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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 12 2017, 4:38pm
Post #1 of 15
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Favorite chapter of the Silmarillion
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Hey everybody!
Last year around this time I asked everyone when did they first read the Silmarillion, this time around I'm asking what is everyone's favorite chapter?
Luthien and Beren and Children of Hurin are my favorite popular chapters, but if I was to say my favorite "not as main chapter" I found the story of Eol the Dark Elf and Aredhel very interesting.
Cheers!
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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CuriousG
Half-elven
Oct 12 2017, 8:41pm
Post #2 of 15
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That ranks as my #1. It is one of the most hopeful chapters in an otherwise grind-you-down kind of book, and the heroism is inspiring.
Tying for #2 would be the Voyage of Earendil--it gives insight into the natures of both Elves & Men, plus it wraps up a lot of threads. But mostly I like the voyage, including Elwing's desperate flight as a bird, collapsing at Earendil's feet, and then their brief time in Valinor.
The other tie for #2 is Of the Nolder in Beleriand, because there's a lot of dialogue and it gives insight into favorite characters like Finrod & Galadriel.
Great question, Oldest!
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 12 2017, 9:52pm
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I really loved Beren and Luthien, it was such a beautiful love story and it makes it more beautiful that it was about the beloved Professor and his wife!
Both the Voyage of Earendil and The Nolder in Beleriand were great ones. I want to go through chapters of the book again and reread the different stories out of that book.
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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noWizardme
Half-elven
Oct 13 2017, 1:49pm
Post #4 of 15
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Flight of the Noldor (but only just)
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I find the Silmarillion heavy going, myself. I prefer the style that Tolkien uses in LOTR, whereas A lot of the Sil reads like material from the LOTR Appendices.
Then suddenly we're right in there with Feanor - one of Tolkien's best characters - and his dilemma about whether to hand over his finest sub-creations, or whether to rebel. It's even better that we readers know the Silmarils have already been stolen, and the characters don't (except Mandos maybe).
Then, after some pages of rebellion, blasphemy, civil war damnation and adventure, it 'goes back to sleep again' - back into Appendix mode - pretty much until we make it to Beren and Luthien. Then I like that bit too - again, we're into a much more immediate style.
~~~~~~
Where's that old read-through discussion?
A wonderful list of links to previous chapters in the 2014-2016 LOTR read-through (and to previous read-throughs) is curated by our very own 'squire' here http://users.bestweb.net/...-SixthDiscussion.htm
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enanito
Rohan
Oct 13 2017, 7:38pm
Post #5 of 15
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Fingolfin and Morgoth in mortal combat
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I expect my tolerance level for the Silmarillion might be a tad greater than others, in that it doesn't seem to be as 'heavy lifting' for me as for some others. That said, LOTR flows much easier into my mind, that's for sure!
While "Of Beren and Lúthien" is always great reading, I also really enjoy the preceding chapter, "Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin". I never tire of reading about Fingolfin's challenge to Melkor, basically doing something the Valar themselves couldn't quite ever be bothered to do. And then of course the fall of Beleriand along with Húrin and Huor's travails, all set the bleak stage for the redeeming tale of hope that is Beren and Lúthien.
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Hamfast Gamgee
Tol Eressea
Oct 13 2017, 8:47pm
Post #6 of 15
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Can I have a vote for Unnumbeared Tears?
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I do think that is quite a sensational chapter and written in very few pages. But it covers a lot and involvs just about everyone Elf, Man and Orc. I like the way we almost know at the start that things are not going to work out well, but we have a glimmer of hope and from then on it is all despair. With a little hope at the end. And a bit of desperate heroism which is essential to the tale, but on the other hand, who would volunteer to do it? Plus with my life the way it is and my beliefs about the real world, I can relate to desperate defeat better than glorious victory!
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CuriousG
Half-elven
Oct 13 2017, 8:56pm
Post #7 of 15
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I can--and have!--read Fingolfin vs Morgoth over and over and over again.
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That's one of the best parts of the whole book.
(This post was edited by CuriousG on Oct 13 2017, 8:57pm)
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CuriousG
Half-elven
Oct 13 2017, 8:59pm
Post #8 of 15
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I was considering Unnumbered Tears as another tie for #2
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It's got a lot going for it, for all the reasons you give. And it has a feel similar to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, where the tide of battle sways back and forth several times. On first read, I really thought they might win and wasn't sure what the chapter title referred to.
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CuriousG
Half-elven
Oct 13 2017, 9:02pm
Post #9 of 15
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"rebellion, blasphemy, civil war, damnation and adventure"
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That sounds like some of the juiciest bits of the Bible, the parts that are made into movies. Just another reason why someday we can hope The Sil makes it on screen in some format.
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Meneldor
Valinor
Oct 14 2017, 1:29pm
Post #10 of 15
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Unnumbered Tears is the most intense chapter for me.
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When I finish that one, I feel exhausted, as if I'd been fighting the whole battle myself.
Fingolfin vs Morgoth is also an adrenalin rush.
But for overall favorite chapter, I'll go with B&L.
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters, these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. -Psalm 107
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Khim
Bree
Oct 14 2017, 2:44pm
Post #11 of 15
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To not answer your question...
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As an adolescent I immersed myself in all things Middle-earth. Of course, back then there wasn't very much to immerse oneself in, just The Hobbit and the LOTR. I was 13 when The Silmarillion came out and I immediately read it and enjoyed it very much, despite its unusual style. Off hand it is difficult for me to pick a favorite chapter, but I do recall vividly being moved by "Of Tour and His Coming to Gondolin," when I read it a few years later in "Unfinished Tales." That abandoned narrative was the moment I began to truly regret that Tolkien hadn't left us more to explore.
I am Khim akin to Mim.
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Ethel Duath
Half-elven
Oct 14 2017, 4:39pm
Post #12 of 15
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With you and CuriousG on this.
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I can feel the hair rising on the back of my neck, just contemplating a re-read.
I almost prefer Beren and Luthien in the poetic form, but either way it's easily an equal favorite--or my favorite lengthy narrative.
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 19 2017, 7:13pm
Post #13 of 15
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The Silmarillion is a very heavy book
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You are right on the way it is written, in my opinion its more like a history book than an actual story like LOTR. But we all know it is a story, just more written like a history.
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 19 2017, 7:16pm
Post #14 of 15
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I definitely agree with you over Luthien and Beren
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being a redeeming chapter of hope in the book. The Silmarillion is a much sadder and darker book, with alot of the main heroes getting slain, I think that Luthien and Beren's story was a bit of a break in the oncoming dark feel of the book, it brought some light into this particular tale.
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 19 2017, 7:18pm
Post #15 of 15
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That is also an excellent chapter!
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"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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