The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Silmarillion: Main characters (Book report)

Macalaure · 04-02-2006, 11:17 AM

I also agree with Morgoth and Fëanor as the chief characters.

But I think it’s very though to pick the five minor characters – there are at ten or more that would qualify.

1) and 2) Beren and Lúthien. Not only because of the importance of their story, but because they simply are interesting characters which grow as the tale proceeds. I would not put them together as one character, they deserve to be treated individually. Also Beren will be the only mortal and Lúthien the only non-noldorin elf on my list.

3) Maedhros plus 6 (rather 4, isn’t it), as Thalion put it. Every time it is told that Fëanor’s sons did something together, Maedhros had the last word on it. His actions bring the plot forward and his decisions are worthy to be looked at in detail. But the other six/four shouldn’t be put into one box, that would do injustice at least towards Maglor.

4) Turgon. You simply need an elf not from Fëanor’s house in here, I think. Turgon to me is more interesting than Fingolfin, Finrod or Fingon because of his actions and decisions. Why does he leave Tirion? Why does he hide himself when his kin would have needed his help? Why does he then decide to come out for the Nirnaeth? And, maybe most of all, why doesn’t he listen to Ulmo’s words brought to him?

5) Sauron. He’s of minor imprortance in the Quenta but the chief baddie of Akallabêth and Third Age. Not including him would leave those important chapters out.

“on the outside looking in”:
Húrin and Túrin, for the above reasons. As interesting and tragic as their story is, they don’t really contribute to the whole story.
Finrod. Again, his decisions would be fascinating to examine. I would pick him as 6).
Thingol. A very complex and intriguing character and main force behind the deeds of Beren and Lúthien.

I would object against Eärendil. Yes, I know, he’s important, but what do we know about him, actually? His symbolic meaning is undisputed, but he only appears as an active character in one (and not the longest) chapter.

Another idea:
What do you think about, instead of trying to cover the whole book, to concentrate on one single chapter. That would of course be “Of Beren and Lúthien”.
The main characters are clear here.
The secondary characters would be Thingol, Finrod, Celegorm and Curufin as one, Morgoth and then Daeron or Sauron, maybe Melian or Orodreth.
The interesting thing about this is: not only gives it the opportunity to give more detail instead of putting a little bit of everything in it, the background story of the characters would at the end be covering the whole story, since you can’t talk about the Silmarils without mentioning Fëanor and his oath.

04-02-2006, 11:17 AM	#37
Macalaure Fading Fëanorion Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: into the flood again Posts: 2,911	I also agree with Morgoth and Fëanor as the chief characters. But I think it’s very though to pick the five minor characters – there are at ten or more that would qualify. 1) and 2) Beren and Lúthien. Not only because of the importance of their story, but because they simply are interesting characters which grow as the tale proceeds. I would not put them together as one character, they deserve to be treated individually. Also Beren will be the only mortal and Lúthien the only non-noldorin elf on my list. 3) Maedhros plus 6 (rather 4, isn’t it), as Thalion put it. Every time it is told that Fëanor’s sons did something together, Maedhros had the last word on it. His actions bring the plot forward and his decisions are worthy to be looked at in detail. But the other six/four shouldn’t be put into one box, that would do injustice at least towards Maglor. 4) Turgon. You simply need an elf not from Fëanor’s house in here, I think. Turgon to me is more interesting than Fingolfin, Finrod or Fingon because of his actions and decisions. Why does he leave Tirion? Why does he hide himself when his kin would have needed his help? Why does he then decide to come out for the Nirnaeth? And, maybe most of all, why doesn’t he listen to Ulmo’s words brought to him? 5) Sauron. He’s of minor imprortance in the Quenta but the chief baddie of Akallabêth and Third Age. Not including him would leave those important chapters out. “on the outside looking in”: Húrin and Túrin, for the above reasons. As interesting and tragic as their story is, they don’t really contribute to the whole story. Finrod. Again, his decisions would be fascinating to examine. I would pick him as 6). Thingol. A very complex and intriguing character and main force behind the deeds of Beren and Lúthien. I would object against Eärendil. Yes, I know, he’s important, but what do we know about him, actually? His symbolic meaning is undisputed, but he only appears as an active character in one (and not the longest) chapter. Another idea: What do you think about, instead of trying to cover the whole book, to concentrate on one single chapter. That would of course be “Of Beren and Lúthien”. The main characters are clear here. The secondary characters would be Thingol, Finrod, Celegorm and Curufin as one, Morgoth and then Daeron or Sauron, maybe Melian or Orodreth. The interesting thing about this is: not only gives it the opportunity to give more detail instead of putting a little bit of everything in it, the background story of the characters would at the end be covering the whole story, since you can’t talk about the Silmarils without mentioning Fëanor and his oath.