mnemosyne
Shield Bearer
Alliance: House of Feanor
Last Visited: 19 Dec 2003
Joined: 06 Jun 2002
Posts: 298
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Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2002 8:44 pm |
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Welcome to the sixth month of the Virtual Tolkien Study Group, which is discussing chapters 13 and 14 of the QUENTA SILMARILLION.
If you’re new to this forum, please take a look at the READ FIRST POST/Sign On/Ask Questions/OOC before you post.
Please feel free to contribute. Simple questions and observations are just as welcome as huge deep insightful posts; your two cents worth might spark off the next round of discussion.
Summary of the November Study Session
The Noldor return to Middle Earth and discover Beleriand. The second battle in the Wars of Beleriand occurs, Fëanor falls, and Fingolfin and his people finally reach Beleriand after Fëanor’s treachery. The Noldor reunite, Nargothrond and Menegroth are founded, the Dagor Aglareb occurs, as well as the Siege of Angband. The second chapter describes the area of ME where the Eldalië and men first resided.
Chapter 13: Of the Return of the Noldor
The flames from the burning of the ships at Losgar are seen not only by Fingolfin and his followers in Araman, but also by the orcs and other servants of the Dark Lord, Morgoth. He seems to have little fear of the Exiles led by Fëanor, and immediately decides to drive them back to the sea.
Before Fëanor’s camp on the Lake Mithrim is completed, a host of Morgoth arrives and attacks. This is the Second Battle in the Wars of Beleriand, called Dagor-nuin-Giliath, the Battle-under-Stars. The Exiles win the battle, for only lately have their eyes last beheld the light of Aman. Of all of the warriors sent out by Morgoth, only a handful return to him.
Fëanor, however, as one fey, decides to press on to Angband. He does not know of the many caverns and dark places where Morgoth built his fortress, nor does he care. He goes ahead of the host, and practically alone, and begins an assault on Angband. Balrogs are sent against him, and surrounded, he is mortally wounded.
Then his sons raised their father and bore him back towards Mithrim. But as they drew near to Eithel Sirion and were upon the upward path to the pass over the mountains, Fëanor bade them halt; for his wounds were mortal and he knew his hour was come . . . Then he died; but he had neither burial nor tomb, for so fiery was his spirit that as it sped his body fell to ash, and was borne away like smoke; and his likeness has never appeared again in Arda, neither has his spirit left the halls of Mandos
Before dying, however, Fëanor lays his oath to regain the Silmarils upon his sons.
An embassy arrives from Morgoth, claiming surrender, and offering up one of the Silmarils. Maedhros, Fëanor’s eldest son, decides to feign acceptance of the terms, and brings together a large group of fighters to meet Morgoth’s forces. However, Morgoth sends more, and all of Maedhros’ warriors were killed. Maedhros was captured and hung from a cliff by the wrist of his right arm, after refusing to give up information to Morgoth.
While the Sun rises for the first time, Fingolfin and his followers march toward Hithlum. Morgoth’s servants flee from the brilliant light of the sun, leaving the passage safe for Fingolfin. The Elves trumpet a challenge to Angband, but then Fingolfin decides to return to Hithlum, where he believes he can find the sons of Fëanor, as well as find a safe place to camp. As Fingolfin approaches, the host of Fëanor withdraws with shame for the burning of the ships at Losgar.
As the divided Noldor hesitate, Morgoth creates great clouds and mists, which lay heavy on the land and darken the sun. The rumble of his underground forges can be heard in Hithlum, and, anticipating Morgoth’s attack, Fingon son of Fingolfin sets forth in search of the captured Maedhros. He finds Maedhros, and with the assistance of the King of the Eagles, rescues him by cutting off the right hand, by which he was bound to the rock. Eventually, Maedhros heals and becomes a better swordsman with his left hand than he was with the right.
And: By this deed Fingon won great renown, and all the Noldor praised him; and the hatred between the houses of Fingolfin and Fëanor was assuaged.
At this point, part of Mandos’ prophecy is fulfilled. The House of Fëanor is called the Dispossessed, because the lordship of it passes to the House of Fingolfin. The leaders of the unified Noldor speak with King Thingol in Doriath, requesting land to live on. Thingol begrudgingly grants them Hithlum, Dorthonion, and the empty eastern lands.
The sons of Fëanor, save Maedhros, grow angry with the sons of Finarfin, who spoke for the all Noldor. They depart, and Maedhros, who is still close in friendship to Fingon, leads them far east to avoid any possible arguments.
For fifty years, there is peace amongst the Noldor. Then, Ulmo sends dreams to Turgon son of Fingolfin, and Finrod, troubling them. Each of them begins to search out safe places to dwell.
Finrod and Galadriel, his sister, stay with Thingol and Melian for a while. Finrod, in awe of the strength of Menegroth, wishes for a place of his own. With directions from Thingol, Finrod finds the Caverns of Narog, where he establishes his safe haven, Nargothrond. It is there that he picks up a second name: Felagund, “Hewer of Caves.”
Turgon, meanwhile, discovers the Vale of Sirion, where he starts plans to build a city.
Suddenly, Morgoth sends great waves of fire and orcs, which were fought valiantly by the warriors of Maedhros and Fingolfin. This was the Dagor Aglareb, the Glorious Battle. Thus begins the nearly 100 years’ Siege of Angband. Time and again, Morgoth tests his strength, and time and again he is beaten.
Then comes the Uruloki. Glaurung the very first dragon, appears. However, being only half-grown, Fingon and his archers manage to drive him back to Angband.
After the retreat of Glaurung, there is a 200 years’ peace, during which the Noldor grow prosperous and happy.
Chapter 14: Of Beleriand and its Realms
This is the fashion of the lands into which the Noldor came . . .
Since Ch. 14 is mainly a description of the land, here are two maps of Beleriand. One is in color and the other is the original by Christopher Tolkien in http://www.geocities.com/houseofhador/images/beleriandmap.gif”">black and white
Morgoth makes Ered Engrin, the Iron Mountains, behind which he builds Angband. Below the mountains is a tunnel, which leads to a large gate. Behind the gate is Thangorodrim, the lofty piles of ash and refuse from his tunneling.
Fingolfin and Fingon inhabit the Land of Mist, Hithlum, and most of their people live in Mithrim, around the shores of the lake. Fingon is charged with Dor-lomin, which lies west of the Mountains of Mithrim. However, their main fortress is in Eithel Sirion, east of Ered Wethrin, where they keep watch on Ard-galen.
West of Dor-lomin, beyond the Echoing Mountains, which south of the Firth of Drengist marched inland, lay Nevrast, that signifies the Hither Shore in the Sindarin tongue. That name was given at first to all the coastlands south of the Firth, but afterwards only to the land whose shores lay between Drengist and Mount Taras.
This was the realm of Turgon for many years, and all the people who lived there became his subjects. Also, in Nevrast was the first intermarrying of the Sindar and Noldor.
Finarfin’s sons, Angrod and Aegnor look out from the north of Dorthonion, to make sure Morgoth doesn’t cross there.
The most important river of the time is the “mighty river Sirion.” It runs through the middle of Beleriand. To the west of Sirion is Nargothrond, which extends to the sea. Between the coast, where Cirdan is lord, and the river, lies the realm of Finrod Felagund. Near Eglarest, Finrod builds the tower Barad Nimras to watch the western sea. However, this is not necessary, since Morgoth and his servants avoid the ocean at all costs.
Finrod’s land becomes the greatest, although he is younger than all of the other lords. Despite this, Fingolfin is still leader of all Noldor.
Doriath remains the hidden home of Thingol and Melian. The enchanted Girdle of Melian encompasses the land of Doriath, preventing any who are not welcome from entering. Part of the river Sirion is held within the Girdle, as well as the woodland of Nivrim.
The other great river of Beleriand is Gelion. Gelion begins as two rivers, Little Gelion and Greater Gelion, which merge into a river even faster than Sirion. Gelion, however, has neither falls nor rapids. Between Gelion and Sirion, to the south, is a dark forest where few go.
East of Dorthonion is the most vulnerable part of Beleriand. Only because of the vigilance of Maedhros and his people is the area safe.
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mnemosyne
Shield Bearer
Alliance: House of Feanor
Last Visited: 19 Dec 2003
Joined: 06 Jun 2002
Posts: 298
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Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2002 8:52 pm |
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Questions for discussion
Here are some quick questions that came to me . . .
1. Why wasn’t Morgoth more concerned when the first Exiles
landed on his shores? In his dealings with Fëanor, shouldn’t he have known that he couldn’t get rid of them so easily?
2. What made Fëanor act so recklessly? I know, I know, he was “fey”  , but still, what caused him to attack Angband with little or no back up? Did he think he could defeat Morgoth?
3. Was this the first time Balrogs had been used in battle against the elves?
4. How did Fingon manage to forgive the treachery of the House of Fëanor and rescue Maedhros? If Thorondor had not flown up, and Fingon had killed Maedhros, would the Noldor still have reconciled?
5. Why did Ulmo send dreams to Turgon and Finrod? Why was Ulmo the only Vala to put messages through dreams? Or was he?
6. What is the importance of the rivers?
7. At this point, how do the sons of Fëanor intend to get the Silmarils? Or are they more interested in survival?
8. What do the dwarves think about all of these new people moving into Beleriand?
9. How does the lay of Beleriand relate to Middle Earth of LOTR? Is it the same place with different names, or is it a completely different part of the continent?
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Falborn
Shield Bearer
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Last Visited: 05 Dec 2003
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Posted: Fri Nov 1, 2002 8:40 am |
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Congratulations, mnemosyne, well done!
I will give your questions a go:
1. Why wasn't Morgoth more concerned when the first Exiles
landed on his shores?
Morgoth had been able to drive back the Sindarin Elves with orcs alone - and had it not been for Melian the Sindarin Elves would probably have been completely defeated. He may not have understood the great strength that would have come with the Noldor's growth in pure light; he clearly had not benefited from living under the light of the trees.
In his dealings with Fëanor, shouldn't he have known that he couldn't get rid of them so easily?
This answer could apply to the first question. Morgoth may have thought that the Noldor, indeed all a Aman, to be intimidated, cowed, by the apparent strength he had displayed in the distruction of the trees.
2. What made Fëanor act so recklessly? I know, I know, he was ?fey? , but still, what caused him to attack Angband with little or no back up? Did he think he could defeat Morgoth?
Great question! Could it be that Feanor had become consumed by the feeling of power he felt when he gave himself up to anger and revenge?
3. Was this the first time Balrogs had been used in battle against the elves?
Gee... I guess so. They do not show up in the battles against the Sindar.
4. How did Fingon manage to forgive the treachery of the House of Fëanor and rescue Maedhros?
Another great question. Now that you have given me opportunity to think about it, the cause of the Noldor in Beleriand was saved by Fingon's forgiveness. Interesting that his forgiveness is bound up in music.
If Thorondor had not flown up, and Fingon had killed Maedhros, would the Noldor still have reconciled?
I was struck at the way that Maedhros grew from the memory of the pain he had felt as he hung from the mountain. In a way by begging for death, he had given up the Oath, at least in those moments. I can't see any of his brothers giving the overlordship of the Noldor to Fingolfin. It took Fingon's love and courage plus the newfound wisdom of Maedhros to overcome the injury done to Fingophin's host. Without Maedhros I do not think they could have reconciled.
5. Why did Ulmo send dreams to Turgon and Finrod? Why was Ulmo the only Vala to put messages through dreams? Or was he?
6. What is the importance of the rivers?
These questions all seem bound together to me. I believe that Ulmo, more than any of the Vala, had an understanding of the cosmic drama that included all of the inhabitants of Arda, the Ainur and the Children of Iluvatar, working together to heal the hurts of Morgoth and create Arda Healed. That he accepted the loss and sacrifice this would entail. Ulmos messages to Turgon, after all, were that he would acheive all of his hearts desire and yet must be prepared to lose it all.
That said, I do not understand the purpose of the message to Finrod.
The rivers, to me, mean that the power of Ulmo extended throughout Beleriand.
I wonder if Ulmos power extended to the waters of nevrast, since none of those waters emptied into the sea?
7. At this point, how do the sons of Fëanor intend to get the Silmarils? Or are they more interested in survival?
One of the great mysteries of the Silmarillion to me. It is like they so much enjoyed having kingdoms of their own that they were willing to endure Morgoth in the north just as long as they could be left alone. Of course they were having a lot of children at this time, and part of their strategy could have been to gain strength by increasing their numbers.
8. What do the dwarves think about all of these new people moving into Beleriand?
I think the dwarves, to the extent that they noticed at all, liked having help against Morgoth, liked the gems of the Noldor and the smithcraft they were able to learn from them.
9. How does the lay of Beleriand relate to Middle Earth of LOTR? Is it the same place with different names, or is it a completely different part of the continent?
The mountains of Lindon at the east of Beleriand are the same mountains in the north west of Eriador on the maps in LOTR. Lindon was the only part of Beleriand that survived - in legend because it was the location of the graves of Beren and Luthien.
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Rosie_the_hobbit
Ranger of the North
Alliance: The Shire
Last Visited: 05 Jan 2006
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Posted: Fri Nov 1, 2002 6:47 pm |
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Interesting that his forgiveness is bound up in music.
Music does seem to have a significant role it ME. Maybe it is a throwback to the idea that the world was created throught the music of the Ainur. Here is another interesting similarity. Fingon's song in the cliffs allowed him to find Meadhros. Sam's song in the tower does seem like history repeating itself. I'm not sure what to make of it, but it is interesting.
Then in defiance of the Orcs, who cowered still in the dark vaults beneath the earth, he took his harp and sang a song of Valinor that the Noldor made of old,
And then softly, to his own surprise, there at the vain end of his long journey and his grief, moved by what thought in his heart he could not tell, Sam began to sing.... His song in the Tower had been defiance rather than hope;
In both situations the song was described as an act of defiance against the enemy. Neither expected the song to help them accomplish their goal, even though it did in both cases.
As far as the question of whether the friendship would have been renewed if Fingon had killed Maedhros as he had requested, I doubt that would have worked. It may have even stirred up more strife. It was Maedhros's forgiveness that facilitated the reconciliation.
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Imlas
Petitioner to the Council
Alliance: Numenore
Last Visited: 12 Nov 2002
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Posted: Fri Nov 1, 2002 10:09 pm |
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This is the first time that I have contributed to this forum and as you can see from my details I am more of a reader than a writer. I am reading the Silmarillion again for the first time in almost five years.
But there was something mnenosyne raised that I have also been thinking about.
Why did Ulmo send dreams to Turgon and Finrod?
If we think about Thingol in Doriath, here was a Sindarin who had, through the Girdle of Melian, protected his kingdom. In addition he had little love for the sons of Feanor.
(On a separate note, could it be argued that this is somewhat akin to the Valar in Valinor who had 'removed' Arda from the realms of the Earth?)
The antitheses of Thingol are the Noldor returning from the West in pursuit of Morgoth, and in particular the sons of Feanor. They have no desire to hide themselves but to besiege Angband and to fulfil their oath. Perhaps Ulmo had the foresight to see that if left unaided the lies of Morgoth would destroy any hope that remained for a reunification between the Sindar and the Noldor.
Finrod, being Thingol's kin could be the one to bring together the Eldar that had been sundered long ago. He is also from the house of Finarfin and not one of the sons of Feanor, whose doom lied heaviest. As for why Ulmo chose Turgon, to me it is unclear, other than that he long desired to see Tirion.
I am not sure whether Ulmo was the only one to put messages through dreams, rather at that time the Valar were removed in Valinor and with the exception of Manwe having a hand in the rescue of Maedhros, the Valar had foresaken the Exiles. Therefore, Ulmo was the only Vala to aid Middle Earth at this time.
As is told in the Valaquenta,"Nonetheless Ulmo loves both Elves and Men, and never abandoned them, not even when they lay under the wrath of the Valar."
One thing that has always puzzled me was why did the Valar remove Aman from the Earth, And to a lesser extent why Gondolin, Nargothrond and Doriath remained hidden kingdoms? Surely, this is a very isolationist view whereby one looks after all those within his kingdom and forsakes those that live outside.
Despite the malice of Morgoth, to me it would seem necessary to try and protect all the lands of the Earth not just where I happened to live.
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mnemosyne
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Last Visited: 19 Dec 2003
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Posted: Fri Nov 1, 2002 11:26 pm |
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Thanks, Falborn 
I appreciate the time you put into the questions. In response to question 7, you wrote: It is like they so much enjoyed having kingdoms of their own that they were willing to endure Morgoth in the north just as long as they could be left alone.
That actually makes a lot of sense. It actually seems to me that it took a while for the full import of their father’s oath to hit the sons. At first, perhaps, they took it lightly, but as it was an oath sworn on the highest of powers, they could not help but answer. Somewhat like the Ring, the Oath of Feanor took its toll slowly but surely.
Nice to see you Rosie. Good point about the Fingon’s song helping him to find Maedhros. It does seem to relate to the creation of the world. Song is an important aspect throughout the book . . . especially Luthien, who we come across later on.
Welcome, Imlas! Glad to have you. The question of why Turgon, Thingol, and Finrod all had hidden realms is one that I find very interesting. I think it was to emphasize the fact that nothing lasts forever. Ulmo told Turgon that the end of his kingdom would come, and eventually, all three, Turgon, Thingol, and Finrod’s realms were destroyed.
Also, the elves were never really meant to remain in ME. This may have been the Vala way of letting them have some comfort while they were “on vacation,” but eventually, they must pass into the west. (Of course, both Finrod and Thingol were slain . . . so I suppose they passed into the Halls of Mandos.)
mnem
(BTW: if this is somewhat incoherent, chalk it up to the fact that I’m very, very tired  )
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-Rómestámo-
Ranger of the North
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Posted: Sat Nov 2, 2002 8:39 am |
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Congratulations and thanks mnemosyne for an excellent starting post.
Just a few thoughts...
5. Why did Ulmo send dreams to Turgon and Finrod? Why was Ulmo the only Vala to put messages through dreams? Or was he?
6. What is the importance of the rivers?
While Manwë and Varda can see and hear what goes on the Hither Shore, they are still remote and detached from the Peoples of Middle-earth. Whereas Ulmo still returns to Middle-earth and can sense their struggles and sufferings from close at hand. The Valaquenta says: For all seas, lakes, rivers, fountains and springs are in his government; so that the Elves say that the spirit of Ulmo runs in all the veins of the world. Thus news comes to Ulmo, even in the deeps, of all the needs and griefs of Arda, which otherwise would be hidden from Manwë. This idea echoes some of the early cosmology given in HOME IV. (Thus Linaewen in Nevrast, Tarn Aeluin and Lake Mithrim would all be subject to Ulmo despite not draining into the Sea). While some bodies of water are beloved and are more frequented by the power of Ulmo (for example Sirion), and Ulmo seems to withdraw from water that has been defiled, he remains more intimately in touch with the Elves than any other Vala and this explains why he acts to help them more than any other.
8. What do the dwarves think about all of these new people moving into Beleriand?
More people to trade with ! Most of the dwarves relied on trade for much of their food; their preferred habitat (underground) was not coveted by the newcomers and they delighted in the gems (and pearls) that the Elves could provide. However while the Dwarves of the great cities of Nogrod and Belegost would not find any disadvantages from the influx of the Noldor, the Petty dwarves (noegyth nibin) would find their resentment against all elves would increase. (They had been hunted by the Sindar, and displaced from their ancestral halls of Nulukkizdîn) by the Noldor (Nargothrond)).
9. How does the lay of Beleriand relate to Middle Earth of LOTR? Is it the same place with different names, or is it a completely different part of the continent?
Just some additions to Falborn's notes on this question: Lindon was the only part of Beleriand that survived - in legend because it was the location of the graves of Beren and Luthien.
In Unfinished Tales, CJRT comments on the remnants of Beleriand in subsequent Ages. Along with Lindon there were several islands- Tol Fuin, formed by the highlands of Taur-nu-Fuin, Tol Morwen -near the region of the Crossings of Teiglin, and the isle of Himling (the only feature actually seen on the UT map) which was the summit of the Hill of Himring. It is interesting to speculate whether the ruins of Maedhros' fortified encampment could have been found there in the Second and Third Ages. While Tol Morwen survived the foundering of Beleriand specifically because of it being the location of the Stone of the Hapless and the graves of Morwen and two of her children, I am not sure whether it was said that Lindon survived because of the graves of Beren and Lúthien, which presumably would have been on Tol Galen. Harlindon might include this region, but may not .
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greenleafwood
Ranger of the North
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Posted: Sat Nov 2, 2002 2:04 pm |
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Just dropping in to extend my hand out to mnemosyne for a great opening post. I am amazed how many interesting questions and new horizons crop up here month by month with each new topic of discussion and study.
I have as yet nothing to contribute, although the "dreams" topic is pretty challenging (since reading about Malbeth the Seer concerning the Paths of the Dead, but that is quite irrelevant here!).
Just a thought on a line you wrote in the opening post:
But as the host of Fingolfin marched intoMithrim the Sun rose flaming in the West; and Fingolfin unfurled his blue and silver banners, and blew his horns, and flowers sprang beneath his marching feet, and the ages of the stars were ended.
I absolutely love this passage, it is such an uplifting description of the Return of the Noldor in comparison to Feanor's "trail of tears" (as I personally like referring to).
Now my question is: how significant is this moment? Is it merely coincidence that Fingolfin's entry is heralded by the new light from Valinor/the firmament and the springing of new life from the earth beneath his feet? We talked of light in last month's discussion, but the details have escaped my (short) memory. Is this light somehow a ray of hope for Fingolfin from the Valar, a sign of hopeful reconciliation (?) between the Noldor and the Blessed Realm? Also the flowers springing from under his feet, which power is responsible for that?
greenleaf
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Luinnenion
Ranger of the North
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Posted: Sat Nov 2, 2002 11:06 pm |
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Here are some of my thoughts...
1. Why wasn’t Morgoth more concerned when the first Exiles
landed on his shores? In his dealings with Fëanor, shouldn’t he have known that he couldn’t get rid of them so easily?
2. What made Fëanor act so recklessly? I know, I know, he was “fey” , but still, what caused him to attack Angband with little or no back up? Did he think he could defeat Morgoth?
I think both of these can be summed up by the axiom: "Know thy enemy." It doesn't seem to me that neither Morgoth nor Feanor really had any idea of what they were up against. Feanor had never really known real battle, aside from the slaughter of the Teleri, and I'm not sure that was really the best lesson in the art of war. He didn't know about properly scouting out the enemy, or planning an attack. Once the tide turned, he decided to surf it, and it was not a wise choice.
As for Morgoth, as Falborn suggested, I think his fight with the Sindar had made him overconfident. While he had lost a great orc-host between Aros and Gelion, he had fenced in Thingol and Menegroth, and pushed Cirdan to the western sea. Ultimately, I don't think he even thought he could be defeated, since he was a Vala. Since Feanor ran into Balrogs after overextending himself, my impression is that the Balrogs were kept in reserve, probably to mop up the powerful and valiant Noldor whom the orcs could not slay. He was taking the Noldor's camp by surprise, at night before the Moon ever rose. His plan, on the face of it, was probably sound; he had simply not accounted for the light of Aman lending so much strength to his foes. If he had, I think he would have comitted his Balrogs first.
3. Was this the first time Balrogs had been used in battle against the elves?
I think so. Only orcs are mentioned in the first Battle of Beleriand, against the Sindar.
4. How did Fingon manage to forgive the treachery of the House of Fëanor and rescue Maedhros?
His mother's love protected him...No! Wait! That's a different story. But there were two things at work here: one was fear. Fingon knew that Morgoth was powerful, and could attack at any time, and that the Noldor divided could not withstand him. The second was love for his cousin. They were so close that even though he may have felt horribly hurt and betrayed, it must have pained him to hear that Maedhros was held by the Enemy. I'm not entirely sure Fingon was ready to forgive, necessarily, the House of Feanor as a whole. But he could in any case try to rescue his close friend and kin. The fact that Feanor himself was dead probably had much to do with it. Everyone probably could (and did) claim that Feanor's powerful spirit led them to do those deeds.
If Thorondor had not flown up, and Fingon had killed Maedhros, would the Noldor still have reconciled?
I think not. And maybe Fingon would not have returned to the rest if he had killed Maedhros. Grief and anger might have led him to hunt Morgoth and his servants. Or he might not have escaped from the North. At any rate, Maedhros himself had much to do with the reconciliation of the Noldor, and if he had died, I don't think the other sons of Feanor would have been very amenable. Maedhros seemed to be the only good one of the lot.
7. At this point, how do the sons of Fëanor intend to get the Silmarils? Or are they more interested in survival?
I think the son of Feanor felt they were in a position to bide their time and gather their strength. They knew that Angband was well fortified, and that Morgoth was powerful. Maedhros, the leader of the sons, possessed some wisdom, and probably knew that all of the Elves united would be needed to defeat Morgoth. Obviously it would take time to form the necessary alliances and gather their strength. So they were content to keep Morgoth's forces besieged, until the time was ripe to go in an take Big M out. Of course, if they thought about it they would have realized that the time was never going to be ripe. But the sons of Feanor were nothing if not optimistic about the chances of recovering the Silmarils...
8. What do the dwarves think about all of these new people moving into Beleriand?
I don't think the Dwarves cared much for what went on in Beleriand, content as they were with their mountain cities in Gabilgathol, Tumunzahar, and Khazad-dum. They were probably glad to meet the people of the sons of Feanor, powerful Noldor wise in the ways of craftsmanship.
9. How does the lay of Beleriand relate to Middle Earth of LOTR? Is it the same place with different names, or is it a completely different part of the continent?
Beleriand is gone by the time of LotR. I definitely get a feeling of continuity; Doriath, Gondolin, and Nargothrond are all mentioned in LotR, and some LotR places, like Khazad-dum and Lindon are mentioned in the Sil. And whether it's Beleriand or Eriador, Cirdan likes to live on the western shore.
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Falborn
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Posted: Tue Nov 5, 2002 7:21 am |
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There are many seminal images in these chapters, but one in particular caught my eye, because of my recent infatuation with the Sindar. From page 117 of the Silmarillion:
'In many parts of the land the Noldor and the Sindar became welded into one people, and spoke the same tongue; though this difference remained between them, that the Noldor had the greater power of mind and body, and were the mightier warriors and sages, and they built with stone and loved the hill-slopes and open lands. But the Sindar had the fairer voices and were more skilled in music, save only Maglor son of Feanor, and they loved the woods and the riversides; and some of the Grey-elves still wondered far and wide without settled abode, and they sang as they went'
The description of the Telerian Sindar walking freely through the woods singing is reflected in a couple of passages which describe the awakening of the Teleri in the 'The Cuivienyarna - The legend of the Awakening of the Quendi'. From the chapter 'Quendi and Eldar' pages 422-3 of 'The War of the Jewels':
'...they came to a lake dark in the twilight; and there was a great cliff about it upon the east side, and a waterfall came down from the height, and the stars glittered on the foam. But the elf-men were already bathing in the waterfall and they had waked their spouses...they had formed no speech, though they sang sweetly and their voices echoed in the stone, mingling with the rush of the falls.'
'Now the Quendi loved all of Arda that they had yet seen, and green things that grew and the sun of summer were their delight; but nonetheless they were ever moved most by the Stars, and the hours of twilight in clear weather, at 'morrow-dim' and even-dim', were the times of their greatest joy. For in those hours in the spring of the year they had first awakened to life in Arda. But the Lindar (the Teleri), above all the other Quendi, from their beginning were most in love with water, and sang before they could speak.'
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miles2go
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Posted: Tue Nov 5, 2002 3:54 pm |
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mnemosyne,
Sorry to be a little late checking in. Great opening for this thread I have to admit that I have to put a little more thought into your questions, as well as considering the other replies, before I have a lot of feedback to offer.
Except...regarding Feanor and why he would attack Morgoth so recklessly. He reminds me very much of a headstrong child--deadly yes--but childish nonetheless. When my youngest son, who is 7 and about 60lbs, is outraged at his brother, who is almost 12 and 160lbs, he literally throws himself at him, in spite of the size difference. He never wins but he never stops. I will watch him pummel his brother with his fists, while the older boy just laughs. That of course makes him madder and so he fights harder, but he doesn't stand a chance.
Also, how much support could Feanor have expected? He wiped out one group of his kin and stranded another. Who could ever trust him in battle?
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Twiggyleaf
Rider of the Mark
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Posted: Wed Nov 6, 2002 1:42 am |
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Dear Mnemosyne
I dont want to sound boring but......
....wonderful job you have done in opening this section. And well-found greetings to all our correspondents. Hi to any newcomers.
I just realised I forgot to look at the map links. I will do that next time. A bit pressed for time now, but I look forward to it. The maps become particularly important in these two chapters, especially the second - so much so that even Tolkien felt he had to include a second map.
Last night while waiting for the Fireworks display I was looking in the window of a game shop and saw for the first time that there is now a LOTR Risk! game. How cool is that? If you can still find the time and willing players to "waste" a whole evening in the pursuit of world domination.
Well, the thing is that it seemed quite coincidental to me that I was reading the chapter "Of Beleriand and its Realms" like an opening Risk board. (Apologies to those who may not have played the game, but it is simply a board game where a map of the word is divided out between players, armies are given to each player and then consequences are determined by luck and basic strategy: Good fun, but it really drags if you don't finish within three hours.)
Well, these two chapters for me are like a game of Risk with a new and powerful player. (You know when you first hand in your set of three to get extra armies ....? That's Feanor. Then in the very next move the player to your left hands in their pack for an even bigger army - Fingolfin!)
Tolkien is laying out the hands of the Elves. Mnemosyne, you offered up many questions which I don't really have time to explore but of the arrival of Fingolfin, and the opening of flowers beneath his feet, I see it as divine vindication for his future kingship, a title given to him, quite rightly by the "leader of the dispossessed".
Somewhere in The Silmarillion, it says that the elves were never utterly forsaken by the Valar (eg in the rescue of Maedhros) and I think this is a fine but subtle devise used by Tolkien to reward Fingolfin for his valiance.
Apart from the great metaphor of flowers springing underfoot, it is as though Tolkien, in the voice of Manwe, is saying:
"Lo, behold this being who has defied us in pride, yet has remained true to his people. Drink from the spring of his unquenchable spirit, and savour the essence of greatness; for even as we have told the Noldor of the havoc they have wreaked, noble they remain, and wondrous beyond our very thought. Into the sunlight marches the new King of the Elves."
(Please forgive the personalised "Manwe-thoughts" but I do think it was intentional on Tolkien's part. And how else coud it have been? Is not Maedhros shamed into handing over the kingship and is it not rightfully accepted by Fingolfin, somewhat assuaging bitter rivalry between the two great houses?
Of your question as to why Ulmo chose Turgon and Finrod, I would aks you to consider whether he actually chose them specifically or whether they happened to be in the right place at the right time (and of the right lineage).
Turgon son of Fngolfin left Nevrast where he dwelt and sought out Finrod his friend upon the island of Tol Sirion, and they journeyed southward along the river, being weary for a while of the Northern mountains; ....
The two, both figures of prime importance, from the Houses of Fingolfin and Finarfin (ie High Noldor not of the House of Feanor) have chosen to leave the game table and have ventured into the writer's hinterland. What a perfect place to have a meeting in dreams with the Gods. In the game of Beleriand Risk, this is where they were both dealt a joker and showed new strategic lands to populate.
Got to rush.
Time out.
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Falborn
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Posted: Wed Nov 6, 2002 7:41 am |
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2. What made Fëanor act so recklessly? I know, I know, he was ?fey?, but still, what caused him to attack Angband with little or no back up? Did he think he could defeat Morgoth?
From 'The Shibboleth of Feanor' pages 354-5 of 'The Peoples of Middle Earth':
'Now it is told how Feanor stole the ships of the Teleri, and breaking faith with Fingolfin and with those faithful to him sailed away in them to Middle-earth, leaving the rest of his host to make its way on foot with great travail and loss. The ships were anchored off the shore, in the Firth of Drengist, and all the host of Feanor went on land and camped there.
In the night Feanor, filled with malice, aroused Curufin, and with him and a few of those most close to Feanor in obedience he went to the ships and set them all aflame; and the dark sky was red as with a terrible dawn. All the camp was roused, and Feanor returning said: "Now at least I am certain no faint heart or traitor among you will be able to take back even one ship to the succor of Fingolfin and his folk." But all save few were dismayed, because there were many things still aboard that they had not yet brought ashore, and the ships would have been useful for further journeying. They were still far north and had purposed to sail further southward to some better haven.
In the morning the host was mustered, but of Feanor's seven sons only six were to be found. Then Ambarussa went pale with fear. "Did you not rouse Ambarussa my brother (whom you called Ambarto)?" he said. "He would not come ashore to sleep (he said) in discomfort." But it is thought (and no doubt Feanor guessed this also) that it was in the mind of Ambarto to sail his ship back and rejoin Nerdanel (his mother); for he had been much shocked by the deed of his father.
"That ship I destroyed first," (hiding his own dismay).
"Then rightly you gave the name to the youngest of your children," said Ambarussa, "and Umbarto, the Fated, was the true form. Fell and fey are you become." And after that no one dared speak to Feanor of this matter.'
Amras and Amrod were twins, the two youngest sons of Feanor and Nerdanel. Both of the twins were red haired and were both given the name Ambarrussa by Nerdanel. Nerdanel would not go into exile with Feanor.
In this story we see that Feanor has, through his own malice, unwittingly killed his youngest son. he then claims to have done it on purpose and is cursed as 'fell and fey' by the surviving twin.
I have not been able to determine much about the time elapsed between the burning of the ships and the Battle under Stars (Dagor-os-Giliath) which concluded with Feanor's mad death. Because the sun had not yet arisen time was still calculated in Valinoran years. The arival of Feanor's host is given as 2995 and the Battle under Stars and 2996. Which could mean that the two events were separated in time by as many as 18 years or as little as a few months. For comparison it took Fingolfin's host roughly 25 years to march into Beleriand after they had been abandoned by Feanor.
In the narrative the four events happen sequentially: 1)Feanor burns the ships at Dingrist. Amrod (the younger twin) is killed in the burning; 2)Feanor's host marches to Mithrim; 3)they are attacked by Morgoth's armies and are victorious in the Dagor-os-Giliath; 4)Feanor charges ahead and is mortally wounded by the Balrogs. This sequence could take place in a matter of a few months or a few years.
My purpose in looking at the time involved is to determine if Feanor's rash charge, which results in his death, is an immediate emotional reaction to the killing of his youngest son. On reflection I would say that it was not. It does seem that his guilt for his son's death contributed to his descent.
To me the most notable feature of the story is that, although the killing of Amrod (Ambarussa, the younger twin) was accidental, Feanor immediately claims that he intentionally killed his son (he was weak - he was going back to his mother). It seems that he was too proud to admit that he had made a tragic mistake, but in his heart he was dismayed by what he had done.
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mnemosyne
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Posted: Wed Nov 6, 2002 12:17 pm |
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Thanks everyone. I didn't think the questions I came up with would create so much discussion, but everyone brings new perspectives to the table . . . and all are wonderful food for thought.
Very good point Miles. Fëanor was like a willful child in a lot of ways.
Oh, and Twigs, you reminded me: for some reason, the map links don’t seem to be working . . . at least on my computer. If anyone else is having the same problem, let me know, and I’ll just edit in some new links.
Also, the idea that Turgon and Finrod weren’t chosen, rather that they stumbled upon the “joker” which made it possible for them to create secure realms (at least for the time being) actually makes a lot of sense to me. I really never considered that as a possibility. They were both “good” High Noldor, which made it all right for them to receive help from a Vala.
But this makes me wonder . . . if not Turgon and Finrod, then who? Who else was qualified to receive the knowledge from Ulmo? In other words, were Turgon and Finrod renowned because they were told about the hidden lands, or were they told about the hidden lands because they were renowned?
Falborn, you wrote: My purpose in looking at the time involved is to determine if Fëanor’s rash charge, which results in his death, is an immediate emotional reaction to the killing of his youngest son. On reflection I would say that it was not. It does seem that his guilt for his son's death contributed to his descent.
To me the most notable feature of the story is that, although the killing of Amrod (Ambarussa, the younger twin) was accidental, Fëanor immediately claims that he intentionally killed his son (he was weak - he was going back to his mother). It seems that he was too proud to admit that he had made a tragic mistake, but in his heart he was dismayed by what he had done.
I had assumed that the events leading up to Fëanor’s death happened in few months. Your examination of the time it must have taken really opened up my eyes. In my head, I know that Elves are immortal, but I still think in modern terms. So when I read that it took 25 years to cross the Helcaraxe, it comes as sort of a shock . Anyway, I do believe that the death of Amrod deeply affected Fëanor. However, I agree that wasn’t what caused him to go postal.
Here’s another question: Did Fëanor have a death-wish? At first glance, I’d say no, since he was very proud, and very much wanted to regain the Silmarils. However, the more I think about it, the more the possibility asserts itself. For example, he charged in, heedless of the perils and, I believe, full-knowing that he couldn’t possibly defeat Angband alone. He was going to get the Silmarils or die trying. And Fëanor must have known that he couldn’t get them . . . because if anyone wanted to retain them as much as himself, it was Morgoth, his old enemy, whom he shamed (and named).
mnem
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wilko185
by stok other ston
Alliance: House of Finrod Felagund
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Posted: Wed Nov 6, 2002 8:21 pm |
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mnemosyne, great intro, and interesting questions (keeping up the high standard) (There is indeed something wrong with those links btw, these should work: map in colour and b&w. Quality posts from everyone, as ever (welcome to Imlas btw).
Some thoughts:
4. ... If Thorondor had not flown up, and Fingon had killed Maedhros, would the Noldor still have reconciled?
It is noteworthy that the other Valar apart from Ulmo are still taking an interest in the Elves, however obliquely. The eagles are Manwe's direct representatives in Middle-earth, sent by him to keep an eye on Morgoth. The intercession of Thorondor here is surely the hand of Manwe, I think.
Rosie mentioned the similarity of the song of Fingon helping find Maedhros with Sam and Frodo in Cirith Ungol. Similar moments occur twice in the tale of Beren and Luthien. This was evidently a favorite motif of Tolkien's, though it isn't original to him I don't think. Men have been singing under women's balconies for years , but a more apt model might be Blondin the faithful page of Richard the Lionheart. Richard was kidnapped and held for ransom in one of the many castles of a certain king (during the crusades?), but according to legend he was found and rescued by his minstrel Blondin who sang outside every castle in the land until he eventually heard Richard answer with the chorus from within the dungeon.
The continuing concern of the Valar for M-e is also shown in them creating the sun and moon, of course. greenleaf asked about the springing up of flowers under the feet of Fingolfin's host (another favorite Tolkien motif) as the sun first arose. Great post by Twiggy on this. I don't think we should seek to rigidly separate cause and effect here. Yes, the flowers would probably have opened up anyway at the coming of the sun whether Fingolfin were there or not, but it isn't mere coincidence that the sun rises at that point, it is a beautiful poetic representation of a new dawn of hope for the Noldor in Beleriand.
5. Why did Ulmo send dreams to Turgon and Finrod?...
Perhaps (and this is just speculation) because these were the two wisest, most cautious and steadfast of the two "sets of brothers" (sons of Fingolfin and Finarfin). They certainly proved to be good kings of their respective hidden kingdoms. I don't know if the fiery Fingon, say, would have been open to the idea of retiring to a hidden kingdom for centuries. Or if Orodreth was up to task.
It is said later in the narrative thatMorgoth feared and hated the house of Fingolfin, because they had the friendship of Ulmo his foe...And most of all his kin Morgoth feared Turgon; for of old in Valinor his eye had lighted upon him, and whenever he drew near a shadow had fallen on his spirit, foreboding that in some time that yet lay hidden, from Turgon ruin should come to him. And indeed, it is from Turgon that Earendil is descended. Was this all planned by Ulmo? Did he purposefully send Turgon to a hidden kingdom so he could later send Tuor there and hence allow Earendil to be descended from them, who could then sail to Valinor and save Middle-earth? I don't think everything was being controlled by Ulmo to that extent, as Turgon plainly went against Ulmo's direct wishes in not abandoning Gondolin when Tuor arrived with Ulmo's warning. But Ulmo certainly seems to have always had plans for Turgon. Big plans...
The prepondernace of hidden kingdoms (Gondolin, Nargothrond, Doriath) has been mentioned somewhere before in this forum. It is traditional for folklore elves to dwell in a hidden land, but also in the early version of the stories Morgoth's dominion over Beleriand appeared to be much more complete than it is in the Sil. The various cities and kingdoms were apparently isolated pockets of resistance in a land controlled by Morgoth. There might be some holdover from that conception, possibly.
7. At this point, how do the sons of Fëanor intend to get the Silmarils? Or are they more interested in survival?
It is stated in the tale of Beren and Luthien that Celegorm and Curufin "did not purpose to seek the Silmarils by craft or war, or to suffer any others to do so, until they had all the might of the Elf-kingdoms under their hands." It seems the Oath gave the sons of Feanor some latitude, in that they could play a waiting game and choose which strategy they wanted to gain the Silmarils (ie gain direct control over all the Noldor and Sindar in Beleriand first), rather than being compelled to attack Morgoth at every opportunity.
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.. the very monsters and huge fishes of the sea, war not amongst themselves in their own kind: but believe me, man at man's hand receiveth most harm and mischief.
-- Pliny |
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Falborn
Shield Bearer
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Posted: Fri Nov 8, 2002 8:03 am |
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There is almost nothing in The Book of Lost Tales (BoLT) that corresponds to these chapters of The Silmarillion. But in 'The Shaping of Middle-earth' there is a short section named 'Prose Fragments following the Lost Tales' which does discuss Ulmo's desire to inspire an emissary from Middle-earth to Valinor. From pages 3-4 of 'The Shaping of Middle-earth:
'...know that Ulmo forgot never the sorrows of the Elven kindreds beneath the power of Melko, but he might do little because of the anger of the other Gods who shut their hearts against the race of the Gnomes, and dwelt behind the veiled hills of Valinor heedless of the Outer World, so deep was their ruth and regret for the death of the Two Trees. Nor did any save Ulmo only dread the power of Melko that wrought ruin and sorrow over all the Earth; but Ulmo desired that Valinor should gather all its might to quench his evil ere it be too late, and him seemeth that both purposes might perchance be achieved if messengers from the Gnomes should win to Valino and plead for pardon and for pity upon the Earth; for the love of Palurien (Yavanna) and Orome her son for those wide realms did but slumber still. Yet hard and evil was the road from Outer Earth to Valinor and the Gods themselves had meshed the ways with magic and veiled the encircling hills. Thus did Ulmo seek unceasingly to stir the Gnomes to send messengers unto Valinor, but Melko was cunning and very deep in wisdom, and unsleeping was his wariness in all things that touched the Elven kindreds, and their messengers overcame not the perils and temptations of that longest and most evil of all roads, and many that dared to det forth were lost forever.
Now tells the tale how Ulmo dispaired that any of the Elven race should surpass the dangers of the way, and of the deepest and the latest design that he then fashioned, and of those things that came of it...'
On page 6 we have a first glimpse of Finolfin's march into Middle-earth:
'...Now the ice melted and the snow thinned, and the trees grew deep upon the hills, and their hearts knew comfort, till their harps and elfin pipes awoke once more. The did the rocks ring with the sweet music of the Elves, and countless (coming?) of their endless feet; new flowers sprang behind those armies as they trod, for the earth was glad of the coming of the Gnomes...'
Finally a tantalizing passage describing an encounter between Feanor and Men on pages 7-8:
'...Now it happened on a while that Feanor got him beyond to the hills that girt Dor Lomin in those parts beyond Artanor where there were open empty lands and treeless hills, and he had no small company and three of his sons were with him. Thus came they on a day nigh evening to a hilltop, and afar off descried a red light leaping in a vale open on that side that looked toward them. Then Feanor wondered what this fire might be, and he and his folk marched in the still night swiftly thereto, so that ere dawn they looked down into that vale. There they saw an armed company no less than their own, and they sat around a mighty fire of wood. The most were asleep, but some few stirred, and Feanor stood then up and called in his clear voice so that the dark vale rang: "Who be ye; men of the Gnomes or other what - say swiftly for 'tis best for you to know the children of Feanor encompass you around."
Then a great clamor broke forth in the vale and the folk of Feanor knew soon that here were no elfin folk, by reason of their harsh voices and unlovely cries, and many arrows came winging in the dark toward that voice, but Feanor was no longer there. Swiftly had he gone and drawn the most of his folk before the vale's mouth whence a stream issued forth tree-hung.'
It becomes clear that Tolkien's distinctive rhythm has already developed when you type these early passages.
Some observations:
If I could generalize from the first passage it seems apparent that Tolkiens conception of the Ainur was somewhat different in his earlier writing. In that first passage they are described as shutting their hearts against the Noldor in anger and unconcerned about the Outer Lands. Ulmo has to persuade them, which would seem unnecessary for wise and disinterested dieties.
Clearly the idea of the flowers sprouting from the ground as Fingofin's host marches into Middle-earth preceded Tolkien's conception of their arrival with the Sun at their backs at the first dawn in the West. Interesting how the beauty of that image developed in layers as it was re-written.
I love the drama of the third passage. It occured to me that Feanor may have been tempted to slaughter that encampment of Men because their 'harsh voices and unlovely cries'. The last concrete image of the stream issuing from the vale tree-hung is stirring to me but I don't know why.
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smIsle
Rider of the Mark
Alliance: Grey Havens
Last Visited: 12 Nov 2006
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Posts: 795
Location: Oregon
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Posted: Sat Nov 9, 2002 1:28 pm |
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I found these maps and thought you all might find them interesting, they show Beleriand in comparison to Middle earth-
A very simple version- here
A rather large version based on C. Tolkien's maps- here
A REALLY big map of all Arda- here
I have a question- does Tolkien ever tell us how they are conected, or are all these people guessing?
smIsle
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-Rómestámo-
Ranger of the North
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Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2002 10:47 am |
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smIsle: I found these maps and thought you all might find them interesting, they show Beleriand in comparison to Middle earth-
(...)I have a question- does Tolkien ever tell us how they are conected, or are all these people guessing?
I am unaware of the provenance of the first map, but it seems to be reasonably accurate as far as it goes. The third map is Karen Fonstad's work (from an "Atlas of Middle-earth" -the revised edition. Thus, it is a "best guess" approximation/impression by a trained cartographer based on all the information gleaned from the books ('The Silmarillion', 'The Hobbit', 'The Lord of the Rings', 'Unfinished Tales', 'The Road goes ever on" and 'The History of Middle-earth' up to (and including) HOME IX ).
The second map has been discussed here, and is the simple superimposition of CJRT's First Age map onto his Third Age map without taking into account the different scales of the two maps. (Reposted from that thread)
The scales on the two joined maps are dissimilar so the maps cannot be 'fused' without rescaling. For proof, the island of Himling from the Third Age map (see UT) would be at the region of the 'A' in Thargelion on the joined map. Yet Himling was the hill of Himring from the First Age... So while a clever idea, the execution has been let down by lack of attention to detail.
As such, the second map should be disregarded as being very misleading.
(Edit: to correct details on the first and third maps)
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smIsle
Rider of the Mark
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Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2002 1:32 pm |
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hmm I was wondering about the scale on the 2nd one
oh well
smIsle
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Falborn
Shield Bearer
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Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2002 12:26 pm |
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In this chapter we lose the grand character of Feanor. Before we move on it seems appropriate to look back at his story. I have taken what I feel to be the most descriptive quotes (from The Silmarillion unless otherwise noted) and where necessary have used brief narrative summaries to connect them. Hopefully, by extracting his story from the overall narrative we can see his character in a more concentrated form.
We are briefly introduced to Feanor in the chapter 'Of Eldamar" before Feanor's story really begins:
Page 60: 'Feanor was the mightiest in skill of sword and hand, more learned than his bothers; his spirit burned as a flame.'
Page 62: 'Feanor and his sons abode seldom in one place for long, but traveled far and wide upon the plains of Valinor, going even to the borders of the Dark and the cold shores of the Outer Sea seeking the unknown. Often they were the guests of Auli...'
And then his story begins in earnest:
Page 63: 'In that time was born in Eldamar, in the house of the King in Tirion upon the crown of Tuna, the eldest of the sons of Finwe, and the most beloved. Curufinwe was his name, but by his mother he was called Feanor, Spirit of Fire...in the bearing of her son Miriel was consumed in spirit and in body; and after his birth she yearned for release from the labor of living. And when she named him, she said to Finwe: never again shall I bear child; for strength that would have nourished the life of many has gone into Feanor'
Page 64: 'He was tall, and fair of face, and masterful, his eyes piercingly bright and his hair raven dark; in the pursuit of all his purposes eager and steadfast.'
'The first gems that Feanor made were white and colorless, but being set under starlight they would blaze with blue and silver fires brighter than Helluin; and other crystals he made also, wherein things far away could be seen small but clear, as with the eyes of the eagles of Manwe.'
Page 65: 'The wedding of his father was not pleasing to Feanor and he had no great love for Indis, nor for Fingolfin and Finarfin her sons. He lived apart from them...'
Page 66: 'Feanor was driven by the fire of his own heart only, working ever swiftly and alone...
Page 67: '...Feanor, being come to his full might, was filled with a new thought, or it may be that some shadow of foreknowledge came to him of the doom that drew near; and he pondered how the light of the Trees, the glory of the Blessed Realm, might be preserved imperishable. Then he began a long and secret labor, and he summoned all his lore, and his power, and his subtle skill; and at the end he made the Silmarils.'
Morgoth has been released and he begins spreading lies among the Noldor.
Pages 68-9: 'The Noldor began to murmer against them, and many became filled with pride, forgetting how much they had and knew came to them in gift from the Valar. Fiercest burned the new flame of desire for freedom and wider realms in the eager heart of Feanor; and Melkor laughed in his secrecy, for to that mark his lies had been addressed...Feanor began to love the Silmarils with a greedy love...he seldom remembered now that the light within them was not his own.'
'....Melkor saw that these lies were smouldering, and that pride and anger were awake among the Noldor, he spoke to them concerning weapons...Feanor made a secret forge, of which not even Melkor was aware...'
'...Feanor now began openly to speak words of rebellion against the Valar, crying aloud that he would depart from Valinor back to the world without, and would delver the Noldor from thraldom, if they would follow him.'
Feanor threatens his brother Fingolfin with a sword.
Page 70: ...the deeds of Feanor could not be passed over, and the Valar were angered and dismayed; and he was summoned to appear before them at the gates of Valmar.... and Feanor standing before Mandos in the Ring of Doom was commanded to answer all that was asked of him...'
He is banished from the city of the Noldor. Melkor tries to take seduce Feanor directly.
Page 72: '...Feanor looked at Melkor with eyes that burned through his fair semblance and pierced the cloaks of his mind, perceiving their his fierce lust for the Silmarils. Then hate overcame Feanor's fear, and he cursed Melkor, and he bade him be gone, saying: "Get the gone from my gate, thou jailcrow of Mando!" And he shut the doors of his house in the face of the mightiest of all the dwellers in Ea.'
Melkor poisons the trees. The Valar need the Silmarils to heal the Tress before they die.
Pages 78-9: "For the less even as for the greater there is some deed that he might accomplish but once only and in that deed his heart shall rest. It may be that I can unlock my jewels, but never again shall I make their like; and if I must break them, I shall break my heart, and I shall be slain, first of all the Eldar in Aman....This thing I will not do of free will. But if the Valar will constrain me, then shall I know indeed that Melkor is of their kindred."
Morgoth kills Feanor's father. He defies his banishment goes to Tirion and addresses the Noldor
Pages 82-3: "...why should we longer serve the jealous Valar, who cannot keep us or even their own realm secure from their Enemy? And though he be now their foe, are not they and he of one kin? Vengeance calls me hence, but even were it otherwise I would not dwell longer in the same land with the kin of my father's slayer and of the thief of my treasure. Yet I am not the only valiant in this valiant people. And have ye not lost your King? And what else have ye not lost, cooped here in a narrow land between the mountains and the sea?"
"Here once was light, that the Valar begrudged to Middle-earth, but now dark levels all. Shall we morn here deedless forever, a shadow-folk, mist haunting, dropping vain tears in the thankless sea? Or shall we return to our home? In Cuivienen sweet ran the waters under unclouded stars, and wide lands lay about, where a free peoplpe might walk. There they lie still and await us who in our folly forsook them. Come away! Let the cowards keep this city!"
"Fair shall the end be, thought long and hard shall be the road! Say farewell to bondage! But say farewell also to ease! Say farewell to the weak! Say farewell to your treasures! More still shall we make Journey light: but bring with you your swords! For we shall go further than Orome, endure longer than Tulkas: we will never turn back from pursuit. After Morgoth to the ends of the Earth! War shall we have and hatred ubdying. But when we have conquered and regained the Silmarils, then we and we alone shall be lords of the unsullied Light, and masters of the beauty and bliss of Arda. No other race shall oust us!"
Feanors oath is given in 'The Annals of Aman' page 112 of 'Morgoth's Ring':
"Be he foe or friend, be he foul or clean,
brood of Morgoth or bright Vala,
Elda or Maia or Aftercomer,
Man yet unborn upon Middle-earth,
neither law, nor love, nor league of swords,
dread nor danger, not Doom itself,
shall defend him from Feanor, and Feanors kin,
whoso hideth or hoardeth, or in hand taketh,
finding keepeth or afar casteth
a Silmaril. This swear we all:
death we will deal him ere Day's ending,
woe into the Worlds end! Our word hear thou,
Eru Allfather! To the everlasting
Darkness doom us if our deed faileth.
On the holy mountain hear in witness
and our vow remember, Manwe and Varda!"
Feanor inflames the Noldor. As they prepare to depart from Tirion, the Valar send a message exiling Feanor from Aman and advising the Noldor to remain.
Page 85 of the Silmarillion: "So! Then will this valiant people send forth the heir of their King alone into banishment with his sons only, and return to their bondage? But if any will come with me, I say to them: Is sorrow foreboded to you? But in Aman we have seen it. In Aman we have come through bliss to woe. The other now shall we try: through sorrow to find joy; or freedom at least."
The Noldor seek the ships of the Teleri.
Page 86: "You renounce your friendship, even in the hour of our need. Yet you were glad indeed to receive our aid when you came at last unto these shores, fainthearted loiterers, and wellnigh emptyhanded. In huts on the beaches you would be dwelling still, had not the Noldor carved out your haven and toiled upon your walls."
Feanor takes the ships of the Teleri in fierce battle, killing many. Mandos pronounces doom on Feanor's house.
Page 88: "We have sworn, and not lightly. This oath we shall keep. we are threatened with many evils, and treason not the least; but one thing is not said: that we suffer from cowardice, from cravens or the fear of cravens. Therfore I say that we will go on, and this doom I add: the deeds that we do shall be the matter of song untill the last days of Arda."
Feanor's household takes the ships and sails to Middle-earth. They burn the ships, abandoning the host of Fingolfin in the icy north.
Page 90: "None and none! What I have left behind I count as no loss; needless baggage on the road it has proved. Let those that cursed my name curse me still, and whine their way back to the cages of the Valar! Let the ships burn!"
He later learns that his youngest son had been asleep on one of the ships and claims to have chosen that ship to burn first.
Feanor's people are attacked by Morgoth's orcs. They are victorious but Feanor continues to ride into the enemy forces.
Page 107: 'Thus it was that he drew ahead of the van of his host; and seeing this the servants of Morgoth turned to bay, and their issued from Angband Balrogs to aid them. There upon the confines of Dor Daedeloth, the land of Morgoth, feanor was surrounded, with few friends about him. Long he fought on, and undismayed, though he was wrapped with fire and wounded with many wounds but at last he was smitten to the ground by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs... his sons raised their father and bore him back towards Mithrim. But as they drew near to Eithel Sirion and were upon the upward path to the pass over the mountains, Fëanor bade them halt; for his wounds were mortal and he knew his hour was come. And looking out from the slopes of Ered Wethrin with his last sight he beheld far off the peaks of Thangoradrim, mightiest of the towers of Middle-earth, and he knew with the foreknopwledge of death that no power of the Noldor would ever overthrow them; but he cursed the name of Morgoth thrice, and laid it upon his sons to hold to their oath, and to avenge their father. Then he died; but he had neither burial nor tomb, for so fiery was his spirit that as it sped his body fell to ash, and was borne away like smoke; and his likeness has never appeared again in Arda, neither has his spirit left the halls of Mandos.
Feanor is both sympathetic and repellent. It is striking to me when I look at his story alone that he could not, or at least did not, survive long out of the nurturing hothouse environment of Aman, that he needed to be surrounded by pure goodness; he was such a sensitive instrument that he was rather easy for Morgoth to throw off, corrupt.
T A Shippey writes about Tolkiens appreciation of Northern courage, pagan courage, courage without hope; you continue to fight evil even when there is no hope of final victory. In the story of Feanor we are given a myth describing the very beginning of Northern courage.
It is breathtaking to me that Feanor lays this hopeless burden on his sons as he dies. I'm not English, but this seems to be exactly what is meant by the term 'bloody-minded' if I understand the meaning of the word.
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greenleafwood
Ranger of the North
Alliance: House of Elrond
Last Visited: 01 Oct 2009
Joined: 13 Jan 2002
Posts: 1882
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2002 1:35 pm |
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I guess the oath had to be upheld by Feanor's sons, as they were already bound towards it from the start. As to avenging their father, it would have gone without saying that his sons, at the very least Maedhros, would have held this promise to their dying father, out of filial piety, pride and redemption.
Theirs was a near hopeless case, they could not retreat before Morgoth for they would have then been enslaved or destroyed themselves. They could not turn back from Middle Earth either, being banned from Valinor.
greenleaf
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-Rómestámo-
Ranger of the North
Alliance: default
Last Visited: 15 Oct 2004
Joined: 06 Mar 2002
Posts: 2947
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2002 5:57 pm |
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Thank you for putting together that post Falborn, it is nice to have many of the Fëanor references put together. However, I would like to add a few that you have omitted.
From 'The Silmarillion' Pg. 79 Then Fëanor rose, and lifting up his hand before Manwë he cursed Melkor, naming him Morgoth, the Black Foe of the World; and by that name only was he known to the Eldar ever after. And he cursed also the summons of Manwë and the hour in which he came to Taniquetil, thinking in the madness of his rage and grief that had he been at Formenos his strength would have availed more than to be slain also, as Melkor had purposed. Then Fëanor ran from the Ring of Doom, and fled into the night; for his father was dearer to him than the Light of Valinor or the peerless work of his hands; and who among sons, of Elves or of Men, have held their fathers of greater worth?
Also from Pg. 107(...)For Fëanor, in his wrath against the Enemy, would not halt, but pressed on behind the remnant of the Orcs, thinking so to come at Morgoth himself; and he laughed aloud as he wielded his sword, rejoicing that he had dared the wrath of the Valar and the evils of the road, that he might see the hour of his vengeance. Nothing did he know of Angband or the great strength of defence that Morgoth had so swiftly prepared;but even had he known it would not have deterred him, for he was fey, consumed by the flame of his own wrath.(...)
And a clarification on the earlier post on the Burning of the Ships at Losgar.In the morning the host was mustered, but of Fëanor's seven sons only six were to be found. Then Ambarussa (6) [Amrod, oldest of the twins] went pale with fear. 'Did you not then rouse Ambarussa my brother (whom you called Ambarto) [Amras, youngest of the twins]?' he said. 'He would not come ashore to sleep (he said) in discomfort.' But it is thought (and no doubt Fëanor guessed this also ) that it was in the mind of Ambarto to sail his ship back [?afterwards] and rejoin Nerdanel; for he had been much [?shocked] by the deed of his father†
'That ship I destroyed first,' said Fëanor (hiding his own dismay). 'Then rightly you gave the name to the youngest of your children,' said Ambarussa, and Umbarto "the Fated" was its true form. Fell and fey are you become.' And after that no one dared speak again to Fëanor of this matter.
[† The deed of his father: the treacherous taking of all the Telerian ships for the passage of the Fëanorians to Middle-earth.]
(The 'Legend' of the death of one of the Twins at Losgar appears also in the 'Annals of Aman'. In the text that became the chapter 'Maeglin', the 'Five Sons of Fëanor' are mentioned three times and CJRT concludes that Possibly my father had come to believe that both Amrod and Amras died in the burning ships. 'The Shibboleth of Fëanor' was primarily linguistic and etymological (and unfinished) but contains as a episode The names of the Sons of Fëanor with the legend of the fate of Amrod. There was some confusion even in JRRT's mind as to which twin perished. They both originally had the same 'mother name', Ambarussa, but Nerdanel, when queried on this, said one could be called Umbarto, but which, time will decide. In the heading of the section, it is definitely 'Amrod' but in the telling of the tale, it is 'Amras' who dies.)
The key to all of Fëanor's behaviour after the murder of his father and theft of his Silmarils lies in the word 'Fey'. It is a feature of Northern and Celtic legend, an especially Pagan concept that marries a degree of predestination with an irrationality that causes the doomed hero to make no attempt to avoid his own destruction. As Falborn notes, Fëanor is an exemplar of 'Northern courage', but like the Norse berserks or Celtic Cuchulain, there is a fatalistic streak, that has no thought of self preservation despite greater goals left unfulfilled.
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Falborn
Shield Bearer
Alliance: Stewards of Gondor
Last Visited: 05 Dec 2003
Joined: 30 Mar 2002
Posts: 395
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Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2002 2:52 pm |
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Good post, Romestamo. I would love to know more of the etymology of 'fey'. Fell is another word Tolkien uses often about Feanor:'fey and fell'.
Feanor seems to embody the fall. We get the fall of a people but less often the fall of an individual. Melkor, Feanor and Ar-Pharazon. Of these individuals Feanor's fall is the most elaborated, and the most balanced, IMO. Ar-Pharazon is mostly fallen and really stands for a stage in the fall of the Numenorians. Melkor's story is almost entirely, post fall. But with feanor we get a picture of him pre-fall and never entirely lose sympathy for him even when he is in the midst of horror of his own making.
He is the exemplar of the Noldor, pure blooded, as are his sons. The Vanyar are associated with air, wisdom and poetry: the Teleri with the sea and music. The Noldor with fire and the earth, making and devising, qualities which make them somehow susceptable to the lies of Morgoth and thus the fall. To go back and look at Melkor's lies on pages 68-9 of 'The Silmarillion':
'...he would whisper in their hearts of the mighty realms they could have ruled of their own will, in power and freedom in the East ....whispers were abroad that the Valar had brought the Eldar to Aman because of their jealousy, fearing that the beauty of the Quendi and the makers power that Iluvatar had bequeathed to them would grow too great for the Valar to govern, as the elves waxed and spread over the wide lands of the world.'
'...the whisper went among the Elves that Manwe held them captive, so that Men might come and supplant them in the kingdoms of Middle-earth...'
'...whispers came to Feanor that Fingolfin and his sons were plotting to usurp the leadership of Finwe and of the elder line of Feanor...'
Resentment of authority, jealousy of rivals seen and unseen. The phrase '...many became filled with pride forgetting how much of what they had and knew came to them in gift from the Valar...'and the phrase ...Feanor began to love the Silmarils with a greedy love'
I am struck that Feanor, given his nature, had little chance of resisting temptation - the lies of Morgoth. He was so sensitive and gifted, he had such strength of will that he believed that the products of his hand and mind were creations of him alone. A tragic hero in the sense that Macbeth is a tragic hero; his great strength was the instrument of his downfall.
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scirocco
released from bonds
Alliance: House of Feanor
Last Visited: 27 Aug 2010
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Posts: 1952
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Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2002 6:28 am |
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A marvellous opening post mnemosyne, and some very interesting discussion. Excuse me interrupting it, as I don't have anything major to add, but here are a couple of observations while I get the chance:
The returning Noldor must have been quite a sight when they reached the shores of Middle-earth. I had tended to think of them as just another branch of the Eldar, much the same as Thingol's Grey-Elves, but Tolkien does remind us of their power and majesty when they meet the hosts of Morgoth in the Second Battle:
The Noldor, outnumbered and taken at unawares, were yet swiftly victorious; for the light of Aman was not yet dimmed in their eyes, and they were strong and swift, and deadly in anger, and their swords were long and terrible...
To the other Elves of Middle-earth, only just becoming accustomed to anything more than starlight, the Noldor, fresh from their two thousand years in the "hot-house" of Valinor amid the light of the Trees, must have seemed like gods or aliens. Even Thingol, who had himself been to Valinor, albeit briefly, must have been more than a little apprehensive about his visitors.
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The description of the River Sirion and the Gates of Sirion in Chapter 14, where the river plunges into a tunnel, only to emerge further downhill, has always intrigued me.
...and then he plunged suddenly underground into great tunnels that the weight of his falling waters delved; and he issued again three leagues southward with great noise and smoke...
This sounds like a plausible explanation, until you think about the logic of it. How could the weight of the water carve a hole in the rock? If there wasn't a hole, it couldn't flow, and if there wasn't a flow it couldn't carve!
Are there any similar ocurrences in our own world? Well, yes, but not many! After much searching, I found these karst cave systems in Slovenia. So it really is possible!
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The Eagle from
Bilbo woke up with the early sun in his eyes
J.R.R. Tolkien, July 1937 |
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-Rómestámo-
Ranger of the North
Alliance: default
Last Visited: 15 Oct 2004
Joined: 06 Mar 2002
Posts: 2947
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Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2002 11:51 am |
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Falborn: I would love to know more of the etymology of 'fey'.
Just a quick post to collect together some dictionary listings of 'Fey' including what etymological comments are to be found online.
Concise Macquarie Dictionary
Fey// adjective 1. as if enchanted, under a spell, aware of supernatural influences. 2. light-headed; eccentric; slightly crazy. 3. dying; in the state of heightened awareness formerly supposed to presage death. [Middle English, from Old English faege doomed to die, timid]
Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary
Fey: Etymology: Middle English feye, from Old English f[AE]ge; akin to Old High German feigi fey and perhaps to Old English fAh hostile, outlawed.
Date: before 12th century
1 a) chiefly Scottish : fated to die : DOOMED b) : marked by a foreboding of death or calamity
2 a) : able to see into the future : VISIONARY b) : marked by an otherworldly air or attitude c : CRAZY, TOUCHED
3 a) : PRECIOUS 3 b : UNCONVENTIONAL, CAMPY
Ultralingua
fey [adj.] |ETYM| AS. <fega>, Icel. <feigr>, Old High Germ. <feigi>. , (•§ Homonym: fay•) , Slightly insane; <SYN.> touched.
And from Dictionary.com
fey
Fey\, a. [AS. f?ga, Icel. feigr, OHG. feigi.] Fated; doomed. [Old Eng. & Scot.]
fey
adj.
1
a) Having or displaying an otherworldly, magical, or fairylike aspect or quality: “She's got that fey look as though she's had breakfast with a leprechaun” (Dorothy Burnham).
b) Having visionary power; clairvoyant.
c) Appearing touched or crazy, as if under a spell.
2 Scots.
a) Fated to die soon.
b) Full of the sense of approaching death.
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[Middle English <feie>, fated to die, from Old English <fæge>.]
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feyly adv.
feyness n.
Word History: The history of the words fey and fay illustrates a rather fey coincidence. Our word fay, “fairy, elf,” the descendant of Middle English faie, “a person or place possessed of magical properties,” and first recorded around 1390, goes back to Old French fae, “fairy,” the same word that has given us fairy. Fae in turn comes from Vulgar Latin Fata, “the goddess of fate,” from Latin fatum, “fate.” If fay goes back to fate, so does fey in a manner of speaking, for its Old English ancestor fæge meant “fated to die.” The sense we are more familiar with, “magical or fairylike in quality,” seems to have arisen partly because of the resemblance in sound between fay and fey.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.
The Anglo-Saxon/Icelandic/Old High German/Old through to Middle English meaning of the word is 'fated to die', 'doomed'. This would be the predominant sense that JRRT is using in his references to Fëanor, although the colourations of 'touched', 'Slightly insane' and 'Clairvoyant' add additional nuances that would also fit.
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smIsle
Rider of the Mark
Alliance: Grey Havens
Last Visited: 12 Nov 2006
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Posts: 795
Location: Oregon
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Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2002 9:16 am |
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They have something somewhat similar to that in Florida, like the opposite of a spring. Imagine canoeing down a creek that suddenly disappears! The water goes into the underground spring system- like I said not quite but sort of.
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Mahima
Ranger of the North
Alliance: Rohan
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Posts: 3531
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 9:05 pm |
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Bumped to avoid archiving
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