Silmarillion Notes

This is a glossary and summary of events that occur in the Silmarillion. I'm aware of the included ancestry and terminology charts at the end of the book but this is a more condensed and personal version for my own understanding.

Quenta Silmarillion

The First Age. The lives of Elves and Men and the Silmarils

The Origin of the Elves

Two Trees of Valinor: The trees Telperion and Laurelin created by Yavanna
Telperion
Silpion
Ninquelótë: Silver tree. The elder of the Two Trees
Laurelin
Malinalda
Culúrien: Golden tree. The younger of the Two Trees
Elvish
Sindarin: The language of the Elves
Utumno: A kingdom deep underground where Melkor resides. It is surrounded by Ered Engrin, the Iron Mountains, like a fence
Children of Ilúvatar
The Firstborn: Men and Elves created by Ilúvatar
Elves
Quendi
Eldar
Eldalië: The Elder Children of Ilúvatar. They live until the end of days (unless they are slain or "waste in grief")
Men
Atani
Hildor
Mortals: The Younger Children of Ilúvatar, also known as the Aftercomers and the Second People. They have a limited lifespan
Dwarves: Created by Aulë to be strong to withstand Melkor. He created Seven Fathers of the Dwarves. They are stubborn, "stone-hard", fast in friendship, and withstand suffering hardily. They live longer than Men but not forever
Durin: One of the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves
Angband
The Hells of Iron: The stronghold of Melkor commanded by Sauron in the north. It is a secondary fortress to Utumno
Orcs: Elves that Melkor kidnapped and took to Utumno (before the arrival of Oromë) and imprisoned, corrupted, and bred
Vanyar
Fair Elves: The Eldar people of Ingwë, who went to live in Valinor and never returned
Noldor
Deep Elves: The Eldar people of Finwë. Primarily referring to the elves that swore an oath of vengeance against Morgoth for killing the trees and stealing the silmarils
Teleri
Sea-elves: The Eldar people of Elwë Singollo and his brother Olwë (before Elwë became Thingol)
Calaquendi
Elves of Light: The Eldar who have seen the light of the Trees
Úmanyar: The Eldar who journeyed to see the light of the Trees but got lost
Avari: The Unwilling, the Eldar who refused the summons to see the light of the Trees
Moriquendi
Elves of the Darkness: The Avari and Úmanyar
Elves of the Twilight
Grey-elves
Sindar: Elves born of Melian and Elwë
Elu Thingol
King Greymantle: Elwë Singollo after he was lured by Melian's voice and eloped and became king
Finwë: King of the Noldor with sons Fëanor, Fingolfin, and Finarfin
Fëanor
Curufinwë
Spirit of Fire: The eldest of the sons of Finwë, best speaker and most knowledgeable. Created the three Silmarils. Also kicked out of Valinor for drawing his weapon on his brother Fingolfin
Fingolfin: One of the sons of Finwë, the strongest and most steadfast. The King of all the Noldor (after Finwë and Fëanor are slain). Wielded Ringil, a sword that glittered like ice
Finarfin: One of the sons of Finwë, the fairest and most wise of heart
Galadriel: The daughter of Finarfin

Notes:

The Count of Time began with the Two Trees of Valinor
Dwarves were created by Aulë in the darkness of Middle-earth before Ilúvatar created Men or Elves. Ilúvatar had compassion and accepted them but did not want them to be awake before the Firstborn so he made them sleep until the time came
The Firstborn awoke after Varda weaved the constellations

The Silmarils

The Silmarils: Three powerful great jewels crafted by Fëanor to capture the essence and light of the Two Trees. They were hallowed by Varda so that no mortal flesh nor anything of evil can touch them without getting scorched and withered. They are also called the "Doom of the Noldor" after Morgoth steals them and are considered cursed. It is said that any Noldor trying to acquire the jewels will fail
Doom of the Noldor
Curse of the Noldor
Curse of Mandos: A curse laid upon the Noldor by the Valar after the Noldor slayed their own kin in a dispute after Morgoth stole the silmarils. They are cursed in that all they build will be destroyed and that any pursuit of the silmarils will bring sorrow
Ungoliant: A monstrous giant spider. Possibly one of the first creatures Melkor seducted into his service, born of the darkness of Arda

Notes:

Melkor killed the Two Trees and Ungoliant drank all the sap and poison them, darkening Valinor
Finwë the King of the Noldor was the first death in Arda, killed by Melkor after killing the Two Trees
Melkor stole the Silmarils, ran from Ungoliant, then escaped to Angband
Fëanor gathered the Noldor to march against Melkor and follow him to fight him, but only a few ended with him. The rest branched off or were abandoned. A portion of the Noldor under Fingolfin were betrayed and settled down in Middle Earth.

The Sindar

Lúthien
Tinúviel: Child of Thingol and Melian, most beautiful of all the children of Ilúvatar. She becomes mortal after meeting Beren
Khazâd
Naugrim
Gonnhirrim: Dwarves who came over the Blue Mountains into Beleriand, called Masters of Stone
Khazad-dûm
Dwarrowdelf
Hadhodrond (Elvish)
Moria: The greatest mansion of the Khazâd dwarves
Menegroth
The Thousand Caves: A beautiful mansion crafted by the dwarves (and elves) for Thingol and his people
Laiquendi
Green-elves: Elves that fought alongside Thingol under Denethor and were mostly slaughtered by orcs in a battle against Menegroth.
Eglador
Doriath: The Land of the Girdle, within the Girdle of Melian in which peace could prosper without the worry of Morgoth's servants

Notes:

The Naugrim and the Noldor become good friends (this was an age before any disputes between dwarves and elves)
After the battle, Thingol withdrew all his troops and Melian created a (magical) barrier called the Girdle of Melian to protect his people from Morgoth in Doriath

The Sun and Moon

Narsilion: The song of the Sun and the Moon
Moon
Isil the Sheen
Rána, the Wayward: The Moon created from the flower of Telperion, dragged across the sky by Tilion
Sun
Anar the Fire-golden
Vása, the Heart of Fire
The Daystar: The Sun created from the fruit of Laurelin, dragged across the sky by Arien

Notes:

Yavanna took the last silver flower of Telperion and the last gold fruit of Laurelin and made them the sun and the moon with Varda's help. The moon was created first, followed by the sun seven days later
After the sun and moon rose, Morgoth withdrew his servants deeper into Angband to hide from the sun/moon (mostly the sun)
The Valar hid Valinor and the path to Valinor after the assault of Morgoth

Men

The Change of the World: Referring to specific time in which men would be created
Years of the Trees: The time period in which the Two Trees existed in Valinor. Much longer than the Years of the Sun
Years of the Sun: The time period in which the sun existed. Much shorter than the Years of the Trees

Notes:

Men appeared on the earth when the sun began to rise in the sky, but were never guided directly by the Vala (unlike the elves)

The Return of the Noldor

Gothmog: Lorg of Balrogs who delivered mortal wounds to Fëanor. Also kills Fingon in Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Slain by Ecthelion in Gondolin later
Maedhros: The eldest son of Fëanor, captured by Morgoth when sent with an embassy to discuss Morgoth's surrender terms
Thorondor: King of the Eagles created by Manwë to watch over the lands and keep eyes on Morgoth
Finrod
Finrod Felagund
Nóm (tongue of Men): Son of Finarfin, helped the dwarves and stayed with them for a long time. Builder of Minas Tirith
Nauglamír: The Necklace of the Dwarves, one of the greatest creations of the dwarves gifted to Finrod for helping them
Glaurung the golden
The Great Worm: The first of the Urulóki, the fire-drakes of the North. The father of dragons. Slain by Túrin

Notes:

Fëanor was ambushed as he chased Morgoth, then was mortally wounded and died soon after
After Maedhros was captured, Fingon found him after searching but could not unbind him. After praying, Manwë sent Thorondor to aid him. After rescuing Maedhros, the people of Fingolfin and Fëanor were reunited and the hatred dissipated between them
Morgoth keeps trying to spy on the elves and attack them here and there but they are victorious every time and Beleriand prospers

Beleriand

Beleriand: The northwest region of Middle-earth in which the Noldor inhabited and dwelt
Turgon: The creator and king of Gondolin
Gondolin (Elvish)
Ondolindë (Valinor Elvish)
The Hidden Rock: A city Turgon built with some of his people in secret for 52 years
Idril
Celebrindal: Turgon's daughter and only offspring

Notes:

Thingol was told about the sins of Fëanor and the Noldor and shunned them from ever speaking the tongue of the Noldor while in Menegroth

Maeglin

Aredhel Ar-Feiniel
The White Lady of the Noldor
The White Lady of Gondolin: The sister of Turgon who left Gondolin and resided in Nan Elmoth
Eöl
The Dark Elf: Brother of Thingol, lived in the deep shadows of Nan Elmoth in the darkness of the forest. Loves the dwarves and blames the Noldor for the return of Morgoth
Gavlorn: A metal created by Eöl with the strength of dwarven steel but extremely malleable
Maeglin
Lómion (tongue of the Noldor)
Child of the Twilight: Child of Eöl and Aredhel. Eventually travels to Gondolin

Notes:

Maeglin and Aredhel leave Nan Elmoth to go to Gondolin and Eöl is furious. He follows them with haste and ends up finding the secret path into Gondolin
Turgon gives Eöl the choice to live in Gondolin or die, but Eöl tries to kill him and accidentally kills Aradhel with a poisoned spear. Then Turgon executes Eöl by throwing off a cliff
Maeglin loves Idril but she does not love him back and it is crooked/wrong to love kin so near in family.
Favorite quote: Thus it was in Gondolin; and amid all the bliss of that realm, while its glory lasted, a dark seed of evil was sown.

Men in Middle-earth

Bëor the Old
Balan: A chieftain among men, the first to lead men into Beleriand
Marach: A chieftain among the Haladin, a large group of men
Haladin: A tribe of men
Edain: A tribe of men who journeyed west and met the Eldar and lived within their realm(s) for a time
Malach
Aradan: The son of Marach
Haleth: Daughter of Haldar and chieftain for the People of Haleth after her father and brother were slain by orcs. She led her people near the realm of Doriath but not into the Girdle of Melian
Hador Lórindol
Hador Goldenhead: The mightiest of the chieftains of the Edain, given lordship of Dor-lómin by Fingolfin. His people eventually created the common tongue of Númenor.
Númenor: A great people of men who came from Eärendil the Blessed and his wife Elwing

Notes:

Finrod Felagund was the first of the Eldar to find men
Thingol declares that no man will enter Doriath, but Melian prophesizes that one of Men, even of Bëor's house, shall indeed come, and the Girdle of Melian shall not restrain him, for doom greater than my power shall send him; and the songs that shall spring from that coming shall endure when all Middle-earth is changed.

Fall of Beleriand

Ard-galen
Anfauglith
Land of Gasping Dust: Plains of Beleriand that Morgoth scorched with fire and magma in another attempt to kill all the Noldor. It marked the beginning of the fourth great battle
Dagor Bragollach
The Battle of Sudden Flame: The fourth great battle of Morgoth
Grond: The Hammer of the Underworld, wielded by Morgoth in his fight with Fingolfin
Ereinion
Gil-galad: The son of Fingon
Swarthy Men: A tribe of men under the dominion of Morgoth
Beren
Erchamion (One-handed)
Camlost (Empty-handed): Son of Barahir, the leader of the men Sauron pursued to destroy. He managed to escape and slaughtered many orcs and retreated off by chance through Ungoliant's realm into Menegroth
Fading: The process of an eldar losing immortality
Draugluin: The first werewolf, slain by Huan
Carcharoth, the Red Maw
Anfauglir, the Jaws of Thirst: A werewolf born from the anguish of hell by Morgoth to guard the gates of Angband. Put to sleep by Lúthien through divine power and eventually killed by Huan
Dior Aranel
Dior Eluchíl
Dior Thingol: The child of Beren and Lúthien, Thingol's heir
Nirnaeth Arnoediad
Unnumbered Tears: The fifth battle against Morgoth
Uldor the accursed: The leader of the treachery orchestrated against the elves in Nirnaeth Arnoediad
Azaghâl: Lord of Belegost
Easterlings: Men who choose to serve Morgoth

Notes:

Favorite quote regarding Morgoth: And it is said that his hate overcame his counsel, so that if he had but endured to wait longer, until his designs were full, then the Noldor would have perished utterly.
Morgoth took everyone by surprise with his balrogs and orcs, killing Aegnor, Angrod, Bregolas, Hador, Gundor,... it was a brutal battle for elves and men
The great battles against Morgoth:
1. The First Battle - fought before the Noldor, by the Sindar and the Dwarves
2. The Battle Under Stars
3. The Glorious Battle (Dagor Aglareb) - The Noldor siege Angband for many years
4. The Battle of Sudden Flame - Morgoth surprise attacks elves and men and slaughters many of them
5. Nirnaeth Arnoediad (Unnumbered Tears) - Turgon, Fingon, and Maedhros all group together with some of the Naugrim and Men to march on Angband and defeat Morgoth again and they almost won, but Uldor the accursed betrayed them after having been allured by Morgoth. Fingon was murdered brutally. From then onwards, elves have despised men (other than the three houses of the Edain)
The Battle of Sudden Flame was going terribly so Fingolfin got angry and ran to the gates of Angband to 1v1 Morgoth. Morgoth didn't feel compelled to come out of his fortress but Fingolfin called him "craven, the lord of slaves" and Morgoth got angry. Fingolfin was killed but wounded Morgoth considerably, cutting off one of his feet.
After Fingolfin was killed, Sauron took over Minas Tirith
Thingol is angry Beren managed to get into Menegroth and vows to give his daughter's hand in marriage in exchange for one of the Silmarils from Morgoth's crown
Beren convinces Finrod and a few others to fight with him to reclaim the silmarils, but all of them except for Beren die because Sauron captures and kills them all in a pit
Lúthien comes to Beren's aid with a wolf of Valinor called Huan. They fight Sauron and beat him up and send him back to Morgoth naked and exposed
Celegorm and Curufin tried to betray and kill Beren because they wanted to take the hand of Lúthien and gain the throne but were thwarted
For some reason there's a rule where Huan the wolf can speak in English but only three times
Beren successfully steals a silmaril with Lúthien's help and almost escapes but Carcharoth bites off his hand and dies as the silmaril burns its insides
Carcharoth and Huan fight and kill each other and Beren dies. Lúthien forsakes her immortality to choose to live with Beren once more as a mortal. They live in Middle-earth somehow after dying and have offspring (the first union of the Eldar and the Edain), then disappear into death.
The other elves of Fëanor (specifically Maedhros) wants to fight Thingol for the Silmaril to reclaim it but Thingol refuses
Húrin is captured by Morgoth and forced to live in agony as Middle-earth is torn apart

Túrin

Túrin Turambar
Neithan the Wronged
Gorthol, the Dread Helm
Agarwaen the Bloodstained
Adanedhel, the Elf-Man
Mormegil, the Black Sword
Wildman of the Woods: Son of Húrin and Morwen, taken in by Thingol as a foster son
Beleg Cúthalion
Beleg Stormbow: An elf who was Túrin's friend
Nargothrond: A stronghold built by Finrod
Mîm: One of the last of the Noegyth Nibin (Petty-Dwarves)
Anglachel and Anguirel: Two swords made of iron from a star that can cut through all iron. Only these two exist, forged by Eöl. Anglachel was later reforged and named Gurthang, Iron of Death by Túrin
Finduilas
Faelivrin: Daughter of Orodreth and loved by Gwindor son of Guilin, but loves Túrin
Nienor
Níniel, Tear-maiden: Sister of Túrin, loses her memory

Notes:

Morwen feared for the safety of Túrin due the the attacks of the Easterlings so she sent him to reside in Doriath with Thingol
Túrin eventually leaves and goes to reside in the house of Mîm, a dwarf he meets in passing
Beleg, Túrin's friend, goes to great lengths to rescue him and help him. Thingol gifts him Anglachel but Melian warns him that it is cursed
Túrin puts on the Dragon-Helm of Hador (given to him by his mother Morwen) and becomes infamous for killing orcs
Mîm betrays him (because he hates Beleg/elves for killing his people) and orcs capture Túrin and slay the rest of his company save Beleg. Beleg finds Gwindor, a survivor of Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and together they continue
Túrin in his confusion and pain kills Beleg with Anglachel, then grieves and is captured by elves. He grows in strength and grows too bold, building a bridge to Nargothrond. Then Morgoth strikes with Glaurung and an army of orcs that kill Gwindor and Orodreth
Túrin is put under a spell by Glaurung and is freed but discovers Finduilas has been killed and falls into depression. Nienor tries to find and rescue him but is also put under a spell by Glaurung to lose her memory.
Túrin and Nienor somehow end up getting married (of course...) and Túrin slays Glaurung but before he dies, the dragon tells Nienor the truth. She jumps off a cliff and dies. Túrin eventually learns the truth and kills himself with Gurthang

Ruin of Doriath

Nogrod and Belegost: Two of the great dwarven cities in the Blue Mountains

Notes:

Morgoth finally lets Húrin out of Angband with malicious intent. He spies on Húrin and discovers the location of the city of Gondolin
Húrin rejoins with Morwen at the burning of Glaurung, then she sighs and literally dies
Húrin returns to Nargothrond and finds Mîm who has taken in all the treasure. Húrin slays him for betraying his son. Then he takes Nauglamír from the treasure and gifts it to king Thingol after realizing all the things Thingol did for his family. Then commits suicide by jumping into the sea
King Thingol asks the dwarves to inset the silmaril he owns into Nauglamír as the centerpiece and they do so. However, when he asks for it, they withhold it from him out of lust and desiring payment. They fight over it and King Thingol is killed by them
The elves learn of the death of Thingol and slay some of the dwarves to reclaim Nauglamír. When Melian is brought Nauglamír and told what happened, she loses some of her power over Arda and thus the Girdle of Melian (the magical border protecting Doriath) dissolves. Then she disappears to Valinor
The dwarves of Nogrod are angry, rouse an army, and march on Doriath. A great battle between elves and dwarves ensues and the dwarves eventually reclaim Nauglamír
Beren (before he died) hears of the tale and gathers a host of elves. They slay the Lord of Nogrod and reclaim Nauglamír and gives it to Lúthien to wear before they both die. Then it is given to Dior
Dior wears the necklace and looks the fairest in all the children of the world, being of the Edain, Eldar, and Maiar
Celegorm hears of this and assaults Doriath. Dior, Nimloth, Celegorm, Curufin, and Caranthir are all killed, but Elwing escapes with the necklace. Eluréd and Elurín are left to starve and disappear

The Fall of Gondolin

Tuor: The son of Huor. Fostered by the Grey-elves and married Rían. Chosen by Ulmo
Voronwë: One of the many elves Turgon sent to the west to explore the seas
Eärendil Halfelven: Blessed child of Tuor and Idril
Ecthelion of the Fountain: Elf who fought Gothmog during the fall of Gondolin. Both slay each other
Glorfindel: Chief of the House of the Golden Flower of Gondolin

Notes:

Tuor is blessed by Ulmo and chosen to be his instrument. With Voronwë he travels to Gondolin to warn Turgon of the downfall, but Turgon does not listen
Tuor marries Idril (the second union of the Eldar and the Edain) and Maeglin grows jealous. They have a son named Eärendil
Idril heeds Tuor's warning and begins to build a secret exit out of the city
Maeglin frequently worked with mines and quarries in the mountains until he was eventually captured by orcs and brought to Angband. He reveals the exact path to Gondolin since Morgoth promises him the city of Gondolin and Idril.
Morgoth strikes Gondolin in a surprise and Turgon and many others are killed. Maeglin tries to escape with Idril but is slain by Tuor, who leads the remnants of Gondolin through the secret exit
A balrog blocks their exit but Glorfindel (with the help of Thorondor) defeat it and both die
Tuor's people meet and merge with Elwing Dior's people and after Turgon's death they name Ereinion Gil-galad the High King of the Noldor
Tuor gets old, builds a ship named Eärrámë (Sea-Wing), and with Idril sails into the sunset forever

Eärendil

The Great Battle
War of Wrath: The final war war against Morgoth. All of Morgoth's power was marshalled (Balrogs, Orcs, some men of Uldor) but almost completely destroyed. A few balrogs and orcs escaped into the mountains. Eärendil slays Ancalagon the Black, the mightiest dragon
Eonwë: A maia who serves Manwë
Maglor
Daeron of Doriath: A son of Fëanor who tries to reclaim the silmarils
Vingilot
Rothinzil: Eärendil's trusty ship he builds with Círdan

Notes:

Eärendil becomes friends with Círdan and sails into the west looking for Valinor (to plead forgiveness for the Noldor's sins) and look for Tuor and Idril to no avail
The sons of Fëanor ask Elwing for the necklace but she refuses, so they rose up to slay the remaining people of Gondolin and Doriath. Elwing throws herself into the sea with Nauglamír
Ulmo resuces Elwing from dying and brings her to Eärendil
Eärendil and Elwing together sail and with the power of the silmaril get past the enchantment of Valinor and set foot there. He finds the Valar and pleads for the Noldor and they are (finally!) granted forgiveness
The Valar decide to end this once and for all and along with the Teleri venture to the North to wage the War of Wrath against Morgoth.
Dragons are similar to drakes but (according to other sources) mightier in power
The Valar defeated Morgoth's army and Eonwë took the remaining two silmarils from Morgoth and bound him to bring him back for judgment. The remaining of the Noldor are bidden to return to Valinor as well
Maedhros and Maglor (the remaining two sons) decide to steal the two silmarils even at the warning of Eonwë and find that they no longer hold the right to own them (their hands are burned). Maedhros jumps (with the silmaril) into a chasm in (or "the bosom of") the earth. Maglor throws his into the sea and sings lamentations at the coast, never joining the Eldar again
Some of the Eldar remain in Middle-earth: most notably Gil-Galad, Galadriel, Celeborn, Elrond (considered Eldar: "chose... to be numbered among the Eldar"), Elros (considered Edain: "chose to abide with Men")
Morgoth was cast through the Door of Night beyond the Walls of the World into the Timeless Void with guards and Eärendil always watching
Favorite quote: And thus it came to pass that the Silmarils found their long homes: one in the airs of the heavens, and one in the fires of the heart of the world, and one in the deep waters.
Favorite quote: Yet the lies of Melkor, the mighty and accursed, Morgoth Bauglir, the Power of Terror and of Hate, sowed in the hearts of Elves and Men are a seed that does not die and cannot be destroyed; and ever and anon it sprouts anew, and will bear dark fruit even unto the latest days.

Silmarillion Notes

Old English Definitions

Genealogies and Lineages

Elves

Men

Dwarves

Númenóreans

The High Kings of the Noldor

Ainulindalë

Valaquenta

Quenta Silmarillion

The Origin of the Elves

The Silmarils

The Sindar

The Sun and Moon

Men

The Return of the Noldor

Beleriand

Maeglin

Men in Middle-earth

Fall of Beleriand

Túrin

Ruin of Doriath

The Fall of Gondolin

Eärendil

Akallabêth

The Rings of Power