The Second Set of Stories
THE FIRST
AGE OF THE SUN
(lasting 601 years)
(Some
conjecture that this began on March 25, 10160 BCE in our reckoning)
Chapter
Four: Early Men, Elves in Middle Earth, and The War of the Silmaril Jewels
FOR REFERENCE AS YOU READ THIS: Be aware of the maps in:
The History of Middle Earth
Vol. 11: The War of the Jewels: Part
2 The Later Quenta Silmarillion, under II. Beleriand and Its Realms (pp. 182-185).
The History of Middle Earth Vol. 5: The Lost Road and Other Writings: Appendix III The Second
Silmarillion Map
The History of Middle Earth Vol. 4: The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Chapter IV and the First Silmarillion
Maps on the inside covers.
THE STORY: Silmarillion's Quenta Silmarillion Chapters 12 through 20 re years
1 through 473:
12 Men
+ 13 Return of Noldor (First
Age years 1-260)
+ 14 Beleriand
+ 15 Noldor in Beleriand
(52-70)
+ 16 Maeglin (304-330)
+ 17 Coming of Men into the
West (310-425)
+ 18 Ruin of Beleriand and
Fall of Fingolfin (455-462)
+ 19 Beren and Luthien
(462-468)
+ 20 Fifth Battle Nirnaeth
Arnoediad (473)
OTHER FASCINATING FACTS:
About the dwarves: The History of Middle Earth Vol. 11: The War of the Jewels: Part 2 The Later
Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 13 (Concerning the Dwarves)'s section Of the
Naugrim and the Edain (pp. 203-215 in my edition, especially the earlier info)
Genealogies of men: The History of Middle Earth Vol. 11: The War of the Jewels: Part 2 The Later
Quenta Silmarillion, about the latter half of Chapter 14 (Of the Coming of Men
into the West), under The House of Beor then The House of Hador then The
Haladin (pp. 230-238, especially the actual charts)
Don't miss these bits when you read the below Book of Lost Tales, Part I:
in its chapter X Travail of Noldoli and
Coming of Mankind another wizard! pp 262ff and also there our oldest human
relatives
The History of Middle Earth Vol. 11: The War of the Jewels: Part 4 Quendi
and Eldar (unless you're into languages, I'd just do section C The Clan Names
including how very few elves the world started with pp380-385; Appendix B
Elvish Names for the Dwarves including an explanation of the Petty Dwarves p388;
Appendix D Words for Language its last couple pages on writing systems and on
the gathering of elven lore pp396-397; Note on the Language of the Valar re how
it sounded p398 and comparing it with human language p402 and just before
author's notes re telepathy and elven lore pp406-407; and its Appendix The
Legend of the Awakening of the Quendi which is another story! pp420-424)
IF you're interested in various languages, see: The
History of Middle Earth Vol. 12: The
Peoples of Middle Earth, Part Two, XI: The Shibboleth of Feanor (though it
has info all the way into the 4th Age I think it is of interest right now).
INTERESTING RETELLING(S): NOTE there will be more about Beren & Luthien and
also the silmarils in later chapters.
The Book of Lost
Tales, Part I, The Tales of Valinor (AKA The History of Middle Earth Vol.
1),
X Travail of Noldoli and Coming of
Mankind
IF you want even more summary, see: The History of
Middle Earth Vol. 11: The War of the
Jewels: Part 1 The Grey Annals continue especially history of elves, from
Section 41 Of the Coming of the Noldor part of the year 1497 of the Valar Years
up to where begins history of especially men in year 370 of the 1st Age of the
Sun (pp16-48) (skipping the notes at the end unless have a question).
APOCRYPHAL STORIES YOU MAY LIKE OR NOT:
Re the relation of hobbits to humans: The History of
Middle Earth Vol. 6: The Return of the
Shadow: Chapter XIX, p. 310 bottom through p.314 1st.
HAPPY OR OTHERWISE INTERESTING FUTURE STUFF NOT
COVERED ABOVE: Actually within my
last chapert’s Book of Lost Tales, Part
I: in its chapter IX Hiding of Valinor: how the Valar could have been
greater and how important humans might be, p 248.
Chapter
Five: The Stories of Hurin and His Children in Late Years of the First Age of
the Sun
THE STORY: The Children of Hurin all except its appendix 1
+ The History of Middle Earth Vol. 11: The War of the Jewels: Part 3 Chapter
I: The Wanderings of Hurin (re First Age year 501) (has much more than I know
of elsewhere on this; a welcome look at more of Hurin's personality)
OTHER FASCINATING FACTS:
On the history of Dragon Helm: Unfinished Tales the last couple pages of Part One The First Age,
Chapter II's The Departure of Túrin, pp 75-76
On Saeros: Unfinished
Tales Part One The First Age, Chapter II's Túrin in Doriath's 3rd
paragraph, p77
On Turin's grey hair and also the lifestyles of some
elves: The Book of Lost Tales, Part II, Other
Tales of Elfinesse (AKA The History of Middle Earth Vol. 2): II Turambar and
Foaloke (of Turin) p81.
On elvish lanterns: The
Book of Lost Tales, Part II, Other Tales of Elfinesse (AKA The History of
Middle Earth Vol. 2): II Turambar and Foaloke (of Turin) p78.
Re dragons: The
Book of Lost Tales, Part II, Other Tales of Elfinesse (AKA The History of
Middle Earth Vol. 2): II Turambar and Foaloke (of Turin), pp142-143.
On how the Valar sometimes "interfere,"
summarized on pp141-142 of The Book of
Lost Tales, Part II, Other Tales of Elfinesse (AKA The History of Middle
Earth Vol. 2): II Turambar and Foaloke (of Turin).
At least at one point Tolkien was fine with not writing
all the stories down, as is true of any myth. (The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, pp144b-145t).
INTERESTING RETELLING(S):
The History of Middle Earth Vol. 3: The Lays of Beleriand: Part I The Lay of
the Children of Hurin UP TO Second Version of the Lay read a bit later (though the main story is covered
elsewhere, this is a verse version with the usual extra details of poetry)
ONLY if you're really interested in reading more (I would
skip it next time except as noted above and below re some interesting facts): The Book of Lost Tales, Part II, Other
Tales of Elfinesse (AKA The History of Middle Earth Vol. 2): II Turambar and
Foaloke (of Turin).
HAPPY OR OTHERWISE INTERESTING FUTURE STUFF NOT
COVERED ABOVE: The History of Middle
Earth Vol. 12: The Peoples of Middle
Earth: Part Two, XII. The Problem of Ros just the more complete description
of Turin's future in the long note 17.
INTERESTING MANUSCRIPT NOTES: The History of Middle Earth Vol. 11: The War of the Jewels: Part 1 The Grey
Annals: just all 3 notes at the end re Children of Hurin, Battle of Unnumbered
Tears, and Hurin and Huor to Gondolin; those notes begin at page 161 in my
copy. They are especially interesting re an alternate ending to the Children of
Hurin.
The Children of
Hurin appendix 1, The Evolution of the Great Tales
Chapter
Six: The Ruin of Doriath
Note that my chapters 6 and 7 overlap.
THE STORY: Silmarillion's Quenta Silmarillion Chapter 22 (re First Age years 502-505): Ruin of Doriath
And for a non-canonical but only complete account of the
Nauglafring: The Book of Lost Tales, Part
II, Other Tales of Elfinesse (AKA The History of Middle Earth Vol. 2): IV
Nauglafring.
FASCINATING FACTS: About an interesting ability of dwarves to understand "the
languages of plant and stone": The History of Middle Earth Vol. 7: The Treason of Isengard: Chapter XII,
221b-222t.
INTERESTING MANUSCRIPT NOTES: just the part at the end of The History of Middle
Earth Vol. 11: The War of the Jewels:
Part 3 Chapter V: The Tale of Years its last section, re the Silmarillion
chapter 22
Chapter
Seven: More of the Tale of Beren and Luthien
THE STORY:
Beren and Luthien
FASCINATING FACTS: In the below Hurin lay: I enjoyed the interesting bits about Beleg; is
there a rumor he was like a wizard?? pp 25-26, 127 in my ed.
In the below The
Book of Lost Tales, Part II, Other Tales of Elfinesse (AKA The History of
Middle Earth Vol. 2): I Tinuviel (of Beren and Luthien): why certain elves are
so musical, p42; how the Valar sometimes "interfere," summarized on
p68.
INTERESTING RETELLING(S):
The History of Middle Earth Vol. 3: The Lays of Beleriand: Parts III + IV:
The Lay of Leithian through the end
The History of Middle Earth Vol. 3: The Lays of Beleriand: Part I The Lay of
the Children of Hurin, Second Version of the Lay (though the main story is
covered elsewhere, this is a verse version with the usual extra details of poetry)
(In spite of its title, this has a lot about Beren and Luthien, and also about
Aragorn; NOTE if you have not read Fellowship of the Ring you should probably
wait and read this after that, and even if you have you might enjoy reading
this then instead.)
(keeping in mind this is a different version but still
very useful, more than just interesting:) The
Book of Lost Tales, Part II, Other Tales of Elfinesse (AKA The History of
Middle Earth Vol. 2): I Tinuviel (of Beren and Luthien)
A different version of the poem: The History of Middle
Earth Vol. 6: The Return of the Shadow:
Chapter X, pp. 180-182.
A different? retelling by Aragorn: The History of Middle
Earth Vol. 6: The Return of the Shadow:
Chapter X, pp. 182-184.
HAPPY OR OTHERWISE INTERESTING FUTURE STUFF NOT
COVERED ABOVE: The History of Middle
Earth Vol. 5: The Lost Road and Other
Writings: Part 2, Chapter VI: Quenta Silmarillion, just re ends of Beren
and Luthien, the end of the notes re 12-15, beginning p. 334.
Don't miss from above about their future in The Book of Lost Tales, Part II, Other
Tales of Elfinesse (AKA The History of Middle Earth Vol. 2): I Tinuviel (of
Beren and Luthien), pp40-41, 60; IV Nauglafring, p240.
OTHER MEDIA YOU MIGHT WANT TO ENJOY AT THIS POINT:
The tape of Christopher Tolkien reading this story
from the Silmarillion (Tape Four)
Chapter
Eight: The Story of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin
FOR REFERENCE AS YOU READ THIS: When you are at stories about Celegorm and Curufin,
see for a discussion of their motives and a map and a discussion of geography
The History of Middle Earth Vol. 11: The
War of the Jewels: Part 3 Chapter III Maeglin pp 327-330.
THE STORY:
Fall of Gondolin (I would only re-read “The Original Tale”
and “The Last Version”)
OTHER FASCINATING FACTS: Don't miss in the above The Book of Lost Tales, Part II, Other Tales of Elfinesse (AKA The
History of Middle Earth Vol. 2): III Fall of Goldolin (note this is repeated in
Fall of Gondolin’s “The Original Tale”)
re Ulmo's music, p155
an alternate origin of orcs, pp159-160, 219
a good description of Gondolin, p160
robots, p170
Gondolin festivals, pp171-172
Gondolin soldiers, pp172-174
human cities mentioned by Tolkien, p196
INTERESTING RETELLINGS:
The History of Middle Earth Vol. 3: The Lays of Beleriand: Part II last, unnumbered
section 3: Lay of the Fall of Gondolin (I enjoyed the new bits of verse, though
the story is often a different version)
IF you wish a summary, especially if you are interested
in battle stories, read: The History of Middle Earth Vol. 11: The War of the Jewels: Part 1 The Grey
Annals finish (from paragraph 120; re years 370-499 of the 1st Age of the Sun)
(from page 48 in my edition).
Chapter
Nine: Stories of Eärendil (Tuor's son and Elrond's father)
THE STORY: Silmarillion's Quenta Silmarillion Chapter 24 (re First Age years
543-601): Voyage of Earendil and War of Wrath
OTHER FASCINATING FACTS: The Book of
Lost Tales, Part II, Other Tales of
Elfinesse (AKA The History of Middle Earth Vol. 2): re world geography, p261.
The History of Middle Earth Vol. 4: The Shaping of Middle-Earth: re what the fading of elves means p.
33m; re Britain/England p. 39 2nd from bottom and p. 199.
INTERESTING RETELLING(S):
The History of Middle Earth Vol. 4: The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Appendix 2
of a song Tuor made for Earendil.
The Book of Lost
Tales, Part II, Other Tales of Elfinesse (AKA The History of Middle Earth
Vol. 2): V Earendil, just the poems.
The History of Middle Earth Vol. 3: The Lays of Beleriand: Part II
unnumbered section 2: Lay of Earendil.
If want date references: The History of Middle Earth Vol. 4: The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Chapter VII.
On Earendil and Bilbo's poem re: The History of Middle
Earth Vol. 7: The Treason of Isengard:
Chapter V, poems on pp. 91-96m, 99 near b to 102t, 102m-103b for background,
NOTE 103b-105m give the actual finalized form of Earendillinwe. (NOTE TO SELF:
Would be lovely to memorize 91b-92t.)
Morgoth's Ring Part
4
INTERESTING MANUSCRIPT NOTES: Re various things from the First Age of the Sun:
The History of Middle Earth Vol. 5: The Lost Road and Other Writings:
Part 2, Chapter III: The Later Annals of
Beleriand, just the discussion of the Drowning of Beleriand at the end re Annal
350.
+ Part 2, Chapter V: The Lhammas, just
skimming the text and skipping the commentary except for its charts;
concentrating on how not all languages produced written works, and which ones
survived in what type of writings or as spoken tongues of which there's a chart
p213
+
Part 2, Chapter VI: Quenta
Silmarillion, just these parts:
Aelfwine's note on who originally
wrote the ancient texts – Pengalod the Wise etc, beginning p. 222 in my ed.;
various
ancient names of the elves, commentary beginning p. 236
+ Part 3, The Etymologies ONLY if you're into
languages
The History of Middle Earth Vol. 12: The Peoples of Middle Earth:
Part Two, XII. The Problem of Ros just note
13 re the Atani
Part Three, XIV: part of the Teachings of
Pengolod: Dangweth Pengolod (an explanation of why elvish languages changed; a
real pleasure to read; note the picture of its illuminated manuscript in the
frontispiece; I loved "The Eldar being skilled and eager in art will
readily make things new, both for delight to look on, or to hear, or to feel,
or for daily use: be in vessels or raiment or in speech.")
HAPPY OR OTHERWISE INTERESTING FUTURE STUFF: The History of Middle Earth Vol. 4: The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Chapter II,
p. 41 top.
