Quote:
... this might be completely off the wall, but this is my impression from what I have read (and from what has been said in some of the postings above).
The Silmarillion seems to be presented much more as a myth, embellished and exaggerated in the re-telling...
|
Well, not quite off the wall but not accurate either I am afraid.
The only matter where JRRT hypothesised that the legendarium might contain falsehoods or 'myth' embedded within the story is in the matter of the making of the Sun and moon. Later in his life [ after the LotR] he began to speculate on this and pondered making the story we know have in our 'The Silmarillion' of the Two Trees and the making of the Sun and Moon out of the last flower and fruit of the Trees to be a Numenorean myth, as oppposed to the true story which the Valar [ of course] and the Elves of Aman knew.
Other than that the Silm is as 'factual' as the LotR, indeed there were still High -Elves alive from the time many of the tales in the Silmarillion happened! The Silmarillion was said to have been compiled by Bilbo in Rivendell [as opposed to the Eriol/Aelfwine story]. Glorfindel, Elrond, Galadriel, Celeborn etc were all alive in the first age and between them many of the events of the Silmarillion could be re-counted first or second hand.
The true Tales were known to all who wished to seek them out [although aragorn himself expresses that there was a but of a mystery as to the final end of Luthien and Beren, but says Elrond knew it].
Other than that we are I feel led to rely on the accuracy of Bilbo's accounts which were after all the fruits of his long stay in Imladris.
[ January 17, 2003: Message edited by: lindil ]