References by Title

Nahar by oshun

Nahar, the horse of the Vala Oromë, is one of the extraordinary beasts of The Silmarillion.

Published on 1 February 2016.

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Námo Mandos by Dawn Felagund

Námo Mandos occupies a common role found in world mythology: that of the god of the dead. Shrouded in mystery and beset with moral ambiguity, Námo participates in tales with parallels in other world myths, especially the Greek and the Norse.

Published on 1 February 2009.

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Nellas of Doriath by oshun

A character who appears in The Book of Lost Tales, Nellas has a significant presence in the childhood of Túrin. Her connections to the young son of Húrin encompass those of companion, quasi-nursemaid, and teacher.

Published on 1 June 2014.

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Nerdanel by Dawn Felagund

Nerdanel is a rare character among Tolkien's woman characters, possessing skill and fortitude rather than beauty, yet due to editorial intervention, has been removed almost entirely from the published text. Fans--mostly women--have effected her rescue through transformative works.

Published on 1 August 2018.

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Nerdanel (Seven in '07) by Dawn Felagund

In a brief biography written for the Seven in '07 event, Nerdanel's character is explored beyond the few mentions she receives in the published text.

Published on 10 July 2007.

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Nessa by oshun

Often listed last among the Valier, Nessa is known for her skill in dancing and her connection to deer.

Published on 1 December 2012.

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Nienna by oshun

Nienna, one of the Queens of the Valar, is the goddess of mourning. She serves as a mentor to other key characters.

Published on 1 May 2016.

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Nimloth of Doriath by oshun

We know little to nothing about Nimloth aside from her familial relationships to others: the wife of Dior, and mother of Eluréd, Elurín, and Elwing.

Published on 1 October 2009.

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Nost-na-Lothion by Lindariel

The first edition of our new column explores the Gondolindrim Festival of Flowers, its connections to the Beltane festival, and the foodways of Gondolin and possible recipes for this celebration.

Published on 1 May 2020.

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Not Just the Son of That Guy: Creating Effective Names for Original Characters by darthfingon

So you need an Elvish name for your OC? This article gives tips and strategies for coming up with believable names that sound good.

Published on 1 March 2010.

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Núneth by oshun

Núneth, a Númenórean woman best known as the mother of Erendis, is a complex and realistic character who figures in the tale of Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner’s Wife.

Published on 1 April 2014.

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Ohtar by oshun

The esquire of Isildur, Ohtar delivered the shards of Narsil to Rivendell and thus becomes a pivotal--if minor--character in the final act of the legendarium.

Published on 1 November 2020.

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Olwë by LadySternchen

About Olwë, the king of the Teleri in Aman, little is known, but a series of difficult events marked his life until he fades from the pages of The Silmarillion in the First Age.

Published on 24 January 2024.

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Ómar-Amillo by Dawn Walls-Thumma

One of the gods of music in the early legendarium, Ómar is called by Christopher Tolkien "a divinity without much substance" and swiftly faded from the story. His brief existence may shed light on Tolkien's evolving sense of how his fictional universe aligns with the historical peoples that inspired him.

Published on 2 September 2023.

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On Oaths by Angelica

Oaths were a part of the history of many cultures across time and feature heavily in the legendarium as well.

Published on 9 September 2022.

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Orodreth by Tarion Anarore

Orodreth is often remembered (or forgotten) for his milder-mannered and soft-spoken nature, though other sources paint a more varied picture.

Published on 1 December 2014.

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Oromë by oshun

Among the many evocative and fascinating of Tolkien’s characters, the Vala Oromë uniquely tempts one to note the resemblances between the Professor’s invented mythology and real world myth and legend.

Published on 1 October 2011.

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Ossë by Dawn Walls-Thumma

One of the longest-enduring characters in the legendarium, Ossë evolved over the decades from a perilous character adjacent to Melkor himself to a figure both dangerous and benevolent.

Published on 3 March 2022.

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Ox Bones and Silver Ladles: The Construction of the Ainulindalë by Dawn Walls-Thumma

The deus faber and demiurgic motifs of creation mythology are used in the Ainulindalë, selected and manipulated by Tolkien to advance ideas that rest at the foundation of the legendarium.

Published on 10 April 2021.

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Passing Ships by Simon J. Cook

The arrival and departure of ships across the Great Sea carries mythic significance for the peoples of Middle-earth. The image of ships crossing out of and back into a mysterious West appears as well in Beowulf and is alluded to in Tolkien's tower analogy in his lecture "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics," where the tower allows those who climb it to observe the passage of the ships.

Published on 20 June 2024.

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Pengolodh by Dawn Felagund

A biography of Pengolodh, emphasizing what he would have known of the history he wrote about and how that impacts interpreting The Silmarillion for fanfiction.

Published on 1 March 2016.

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Plato in Númenor by Angelica

History of the Atlantis myth that inspired Tolkien's Númenor.

Published on 1 August 2009.

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Point of View and In-Universe Authorship of the "Silmarillion" by Dawn Walls-Thumma

Who wrote The Silmarillion? This paper briefly discusses the evidence from Morgoth's Ring that supports the idea that that "Silmarillion" narrator is Elven.

Published on 16 April 2022.

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Power and Choice in the Second Age: A Political Primer by S.R. Westvik

Fantasy fiction is often conceived to aid escapism in a world as complex and threatening as ours is. It is also an important tool for reflecting on and critiquing our political and societal norms and deficits, serving as a great lens to understand politics, power, choice, order, and justice. Through the lens of political science, underused in Tolkien studies, this paper describes and evaluates the broad themes of the domestic and international political landscape of early Second Age in Middle-earth, examined through a framework of power and choice. With a specific focus on Númenor as a rising power, the paper will also address diverse themes of great power politics, foreign policy, technology and weaponry, ideology, and alliance systems.

Published on 1 March 2020.

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Quennar i Onótimo by Himring

One among Tolkien's several fictional loremasters, Quennar was briefly an intermediary between Rúmil and Pengolodh and later attested as the loremaster who wrote on the reckoning of time by the Elves, a role that overlaps with the medieval historiography familiar to Tolkien.

Published on 1 September 2018.

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