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Morgoth's Ring: The Later Silmarillion, Part One: The Legends of Aman
Morgoth's Ring: The Later Silmarillion, Part One: The Legends of Aman | J R R Tolkien
71 posts | 10 read | 14 to read
In Morgoth's Ring, the tenth volume of The History of Middle-earth and the first of two companion volumes, Christopher Tolkien describes and documents the legends of the Elder Days, as they were evolved and transformed by his father in the years after he completed The Lord of the Rings. The text of the Annals of Aman, the "Blessed Land" in the far West, is given in full. And in writings never before published, we can see the nature of the problems that J.R.R. Tolkien explored in his later years as new and radical ideas, portending upheaval in the old narratives, emerged at the heart of the mythology. At this time Tolkien sought to redefine the old legends, and wrote of the nature and destiny of Elves, the idea of Elvish rebirth, the origin of the Orcs, and the Fall of Men. His meditation of mortality and immortality as represented in the lives of Men and Elves led to another major writing at this time, the "Debate of Finrod and Andreth, " which is reproduced here in full. "Above all, " Christopher Tolkien writes in his foreword, "the power and significance of Melkor-Morgoth ... was enlarged to become the ground and source of the corruption of Arda." This book indeed is all about Morgoth. Incomparably greater than the power of Sauron, concentrated in the One Ring, Morgoth's power (Tolkien wrote) was dispersed into the very matter of Arda: "the whole of Middle-earth was Morgoth's Ring."
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Daisey
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Post 1/2: When I read ”Of the Flight of the Noldor” now after reading the History of Middle-Earth (HoME), I always miss the actual inclusion of the oath of Fëanor and his sons. Reading the words feels so much more dramatic than only a narrative description. So, I‘m sharing two versions. This is the version from the tagged book.

#FellowshipOfTolkien #Silmarillion

38 likes2 comments
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BookwormAHN
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Pickpick

My favorite part of this book was learning about the culture and beliefs of the Elves. That was quite fascinating. As was some of the early ideas involving the history of orcs.
#FellowshipofTolkien
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
Daisey The Laws and Customs section was one of my favorite aspects as well. 4y
JazzFeathers I adored the story of Finwe and Miriel. There's more in there than l had ever imagined. 4y
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Daisey
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Pickpick

This book was a challenging but also fascinating read. I absolutely loved many of the details that were added into the post LotR drafts without changing any of the story. I was also amazed to see how Tolkien considered changing his mythology to make it fit better with a real world perspective. This book provided insight and made me think more deeply. I‘m so ready to continue this journey through the History of Middle-Earth.

#FellowshipOfTolkien

betsyhaddox You finished it! I‘ve been following your progress posts. Congrats on making it to the end of this pretty intense-seeming book! 4y
Daisey @betsyhaddox Thanks! 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Great review!! 4y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa And it is such a hard one to review. 4y
Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I think almost all of these HoME books are hard to review. They have a combination of fantastic and difficult sections, and they are very much for a specific audience. This one especially had several different types of writing to try and explain in a review. 4y
JazzFeathers I totally agree. I can see how these books are for hard-core fans (in my country, they have never been translated because apparently there wouldn't 't be a big enough readership). But for people who are into Middle-Earth they are eye-opener and make that world even more profound and complex than it already appears in the official books. 4y
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JazzFeathers
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Pickpick

#FellowshipOfTolkien

I absolutely loved it.
It's a demanding book. There is a lot of philosophical thinking and even spiritual matters, but this is exactly why l loved it. Not just the insignt into Middle-Earth, but also its more profound meaning.

I was fascinated with the alternative versions of the Silmarillion, and also with the fact that Tolkien was prepared to change everything to make his world more credibile.

Daisey I also found this book challenging yet fascinating. So much to think about! 4y
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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

Really enjoyed this last section about Men and mortality and the reason why Men would become immortal even if they reached Aman.
It is eerily similar to what actually happened in Numenor.

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Daisey
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I haven‘t been reading much this past week, but in the last couple days I finally got into the first sections of Myths Transformed. I read more this morning with breakfast about the sun and moon and stars. I‘m intrigued by Tolkien‘s struggles to mesh together his earlier mythology with a more real world view, but honestly I just love the mythology.

#FellowshipOfTolkien #BreakfastWithTolkien

JazzFeathers I'm happy he finally decided to keep the original chosmogony of the Sun and Moon. It is beautiful. Still, l found the variations fascinating. 4y
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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

Fantastic section about Orcs!
This seems to have been a tricks question for Tolkien as he tried to integrate Orcs into a world that he had seen for such a long time only from the eyes of the Elves.

I was quite shocked to discover that he finally concluded that Orcs were derived from Men, not from Elves.

Daisey I found these sections incredibly interesting, and I always enjoy seeing Tolkien‘s thinking come out on the page. Yet, I still left with the feeling that we really can‘t be completely sure of the exact origin of the orcs. To me some combination of corrupted men and elves seems to make the most sense. 4y
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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

I totally, totally love this examination of the personalities of Melkor and Sauron.
They seem to be very similar, instead they are so very different.

I appreciate that Tolkien gave thought also to the dark side, which he negletted in the time before the Lord of the Rings. This reflection seems to have enlarge his vision of Middle-Earth (and the universo where it exists) even more.

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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

I'm so impressed of how Tolkien reworked his mythology after the publication of The Lord of the Rings in a way that made it so very new, and still always the same, recognizable mythology.

I loved learning more about Morgoth, and especially l appreciate the larger role that Varda seem to take up in these new versions.

And the theory why the Valar often appear to renouce action? Fantastic!

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Pickpick

This one is tough to review... I wish Christopher Tolkien has found these stories and rewritings before The Silmarillion was published, I wish further still that JRR Tolkien had been able to print this story in his lifetime the way he envisioned it. The re-writings of these stories after LOTR contained some minor and some major revisions of the stories we know, and he often tweaked them in a way that would have suited many readers who found ⤵️

Riveted_Reader_Melissa ... The Silmarillion too mythlike and not immersive story enough, by fleshing out even further many of the characters and their motivations and relationships. And as much as I enjoyed it, I was still left wanting more, I was hoping to get more history of hobbits and Ents meshed in with the creation stories of Elves, Men, and Dwarves. #FellowshipOfTolkien 4y
Daisey I agree with so much of this review. I love The Silmarillion as it is, but this shows just how much more potential there was for a more personal story in many places. 4y
JazzFeathers I totally agree. It was surprising, a bit confusing, but still inspiring to discover that The Silmarillion as we know it is even more incomplete than l thought. It is such a complex, profound work and always in evolution. It's fantastic. 4y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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I always assumed characters like Bombadil & Goldberry were Maiar like Melian, with their own limited kingdoms. The Eagles were messengers of Manwe & since he had affinity with air/wind/birds it just made sense. This means Huan, Beorn, Old Man Willow, & possibly Ents were all lesser fae to the Valar. As he revised his legendarium to mesh with his new LOTR, he takes up all of these & Orc/Troll/Balrogs origins, but I‘m still waiting on Hobbits. ⤵️

Riveted_Reader_Melissa But I happy to have my Ent question finally (maybe) answered. I honestly could have handled a few whole Ent chapters myself. 😂 #FellowshipOfTolkien 4y
BookwormAHN I'm hoping The People's of Middle Earth will touch on those and hobbits 🤞🏻 4y
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JazzFeathers Oh, you are ahead of me. I can't wait to get to this part. I'm so fascinated with the Maiar, more than with tge Valar, l'm not sure why. I remember it was mentioned before that the eagles are Maiar. But Tom? I'm not sure he's a Maia. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @JazzFeathers Sadly this is it.... so far anyway. This was only in 1 footnote on an appendix story about the origin of Orcs, or maybe I should say the debate over Orc origins. Interesting, but I want more on these other beings. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @JazzFeathers I always assumed Tom was because of Gandolf‘s conversation about his ability to resist the ring, or ability to hide it indefinitely. I got the impression that his realm was sort of like Melian‘s, he‘s powerful in it, but not without....he can hold sway there and keep evil out, like her girdle could, but what good would that do if Morgoth or Sauron conquered the whole of middle earth first and then overwhelmed that small section last 4y
JazzFeathers @Riveted_Reader_Melissa From the History of the Lord of the Rings l had a different impression. He said 'I'm the Aborigine' (he says 'I'm the Eldest' in the published book) and so l assume he was born together with Arda. He didn't come to Arda as the Valar and the Maiar did. That's 4y
JazzFeathers That's why, l think, the Ring has no power on him. Because Tom belong to a time when the Valar were not yet on the earth. They came often, together with their power. And while all other creatures where created or wakened in the 4y
JazzFeathers In a world filled with the power of the Valar and therefore they are part of it, Tom is not. He is free of that power because he was born in a world where that power didn't exist yet. You know what l mean? 4y
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Daisey
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I learned of these free Mythgard Academy classes/discussions led by Corey Olsen through the Tolkien Society of KC meetings. Each is about 2 hours, so I listened to the 1st about Morgoth‘s Ring and then jumped to the 7th when he starts discussing the second phase. One of the most interesting aspects to me is the discussion of an increase in development of female characters in these post LotR drafts.

Continued in comments 👇

#FellowshipOfTolkien

Daisey These additional details are one of the things I personally noticed and thoroughly enjoyed in my own reading. It makes me wonder what led to this change and again wish more had made their way into the published Silmarillion.

I‘ve been listening to these as podcasts, but they are also available on YouTube. https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLasMbZ4s5vIWFCX4Zf1wBfkhTSpfONkHX
4y
JazzFeathers Oh my goodness, this sounds so interesting! Yes, l've noticed too that the importance of female characters seemed to increase after LotR. I've always wondered whether Priscilla growing into a woman factored in it. 4y
Daisey @JazzFeathers The lectures/discussions are very interesting but also incredibly long and rambling sometimes. I‘ve also wondered the same thing about Priscilla‘s influence at this point in time. I can easily see discussion between them and/or his consideration of the fact that equity is not the same as the actual presence of female characters as his daughter grew up. 4y
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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

I find this total rewoking of the creation of Arda absolutely fascinating.
Tolkien manages to keep the story arc even changing all the concept.

Though l think the loss of the creation of the Moon and Sun would ha been really gevious.

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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

I am totally shocked!
That after decades of working at a version of his legendarium, Tolkien considered changing all the cards is really something l didn't expect.

Changing the creation of the Sun and Moon? 😲

And turning a tradition that was always Elvish into a Mannish tradition? 😲
Though l admit that the centrality of the three Great Stories that bring Elves and Men together would made great sense.

Daisey You‘re ahead of me again and so intrigued to read after this post. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I agree! It‘s a fascinating reworking once he decided that his legendarium needed to blend into his Hobbit & LOTR stories. Both are pretty great, but I‘m amazed that he could rework something so completely and still have it work with the rest of the story. 4y
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JazzFeathers
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The Tale of Adanel is quite simple both in structure and intuition, still l find it interesting because it incarnates the essence of one of Tolkien's strongest themes, as l see it: because strength (and therefore power) comes from the innermost part of us, the Enemy needs to deforme the truth in order to makes un weak.
A lie that is partially true (as the Noldor know well) is much more powerful that any other lie.

#FellowshipOfTolkien

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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I don‘t know how I fell so far behind #FellowshipofTolkien, but I just made it to our last section of reading (so 10ish days behind)! There was some great stuff in the expanded Silmarillion chapters....so much I wish he had found and included with the original publication. Lots more about that final fallout that led to the Doom and so much later heartache. I really felt for Feanor‘s half-brother here, who literally just promised to let...

Riveted_Reader_Melissa ... the older brother led in all things when everything turns upside down. A promise he made to make and keep the peace and hopefully destroy Morgoth‘s lies, which almost immediately after led to him following Feanor‘s led to the doom of elves... such a timely promise, that went so wrong so quickly, and was so quickly turned to Morgoth‘s ends again. (edited) 4y
BookwormAHN I'm also somewhat behind but I'm really enjoying it. 4y
JazzFeathers @Riveted_Reader_Melissa To be honest, l feel for all of Finwe's children. They all had to cope with choices they didn't make but had to sort out. I have a feeling that the Music had a different theme. But then Miriel and Finwe made unexpected choices which changed Eru's theme completely. A bit like Melkor had done. Stile, like with Melkor, Eru accepted the new theme and allowed it to happen. What do you think? @Daisey 4y
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Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @JazzFeathers @BookwormAHN @wordslinger42 I agree very much with what you said, Melissa. I‘m behind as well, and was just reading what I could without even looking at the schedule recently. I finished the Tale of Adanel yesterday evening. In these sections I see parallels to Christian belief and questioning. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Daisey I was reading that last night too, I‘m somewhere in the middle of it now, and yes I can see the Christian belief working it‘s way in, and I can see even more the parallels between him and his inkling buddy CS Lewis. I always thought Lewis‘s stories had very strong Christian belief woven in, and with Tolkien it‘s there, but beneath the surface a bit more, not nearly as obvious until you start reading his works in depth. 4y
BookwormAHN I think Finwe and Miriel reshaped the theme but it may have allowed for a bit of change since it also involved Feanor and he's not your typical elf. Also having spent a number of years at Catholic school, I can feel his belief system clicking in. I found those chapters quite fascinating. @JazzFeathers @Daisey @wordslinger42 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 4y
wordslinger42 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @JazzFeathers @Daisey I am so terribly behind. I read a good chunk of it a few days ago and am about halfway through. With everything that's been going on, I feel like I've had a very hard time focusing on this book. It's fascinating as always, but I've had a harder time with it. I'm hoping to finish soon, though! 4y
wordslinger42 @BookwormAHN Oops, forgot to tag you also!! It also looks like I can only find the next book on Amazon and the delivery date is not promising 🙄 4y
JazzFeathers @wordslinger42 l've order the next book a couple of weeks ago on Alibris. Hasn't reached yet. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @wordslinger42 @JazzFeathers Well then, I guess we all have time to catch up! 4y
Daisey @JazzFeathers @wordslinger42 Alibris is where I ordered this spring. I got one book in a little over a week and the second took much longer. 4y
JazzFeathers @Daisey l know, Alibris is very hectic. I order two books together. One arrived a week ago. The HoME book is still journeying. 4y
wordslinger42 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Daisey @JazzFeathers @BookwormAHN I double checked Amazon today and they had the book for a cheaper price and faster delivery! Looks like I'll have it by Sunday. Not sure I can be caught up by then, though. There are 3 copies left I think, if anyone hasn't ordered yet! 4y
BookwormAHN @wordslinger42 I'm glad you found a copy. It took me a month for mine to come in and that doesn't include the fact the first one the post office destroyed 🤦🏼‍♀️ 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BookwormAHN That‘s horrible! 4y
wordslinger42 @BookwormAHN Oh my word! It's awful enough to wait so long for something and then for it to show up damaged. 4y
BookwormAHN @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @wordslinger42 Fortunately they replaced it pretty quickly. But it was a mess. 4y
35 likes18 comments
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Daisey
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I‘m continuing my reading of the notes and commentary for “Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth” with lunch. This is section is philosophical but still fascinating in how it continues to show Tolkien‘s thinking about the world he created, even so many years into the process.

#FellowshipOfTolkien

britt_brooke Cute bookmark! 4y
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JazzFeathers
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I'm totally loving this parte of HoME, even if some part, like this Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, are all but light reading.

I'm so in awe of Tolkien‘s dedication to his world. His pgilodophical and spiritual reflections are so inspiring.

#FellowshipOfTolkien

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Daisey
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I just barely started “Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth” with supper and I‘m already intrigued! Christopher starts out by attempting to determine when it was written using dates on the back of some of the paper, the dates of the newspaper it was wrapped in, and the fact that it was typed on the “new typewriter.” Then it is introduced as the discussion between Finrod and a wise woman of the house of Beor.

#FellowshipOfTolkien #ReadAndEat

guinsgirlreads Blue Moon making a light beer has made my life complete 🤣 🍻! 4y
Daisey @guinsgirlreads 😃 It‘s great! I think this might be my current favorite summer beer! ☀️ 🍺 4y
Hamlet This is a fascinating section. Christopher always said that his father with age became a bit detached from the old central stories in his Legendarium, & instead became more interested in the metaphysical. This Elf-Human conversation is the heart of it: the mortal & immortal (immortal within the circles of the world) questioning each other. Great stuff! Enjoy! 4y
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JazzFeathers Ahhhhhh! I've read that same part today! 4y
JazzFeathers @Hamlet This book is indeed a treasure. I'm absolutely loving it. 4y
Daisey @Hamlet I admit this got a bit deep for me for a bit, but it was also absolutely fascinating! @JazzFeathers Nice to hear we‘re at about the same point. You‘ll probably be ahead of me again by tomorrow! 😂 4y
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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

Absolutely loved these additions to the Darkening of Valinor.
Characters and situation become so much more complex.
It's a joy to read.

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Daisey
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It‘s been a while since I‘ve had a chance for leisurely breakfast reading, but this morning thanks to the rain I have a bit of time before church. I‘m continuing the last few chapters of the Second Phase, and I appreciate the further character development that we get to see in these sections.

#FellowshipOfTolkien #BreakfastWithTolkien

JazzFeathers I've fell behind lately. It's been unbearably hot here in Italy lately. I'm more or less halfway through the second phase and l totally agree. So much more nuance to all the characters. 4y
Daisey @JazzFeathers I had some time this morning and finished the second phase. Before this year, I never would have considered The Silmarillion brief, but with all this background it does feel a bit that way. 4y
JazzFeathers @Daisey 😂 That's true. Complex as it is, it is only the tip of the iceberg of what Tolkien intended it to be. 4y
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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

Really really enjoyed the additional details about Ungoliant and Morgoth.
I like that Tolkien gives us their fears and their (terrible) hopes. And their lust.
They become more as the other characters, not just perfectly evil enemies.

Loved it.

Daisey One of the things I‘ve enjoyed most about reading the HoME books is this expansion of story and detail. The Silmarillion is a history in summary, but these drafts and notes let us see more of his thinking about individual character development. I love it! 4y
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Daisey
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I truly enjoyed this short section about Nerdanel, the wife of Feanor. There‘s the hint of an amazing character here. Descriptions like this show that Tolkien could and did create strong female characters throughout his world. I will always defend that point while also wishing that he had chosen to flesh out more of them with greater roles in his stories.

#FellowshipOfTolkien

JazzFeathers I totally agree. I have a hard time thinking to any of Tolkien's characters (whether male or female) who are not strong, in a way or another. And also l love that Tolkien showed so many ways of being strong. Pity we don't know more about Feanor and Nerdanel. They must have been a formidable couple. 4y
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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

The Unrest of the Noldor is one of those difficult chapters. It's where we have to accept that truth and acknowledging the truth is not enough. Sometimes the damege is already so large and so deep that discovering the truth only makes things more sorrowful, but it solves nothing 😢

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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

I know Feanor is an extremely difficult character and did a lot of bad things, but l still think he's an incredible, complex and very human character.
I loved these new details about his marriage.

And Nerdanel is one of those Tolkien women readers should know a lot more about.

Daisey I read one of the sections today with a bit more about Nerdanel and I completely agree! There‘s the potential for so much more there. 4y
JazzFeathers @Daisey Very true. That's often the case with Tolkien writing. I often get the impression that he wrote down notes to self, but he knew a lot more about those stories. 4y
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Daisey
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What a fun etymological fact about the word willy-nilly from Tolkien! I love learning about the history of words and how they change over time, so this note was especially interesting to me.

#FellowshipOfTolkien

Deifio I didn't know that! Really cool! 4y
betsyhaddox So cool! Thanks for sharing! 4y
Daisey @Deifio @betsyhaddox Glad to hear someone else also appreciated this information! 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I highlighted this one too! 4y
Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa It‘s a perfect combination of some of my greatest interests. I also need to put some effort into finding a copy of 4y
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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

I fide every little adjustment to Finwe and Miriel's story so interesting. I never realised it was such complex story and so full of meaning, both in itself and for the legendarium. There's so little of any of this in the Silmarillion.

Cathythoughts Lovely post 👍🏻✨✨✨ 4y
Daisey Another section I‘m looking forward to! The Second Phase has a wealth of interesting information. (edited) 4y
JazzFeathers @Daisey Indeed. And so much more in comparison to the published Silmarillion. 4y
JazzFeathers @Cathythoughts Happy you liked it 😊 4y
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Daisey
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I haven‘t had much reading time recently, but this evening I read through the rest of the first section of the Laws & Customs Among the Eldar (Laws B). There are some complex ideas to consider here, including the intriguing relationship between the spirit (fea) and body(hroa ). I admit I would have liked a bit more about the rebirth of elves, and the section on houseless fea might have just made me more curious.

#FellowshipofTolkien

Pageturner1 Hey, how did my cat get there? 😁 Have one looks just like yours. 4y
Daisey @Pageturner1 😂 I‘ve had that same thought a few times scrolling through Litsy, although actually this one is my sister‘s cat. 4y
JazzFeathers There will be a lot more about rebirth in the section of Finwe and Miriel. Really a very interesting concept. 4y
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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

I totally loved it!

Certainly not a light read, but absolutely fantastic on a thoughtful - but l'd even say - philosophical level.
Many of Tolkien's favourite themes appear here (l loved the reflection on hope and despair), and as usual, Tolkien manags to put himself in everybody's shoes so that in the end putting the blame on anyone becomes really really hard.

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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

This section about the body and spirit of the Elves is absolutely fascinating.
And it may seem nerdy that Tolkien went in such details into things that might seem quite abstract. But it true, it makes a lot of sense in the world of Middle-Earth and l can see why and in which stories this was relevant.

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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

Really enjoyed reading these essay. There are some things that filter through in the stories, but it's nice to read about them with more awareness.

The distintion between who dedicate themselves to life and healing and who dedicate themselves to fight and killing reminded me something an Iroquois friend of mine told me once about her people.
It isn't the first time Tolkien's philosophy make me think to Native Americans.

Daisey I read part of this section last night. It‘s fascinating, and like @Riveted_Reader_Melissa said, so much I didn‘t know I wanted to know. 4y
JazzFeathers @Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa True, eh? Middle-Earth is an incredible refined word, but these essays give it even more sense. 4y
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Daisey
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I‘ve made it to the Second Phase of the Later Quenta Silmarillion and I‘m really looking forward to reading information from this section that I‘ve heard referenced.

#FellowshipOfTolkien

BethM That bookmark is amazing! 4y
JazzFeathers The second phase is really interesting and different, isn't it? 4y
Daisey @JazzFeathers I actually just got started and have had little reading time since, so I‘ve yet to really get into the section on laws and customs of the Eldar. Sounds fascinating though! 4y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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I‘m finally caught up again, and now it‘s getting good....all the laws and customs of the Eldar I didn‘t know I wanted to know! 🤭

#FellowshipOfTolkien

Daisey I just got to the Second Phase last night. I have heard information from this section discussed some on the Prancing Pony Podcast and I‘m really looking forward to it! 4y
JazzFeathers Just started this phase and l'm totally excited! 4y
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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

I'm very intrigued by the story of Miriel and Finwe because l think his parents' decisions had a very important impatto on Feanor and his own decisions.
And l think this is one of those cases where everyone acts in good faith and with reasons, and still everything ended up going terribly wrong.
Tolkien was a master in this kind of plot 😆

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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

The Valar aderenti such a huge transformation since The Book of Lost Tales.
They were quite strightforward in that book. Veri similar to human in their emotional and attitudes. But over the many revisions, they have become quite complex and almost mysterious.
It's a very fascinating evolution.

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Daisey
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“Of the Silmarils and the Darkening of Valinor” contains a few details that caught my attention.

I enjoyed this additional description of Feanor‘s mother Miriel and the skill and beauty of her needlework.

We‘ve read about Feanor‘s other creations before, but it‘s only in my most recent reading of The Silmarillion that I understood these are most likely the Palantir. It‘s also mentioned in the commentary on this passage.

#FellowshipOfTolkien

JazzFeathers A friend told me that there's a lot new material about Feanor in these last couple volumes of HoME. I am so very curious. 4y
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JazzFeathers
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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

The Flight of the Noldor is definitely one of the most complex parts in the Silmarillion and in my opinion, one of the most thought-provoking.
It is incredibile layered. Reflections of a life time came into it.

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Daisey
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Nachos loaded with fresh garden vegetables for supper and a few more pages of Tolkien! I don‘t really have much to say about the sections of the Later Quenta Silmarillion that I‘ve read so far, but I‘m enjoying seeing another step in the process and the extra details to consider. Also, it looks like I should read a bit more tonight as I‘m still a few days behind schedule.

#FellowshipofTolkien #ReadAndEat

MynameisSnow Mmmkmk first of all.....those nachos look Devine.😍 2nd of all don‘t you just love Friday nights for reading? So much better than going out. I get so excited to get caught up on my reading over the weekend nights, because the work week gets so nuts. 4y
Daisey @MynameisSnow Yes to all of this! The nachos were amazing and my family was gone for the evening so I had a lovely, quiet evening of reading! 4y
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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

Loved it!
I especially enjoyed the little tidbits that didn't make it into the Silmarillion, like the fact that Feanor created the Silmarils because maybe he had a premonition and wanted to preserve the light of the Trees.

I can't wait to read more about Feanor.

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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

I'm still not sure what to think about the Valar and their summon of the Elves to Valinor.
I'm sure they acted out of love and worry, so certainly not for the selfish reasons Morgoth alleged, but l'm also quite sure much of the terrible things that befell the Noldor afterward came about because of this summoning.

It's a complex matter. As usual 😆

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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

I've always loved the story of Thingol and Melian. I've always find it so romantic.

Still, last year some friends discussed the possibility that Melian didn't fall in love with Thingol, but she exchanged him, and she was sent to Middle-Earth precisely with that task.
I didn't believe it, but l'll admit that reading the Silmarillion that possibility sound ed quite possible.

Yet, the Annals of Aman tell the other story.

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Daisey
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I‘ve seen the word amanuensis a few times in the History of Middle-Earth books, so last night I finally took the time to look it up. What an interesting and specific word!

#FellowshipofTolkien

Riveted_Reader_Melissa So.. belonging to a handwriting slave! To a slave of handwriting! 🤔 Sorry, I couldn‘t help it, that‘s what my brain put it together as. And hey, it looks like you and I are behind the SAME amount! 😂 yea, for company! 4y
JazzFeathers Oh, l didn't look it up, because in Italian an 'amanuense' was a Medieval monk who copied books. I thought it must have a somehow similar meaning @Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 4y
Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yeah, I‘ve been trying to read most days, but life gets in the way and often if I do read, I don‘t finish the section. I completely followed your meaning reasoning. 😂 @JazzFeathers That‘s fascinating! 4y
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JazzFeathers
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I've always been fascinated with the concept of the five battles of Middle-Earth, l don't know why.
I suppose that in a way l feel that the sequences of the battle helps to bring together a story that at first glance may seem too large and too scattetered.

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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

It's kind of weird reading these older versions of the story after reading more recent once and especially the published Silmarillion.
Still there are passages to discover, even little things that didn't make it into the published book.

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JazzFeathers
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#FellowshipOfTolkien

I had kind of decided that since we're going over material l have posted numerus times before, l wasn't going to post on every chapter. But you know what? I missed the ritual of posting my ideas after reading The chapter.
So l'm afraid you'll have to put up with me 😆

Daisey I look forward to your posts, even if it is similar content to what we‘ve seen before. Keep sharing! 4y
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Daisey
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This meme was included in my local Tolkien Society newsletter as I was reading section five of the Annals of Aman which describes Feanor‘s oath, so I couldn‘t resist sharing with our reading group here. The oath and the power of Feanor‘s words over many of the Noldor is impressive, and this is always an interesting section of the story to me.

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JazzFeathers 😂😂😂 The Flight of the Noldor is definitely one of the most epic and at the same time most surprisingly human parts of the Silmarillion, in my opinion. 4y
Daisey @JazzFeathers Agreed! It‘s definitely a section I‘ve come to appreciate much more with additional readings. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa That‘s great! 4y
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Daisey
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I found this note about Feanor possibly being the firstborn child of the Eldar, or the first elf born to parents, fascinating!

From: Annals of Aman section 3 commentary

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JazzFeathers I can't wait to read more about Feanor. Apparently, there a lot to learn. 4y
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JazzFeathers
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You know, l'm slowly changing my mind about the Valar and their decision to hide Valinor.
In the beginning, l thought they were forsaking their role as protectors of the Children of Ilúvatar and were really abandoning the rebellious Noldor. But now l'm starting to think their action where actually more subtle, and their mistakes might have been before rather then after the Flight of the Noldor.

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JazzFeathers
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The Flight of the Noldor has always been one of my super favourite parts of The Silmarillion.
I loved that here there were a bit more details, though other were missing.
I remember a previous version of the story where the full debite between Feanor, Fingolfin and Finarfin was written. It was absolutely fantastic. Hope to have more of it soon.