All Questions
Tagged with tolkiens-legendarium the-silmarillion
391
questions
15
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3
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4k
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Did Sauron ever betray Morgoth?
Sauron was given the title "Sauron the Deceiver" because he used charm and deception to gain control over others. He taught ring-craft to the elves and gave Rings of Power to men and dwarves ...
user89104
33
votes
2
answers
4k
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In what language did Túrin converse with Mîm?
Túrin spoke the Mannish tongue of the House of Hador and also Sindarin (in a noticeably archaic Doriathrim way). On the other hand the petty-dwarves being largely isolationist and hating the Eldar, ...
- 2,878
24
votes
3
answers
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Distinguish the explanations of Galadriel's test in LotR
So, I just finished The Silmarillion, and of course The Hobbit and LotR before that. One of the reason I wanted to read The Silmarillion is because I didn't quite understand the part of Galadriel's ...
- 1,301
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votes
1
answer
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Would Gurthang have had any effect on Sauron's Ring?
Could the legendary sword of Beleg Strongbow and Túrin Turambar, forged by Eöl of star iron, have done any damage to the One Ring?
I know the answer is most likely no but I just finished my re-reading ...
- 75
2
votes
1
answer
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How big is Ancalagon exactly? [duplicate]
I've had this question for a while now and it's: How big is Ancalagon exactly? I mean, I've looked over thousands of explanations but it keeps on changing. So I'm asking now, how big exactly is this ...
- 133
8
votes
2
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2k
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Height of Mountain Ranges in Middle Earth
What are the relative heights of mountain ranges in Middle Earth? And how would they compare to our modern world?
I tend to imagine that after the First Age, the highest ranges were the White ...
- 511
3
votes
2
answers
753
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A LoTR/Sillmarillion fanfic where female elf warrior/wanderer goes through the ages
Looking for a fanfic I read a long time ago but can't find.
The basic premise is having an elf live and and experience (and affect) the history of Arda. Begins in Aman, follows the exile of the ...
- 107
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2
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1k
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Why did the Silmarils hurt Morgoth’s hand?
Could they have been like the Ring and had a “life” of their own?
- 936
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3
answers
842
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Were the Cracks of Doom unique because that's where Maedhros cast the Silmaril?
Everyone knows that the only place in Arda that the One Ring could be unmade was in the fiery pits of the Cracks of Doom but, as has been asked elsewhere, what was so special about the CoD? I've seen ...
- 81
10
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1
answer
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What happened to the Dark Land in Arda?
I'm not talking about Mordor. I'm talking about the continent between Middle-earth and the Lands of the Sun. This continent existed throughout the Ages of Arda, until it seems to have vanished after ...
- 7,212
15
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2
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Has Christopher Tolkien said how he would have done "On the Ruin of Doriath" differently?
The chapter On the Ruin of Doriath in The Silmarillion is known to have been a rather extensive synthesis by CJRT of JRRT's existing texts (plus a bit of his own creativity), which were less cohesive/...
- 2,807
35
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2
answers
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What magical powers do balrogs have?
J. R. R. Tolkien wrote:
For of the Maiar many were drawn to his splendour in the days of his greatness, and remained in that allegiance down into his darkness; and others he corrupted afterwards to ...
- 38.7k
29
votes
4
answers
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Why was Ondolindë always referred to as Gondolin?
Did Tolkien ever say why Gondolin was so-called by its Sindarin name, instead of the Quenya: Ondolindë? Thingol forbade his people from using Quenya or responding to people who used it, as a response ...
- 2,807
12
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3
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Why is Eärendil born a Man and Dior born an Elf?
The first two unions of Eldar and Edain produced Dior, son of Beren and Lúthien, and Eärendil, son of Tuor and Idril. Dior is treated an elf in the narrative, as are his children. However, Eärendil ...
- 2,794
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3
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Why would the Valar release Melkor?
Once the Valar discovered Melkor had returned from beyond and started causing havoc in Middle-earth, destroying the Two Lamps and capturing, torturing, and mutilating Elves into what would later be ...
- 10.8k
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2
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Why did Manwë not understand the concept of Evil?
Manwë and Morgoth were brothers from their very creation. Morgoth whom created evil and wrote into the Music of the Ainur, chords of discord that would affect the events of Arda to come, had corrupted ...
- 10.8k
9
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1
answer
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Why did the people of Nargothrond heed the Sons of Feanor over Finrod Felagund?
When Beren came to Nargothrond to seek aid for his quest from Finrod to Angband the Sons of Feanor. Celegorm and Curufin stood out in the crowd reciting the Oath of Feanor, and stating that Finrod is ...
- 10.8k
4
votes
2
answers
450
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Why did the Vanyar leave Tirion for Taniquetil?
It is stated that once the Calaquendi Elves got to Valinor from their Great Journey from Middle-earth, both the Noldor and Vanyar built and resided in the city of Tirion on Tuna. Later on the Vanyar ...
- 10.8k
19
votes
1
answer
10k
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How tall are Aragorn and Elendil?
On both Tolkien Gateway and the Lord of the Rings wikia it says that Elendil is 7’11 (241cm) and Aragon is 6’6 (198cm). I have read the Lord of the Rings and the Silmarillion and neither of them ...
- 1,373
6
votes
1
answer
969
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Tolkien's quote about sadness of kings
I have been searching for a quote by Tolkien, presumably from The Silmarillion, which says (paraphrasing here) that the great kings had a sadness in them because they had seen the suffering from the ...
- 261
6
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3
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1k
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What exactly were Laurelin and Telperion?
There are things we do know about Laurelin and Telperion. They glowed, they had names, they seem to have had genders. And they were very, very important - and not only that, but irreplaceable. And ...
- 13.3k
10
votes
2
answers
1k
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What Are Middle-earth Giants?
I was playing LOTR War in the North the other day. Despite its inaccuracy, there was one part where I had to fight a stone giant. I don't recall this from any of the books I've read, which are ...
4
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1
answer
565
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Why aren't there werewolves anymore in the Third Age? [duplicate]
Who was the responsible for their disappearance? Are they hidden to the South maybe?
- 381
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2
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724
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How aware are Middle-earth races about their deities? [duplicate]
From the point of view of the reader, we’re made aware (via The Silmarillion mostly) about the different powers in Middle-earth and the creation of Arda. For the reader there’s Eru, the Valar and the ...
- 14.5k
5
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1
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What was the fate of Daeron the Minstrel of Doriath?
Daeron was a servant of Elu Thingol of Doriath as a minstrel and a courtier of Lúthien Tinuviel (as well as a snitch). Daeron was jealous of Beren and Lúthien's relationship and sold them out to ...
- 363
3
votes
0
answers
114
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Did the Two Trees illuminate the whole of Arda or just Valinor? [duplicate]
After the destruction of the Two Lamps (Ormal and Illuin), the Valar created two massive Trees (Laurelin and Telperion) in Valinor and gave them light that was left over from the Lamps that gave Elves ...
- 363
7
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2
answers
1k
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How much of Arda did Morgoth destroy before the Coming of the Elves?
How much carnage did Morgoth lay upon Middle-earth during the early days of Arda before the Awakening of the Elves at Cuiviénen?
- 363
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1
answer
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What is the significance of Turin Turambar?
What is the quality that he possesses that makes him unique among the Edain, and why is he, of all Men, the one that is going to kill Morgoth in the Dagor Dagorath?
- 363
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2
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Why did Morgoth place a price on Beren's head?
After Beren slew the party of Orcs that had killed his father, Barahir, and their band of outlaws, and reclaimed the Ring of Finrod (as it was called before being renamed), Morgoth placed a price ...
- 363
2
votes
2
answers
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Did Ungoliant possess either the Flame Imperishable or some alternate version of it?
As I understand, life in Arda was brought forth either by Eru Directly, or after the rough draft, Eru gave the go-ahead for that form of life to be legitimatized by giving it the Flame Imperishable.
...
- 183
11
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4
answers
4k
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Who are the 2 most powerful entities to battle each other directly?
I was thinking the other day, which were the 2 most powerful entities/characters that came into direct combat with each other. I know that the Gandalf/Durin's Bane battle may have been the instance of ...
- 183
11
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3
answers
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Do Men have a greater degree of free will than Elves?
Related to this question. The Music that Eru and the Ainur made works as fate for the first Ages covering history until the Dominion of Man.
[I]t is said that after the departure of the Valar there ...
- 10.9k
2
votes
2
answers
398
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How were the Years of the Trees divided into ages? [duplicate]
When Melkor is condemned to the prison of Mandos, it is for three ages.
There was Melkor doomed to abide for three ages long, before his cause
should be tried anew, or he should plead again for ...
- 595
1
vote
2
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999
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Could Aulë have been corrupted by Melkor?
Aulë was most like Melkor and both had the same desire to create life, independent of Ilúvatar.
Melkor was jealous of him, for Aulë was most like himself in thought and in powers. [...] Both, ...
- 595
9
votes
1
answer
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Reason for this material's resilience against evil
Othram (the outermost wall of Minas Tirith), Orthanc, the Black Stone of Erech, the Palantíri, and Gurthang are all black/obsidian in color, nigh indestructible and/or only able to be shaped by ...
- 2,384
19
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5
answers
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Why didn't Beren kill Morgoth when he had the chance?
Beren had Morgoth at his mercy, and he could've drove his knife into Morgoth while he slept.
Suddenly he fell, as a hill sliding in avalanche, and hurled like thunder from his throne lay prone ...
- 26.4k
8
votes
1
answer
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Physical bodies and 'Mortality' of the Istari vs other embodied Ainur
The Istari were "clad in the bodies of Men, real and not feigned", unlike most Ainur who were inherently spirits and used bodies "only as we use raiment".
However, Morgoth became permanently embodied ...
- 5,934
8
votes
2
answers
2k
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What happened to the first 3 Elves to wake at Cuiviénen?
Imin, Tata, and Enel were the first Elves to awake in the Cuivienyarna. They were called the 'elf-fathers' as they later awoke all the other Elves at the bay of Cuiviénen.
And so it was that the ...
- 26.4k
6
votes
1
answer
1k
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Did Thingol ever forgive the House of Fingolfin for the Kinslaying at Alqualondë?
Thingol was originally the leader of the Nelyar Elves awoken in Middle-Earth. This title was later given to his brother. Thingol then became first King of the Northern Elven Kingdom of Doriath. Being ...
- 26.4k
7
votes
1
answer
972
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What is the fate of all Ents who die? [duplicate]
After death, the Elves would spawn in the Halls of Mandos and remain there until the end of days, Man will leave Arda, never to return, and Dwarves will return to the Earth from which they were made. ...
- 34.2k
6
votes
1
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What was the purpose of Sauron's human sacrifices?
When Sauron was in Numenor, he corrupted the locals into worshipping Melkor, offering him human sacrifices. The victims were mostly the Faithful, who opposed Sauron and his puppet king.
So, why did ...
- 549
0
votes
0
answers
128
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What was the fate of Dior Eluchil? [duplicate]
Dior was the second King of Doriath and the son of Beren and Lúthien, so that made him half man, half elf and Maia. However, since Dior died before Manwë decreed any half-blood person could choose ...
- 10.8k
1
vote
1
answer
401
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Wouldn't Glorfindel had met Tuor in Valinor?
We're told that Tuor was allowed in Valinor and was supposedly given immortality (within Arda). Now, after Glorfindel died in the fall of Gondolin, went to Mandos and was re-embodied after a "short ...
- 41
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votes
2
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1k
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Balrogs: Valar, Maiar or Spirits?
I encountered the following bit, regarding Balrogs, in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter 144:
The Balrogs, of whom the whips were the chief weapons, were primeval
spirits of destroying fire, ...
- 784
1
vote
0
answers
65
views
What are the planets in Eä? [duplicate]
In the Silmarillion The Sun and Moon are actually Maia bearing lamps, Arien and Tilion. Is there any writing on the sources of Mars, Jupiter and the other planets?
- 4,962
16
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5
answers
2k
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Are beasts of burden in Middle-earth used by the Evil Forces considered inherently "evil"?
As I was recently re-watching the LOTR trilogy, it occurred to me that only the evil forces use (besides horses/oxen) what I consider "beasts of burden", such as Cave Trolls, Oliphants, Fell Beasts, ...
- 11.8k
5
votes
2
answers
985
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In the absence of the Doom of the Noldor, would Feanor and co. have had a chance against Morgoth? [closed]
This is something that just occurred to me recently - I had always assumed not, but I realized the key quote might not mean what I thought it meant.
Vala he is, thou saist. Then thou hast sworn in ...
- 5,934
12
votes
1
answer
782
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Is there more information about dwarves wearing masks in battle?
In the Silmarillion, it says that during the Fifth Battle, it was the custom of the Naugrim to wear great masks in battle, hideous to look upon, and the masks stood them in great stead against the ...
- 353
6
votes
1
answer
715
views
Do dwarves always stop fighting when their leader is killed?
In The Silmarillion, it says that during the Fifth Battle, when Glaurung killed Azaghâl, the Lord of the Belegost, the dwarves stopped fighting and carried his body away "with slow steps", "singing a ...
- 353
9
votes
2
answers
736
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What became of Lenwë and the Nandor who stayed with him?
Then one arose in the host of Olwë, which was ever the hindmost on the road; Lenwë he was called. He forsook the westward march, and led away a numerous people, southwards down the great river, and ...
- 193