References by Title

Tuor by oshun

Tuor may be less well-known among the larger Tolkien fandom than other Silmarillion characters like Elrond, Galadriel, Sauron, or perhaps even Fëanor or Maglor. His role, however, is to provide a crucial link between the tales of the Elder Days and the culmination of the story of the Elves in Middle-earth and the ascendancy of the age of Men which is recounted in The Lord of the Rings.

Published on 1 February 2014.

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Turgon the Wise by oshun

In the early parts of the published Silmarillion, Turgon is overshadowed by the impressive feats of heroism of his elder brother Fingon. Later in the narrative of the First Age, however, it is Turgon of all of the House of Finwë, save perhaps Fëanor, who receives the most page space, due to his role as the king of Gondolin.

Published on 1 April 2010.

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Túrin by firstamazon

Túrin's life illustrates Tolkien's concept of dyscatastrophe: an unexpected turn toward the tragic. The first part of this three-part biography of Túrin considers the early tragedies and downfalls of his life, through his years as an outlaw.

Published on 5 August 2022.

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Túrin, Part 2 by firstamazon

Túrin's tale is the lengthiest and one of the most tangled of the tales that make up The Silmarillion. This section considers the center part of Túrin's life, after his exile from Doriath but before he fell into utter ruin, a time defined by friendship and honor rather than ruinous choices.

Published on 16 December 2022.

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Túrin, Part 3 by firstamazon

The final installment of Túrin's biography considers his life in Nargothrond, his return to Dor-lómin and time in Brethil, his fateful marriage to Nienor, his battle with Glaurung, and the ever-disastrous consequences of all of these, culminating in his death by his own hand.

Published on 26 January 2023.

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Twenty-Two Words You Never Thought Tolkien Would Provide by darthfingon

Some of Tolkien's earliest word lists include terms for words that provide sometimes surprising insights into the habits and cultures of the Elves.

Published on 1 May 2009.

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Uinen by Dawn Walls-Thumma

Over the course of Tolkien's development of the legendarium, Uinen evolved from a morally murky nature deity to a protector of Arda's mariners.

Published on 22 September 2021.

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Ulfang and Uldor by Himring

Ulfang and his sons, of whom Uldor is the most prominent, are notorious for their betrayal of the Fëanorians during the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. Their early association with dark coloration and betrayal introduces questions of how characters of color are depicted in the legendarium and in-universe textual history.

Published on 1 November 2022.

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Ulmo, Lord of Waters, Part 1 by Anérea

From the earliest version of the legendarium, Ulmo existed as the Lord of the Waters, although over the decades his character would evolve to fit the changing tone of the "Silmarillion." Part One of his biography considers his domain, his relationships with the other Ainur, and the symbolic significance of the watery element in Tolkien's work.

Published on 3 February 2023.

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Ungoliant by oshun

Ungoliant, the mother of all of Tolkien's hideous and terrifying spiders, appears first in his earliest written work on the legendarium.

Published on 1 October 2016.

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Vairë the Weaver by Dawn Felagund

Although barely present in the published Silmarillion, Vairë emerges in Tolkien's earlier writings as a remarkably empathetic character and an apt foil to her cold-hearted husband Námo.

Published on 1 May 2012.

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Vána by Dawn Felagund

Barely mentioned in the published Silmarillion, Vána originally played a role as an active, assertive woman among the Valar. Her notable associations imply her role in the legendarium should be fuller than her meager mentions in the published Silmarillion suggest.

Published on 1 January 2011.

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Varda Elentári by oshun

Varda Elentári is among the better known of Tolkien’s demigods and probably the best known of the Valier.

Published on 1 December 2011.

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Vardamir by Himring

The eldest child of Elros, Vardamir serves as a contrast to later Númenórean kings.

Published on 1 October 2019.

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Vëantur by oshun

Vëantur is the first and foremost among the early mariners and shipbuilders of Númenor and the first to renew contact between the island of Númenor and the peoples of Middle-earth. He is crucial in leading to the Númenóreans' self-definition as a seafaring people and masters of the vast seas of Arda to the east of its island kingdom.

Published on 1 October 2012.

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Voronwë by oshun

Voronwë, a Noldorin Elf of Gondolin, plays a pivotal role in the story of Gondolin and, more specifically, of Tuor.

Published on 1 November 2015.

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Who Are We? Tolkien Fanfiction and Demographics by Dawn Walls-Thumma

When you picture a Tolkien fanfiction writer, who comes to mind? The Tolkien Fanfiction Surveys of 2015 and 2020 provide insight on who is present in the fandom and which fans are missing.

Published on 24 September 2022.

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Who Gets to Say? Canon and Authority by Dawn Walls-Thumma

Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data shows that, when considering who has the authority to define that ever-elusive concept of canon in the Tolkien fandom, fanfiction authors navigate this question in various ways.

Published on 25 March 2023.

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Why People Don't Comment: Data and History From the Tolkienfic Fandom by Dawn Walls-Thumma

A reworking of the 2018 article for Long Live Feedback that includes data from the 2020 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey, pointing to a lack of comments as related to skill, confidence, and community connection.

Published on 21 September 2024.

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Women Find a Room of Their Own in Tolkien Fanfiction by oshun

As a genre belonging almost exclusively to women, fanfiction creates a "room of their own," apart from mainstream publishing that is often hostile to women, for women authors to critically and creatively explore ideas in popular texts and, in the style of Tolkien, create new mythologies that appeal to them.

Published on 17 May 2018.

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Writing Women in Tolkien Fanfiction: An Analysis of the Data by Dawn Walls-Thumma

Data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Surveys shows how time, demographics, and platform choice influence how fanfiction authors regard writing about women.

Published on 29 October 2022.

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