Silmarillion - Chapter 15 - Of the Noldor in Beleriand

[Aiwendil]

Like chapter 13, “Of the Noldor in Beleriand” covers quite a bit of history rather rapidly. Here we are told of the building of Gondolin and Nargothrond and of the rift that grows between the Sindar and the Noldor when Thingol learns of the kin-slaying.

Striking here are several hints at later events. Ulmo speaks prophetically to Turgon:

'Thus it may come to pass,' he said, 'that the curse of the Noldor shall find thee too ere the end, and treason awake within thy walls. Then they shall be in peril of fire. But if this peril draweth nigh indeed, then even from Nevrast one shall come to warn thee, and from him beyond ruin and fire hope shall be born for Elves and Men. Leave therefore in this house arms and a sword, that in years to come he may find them, and thus shalt thou know him, and not be deceived.' And Ulmo declared to Turgon of what kind and stature should be the helm and mail and sword that he left behind.

And Finrod speaks prophetically to Galadriel:

'An oath I too shall swear, and must be free to fulfil it, and go into darkness. Nor shall anything of my realm endure that a son should inherit.’

Also, the narrator makes reference to future events:

Through many long years none passed inward thereafter, save Hurin and Huor only; and the host of Turgon came never forth again until the Year of Lamentation after three hundred and fifty years and more.

These remarks are typical of Tolkien’s ‘historical’ style and, I have always thought, whet the appetite of the reader for those later tales (just who are Hurin and Huor, and how do they end up in Gondolin?). On the other hand, such hints could be viewed as ‘spoilers’ within the story itself; and it does seem that Tolkien walks a dangerous line between arousing the reader’s interest and giving away his own plot.

As with the rest of the middle chapters of the Silmarillion (between the flight of the Noldor and ‘Beren and Luthien’), the historical details here told emerged gradually and were entirely absent from the ‘Book of Lost Tales’.

Additional Reading:
HoMe IV, V – Pre-LotR antecedents of the chapter found in the ‘Sketch’, the ‘Quenta Noldorinwa’, and the ‘Quenta Silmarillion’
HoMe XI – Post-LotR revisions in both the ‘Grey Annals’ and the ‘Later Quenta Silmarillion’.

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Originally Posted by Aiwendil

These remarks are typical of Tolkien’s ‘historical’ style and, I have always thought, whet the appetite of the reader for those later tales (just who are Hurin and Huor, and how do they end up in Gondolin?). On the other hand, such hints could be viewed as ‘spoilers’ within the story itself; and it does seem that Tolkien walks a dangerous line between arousing the reader’s interest and giving away his own plot.

One wonders if these were set down as markers, so Tolkien could late go back later and tie it all together thoroughly. For instance, the brief speech by Ulmo seems like it might have been placed there when Tolkien tried to figure out were and why the mail in Vinyamar to begin with.

This is one of my favorite chapters, because it is basically the beginning of the war of the jewels. It is so satisfying to read if one craves knowledge of the noldor.