Silmarillion: Main characters (Book report)

[Legolas]

This is a difficult choice/situation. To analyze so simply is to ignore the sort of work it is. It's a history of Middle-earth. How do you pick the main character (or two) of a world's history (that spans many years)?

How would you even pick the two main characters of the history of the United States, a relatively new country?

If I had to pick, Morgoth and Feanor would be my two main characters.

The secondary list would have to be extensive. The Valar; Fingolfin, Feanor's sons, Fingolfin/Finarfin's children; Thingol, Beren, Luthien, Sauron; Turin, Glaurung; Ulmo, Eol, Maeglin; Earendil and Elwing. Each substory (or chapter, essentially) of the history could be divided with main and secondary characters. Many would overlap, obviously.

[Glirdan]

But that's exactly why I chose the book. From the start of the semester I knew I wanted to do a LotR book and seeing as I haven't really read the Sil (once before I started this project) I chose to do it. I also knew when I chose it what I was getting myself into. I knew it was going to be difficult and I'm glad. It's presenting a challenge and I reall like challenging myself and this was the perfect oportunity.

[littlemanpoet]

I think you could go with two main characters, but in a perhaps strange way:

Main Characters

1. Morgoth.

2. Fëanor; and once he dies, his seven sons as continuations of him, since his oath binds them, and all their deeds flow therefrom.

Minor Characters

- Thingol
- Beren & Lúthien
- Finrod Felagund
- Túrin

I guess that's five, if you count Beren & Luthien as separate characters.

Earendil's role was crucial, but somehow it lacks the depth and scope that these other five exhibit in the Sil.

[Eldar14]

It seems to me that the best choice would be to use Melkor/Morgoth and Feanor as the two main characters. While Feanor may not be in the whole book, his actions, primarily the creation of the Silmarils and the Oath, are some of the main driving forces for a good majority of the plotline. Also, these are two very good characters in that a good amount of the book is about strife between Morgoth and Feanor/his sons.

Alternatively, since the Silmarils, even though they are an object not a character, are in many ways more important than the primary characters in many novels. So, if possible, it could make sense to choose Morgoth and The Silmarils as the two main 'focuses,' instead of characters.

As far as secondary characters goes, the problem isn't finding at least five, but deciding which of the numerous characters qualify. Also, it may be possible to group sets of secondary characters so that more of the characters can get their due recognition.

[littlemanpoet]

Take the seven sons of Feanor as one 'entity' and you have a virtual alter-ego of Feanor himself.

[Anguirel]

Very convenient, but regrettably balderdash. Maedhros, Maglor and the twins in particular have plenty of their mother in them...

The seven sons are not a more survivable split up Feanor clone. Feanor did not reproduce asexually.

[Tuor of Gondolin]

the phantom would pick Feanor and Turin because they are by far the most interesting characters.

And no, that's not an opinion, that's just the truth.

I disagree with the Phantom's opinion.
I'd suggest Maedhros as the most interesting and conflicted person, and the character who arguably most drives the story overall.

Earendil is clearly a/the key secondary character. Is Turin really
all that important to the tale of the Silmarils? Tuor, Beren and
Luthien, and Morgoth it seems are more relevant secondary
characters. But in a Shakespearean tragedy (or perhaps more
a Grrek tragedy) sense, I'd say
Maedhros should be the key character to the tale overall. He
tries to mean well but at numerous times feels compelled to
follow an evil and hopeless path.

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by Anguirel

Very convenient, but regrettably balderdash. Maedhros, Maglor and the twins in particular have plenty of their mother in them...

The seven sons are not a more survivable split up Feanor clone. Feanor did not reproduce asexually.

Of course not. But that oath! I just re-read it. It is one fierce oath! All genetics, inclinations, et cetera, become subservient to it due to its sheer scope. The seven sons of Feanor bound themselves with their father to that oath. So maybe the oath is after all a rather fitting possibility as a character....

Glirdan, I hope you don't mind if this thread goes off in directions you didn't originally intend. There's a lot of good possibility for discussion here.