Feb 26

Feb 26 Guide to The Silmarillion: Of the Sun and the Moon and the Hiding of Valinor (Ch. 11)

“But the flower and the fruit Yavanna gave to Aulë, and Manwë hallowed them, and Aulë and his people made vessels to hold them and preserve their radiance: as is said in the Narsilion, the Song of the Sun and Moon. These vessels the Valar gave to Varda, that they might become lamps of heaven, outshining the ancient stars, being nearer to Arda; and she gave them power to traverse the lower regions of Ilmen, and set them to voyage upon appointed courses above the girdle of the Earth from the West unto the East and to return.” - Of the Sun and the Moon and the Hiding of Valinor

Feb 26

Feb 26 Guide to The Silmarillion: Of the Sindar (Ch. 10)

Kaitlyn Facista

Reading Tolkien, The Silmarillion

“But of bliss and glad life there is little to be said, before it ends: as works fair and wonderful, while still they endure for eyes to see, are their own record, and only when they are in peril or broken for ever do they pass into song.” - Of the Sindar

Feb 19

Feb 19 Guide to The Silmarillion: Of the Flight of the Noldor (Ch. 9)

Kaitlyn Facista

Reading Tolkien, The Silmarillion

“Ye have spilled the blood of your kindred unrighteously and have stained the land of Aman. For blood ye shall render blood, and beyond Aman ye shall dwell in Death's shadow.” - The Silmarillion, Of the Flight of the Noldor

Feb 19

Feb 19 Guide to The Silmarillion: Of the Darkening of Valinor (Ch. 8)

Kaitlyn Facista

Reading Tolkien, The Silmarillion

"Do as I bid; and if thou hunger still when all is done, then I will give thee whatsoever thy lust may demand. Yea, with both hands.' Lightly he made this vow, as he ever did; and he laughed in his heart. Thus did the great thief set his lure for the lesser." - The Silmarillion, Of the Darkening of Valinor

Feb 12

Feb 12 Guide to The Silmarillion: Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor (Ch. 7)

Kaitlyn Facista

Reading Tolkien, The Silmarillion

"For Fëanor began to love the Silmarils with a greedy love, and grudged the sight of them to all save his father and his seven sons; he seldom remembered now that the light within them was not his own." - The Silmarillion, Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor

Feb 12

Feb 12 Guide to The Silmarillion: Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor (Ch. 6)

Kaitlyn Facista

Reading Tolkien, The Silmarillion

“Fëanor grew swiftly, as if a secret fire were kindled within him… Few ever changed his courses by counsel, none by force. He became of all the Noldor, then or after, the most subtle in mind and the most skilled in hand… and he it was who, first of the Noldor, discovered how gems greater and brighter than those of the Earth might be made with skill.” - The Silmarillion, Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor

Feb 5

Feb 5 Guide to The Silmarillion: Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië (Ch. 5)

Kaitlyn Facista

Reading Tolkien, The Silmarillion

In this chapter, we follow the majority of the Eldar as they make the journey from Middle-earth to the Blessed Realm. We also get to know a lot about Finwë’s Family, which is important because they're about to get themselves in a lot of trouble. At the end of this chapter, all but two groups of elves have completed this journey! The two groups left behind are the Falathrim and the Eglath, the Forsaken People (the kindred and friends of Elwë).

Feb 5

Feb 5 Guide to The Silmarillion: Of Thingol and Melian (Ch. 4)

Kaitlyn Facista

Reading Tolkien, The Silmarillion

“Elwë Singollo came never again across the sea to Valinor so long as he lived, and Melian returned not thither while their realm together lasted; but of her there came among both Elves and Men a strain of the Ainur who were with Ilúvatar before Ea." - Of Thingol and Melian

Jan 30

Jan 30 Guide to The Silmarillion: Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor (Ch. 3)

Kaitlyn Facista

Reading Tolkien, The Silmarillion

“Moreover it is doom that the Firstborn shall come in the darkness, and shall look first upon the stars... Long they dwelt in their first home by the water under stars, and they walked the Earth in wonder." - Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor

Jan 29

Jan 29 Guide to The Silmarillion: Of Aulë and Yavanna (Ch. 2)

Kaitlyn Facista

Reading Tolkien, The Silmarillion

"...and Yavanna returned to Aulë; and he was in his smithy, pouring molten metal into a mould. 'Eru is bountiful,' she said. 'Now let thy children beware! For there shall walk a power in the forests whose wrath they will arouse at their peril.' 'Nonetheless they will have need of wood,' said Aulë, and he went on with his smith-work. “ - Of Aulë and Yavanna

Jan 23

Jan 23 Guide to The Silmarillion: Of the Beginning of Days (Ch. 1)

Kaitlyn Facista

Reading Tolkien, The Silmarillion

“But to the Atani I will give a new gift.’ Therefore he willed that the hearts of Men should seek beyond the world and should find no rest therein; but they should have a virtue to shape their life, amid the powers and chances of the world, beyond the Music of the Ainur, which is as fate to all things else;” - Of the Beginning of Days

Jan 15

Jan 15 Guide to the Silmarillion: Valaquenta

Kaitlyn Facista

Reading Tolkien, The Silmarillion

Valaquenta begins with a short summary of Ainulindalë. It then goes on to introduce the Lords and the Queens of the Valar, giving a bit of background information on each of them and explaining how they relate to one another.

Next, we are introduced to the Maiar, spirits similar to the Valar but of a less degree. The last section is titled 'Of the Enemies' and explains a bit more about the cruelty of Melkor as well as introducing his servant Sauron.