth at the end of the First Age (geographically and geologically)?
  7. How is the "Doom of the Half-elven" related to the story of Numenor?
  8. How did the Edain know the island was ready? How did they navigate out to it?
  9. What restriction was placed on the Numenoreans?
  10. Briefly, how does Sauron figure into the fall of Numenor? What did he encourage the Numenoreans to do?
  11. What "legend" (not biblical) inspired Tolkien to write the description of the fall of Numenor? (hint - think Disney movie and lavish Bahamas resort)
  12. How was the shape of the world changed after this event?
  13. What Biblical character does Elendil resemble? In what way(s)? (hint - think big flood)

 

Day 5: Reading questions

1. Referring back to Chapter 2 of The Silmarillion, in what way are the dwarves “defective” until Iluvatar steps in? What was Aule's big sin?

2.  Referring back to Chapter 3 of The Silmarillion, where did orcs come from?

3. Referring back to the Akallabeth, how did the Numenoreans' obsession with immortality manifest itself in scientific research? What modern lessons are we to take away from this? (in my edition the passage is on page 266 in the paragraph which starts "Thus the bliss of Westernesse became diminished....")

     3. Referring to the handout "Myths Transformed Essays VIII-X: Orcs", Tolkien tries out a bunch of different origins for orcs in these essays. Which version works best for you?   Why?

     4. Why do you think he had such a tough time trying to come up with a definitive version? Had he written himself into a corner? Explain.   (hint - think about creation and subcreation).

     5. Websites: For each of the previous websites listed, write a brief statement (no less than 3 sentences, no more than a decent sized paragraph) of how you reacted to the science being portrayed (your gut reaction). Ponder the following for discussion in class: Are scientists "playing God" in these cases? What would Tolkien have thought about these?