The Silmarillion
Chapters - J. R. R. Tolkien
Part 1: Ainulindalë
Part 2: Valaquenta
Part 3: Quenta Silmarillion
Chapter 1: Of the Beginning of Days
The Valar shape Arda and raise the Two Lamps to light Middle-earth, but Melkor returns from the outer darkness and destroys them, forcing the Valar to retreat to Aman. There Yavanna sings into being the Two Trees of Valinor, Telperion and Laurelin, whose mingled light begins the Days of Bliss, while Manwë and Varda keep watch from Taniquetil and Aule labours at his crafts. Ulmo dwells apart in the Outer Ocean, sustaining the secret waters of Middle-earth, while Tulkas and Orome venture forth at times against the creatures of Melkor.
On page: Yavanna, Manwë, Varda, Aulë, Ulmo, Tulkas, Oromë, Morgoth, Mandos, Eru Ilúvatar, Irmo, Nienna, Vairë, Estë, Vána, Nessa, Ossë, Uinen·Mentioned: Ilmarë
Chapter 2: Of Aulë and Yavanna
Aule, impatient for the coming of the Children of Ilúvatar, secretly creates the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves, but when Ilúvatar confronts him he humbly offers to destroy his work, only for Ilúvatar to grant them true life. Yavanna, concerned that Dwarves and the coming Children will harm growing things, pleads with Manwë, who reveals that the Shepherds of the Trees and the Eagles shall arise to protect her works.
On page: Aulë, Yavanna, Manwë, Morgoth, Eru Ilúvatar
Chapter 3: Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor
Varda creates new stars to herald the awakening of the Elves at Cuivienen, where Orome discovers them riding in the east. The Valar wage the Battle of the Powers against Melkor, and Tulkas wrestles him down and binds him in chains. The Elves divide into three kindreds led by Ingwe, Finwe, and Elwe as they begin the Great March westward, though many refuse the summons and are sundered from the Eldar.
On page: Varda, Oromë, Tulkas, Manwë, Ulmo, Finwë, Morgoth, Mandos, Thingol, Olwë, Ingwë·Mentioned: Ossë, Uinen
Chapter 4: Of Thingol and Melian
Melian, a Maia of great beauty and enchantment, departs Valinor for Middle-earth, where her voice fills the silence with the songs of nightingales. Elwe Singollo, lord of the Teleri, encounters her in the starlit wood of Nan Elmoth and is held spellbound by love for years uncounted, so that his people name him Thingol and he becomes the greatest king of the Sindar in Beleriand.
Chapter 5: Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië
The Vanyar and Noldor reach Aman and build the city of Tirion upon the hill of Tuna, while the Teleri at last cross the sea and settle at the swan-haven of Alqualonde. Finwe is King of the Noldor, and his sons are Fëanor the mightiest, Fingolfin the most valiant, and Finarfin the wisest, whose daughter Galadriel is the most beautiful of the house of Finwe. Fëanor's seven sons include Maedhros and Maglor, while Fingolfin's sons include Fingon and Turgon, and Finarfin's include Finrod.
On page: Finwë, Fëanor, Fingolfin, Finarfin, Galadriel, Maedhros, Maglor, Turgon, Finrod Felagund, Ulmo, Morgoth, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin, Amrod, Amras, Indis, Nerdanel, Argon, Olwë, Ingwë·Mentioned: Ossë, Míriel
Chapter 6: Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor
Fëanor is born to Finwe and Miriel, whose spirit departs after bearing him, and he grows into the mightiest of the Noldor in craft and will. Finwe weds Indis and fathers Fingolfin and Finarfin, but Fëanor dwells apart in pride. Melkor completes his sentence in Mandos and is released, feigning repentance, and begins to sow discord among the Noldor with cunning lies, though Ulmo remains undeceived.
On page: Fëanor, Finwë, Fingolfin, Manwë, Tulkas, Morgoth, Mandos, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin, Amrod, Amras, Nienna, Míriel, Indis, Nerdanel, Aulë·Mentioned: Finarfin, Ulmo
Chapter 7: Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor
Fëanor creates the Silmarils, three jewels filled with the light of the Two Trees, and Melkor lusts for them and poisons the Noldor with lies of jealousy and suspicion. Fëanor draws his sword against Fingolfin and is banished from Tirion, retreating with his sons and his father Finwe to Formenos. Melkor visits Fëanor and is driven away, then flees Valinor entirely, passing beyond the reach of Tulkas and Orome.
On page: Fëanor, Fingolfin, Finwë, Tulkas, Oromë, Manwë, Morgoth, Mandos, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin, Amrod, Amras·Mentioned: Varda, Maedhros, Maglor, Eru Ilúvatar
Chapter 8: Of the Darkening of Valinor
Melkor allies with Ungoliant, a monstrous spider-creature of devouring darkness, and together they assault the Two Trees of Valinor, which Ungoliant drains of their sap and poisons to death. A terrible darkness falls over the Blessed Realm as Varda watches from Taniquetil, and the pursuit led by Orome and Tulkas fails when Ungoliant's Unlight blinds and scatters all who approach.
On page: Ungoliant, Varda, Oromë, Tulkas, Manwë, Fëanor, Fingolfin, Morgoth, Thingol, Dairon, Nienna, Aulë, Yavanna
Chapter 9: Of the Flight of the Noldor
Fëanor curses Melkor as Morgoth after learning that his father Finwe has been slain and the Silmarils stolen, and swears a terrible oath with his seven sons to pursue anyone who withholds the jewels. He rouses the Noldor to rebellion and leads them north, where they commit the Kinslaying at Alqualonde to seize the Teleri's ships. Fingolfin and Galadriel follow reluctantly, Finarfin turns back, and Fëanor betrays Fingolfin's host by burning the ships at Losgar, forcing them to cross the deadly Helcaraxe grinding ice.
On page: Fëanor, Finwë, Fingolfin, Galadriel, Finarfin, Maedhros, Maglor, Turgon, Finrod Felagund, Manwë, Ungoliant, Morgoth, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin, Amrod, Amras, Eönwë, Argon, Olwë, Angrod, Aegnor·Mentioned: Mandos, Nienna
Chapter 10: Of the Sindar
Thingol and Melian rule the Sindar of Beleriand, and their daughter Lúthien is born in the forest of Neldoreth. Dwarves come over the Blue Mountains and help build the great halls of Menegroth, while Melian foresees trouble and counsels Thingol to arm his people. When Morgoth's Orcs first invade Beleriand, Thingol defeats them but at great cost, and Melian raises the Girdle of enchantment about Doriath for protection.
On page: Melian, Lúthien·Mentioned: Fëanor, Ungoliant, Morgoth, Thingol, Sauron, Galadriel
Chapter 11: Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor
Yavanna coaxes a last flower from Telperion and a last fruit from Laurelin before the Trees die, and Aule fashions them into vessels that become the Moon and the Sun. Fingolfin leads his host across the Helcaraxe and arrives in Middle-earth at the first rising of the Moon, blowing his trumpets in defiance. The Valar fortify Aman with the Enchanted Isles and high walls, shutting the Blessed Realm against the exiled Noldor as Mandos foretold.
On page: Yavanna, Aulë, Fingolfin, Manwë, Varda, Morgoth, Eönwë, Arien, Tilion·Mentioned: Finarfin, Mandos, Ossë
Chapter 12: Of Men
Men awake in Hildorien at the first rising of the Sun and begin to wander westward, encountering Dark Elves who befriend and teach them. Ulmo sends messages through streams and floods, and the offspring of Elf and mortal - Eärendil, Elwing, and Elrond - are foretold to share fully in the glory of both kindreds. Morgoth fears this new race and seeks to corrupt them, though Men prove resistant for a time.
On page: Ulmo, Mandos, Thingol, Círdan·Mentioned: Eärendil, Elrond, Melian, Beren, Morgoth, Eru Ilúvatar, Irmo
Chapter 13: Of the Return of the Noldor
Fëanor leads the Noldor to victory in the Battle-under-Stars but pursues the fleeing Orcs too rashly and is slain by Balrogs before the gates of Angband. Maedhros is captured by Morgoth and hung from Thangorodrim, but Fingon rescues him by cutting off his hand with the aid of the eagle Thorondor. Fingolfin arrives with the rising of the Sun and establishes the Siege of Angband, while Finrod builds Nargothrond and Turgon discovers the hidden vale of Tumladen, and Galadriel dwells in Doriath with Celeborn.
On page: Fëanor, Maedhros, Fingon, Fingolfin, Finrod Felagund, Turgon, Galadriel, Celeborn, Maglor, Morgoth, Thingol, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin, Amrod, Amras, Gothmog, Angrod, Aegnor·Mentioned: Ulmo, Dairon, Sauron
Chapter 14: Of Beleriand and its Realms
The chapter describes the geography and political divisions of Beleriand during the Siege of Angband. Fingolfin and Fingon hold Hithlum, Turgon rules Nevrast, Finrod Felagund commands the greatest realm from Nargothrond, and Maedhros and his brothers guard the eastern marches. Thingol reigns in Doriath behind the Girdle of Melian, while Beren and Lúthien are said to dwell on Tol Galen in Ossiriand.
On page: Fingolfin, Fingon, Turgon, Finrod Felagund, Maedhros, Maglor, Thingol, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin, Amrod, Amras, Orodreth·Mentioned: Melian, Beren, Lúthien, Dairon
Chapter 15: Of the Noldor in Beleriand
Turgon secretly builds the hidden city of Gondolin upon Amon Gwareth, guided by Ulmo who warns that treason may one day bring its doom. Galadriel and Melian converse in Doriath, and Melian perceives that the Noldor conceal some great woe from their past. When Thingol learns of the Kinslaying at Alqualonde through rumour and the confession of Finrod's brother Angrod, he bans the Noldorin tongue from his realm.
On page: Turgon, Ulmo, Galadriel, Melian, Finrod Felagund, Thingol, Dairon, Orodreth, Angrod, Aegnor·Mentioned: Barahir
Chapter 16: Of Maeglin
Aredhel, sister of Turgon, leaves Gondolin and is ensnared by Eol the Dark Elf in Nan Elmoth, bearing him a son, Maeglin, who grows cunning and ambitious. When Aredhel and Maeglin flee to Gondolin, Eol pursues them and is captured; he casts a poisoned javelin at Maeglin but strikes Aredhel, who dies, and Eol is executed. Maeglin rises high in Gondolin and conceives a dark and forbidden desire for his cousin Idril Celebrindal, daughter of the King.
On page: Aredhel, Turgon, Maeglin, Idril, Morgoth, Celegorm, Curufin, Eöl·Mentioned: Thingol
Chapter 17: Of the Coming of Men into the West
Finrod Felagund discovers the first Men to enter Beleriand, the people of Beor, and teaches them by firelight, winning their lasting loyalty. The three kindreds of the Edain settle in Beleriand - the people of Beor, the Haladin led by the valiant Haleth, and the house of Marach. Húrin and Huor are named among the descendants of Hador, and their children Túrin and Tuor are foretold alongside Beren, Lúthien, and Eärendil.
On page: Finrod Felagund, Maglor, Maedhros, Fingolfin, Melian, Thingol, Caranthir, Haleth, Bëor, Marach, Hador, Andreth·Mentioned: Húrin, Huor, Túrin Turambar, Tuor, Beren, Lúthien, Eärendil, Morgoth, Bregolas, Galadriel