Silmarillion: Main characters (Book report)

[Estelyn Telcontar]

The problem with this approach is, it doesn't work for the Silmarillion. Unlike a narrative such as LotR, the Sil is not one single story, but a collection of various tales and mythological accounts - like a book of short stories. You can define main characters for each of the tales, but they may not occur or be involved in the others. At the beginning, Eru is the one who is active, but later on, he isn't even mentioned. The Valar have their story, then for the most part drop out of the narrative, which concerns mostly Elves and later, Men.

It would be a good idea to discuss this problem with your teacher; perhaps you can do a detailed analysis for one of the tales and merely give a summary for the rest.

[Glirdan]

The problem with this approach is, it doesn't work for the Silmarillion. Unlike a narrative such as LotR, the Sil is not one single story, but a collection of various tales and mythological accounts - like a book of short stories.

I have noted this earlier yet I believe that I would probably still have to do two and five for the Valaquenta, Ainulindale, Quenta Silmarillion and (possibly) Akalabeth and Of the Rings of Power. If I do have to do this, I will aske my teacher exactly what she wants on the day that she returns. In the meantime, I'd still like to speculate because there are a lot of characters to choose from (and luckily, my teacher agrees with me) and they all had an important role. I agree with all the characters that Raynor mentioned. What are others thoughts on this?

[Gothmog]

What are others thoughts on this?

That you're task is impossible No, not really impossible, but as Esty pointed out; an ordinary approach is not recommendable when it comes to the Silmarillion. One option is to choose one of the many stories (Beren/Luthien or Turin perhaps?). An other option is to choose one theme and follow it through the different stories.

For example: the influence of Men during the War of the Jewels. One could follow the great heroes of mankind and specialize on their doings and deeds. That would narrow down the number of potential main characters and one could concentrate on the ones with most impact on history (Hurin/Turin, Tuor, Eärendil etc). Other themes are for example the Wood Elves, the Dwarfs or some other race/group that isn't described as detailed as the Noldo, where a single character is impossible to choose.

If you want to make it easy for yourself, choose someone like Turin with his own tale and comment his life. But my vote is still on one of many stories or one theme through all the stories. Good luck with your writing!

[Kuruharan]

The problem with this approach is, it doesn't work for the Silmarillion. Unlike a narrative such as LotR, the Sil is not one single story, but a collection of various tales and mythological accounts - like a book of short stories.

Actually, I don't see this as a problem at all. It is an opportunity to display your linguistic and mental skill by writing your way out of the problem. (I've found using big words in rapid succession will usually work wonders. Especially if the things you say are inherently contradictory. In fact, that will usually net bonus points because everyone will think you are really smart because they can't figure out what the Udun you are talking about.)

Oh wait...you actually wanted suggestions and were not helpfully providing an opportunity for me to display my seething (boiling, searing, towering inferno-like) hatred of the educational establishment.

You should do an analysis of Feanor and expound on how everything that happened afterwards was the result of his rather questionable decisions. Should be piles of material there. It would be a pretty easy way of tying all the tales together.

[the phantom]

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.

Don't let any of these other Downers lead you astray, Glir. They secretly want you to fail. You just listen to me.

[Son of Númenor]

I have no clue how I would go about writing a thesis-support analysis of the Silm. I was given the opportunity in grade school, but opted instead to write about Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. In Achebe's book, it was relatively easy to create a thesis pointing to the author's intention in writing the book, supproted with viable evidence in the main character's growth and transformation and in the larger historical context of the book. With the Silm, I always feel it would be trite to do a traditional literary analysis -- in a sense, I have too much respect for J.R.R. Tolkien to posit an overarching thesis, however superficially demonstrable, about the nature of the work or a character therein.

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by Son of Númenor

With the Silm, I always feel it would be trite to do a traditional literary analysis -- in a sense, I have too much respect for J.R.R. Tolkien to posit an overarching thesis, however superficially demonstrable, about the nature of the work or a character therein.

Interesting point.

I think I'd start with Letters, choose some of the statements that TOlkien made himself about his own intent regarding the stories, and then discuss whether (and to what extent) I thought he fulfilled his own hopes. That may or may not be an appropriate approach.

I can imagine Bethberry in apoplexy at the very idea.

But I don't think Tolkien would mind.

[edit] Some (especially in the Elvish forum) woiuld point out that in the Sil, I would be pointing out whether Christopher succeeded in reaching his father's aims; at which point I would have to bow to their loremastery. But I'd still write my own paper about my own (limited) point of view.

One more point: however you tackle it, and however you finish it, you will have learned a lot about the Sil. There are much worse ways to spend your time.

If you don't have a copy of Letters, check the library and see if they can order it for you. Or buy it...

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by mark12_30

Interesting point.

I think I'd start with Letters, choose some of the statements that TOlkien made himself about his own intent regarding the stories, and then discuss whether (and to what extent) I thought he fulfilled his own hopes. That may or may not be an appropriate approach.

I can imagine Bethberry in apoplexy at the very idea.

But I don't think Tolkien would mind.

[edit] Some (especially in the Elvish forum) woiuld point out that in the Sil, I would be pointing out whether Christopher succeeded in reaching his father's aims; at which point I would have to bow to their loremastery. But I'd still write my own paper about my own (limited) point of view.

One more point: however you tackle it, and however you finish it, you will have learned a lot about the Sil. There are much worse ways to spend your time.

If you don't have a copy of Letters, check the library and see if they can order it for you. Or buy it...

Helen, you are, of course, entitled to your version of the report, but to paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of my ill health are greatly exaggerated.

[Kuruharan]

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

And how, Seigneur fantôme, do you propose to create a nice overarching, plot-enveloping analysis out of that choice? The two of them had nothing to do with each other at all. On the other hand, a Feanor/Morgoth choice is just fraught with conflict.

Conflict=lots of stuff to write about, especially if you include the continuing drama caused by the Feanorians attempting to fulfill the Oath.

Hey, there’s an idea. Make the Oath itself a character for analysis.

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

Make the Oath itself a character for analysis.

Long live Kuruharan. May your soil richly produce.