Keeping Track of Events in the Silmarillion?

[Huinesoron]

I'd agree with what's been said so far: the Silm is very much a mythology, not a firm narrative. The actual timeline is... kind of vague (consistent ones like the one Mith linked to are very much reconstructions), and sometimes we get these huge time-jumps backwards ("Of the Sindar" is one of the worst offenders, I think).

It may help to explain this if you know that the very first version of the Silmarillion was structured as people telling the stories to one another. Imagine each chapter as a different elf sitting down with you and saying "Forget all those Fin-types - what's really interesting is how Thingol met his wife!".

If you want to look things up, the Encyclopedia of Arda is pretty good at sticking with just the published books, while Tolkien Gateway will happily lead you down the path of earlier versions and discarded theories.

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Side question - is there anyone in The Sil who begins with F and is not related to Finwe? Hmm, maybe moot question, as most Elves in The Sil are related to Finwe.

Florfindel, Gofi's younger brother who tried to fight a balrog but tripped over too soon and just got squished. (Tripping over at the right moment is essential to balrog-slaying. See: Ecthelion, Glorfindel, Gandalf.)

Given that you said 'related to', probably not - Finwe is Luthien's uncle-cousin by marriage, Luthien married Beren, and Beren is related to basically the entire Edain family tree.

hS