The Silmarillion

Article written by Fave

B.A. in History and International Studies from University of Ilorin, Kwara State.

After his death, Tolkien’s son Christopher collated his works into a chronicle of events that led to the creation and loss of the three jewels called ‘The Silmarils,’ many years before the Wars of the Ring.

In this book, Tolkien shapes his mythology for the world he created from imagination. He narrates the universe of Eä, which holds the lands of Valinor, Beleriand, Númenor, and Middle-earth. Two notable works by the author titled ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ are also set in this fictional universe.

Key Facts about The Silmarillion

• Book Title: ‘The Silmarillion‘
• Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
• Genre: Fantasy, Mythopoeia
• Date of first publication: September 1977, posthumously
• Number of pages: 365
• Publisher: George Allen and Unwin
• Point Of View: Narrated from the perspective of an omnipresent observer.
• Climax: The destruction of the Trees by Morgoth and Ungoliant, and the theft of the Silmarils
• Setting: Arda
• Antagonist: Morgoth Bauglir

J.R.R. Tolkien and The Silmarillion

The book is a collection of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, revised and published by his son Christopher, with help from Guy Gavriel Kay.

‘The Silmarillion’ chronicles the creation of what Eru Iluvatar, the supreme being, intended to be a perfect world and the introduction of evil through the arrogance of Melkor, the first and most gifted among the Ainur. When Eru invited the Valar to go into the world and bring his intentions to fruition, Melkor continued to sow fear, discord, and death in the hearts of the Children of Iluvatar.

The manuscripts that would become ‘The Silmarillion‘ began taking shape as short stories in 1914 when Tolkien was recovering from injuries sustained during World War 1. Tolkien intended for the book to be a mythology of English history. The first story, ‘The Fall of Gondolin,’ was finished in 1916.

Tolkien published five novels in his lifetime, including the ‘Lord of the Rings‘ trilogy, but he left behind several manuscripts later published by his son, Christopher Tolkien. He won many awards in his lifetime and posthumously for his contributions to literature, especially his unmatched influence on modern fantasy. J.R.R. Tolkien passed away in 1973 at age 81 from a chest infection.

Books Related to The Silmarillion

The books related to ‘The Silmarillion’ utilize fantastical tropes in their storytelling which incorporates a fight between good and evil.

• ‘Gardens of the Moon’ by Steven Erikson is a sprawling epic fantasy spanning continents and sporting gods, mages, and inhuman characters. After ousting and allegedly killing Emperor Kellanved and his right-hand man Dancer, the new Empress Laseen rules the empire with her corps of assassins. She soon turns her attention to Pale, one of the last remaining independent cities of the Genabackis continent. When General Dujek learns that the empress is eliminating forces loyal to the dead emperor, he rebels and becomes allies with Anomander Rake, the leader of the empire’s enemies, the Tiste Andii.

The Lasting Impact of The Silmarillion

• • ‘The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe‘ by CS Lewis narrates the story of four World War 2-era siblings who were sent away to the countryside to protect them from the Blitzkrieg. After the youngest, Lucy discovers a magical wardrobe that acts as a doorway to the Kingdom of Narnia, the children realize their coming fulfills a prophecy and that it is their destiny to save Narnia from the White Witch.

• • ‘Odd and the Frost Giants’ by Neil Gaiman recounts the life of Odd, a young Norse overlooked by his mother and stepfather. He runs into three talking animals; a bear, a fox, and an eagle, but the bear is stuck in a tree. He helps the bear and eventually discovers that the animals are the gods Odin, Loki, and Thor, who were turned into animals and ejected from Asgard by a Frost Giant. Odd helps the gods regain Asgard and stop the Frost Giants.

• • ‘Eye of the World’ by Robert Jordan is a fantasy masterpiece loosely inspired by Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings‘ trilogy. An Aes Sedai must battle all odds to deliver three boys with a terrible prophecy hanging over them to safety. One of them is the Dragon Reborn, and to save them, she must fight through hordes of the enemy’s twisted creatures.

• • ‘The Final Empire’ by Brandon Sanderson is an epic fantasy written in the dystopian style. Hoping to trigger events that would lead to the collapse of the Final Empire and liberate the Skaa, a crew of thieves led by Kelsier, a Mistborn, attempts to con, kill, or carry out actions that would otherwise sabotage the Nobility, the Lord Ruler, and his most dangerous minions.

• ‘Gardens of the Moon’ by Steven Erikson is a sprawling epic fantasy spanning continents and sporting gods, mages, and inhuman characters. After ousting and allegedly killing Emperor Kellanved and his right-hand man Dancer, the new Empress Laseen rules the empire with her corps of assassins. She soon turns her attention to Pale, one of the last remaining independent cities of the Genabackis continent. When General Dujek learns that the empress is eliminating forces loyal to the dead emperor, he rebels and becomes allies with Anomander Rake, the leader of the empire’s enemies, the Tiste Andii.

The Lasting Impact of The Silmarillion