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Figwit
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Post Tips & Tools
on: September 27, 2004 05:06
For a lot of readers, reading The Silmarillion really is not an easy task: it's written in a very old-fashioned style, and contains a great number of names and dates that you need to remember to understand all the small stories it contains.

This thread contains some tips from experienced readers and helpful links, that will make reading and keeping track of everything that's being said a lot easier.

~*Tips on Reading*~
~ The point of the Book Club is to come to some sort of understanding of what 'The Silmarillion' is about. So when you start reading, don't stress! Take your time.
I'd advise you to read each chapter twice: first read it for your enjoyment, and the second time read it in more detail. Try to understand what is said. If English isn't your first language, you can always look up some words, or try to find a copy in your own language.
~ Find a good environment to read, where you're not distracted too often Some examples: the train, the library or your bed. Lunch break, the office or while babysitting are probably not the best places to read anything, and certainly not a book like The Silmarillion.
~ Take notes. Helps all the time! Personally, I have two copies of each Tolkien book I have: an expensive one for just reading, and a cheap one (mostly second hand) in which I can write and underline. If you can't find a cheap second version, you can always buy a small notebook.
It's just easy for writing down explications of words (especially when English isn't your first language), but also for keeping track of names, places and events.
~ In the back of most editions, there's an index with names. When in doubt, look the name up. Once you get further into the book, you can make a list with names that occur often, with a small reminder of who they are.
~ Some editions of The Silmarillion have a large map of Beleriand in them. If you don't, you can always print one (there are links to maps under ~*Links*~ ). To have your own copy can be useful to keep it clear geographically. You can also write down the names of the Kings and Lords of the different lands an regions, which makes the story a little easier to follow.
~ You can read more tips and experiences from other members in The Silmarillion: Help! in the Books Forum.


~*General Links*~
~ CoE's own Encyclopedia in Elrond's Library is one of the best on-line encyclopedia's around. If you want to find out more about a character, you can always look it up there, but the entries may hold some spoilers for the rest of the book!
~ The Middle-Earth Section of Elrond's Library has a lot of articles on various aspects of Tolkien's work. Most interesting for us are of course the Family Trees.
~ For now, you will find chapter summaries made by atalante_star under Literature Articles... for now .
~ Our Gallery has some good general maps. The following maps may come in handy: Beleriand, Valinor and Númenor. To get a better idea of where Beleriand lies, you can compare it to the map of Middle-earth.
(Note: these maps are quite large, so they may take some time to load.)
~ For those who already read The Silmarillion but would like a clearer view on the different kinships, Aervir kindly sent me the link to a Genealogy Chart in PDF.
~ You can find a Silmarillion Chronology on line, though I have no idea how accurate it is. But it seems accurate enough, and it gives you an idea of the timeframes.
~ Every week I will post some specific links for each chapter .


If you know any other good resources, please pm me!

[Edited on 4/10/2004 by Figwit]
Figwit
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Post RE: Tips & Tools
on: September 28, 2004 07:05
~*Ainulindale*~

The following articles in the Middle-earth Section can provide you with some more information about some main characters in this chapter. But, they do contain spoilers for the rest of the book.
- Aulë
- Manwë
- Melkor
- Ulmo

Some encyclopedia entries that clarify the georgraphy a bit:
- Eä
- Arda
- the Void

And atalante provided us with a great chapter summary.

[Edited on 3/10/2004 by Figwit]

[Edited on 7/10/2004 by Figwit]
Figwit
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Post RE: Tips & Tools
on: October 03, 2004 12:15
~*Valaquenta*~

You can find all the information you want about the Valar in our Middle-earth section. Again beware of spoilers!
- there's an article about every Vala in theValar Section
- very interesting is a chart with the connections between the Valar and the Maiar, which you can find here
- Melian
- Olórin
- Ossë
- Uinen
- Balrogs
- Sauron

You can find a chapter summary here.
Figwit
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Post RE: Tips & Tools
on: October 30, 2004 10:21
~*1. Of the Beginning of Days*~

You can find all the information you want about the Valar in the Valar Section of Elrond's Library. Again beware of spoilers!
- Melkor
- Tulkas
- Almaren
- Lamps of the Valar
- The Two Trees of Valinor
- Aman

You can find a chapter summary here.


~*2. Of Aulë and Yavanna*~
- Aulë
- Yavanna
- Dwarves
- Ents

You can find a chapter summary here.

[Edited on 31/10/2004 by Figwit]
Figwit
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Post RE: Tips & Tools
on: November 14, 2004 07:59
~*3. Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor

A very good and useful chapter summary is here. It has a great structure of the sundering of the Elves.

More on the different groups of Elves:
- On those who stayed in Middle-earth
- Eldar
- The Vanyar

Other useful links:
- Stars of Middle-earth
- Melkor
- Orcs
- Balrogs
- Battle of the Powers
- Cuiviénen
Figwit
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Post RE: Tips & Tools
on: December 12, 2004 01:00
~*4. Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië

A very good and useful chapter summary is here.

More on the different groups of Elves:
- The Vanyar
- The Noldor
- The Teleri
- The Falathrim

Geographical links:
- Alqualondë
- Aman
- Bay of Balar
- Calacirya
- Tirion
- Tol Eressëa
- Túna
- Valinor
- Dwelling Places in the Blessed Realm

Links on the Trees:
- Laurelin & Telperion
- Galathilion
- The Two Trees of Valinor
Figwit
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Post RE: Tips & Tools
on: December 12, 2004 01:12
~*6. Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor

A chapter summary is here.

On the Characters:
- Family Tree of Finwë and the Noldor
- Fëanor
- Finwë
- Míriel

On the Unchaining of Melkor:
- Melkor
- Manwë
- Nienna
- Ulmo

Other links:
- The Two Trees of Valinor
- The Silmarils

***
~*7. Of The Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor

A chapter summary is here.

Useful links:
- Fingolfin
- The Noldor in the First Age
Figwit
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Post RE: Tips & Tools
on: January 18, 2005 09:31
~*10. Of the Sindar*~

Chapter summary for 4.Of Thingol and Melian is here.

Other relevant links for this chapter:
- Doriath
- On those who stayed behind: more on the Sindar
- Menegroth
- Melian
- Thingol
- The House of Elwë
Figwit
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Post RE: Tips & Tools
on: March 12, 2005 11:04
~*15. Of the Noldor in Beleriand*~

- Turgon
- Ulmo
- Gondolin - The Hidden Rock
- The Noldor From the Dagor-nuin-Giliath to the Dagor Bragollach



***
~*16. Of Maeglin*~

- Aredhel Ar-Feiniel
- Eöl, the Dark Elf
- Maeglin
- Idril Celebrindal
Figwit
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Post RE: Tips & Tools
on: March 28, 2005 03:09
~*17. Of the Coming of Men Into the West*~


- Finrod Felagund

- The First House of the Edain
- The House of Bëor

- The Second House of the Edain
- The House of Hador
- Haleth

- Third House of the Edain
Figwit
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Post RE: Tips & Tools
on: April 15, 2005 08:36
~*18. Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin*~

- Dagor Bragollach
- Morgoth
- Fingolfin
- Anfauglith
- Grond
- Beleriand
- Siege of Angband
- Glaurung
- Barahir
- Taur-nu-Fuin
- Tol Sirion
- Emeldir
- Sauron
- Hithlum
- Swarthy Men
- Thorondor
- Húrin
- Huor

The Middle-earth section has longer articles about Dagor Bragollach, Fingolfin and Húrin.

[Edited on 15/4/2005 by Figwit]
Figwit
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Post RE: Tips & Tools
on: May 10, 2005 11:27
~*III.19. Of Beren and Lúthien*~
- Beren
- Doriath
- Huan
- Lúthien
- Melian
- Melkor
- Sauron
- Silmarils
- Thingol




~

~*III.20. Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad*~
- Nirnaeth Arnoediad
- Húrin
- Nirnaeth Arnoediad (more detailed article)
Figwit
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Post RE: Tips & Tools
on: June 14, 2005 07:53
~*III.22. Of the Ruin of Doriath*~

- Beren
- Cabed Naeramarth
- Doriath
- Elwing
- Fëanor
- Gondolin
- Húrin
- Lúthien
- Mablung
- Melian
- Melkor
- Menegroth
- Mîm
- Morwen
- Nargothrond
- Nauglamír
- Naugrim
- Nogrod
- Silmarils
- Stone of the Hapless
- Thingol
- Thorondor
- Turgon
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