The Silmarillion – A Beginner’s Guide – Pt 32 (Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin)

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At last, in the year when Eärendil was seven years old, Morgoth was ready, and he loosed upon Gondolin his Balrogs, and his Orcs, and his wolves; and with them came dragons of the brood of Glaurung, and they were become now many and terrible. (242)

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This post continues my chapter-by-chapter walkthrough of The Silmarillion. This time, I will examine the 23rd chapter of The Silmarillion proper, “Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin.” You can see a list of all of the posts in this series by clicking here.

Ruins of Gondolin ©2010-2015 Grrrod

You’ll recall from Chapter 20, during the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, Huor (brother of Húrin) says to King Turgon of Gondolin that “from you and from me a new star shall arise.” With Chapter 23, we pick up that story.

Talking Tolkien Podcast – Ep. 14 – Mythopoeia – Tolkien’s Poem for C.S. Lewis

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The heart of man is not compound of lies,
But draws some wisdom from the only Wise… (87)

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©2013-2015 rfcunha

In episode 14, we discuss “Mythopoeia”, the poem Tolkien wrote after an important conversation with C.S. Lewis.

The Silmarillion – A Beginner’s Guide – Pt 29 (Of Túrin Turambar 1/2)

This post has been permanently relocated. You can now find it here:

http://truemyths.org/blog/the-silmarillion-a-beginners-guide-redux-part-29-of-turin-turambar-1-of-2

Thanks for visiting and enjoy!

Talking Tolkien Podcast – Ep. 13 – The Silmarillion – Ch. 6 – Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor

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For Manwë was free from evil and could not comprehend it, and he knew that in the beginning, in the thought of Ilúvatar, Melkor had been even as he; and he saw not to the depths of Melkor’s heart, and did not perceive that all love had departed from him for ever. (65-66)

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©2013-2015 rfcunha

In episode 13, we discuss Chapter 6 of The Silmarillion, “Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor.”

The Plot of The Silmarillion in Less Than 500 Words

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You asked for a brief sketch of my stuff that is connected with my imaginary world. It is difficult to say anything without saying too much… (xi)

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One of the main goals of this site is to help others develop an appreciation for The Silmarillion, an exceedingly tough read. As I’ve said before, I tried several times to start it and, on my best attempt, made it only a little bit into Quenta Silmarillion. I really had to muscle through the first time I did finish it, but on subsequent readings, it has unfolded with ever greater beauty.

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As frequent visitors to this site will note, I am slowly creating a beginner’s guide for The Silmarillion. Said guide goes through the chapters in The Silmarillion and breaks them down into easily palatable chunks. The idea is that a new reader could attempt a chapter and, if they find themselves confused, refer to my handy-dandy guide (rather than throwing up their hands in exasperation, wishing for some hobbits to ground everything a bit).

Talking Tolkien Podcast – Ep. 12 – The Silmarillion – Ch. 5 – Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië

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Finwë grieved when the Teleri came not, and yet more when he learned that Elwë was forsaken, and knew that he should not see him again, unless it were in the halls of Mandos. (59)

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©2013-2015 rfcunha

In episode 12, we discuss Chapter 5 of The Silmarillion, “Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië”.

Talking Tolkien Podcast – Ep. 11 – Leaf By Niggle – Pt 2 – The Story

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He could not get rid of his kind heart. ‘I wish I was more strong- minded’ he sometimes said to himself, meaning that he wished other people’s troubles did not make him feel uncomfortable. But for a long time he was not seriously perturbed. ‘At any rate, I shall get this one picture done, my real picture, before I have to go on that wretched journey,’ he used to say. Yet he was beginning to see that he could not put off his start indefinitely. The picture would have to stop just growing and get finished. (257)

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©2013-2015 rfcunha

“Leaf By Niggle” is my favorite non-Middle-earth work of Tolkien’s. It’s a beautiful short story, readable in one sitting, and contains no trace of elves, hobbits, or dragons. However, it is completely Tolkienian, and is perhaps one of the clearest views into Tolkien’s philosophical outlook available to us. I will just say this: “Leaf By Niggle” changed my perspective on life and drove me to invest more in my creative desires.

Talking Tolkien Podcast – Ep. 10 – Leaf By Niggle – Pt 1 – Introduction

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[“Leaf By Niggle”] arose from my own pre-occupation with The Lord of the Rings, the knowledge that it would be finished in great detail or not at all, and the fear (near certainty) that it would be ‘not at all.’ (257)

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©2013-2015 rfcunha

“Leaf By Niggle” is my favorite non-Middle-earth work of Tolkien’s. It’s a beautiful short story, readable in one sitting, and contains no traces of elves, hobbits, or dragons. However, it is completely Tolkienian, and is perhaps one of the clearest views into Tolkien’s philosophical outlook available to us. I will just say this: “Leaf By Niggle” changed my perspective on life and drove me to invest more in my creative desires.

The Silmarillion – A Beginner’s Guide – Pt 27 (Of the Fifth Battle 1/2)

This post has been permanently relocated. You can find it here:

http://truemyths.org/blog/the-silmarillion-a-beginners-guide-redux-part-27-of-the-fifth-battle-1-of-2

Enjoy!

Confessions of a Tolkien Devotee pt 1: Why I Love Tolkien

My Fellow Tolkien Devotees,

Sometimes it’s necessary to come back to the most basic of all questions: Why? For the last few weeks, I have been wrestling with the question of why I started this website and, like Lúthien before “the inexorable Mandos”, wondering to what end it is doomed. I know I’m not simply creating a Tolkien fansite, but what then am I creating?

©2010-2015 AlasseaEarello