Silmarillion - Chapter 20 - Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad

[Galadriel55]

This battle is indeed like a part of the long defeat. Trying to get up only to fall lower again.

One of the reasons for the unsccess of the Union of Maedhros is explained in the Doom of Mandos. The different Kings and Lords held grudges against each other, didn't trust one another, and the result is that there was no help from them. Thingol was angry because the Feanorians demanded the Silmaril. Orodreth - because of Curufin and Caranthir. And if help came, they would fight under one banner but not under another.

And overall, the Union lacked unity. Signals don't come when they are "supposed" to, armies marching without signals, other armies staying when they are "supposed" to attack. And the treachery of Men on top of all.

It seems like the "loyal" Men took it upon themselves to do double in that battle, to repay for the treachery of others.

I often wondered that Gondolin did not realy achieve its purpose. It was meant to be a secret deadly weapon to Morgoth. But when Turgon came out, he gave some hopes, but didn't give victory. And later on, he decided not to go out at all, and the whole kingdom was destroyed. This was because he did not heed Ulmo's warning.

Didn't this make everything futile? The secrecy, training the warriors, etc? Gondolin bothered Morgoth only in his thoughts. In reality, it didn't really make a difference.

I also found it interesting that Morgoth commanded his orcs to build the Haudh-en-Ndengin. If I were him, I'd leave all the bodies to rot where they were, not bother toiling to get all the bodies in one spot. Not that it would matter to Moroth if others are toiling at his whim, but there seems to be no real purpose behind it, unless it was to build a monument-like hill in honour of his victory.

But even that failed, because grass grew on the hill. Instead of representing Death, it was an oasis in the desert of Anfauglith. But this part was against Morgoth's will. Wouldn't it have given hope to the surviving Elves and Men?

Originally Posted by Esty

There is one brief scene that I discovered when researching on music: the funeral dirge of the Dwarves. It must have been chilling to hear – so much so that even their enemies didn’t hinder them.

Too true. The orcs are quite difficult to "covince" not to touch a funeral procession.

But this scene shows how much the Dwarves loved their leader.

Originally Posted by Esty

This chapter begins with what seems to be a postscript to the previous one – a last account of Beren and Lúthien. What purpose does that serve in the context of what follows?

Possibly to build contrast between the two. And that echoes the first words of the previous chapter, how among the sorrow there are still tales of joy. Except that in the previous, the emphasis was on joy, and in this one, it is on the sorrow and ruin.