Before,after, during the Silmarillion

[Angoreth]

The Rebellion of Melkor Against Eru


"But as the theme progressed, it came into the heart of Melkor to interweave matters of his own imagining that were not in accord with the theme of llúvatar, for he sought therein to increase the power and glory of the part assigned to himself. To Melkor among the Ainur had been given the greatest gifts of power and knowledge, and he had a share in all the gifts of his brethren. He had gone often alone into the void places seeking the Imperishable Flame; for desire grew hot within him to bring into Being things of his own, and he was impatient of its emptiness. Yet he found not the fire, for it is with llúvatar. But being alone he had begun to conceive thoughts of his own unlike those of his brethren."


In Quenya Melkor's name means "He who arises in might." Melkor was also called Morgoth, a name given to him by Fëanor after he stole the Silmarilli. His titles include Bauglir, or The Dark Lord. Melkor is of the race of the Ainur. He had separated himself from the other Ainur, and he started to think differently. But he found that others thought like him and at least would follow his ways. This Ainu started the discord in the Music of the Ainur, for he wanted to bring beings into life himself. He also had the greatest gifts of power, skill, and knowledge.

Melkor had entered Eä with the other Valar. He desired to control Arda and claim it for himself. The Ainu had corrupted some of the Maiar and then also some of the Children of llúvatar. These beings he made his servants, for he wanted to be called "Master over other wills." And also be called Lord.

Melkor was one of the mightiest dwellers in Arda. He was of the same order and equal in power to Manwë. In the mind of llúvatar they were brothers. Melkor sought power for himself, for he wanted to bend all things to his own will.

Melkor started to destroy everything that the Valar had made. One of his evilest deeds was when he threw down the Lamps of the Valar and destroyed their place of dwelling in Almaren. He also killed Finwë and stole the Silmarils. And afterwards he fled back to his ancient fortress of Angband in the north of Middle-earth.

"Both [meaning also Aulë] also, desired to make things of their own that should be new and unsought of by others, and delighted in the praise of their skill. But Aulë remained faithful to Eru and submitted all that he did to his will; and he did not envy the works of others, but sought and gave counsel. Whereas Melkor spent his spirit in envy and hate, until at last he could make nothing save in mockery of the thought of others, and all their works he destroyed if he could."

[Angoreth]

The Dagor Dagorath





Dagor Dagorath is the final battle foretold in The Second Prophecy of Mandos. It is also called Ragnarök and the Last Battle. In The Shaping of Middle Earth we find the final version of this battle:

"After the triumph of the Gods, Eärendel1 sailed still in the seas of heaven, but the Sun scorched him and the Moon hunted him in the sky . . . Then the Valar drew his white ship Wingelot2 over the land of Valinor, and they filled it with radiance and hallowed it, and launched it through the Door of Night. And long Eärendel set sail into the starless vast, Elwing at his side,3 the Silmaril upon his brow, voyaging the Dark behind the world, a glimmering and fugitive star. And ever and anon he returns and shines behind the courses of the Sun and Moon above the ramparts of the Gods, brighter than all other stars, the mariner of the sky, keeping watch against Morgoth upon the confines of the world. Thus shall he sail until he sees the Last Battle fought upon the plains of Valinor.

Thus spake the prophecy of Mandos, which he declared in Valmar at the judgment of the Gods, and the rumour of it was whispered among all the Elves of the West: when the world is old and the Powers grow weary, then Morgoth shall come back through the Door out of the Timeless Night; and he shall destroy the Sun and the Moon, but Eärendel shall come upon him as a white flame and drive him from the airs. Then shall the last battle be gathered on the fields of Valinor. In that day Tulkas shall strive with Melko4, and on his right shall stand Fionwë5 and on his left Túrin Turambar, son of Húrin, Conqueror of Fate; and it shall be the black sword of Túrin that deals unto Melko his death and final end; and so shall the Children of Húrin and all men be avenged.

Thereafter shall the Silmarils be recovered out of sea and earth and air; for Earendil shall descend and yield up that flame that he hath had in keeping. Then Fëanor shall bear the Three and yield their fire to rekindle the Two Trees, and a great light shall come forth; and the Mountains of Valinor shall be levelled, so that the light goes out over all the world. In that light the Gods will again grow young, and the Elves awake and all their dead arise, and the purpose of Ilúvatar be fulfilled concerning them. But of Men in that day the prophecy speaks not, save of Túrin only, and him it names among the Gods."

In no finalized version of Tolkien's, such as the ones used in The Silmarillion is there an account of Dagor Dagorath, so the above cannot be considered purely canonical. Except for slight details, however, it does not contradict what information we have on the Final Days, and glimmerings of the Last Battle can be seen in The Silmarillion, though nothing in detail.

For instance, the Ainulindalë states that after the last days the Ainur and the Children of IIúvatar will make a great music before Eru, and "the themes of IIúvatar will be played aright and take being in the moment of their utterance, for all shall then understand fully his intent in their part, and each shall know the comprehension of each, and IIúvatar will give to their thoughts the secret fire, being well pleased." Then of the Dwarves it is their belief, according to the Chapter Of Aulë and Yavanna that they will aid Aulë "in the remaking of Arda after the Last Battle." The Chapter Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor speaks of Fëanor coming back at The End and the sun passing and the moon failing.

Evolution of the Text

Earlier versions of the story do exist. For instance, in The Histories of Middle Earth I, The Book of Lost Tales I it is told that when the Doors of the Night are opened Melkor would contrive a quarrel between the Moon and Sun, and IIinsor, steerman of the Moon6 will seek to follow Urwendi, who guides the sun7, through the gates, and when they are both gone, the Gates of both East and West will be closed and IIinsor and Urwendi will be lost forever. The Fionwë, who loved Urwendi, will become Morgoth's greatest bane and will destroy the world to destory Morgoth. In the end he will slay Morgoth.

Later, in The Histories of Middle Earth II, The Book of Lost Tales II is found another earlier version, part of the myths Tolkien wanted to make for England. In this section, there is a lot of discussion about the fate of the Elves that remain in Middle Earth. As we know, they slowly fade and die out. But there was a part about the "Faring Forth", where the Valinorean Elves would go and try to rescue the Lost Elves. Now when they try, Men shall decide their fate. If Men aid the Elves, then all Men who wish to go to Valinor may. But if Men should aid Morgoth and oppose the Elves, then the Elves shall most certainly die and maybe also the Valar. And that may also mean the end of Arda itself.

Note: A related idea to all of this is the "Relighting of the Magic Sun spoken of in The Book of Lost Tales, which is the relighting of the Two Trees if good wins in the Dagor Dagorath.


1Later changed to Eärendil.
2Later changed to Vingelot.
3In The Silmarillion a change was made, in that Elwing did not accompany him on his journeys through the pathless voids, not being able to endure the colds and loving rather the earth and the sweet winds that blow on sea and hill.
4Later changed to Melkor.
5Later changed to Eonwë
6Later became Tilion
7 Later became Arien

[Angoreth]

Some of you might know this already, but Im posting it for fun for those who don't know to read.



The Four Elven Races


The Elves are divided into specific races, depending on their blood, and later also depending on their location. The four Elven main races are: Vanyar, Noldor, Teleri and Avari. However, the Teleri elves split up in branches depending on what choices they made.

Three hosts of Elves set out from Cuiviénen: Vanyar, Noldor and Teleri. The Avari remained close to Cuiviénen in Middle-Earth and were not counted among the Eldar. All of the Vanyar and Noldor Elves reached Aman. However, some of the Teleri left the journey east of the Misty Mountains and became the Nandor, and from the Nandor came the Laiquendi and the Silvan Elves, and some of the Teleri left the journey in Beleriand and became the Sindar, and the rest of the Teleri reached Valinor and were counted among the Calaquendi.

A collected name for the teleri that did not reach Valinor was Úmanyar, and a collected name for all the Elves in Middle-Earth, including the Avari, that did not reach Valinor was Moriquendi. The collected name for all the elves that reached Valinor was Calaquendi.