Newest References

Elemmírë by oshun

Elemmírë, the Vanyarin Elf who wrote the Aldudénië, is intriguing as one of the rare Tolkien characters whose gender is not identified.

Published on 1 January 2018.

Eldalótë by oshun

Eldalótë, the wife of Angrod, is mentioned only in History of Middle-earth texts and not once in the published Silmarillion. This biography reviews what is known of this elusive character, including what linguistic clues can tell us about whether she accompanied her husband to Middle-earth.

Published on 1 October 2010.

Eilinel by Robinka

Eilinel is a little-known character, the wife of Gorlim the Unhappy, who is both central and nonexistent in the tale of the betrayal of Barahir.

Published on 1 August 2019.

Edrahil of Nargothrond by oshun

The capture of Edhrahil--one of Finrod's twelve companions--is among the most chilling in The Silmarillion.

Published on 1 October 2013.

Ecthelion of the Fountain by oshun

As one of the lords of Gondolin, Ecthelion appears in some of Tolkien's earliest writings about Middle-earth.

Published on 1 September 2011.

Eärwen by oshun

Barely mentioned in the texts, Eärwen's story--and her essential role in the legendarium--leave many tantalizing gaps.

Published on 1 November 2010.

Eärendil the Mariner by oshun

In addition to his essential role in the histories of the early ages, Eärendil is steeped in symbolic and mythic significance that elevates him to one of the most important characters in the legendarium.

Published on 1 February 2011.

Durin I by oshun

One of the seven Fathers of the Dwarves, Durin provides one of the few connections between The Hobbit and The Silmarillion.

Published on 1 April 2016.

Dorlas by Himring

The chief opponent of Brandir, Dorlas's role provokes the disastrous turn Túrin's tale takes in Brethil.

Published on 1 October 2017.

Dior Eluchíl by oshun

The only child of Lúthien and Beren, Dior's legacy is mostly due to his place in the history of the Peredhil who would knit together the First, Second, and Third Ages.

Published on 1 June 2013.

Denethor of the Nandor by oshun

One of the few named Avari in the texts, Denethor's death in an early battle would have long-standing consequences for his people, the Laiquendi.

Published on 1 December 2013.

Daeron by oshun

Given a prominent role in the narrative, Daeron nonetheless receives few words in The Silmarillion.

Published on 1 April 2008.

Círdan the Shipwright by oshun

Círdan the Shipwright is one of Tolkien's few important characters who plays a substantial role throughout the entire history of the Elves in Middle-earth, present from Cuiviénen to the departure of Frodo at the start of the Fourth Age.

Table of Contents

Published on 1 July 2014.

Celegorm (Seven in '07) by Dawn Felagund

In a brief biography written for the Seven in '07 event, Celegorm is revealed as a character who evolves from one beloved of a Vala to a fallen, villainous character.

Published on 3 July 2007.

Celebrimbor by oshun

Celebrimbor first appeared in The Lord of the Rings, and as Tolkien rewrote his story to include him in The Silmarillion, his proclivities and tale parallels that of his grandfather Fëanor.

Published on 1 March 2010.

Celebrimbor (Seven in '07) by Dawn Felagund

In a brief biography written for the Seven in '07 event, Celebrimbor was originally a Lord of the Rings character retrofitted into The Silmarillion.

Published on 9 July 2007.

Celeborn by oshun

Following the two-part biography of Galadriel, this essay considers her husband, who was notable as a warrior and a leader in his own right. A character dogged by movie fanon that would dismiss him as inconsequential and confused by contradictory texts, Celeborn emerges in this analysis as sympathetic, powerful, and wise: a fitting companion for Galadriel.

Published on 1 October 2018.

Carcharoth by Robinka

The massive wolf Carcharoth draws on a rich literary history of symbolic and mythic significance of wolves.

Published on 1 February 2015.

Caranthir (Seven in '07) by Dawn Felagund

In a brief biography written for the Seven in '07 event, Caranthir is revealed as a rather enigmatic character among the Fëanorians.

Published on 4 July 2007.

Brodda by oshun

An upstart leader of the Easterlings, Brodda forcibly took Aerin to marriage and played a role in the story of the House of Húrin.

Published on 1 July 2017.

Beren by oshun

Following up on our three-part biography of Lúthien Tinúviel, this month's biography of Beren discusses his early life, the evolution of his character in the legendarium, and his particular importance as a prototype for Aragorn and the small, simple heroes who would come to characterize Tolkien's later work.

Table of Contents

Published on 1 June 2020.

Beregar of Númenor by oshun

The father of Erendis and grandfather of Tar-Ancalimë, Beregar is one of the few men in the legendarium who is defined primarily by his relationship to important women.

Published on 1 May 2015.

Bëor by oshun

As the first Mortal to encounter the Noldor in the legendarium, Bëor and his story establish a pattern that will be followed in the relations between Elves and Mortals in the millennia to come.

Published on 1 July 2015.

Beleg Cúthalion by oshun

Beleg Cúthalion is one of the most storied of the Sindarin characters in The Silmarillion.

Published on 1 July 2008.

Barahir by oshun

Barahir in many ways embodies the unrelenting and inescapable tragedy that plagues The Silmarillion. But through his son Beren and a legacy that passes through to the Third Age, Barahir also fits into Tolkien's essential concept of eucatastrophe.

Published on 1 May 2017.