Contents Book 1 The Creation of the World Book 2 The Valar Book 3 Elves Behaving Badly Book 4 The Drowning of Numenor Book 5 The Rings of Power
Book 1 Ainulindalë The creation of the world God called the Ainur together to sing the music to create the world. Each sang according to his own thought. Melkor sang a discordant theme that introduced evil into the world. God said, Melkor, sit down and shut up.
Book 2 Valaquenta The Valar whod did the actual work of creating the world
The Maiar Their servants a shadow of Morgoth and a ghost of his malice, and walked behind him on the same ruinous path down into the Void."
Book 3 - Quenta Silmarillion Elves behaving badly The Awakening of the Elves Elbereth Gilthoniel created the stars so the Firstborn, the race of Elves, would not awaken on the shores of Lake Cuiviénen in darkness.
The Making of the Silmarils Feanor was the greatest craftsman who ever lived, and the most exasperating. He made three jewels filled with starlight. They were called the Silmarils, which means white light gleaming. They were pretty and everyone wanted them, even though they didn t convey any special powers.
Feanor Behaving Badly Feanor threatened his unarmed Fingolfin, mistakenly believing that his good-natured halfbrother wanted to inherit their father s crown. Fingolfin publicly forgave Fëanor and called him "Half-brother in blood, full brother in heart. The only reason Feanor isn t the villain in this story is that his chief adversary is Melkor, an even worse villain.
Melkor Steals the Silmarils The Dark Lord Melkor was fascinated by light, and he wanted the Silmarils. As soon as he got out of prison, he had Ungoliant, a giant spider, poison the Trees to create a distraction. Melkor broke into Feanor s house, killed everyone there, stole the Silmarils, and set them in his iron crown.
Feanor Vows to Get Them Back Feanor swore an oath to get the Silmarils back. He made his sons swear it, too.
The Kinslaying Feanor needed boats to cross the ocean. At the port of Aqualonde, the Teleri shipbuilders wouldn t give them to him, so he killed them, an event known as the Kinslaying.
The Burning of the Ships When he reached Beleriand, he burned the ships so no one could leave and go home.
The Death of Feanor Feanor went to confront Melkor in his lair, but on the way there, he was stomped to death by a balrog.
Maglor takes Earendil s Twins Earendil the Mariner s wife Elwin inherited a Silmaril. Feanor s sons demanded it, she said no. To force him to give it to them, Maehdros (?) kidnapped his twin boys, Elros and Elrond.
Maedhros is hung from a cliff Melkor captured Maedhros and hung by the wrist from the side of Thangorodrim. Maehdros cousin Fingon cut off his arm to free him.
Death of Fingolfin Fingolfin challenged Melkor to single combat. Melkor didn t want to accept, but he had to because his captains were watching. Melkor killed Fingolfin, but was stabbed in the foot and was never free from pain afterwards.
Beren and Luthien Beren, a mortal man, fell in love with Luthien and asked her father for her hand in marriage. Her father set an impossible task, Bring me the broomstick a Silmaril from Melkor s crown. On the way to Melkor s lair, Sauron captured Beren. Luthien challenged Sauron to one-on-one combat and almost killed him. Beren got a Silmaril, but on the way home, a wolf bit off the hand holding the Silmaril. He argued that, since he was still holding it, he d met the condition and should be allowed to marry the girl.
Earendil the Mariner Earendil took the Silmaril to Valinor, and was elevated to the race of Maiar. He wears the Silmaril on his brow, where it can be seen in the morning sky as our most beloved star.
The War of Wrath The host of Valinor defeated The Dark Lord Melkor, but accidently sank half the continent. After that, they hesitated to interfere directly. Eonwe pried the two remaining Silmarils from the iron crown and prepared to take them back to Valinor. In the struggle to subdue Melkor, the Host of Valinor accidently tipped the continent of Arda and sank Beleriand. They ve since adapted a noninterference policy.
Maedhros and Maglor take the Silmarils Feanor s two oldest sons, Maehdros and Maglor, attacked Eonwe s camp, killed the guards, and took the Silmarils. Eonwe let them go.
The End of the Silmarils Maehdros jumped into a cleft of the earth clutching a Silmaril. Maglor threw his into the sea. The one remaining Silmaril is still visible in the morning sky.
Book 4 - The Drowning of Númenor It seemed like a good idea, at the time. The Tyrant Ar-Pharazôn captured Sauron in battle and took him as a captive to Númenor. That was a mistake. When Sauron was done with him, all that remained of the island kingdom was a smoking hole on the floor of the ocean.
Book 5 - Of the Rings of Power Why putting your power into something outside of yourself is generally a bad idea. Sauron put on his fair form and called himself Annatar, the Giver of Gifts. He approached Gil- Galad, King of the Elves. Gil-Galad mistrusted Sauron and forbade him to enter his realm. Sauron then approached Celebrimbor, Fëanor s grandson and the greatest craftsman living. Celebrimbor wanted the knowledge that Sauron genuinely possessed, and welcomed him into Eregion. Together they made Rings of Power.
The Forging of the Ring