What is the silmarillion? - Page 2

Telcontar_Dunedain · 01-07-2005, 05:21 PM

Have a look here.

Halbarad of the Dunedain · 01-07-2005, 05:25 PM

The Silmarillion is a book about the history/mythology of Middle-Earth and Valinor as told by the elves. The book goes over subjects like the beggining of the world, the Valar, the history of the Elves in Valinor and Beleriand. It also goes over men and Numenore but not as much as Unfinished Tales, so if your looking for Numenorean history UT is the way to go.

ItalianLegolas · 01-07-2005, 06:43 PM

UT also has a lot of stuff about the Huor and Hurin and Tour and Turin and stuff like that, its an all-around good book, and so is the sil

Radagast The Brown · 01-07-2005, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elemmire

A really, really, really, really, REALLY good textbook.

But like Manveru also said, it wouldn't make any sense at all without having already read LotR.

Honestly, me9996, you really should read it.

I agree! It's the best book written by Tolkien in my opinion. I would also agree that the books should not be read chronologically, as it would make confusion in the Sil... and maybe even make you not want to read any other books - because you wouldn't enjoy it.

Attalus · 01-07-2005, 07:26 PM

I would say, rather, read Unfinished Tales and the Letters before embarking on the Sil77.

***Earniel*** · 01-08-2005, 04:59 AM

Thread merged with the 'I need help' thread since they have the same topic.

ItalianLegolas · 01-08-2005, 07:05 PM

wait a minute? what are the Letters?

Attalus · 01-08-2005, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItalianLegolas

wait a minute? what are the Letters?

Shorthand for The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Humphrey Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien.

ItalianLegolas · 01-09-2005, 05:08 PM

so is it like all the letters that he wrote to people or something? whats so great about that?

Telcontar_Dunedain · 01-09-2005, 05:16 PM

I haven't read it yet but I think it is Letters he wrote to people regarding Middle-Earth.

Pytt · 01-10-2005, 09:26 AM

though I have not read them, I think the Letters answers alot of questions asked by people to Tolkien, and by Tolkien himself. I will definetly read them sometimes, beacus I think I can learn much from it.

Attalus · 01-10-2005, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItalianLegolas

so is it like all the letters that he wrote to people or something? whats so great about that?

The Letters discuss the writing of the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and also answer many, many questions that readers wrote to JRRT about the Legendarium, the LotR most prominently. It contains passages such as this:

Quote:

When Sauron was aware of the siezure of the Ring his one hope was in its power: that the claimant would be unable to relinquish it until Sauron was able to deal with him. Frodo too was then probably, if not attacked, would have had to take the same way [as Gollum - A.]: cast himself with the Ring into the abyss. If not, he would have completely failed. It is an interesting problem: how Sauron would have acted or the claimant have reisited. Sauron sent at once the Ringwraiths. They were naturally fully instructed, and in no way deceived as to the real lordship of the Ring. The wearer would not be invisible to them, but the reverse; and the more vulnerable to their weapons. But the situation was now different to that under Weathertop, where Frodo acted only in fear, and wished to use (in vain) the Ring's subsidiary power of conferring invisibility. He had grown since then. Would they have been immune from its power if he claimed it as an instrument of power and domination?
Not wholly. I do not think they could have attacked him with violence, nor laid hold of him or made him captive; they would have obeyed or feigned to obey any minor commands of his that did not interfere with their errand - laid upon them by Sauron, who still though their nine rings (which he held) had primary control of their wills. That errand was to remove Frodo from the Crack. Once he had lost the power or opportunity to destroy the Ring, the end could not be in doubt - saving help from outside, which was hardly even remotely possible.

This is real "inside stuff" and the best look that we get into JRRT's mind, at least the part of it that concerned Middle-earth. They are essential.

ItalianLegolas · 01-10-2005, 02:10 PM

cool, i'll have to remeber to get that...

Manveru · 01-10-2005, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Attalus

I would say, rather, read Unfinished Tales and the Letters before embarking on the Sil77.

i would read the Sil b4 UT, mainly bcuz UT expands on some stuff in the Sil. The Narn isnt even finsihed, its missing the whole Nargothrond section.

Embladyne · 01-12-2005, 04:37 PM

I'm re-reading the Silm, and the Ainulindale gives me shivers,

every time I read it, it's that good. It's like reading the begining of John, from the bible, "in the begining was the word...." I'm not christian, but I really like reading religious and mythological texts....
This time, as I was reading the Silm, I was at home, and had checked out UT from the library, so I was going between the Silm, UT, and BoLT (I only have the first one for right now) for some of the stories. It was an interesting way to do it, kinda like how I used to read novels in middle school. Anyway, go out and find the book. A used book store is a good place to start.

ItalianLegolas · 01-15-2005, 06:55 PM

what is BoLT?

Last Child of Ungoliant · 01-15-2005, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItalianLegolas

what is BoLT?

Book of Lost Tales
(Vols 1 & 2 of HoME)

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 01-15-2005, 09:45 PM

Just for the record. Here is a list of books- Middle-earth related. If you can think of any others, post them.

The Hobbit

The Lord of the Rings
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
The Return of the King

The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales

The Letters of Tolkien

The Histories of Middle-earth series

1. The Book of Lost Tales I
2. The Book of Lost Tales II
3. The Lays of Beleriand
4. The Shaping of Middle-earth
The Quenta, The Ambarkanta, and The Annals
5. The Lost Road and Other Writings
6. The Return of the Shadow
The history of the Lord of the Rings-Part I
7. The Treason of Isengard
The history of the Lord of the Rings-Part II
8. The War of the Ring
The history of the Lord of the Rings-Part III
9. Sauron Defeated
The end of the Third Age, including the History of the Lord of the
Rings-Part IV
10. Morgoth's Ring
The Later Silmarillion-Part I
11. War of the Jewels
The Later Silmarillion-Part II
12. The People of Middle-Earth

Attalus · 01-16-2005, 01:13 PM

I would add The Tolkien Reader,, The Monsters and the Critics: The Essays of J.R.R. Tolkien, and Tree and Leaf.

me9996 · 01-18-2005, 02:09 PM

Thanks for telling me, but now I have it so you can stop telling me!

01-07-2005, 05:21 PM	#21
Telcontar_Dunedain Warrior of the House of Hador Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 4,651	Have a look here. __________________ Then Huor spoke and said: "Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and me a new star shall arise. Farewell!" The Silmarillion, Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Page 230

01-07-2005, 05:25 PM	#22
Halbarad of the Dunedain Elven Warrior Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Arthedian Posts: 460	The Silmarillion is a book about the history/mythology of Middle-Earth and Valinor as told by the elves. The book goes over subjects like the beggining of the world, the Valar, the history of the Elves in Valinor and Beleriand. It also goes over men and Numenore but not as much as Unfinished Tales, so if your looking for Numenorean history UT is the way to go. __________________ "Can you feel her, running through your veins? She will always live forever!" ~ Atreyu [Her portrait in Black] "I want to see pretty people doing ugly things..." ~ Unknown "Damn it n' such!" ~ Stewie Griffen

01-07-2005, 06:43 PM	#23
ItalianLegolas Tolkien-aholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: somewhere in the solar system... more specifically NJ... Posts: 712	UT also has a lot of stuff about the Huor and Hurin and Tour and Turin and stuff like that, its an all-around good book, and so is the sil __________________ What was lost is now found.

01-07-2005, 07:26 PM	#25
Attalus Swan-Knight of Dol Amroth Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: On the Bay of Belfalas Posts: 1,125	I would say, rather, read Unfinished Tales and the Letters before embarking on the Sil77. __________________ "What song the Sirens sang, or what name Achilles assumed when he hid himself among women, though puzzling questions are not beyond conjecture." - Sir Thomas Browne, Urn Burial.

01-08-2005, 04:59 AM	#26
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Thread merged with the 'I need help' thread since they have the same topic. __________________ We are not things.

01-08-2005, 07:05 PM	#27
ItalianLegolas Tolkien-aholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: somewhere in the solar system... more specifically NJ... Posts: 712	wait a minute? what are the Letters? __________________ What was lost is now found.

01-09-2005, 05:08 PM	#29
ItalianLegolas Tolkien-aholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: somewhere in the solar system... more specifically NJ... Posts: 712	so is it like all the letters that he wrote to people or something? whats so great about that? __________________ What was lost is now found.

01-09-2005, 05:16 PM	#30
Telcontar_Dunedain Warrior of the House of Hador Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 4,651	I haven't read it yet but I think it is Letters he wrote to people regarding Middle-Earth. __________________ Then Huor spoke and said: "Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and me a new star shall arise. Farewell!" The Silmarillion, Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Page 230

01-10-2005, 09:26 AM	#31
Pytt The Supreme Lord of The Northern Eagles Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: trondheim, norway Posts: 1,388	though I have not read them, I think the Letters answers alot of questions asked by people to Tolkien, and by Tolkien himself. I will definetly read them sometimes, beacus I think I can learn much from it. __________________ Don't Panic!

01-10-2005, 02:10 PM	#33
ItalianLegolas Tolkien-aholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: somewhere in the solar system... more specifically NJ... Posts: 712	cool, i'll have to remeber to get that... __________________ What was lost is now found.

01-12-2005, 04:37 PM	#35
Embladyne Honourary Elitist Inklette Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: between the mountains and the sea Posts: 704	I'm re-reading the Silm, and the Ainulindale gives me shivers, every time I read it, it's that good. It's like reading the begining of John, from the bible, "in the begining was the word...." I'm not christian, but I really like reading religious and mythological texts.... This time, as I was reading the Silm, I was at home, and had checked out UT from the library, so I was going between the Silm, UT, and BoLT (I only have the first one for right now) for some of the stories. It was an interesting way to do it, kinda like how I used to read novels in middle school. Anyway, go out and find the book. A used book store is a good place to start. __________________ Even on the pinnacle of a palace a crow does not become an eagle. My DA page Last edited by Embladyne : 01-12-2005 at 04:38 PM.

01-15-2005, 06:55 PM	#36
ItalianLegolas Tolkien-aholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: somewhere in the solar system... more specifically NJ... Posts: 712	what is BoLT? __________________ What was lost is now found.

01-15-2005, 09:45 PM	#38
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	Just for the record. Here is a list of books- Middle-earth related. If you can think of any others, post them. The Hobbit The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring The Two Towers The Return of the King The Silmarillion Unfinished Tales The Letters of Tolkien The Histories of Middle-earth series 1. The Book of Lost Tales I 2. The Book of Lost Tales II 3. The Lays of Beleriand 4. The Shaping of Middle-earth The Quenta, The Ambarkanta, and The Annals 5. The Lost Road and Other Writings 6. The Return of the Shadow The history of the Lord of the Rings-Part I 7. The Treason of Isengard The history of the Lord of the Rings-Part II 8. The War of the Ring The history of the Lord of the Rings-Part III 9. Sauron Defeated The end of the Third Age, including the History of the Lord of the Rings-Part IV 10. Morgoth's Ring The Later Silmarillion-Part I 11. War of the Jewels The Later Silmarillion-Part II 12. The People of Middle-Earth __________________ "Whither go you?" she said. "North away." he said: "to the swords, and the siege, and the walls of defence - that yet for a while in Beleriand rivers may run clean, leaves spring, and birds build their nests, ere Night comes." AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide

01-16-2005, 01:13 PM	#39
Attalus Swan-Knight of Dol Amroth Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: On the Bay of Belfalas Posts: 1,125	I would add The Tolkien Reader,, The Monsters and the Critics: The Essays of J.R.R. Tolkien, and Tree and Leaf. __________________ "What song the Sirens sang, or what name Achilles assumed when he hid himself among women, though puzzling questions are not beyond conjecture." - Sir Thomas Browne, Urn Burial.

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