Concept and creation The Silmarillion

1 concept , creation

1.1 development of text
1.2 posthumous publication
1.3 influences

concept , creation
development of text

tolkien first began working on stories become silmarillion in 1914, intending them become english mythology explain origins of english history , culture. of work written while tolkien, british officer returned france during world war i, in hospital , on sick leave. completed first story, fall of gondolin , in late 1916.

he called collection of nascent stories book of lost tales. became name first 2 volumes of history of middle-earth, include these texts. stories employ narrative device of mariner named eriol (in later versions, anglo-saxon named Ælfwine) finds island of tol eressëa, elves live; , elves tell him history. however, tolkien never completed book of lost tales; left compose poems lay of leithian , lay of children of húrin .

the first complete version of silmarillion sketch of mythology written in 1926 (later published in volume iv of history of middle-earth). sketch 28-page synopsis written explain background of story of túrin r. w. reynolds, friend whom tolkien had sent several of stories. sketch tolkien developed fuller narrative version of silmarillion called quenta noldorinwa (also included in volume iv). quenta noldorinwa last version of silmarillion tolkien completed.

in 1937, encouraged success of hobbit, tolkien submitted publisher george allen & unwin incomplete more developed version of silmarillion called quenta silmarillion, rejected work being obscure , celtic . publisher instead asked tolkien write sequel hobbit. tolkien began revise silmarillion, turned sequel, became lord of rings. renewed work on silmarillion after completing lord of rings, , desired publish 2 works together. when became clear not possible, tolkien turned full attention preparing lord of rings publication.

in late 1950s tolkien returned silmarillion, of writing time concerned more theological , philosophical underpinnings of work narratives themselves. time, had doubts fundamental aspects of work went earliest versions of stories, , seems felt need resolve these problems before produce final version of silmarillion. during time wrote extensively on such topics nature of evil in arda, origin of orcs, customs of elves, nature , means of elvish rebirth, , flat world , story of sun , moon. in event, 1 or 2 exceptions, wrought little change narratives during remaining years of life.

posthumous publication

for several years after father s death, christopher tolkien compiled silmarillion narrative. christopher s intentions seem have been use latest writings of father s could, , keep internal consistency (and consistency lord of rings) possible, though admitted complete consistency impossible. explained in history of middle-earth, christopher drew upon numerous sources narrative, relying on post-lord of rings works possible, reaching far 1917 book of lost tales fill in portions of narrative father had planned write never addressed. in 1 later chapter of quenta silmarillion, of ruin of doriath , had not been touched since 1930s, had construct narrative practically scratch. final result, included genealogies, maps, index, , first-ever released elvish word list, published in 1977. because of christopher s extensive explanations (in history of middle-earth) of how compiled published work, of silmarillion has been debated readers. christopher s task accepted difficult given state of father s texts @ time of death: critical texts no longer in tolkien family s possession, , christopher s task compelled him rush through of material. christopher reveals in later volumes of history of middle-earth many divergent ideas not agree published version. christopher tolkien has suggested that, had taken more time , had access texts, might have produced substantially different work. compelled considerable pressure , demand father s readers , publishers produce publishable possible.

in october 1996, christopher tolkien commissioned illustrator ted nasmith create full-page full-colour artwork first illustrated edition of silmarillion. published in 1998, , followed in 2004 second edition featuring corrections , additional artwork nasmith.

during 1980s , 1990s, christopher tolkien published of father s middle-earth writings 12-volume history of middle-earth series. in addition source material , earlier drafts of several portions of lord of rings, these books expand on original material published in silmarillion, , in many cases diverge it. there tolkien intended revise sketched out in notes, , new texts surfaced after publication of silmarillion. these books make clear how unfinished later parts of silmarillion were: parts never rewritten after versions in lost tales.

influences

the silmarillion complex work exhibiting influence of many sources. major influence finnish epic kalevala, tale of kullervo. influence greek mythology apparent. island of númenor, example, recalls atlantis. this, however, tolkien later described in letter christopher bretherton merely curious chance .

greek mythology colours valar, borrow many attributes olympian gods. valar, olympians, live in world, on high mountain, separated mortals; correspondences approximate; valar contain elements of norse mythology. several of valar have characteristics resembling various Æsir, gods of asgard. thor, example, physically strongest of gods, can seen both in oromë, fights monsters of melkor, , in tulkas, physically strongest of valar. manwë, head of valar, exhibits similarities odin, allfather . tolkien said saw maia olórin (gandalf) odinic wanderer .

influence of bible , traditional christian narrative seen in silmarillion in conflict between melkor , eru ilúvatar, parallel of polarity of lucifer , god. further, silmarillion tells of creation , fall of elves, genesis tells of creation , fall of man. of tolkien s works, silmarillion allows room later christian history, , 1 draft has finrod, character in silmarillion, speculating on necessity of eru s (god s) eventual incarnation save mankind.

medieval christian cosmology shows influence in account of creation of universe manifestation of sort of song sung god angels harmonize until fallen angel introduces discord. st. augustine s writings on music, extensive medieval tradition of divine harmony—more familiar today in notion of music of spheres —served bases telling of creation.

celtic mythology show influence in exile of noldorin elves, example, borrow elements story of irish legends of tuatha dé danann. welsh influence seen in elvish language sindarin, tolkien gave linguistic character (though not identical with) british-welsh ... because seems fit rather celtic type of legends , stories told of speakers .