References by Title

A Woman in Few Words: The Character of Nerdanel and Her Treatment in Canon and Fandom by Dawn Walls-Thumma

A review of the canon facts available on Nerdanel and discussion of why she remains so popular with fans despite her scarce appearances in the texts.

Published on 15 January 2008 .

Answers from Old Sources: What Does That Name Mean? by darthfingon

An investigation of the meaning of some of Tolkien's more elusive Elvish names.

Published on 1 March 2009 .

Lámatyávë: If you have no idea what that word means, read this article by darthfingon

Why the "sound taste" of a name is often more important than the meaning when naming original characters.

Published on 1 February 2011 .

Name Calling: Group Identity and the Other among First Age Elves by Angelica

As the names used by the early Elves to identify themselves and others evolved according the essay Quendi and Eldar (HoMe 11), relationships between the different cultures are revealed.

Published on 14 September 2007 .

"I Desired Dragons" by Angelica

History of dragons in world myth.

Published on 1 November 2009 .

"Kidnap Fam" and the Living Legendarium by polutropos

This paper looks at the origins of the popular fanfiction "kidnap fam" trope in the editorial history of the published "Silmarillion." With much of the attack on Sirion written in 1930, prior to Tolkien writing The Lord of the Rings, Christopher Tolkien was faced with an editorial choice in how to reconcile this event with the later invention of the character of Gil-galad. Adding Gil-galad and Círdan to the tale of Sirion's destruction, however, raises questions for many readers about the motives and choices of Maglor and Maedhros in choosing to take Elwing's sons. Survey data, shows that readers tend to interpret characters' morals and motives based on what they believe those characters knew. The introduction of Gil-galad and Círdan by Christopher Tolkien, therefore, generates the moral complexity that drives the wealth of fanfiction about the "kidnap family." These many layers of intervention in the story—by Tolkien, by Christopher, by fan creators—mimics the storytelling tradition and creates a living legendarium: not a mess, as some readers despair of the multiple contradictory "Silmarillion" texts, but an opportunity.

Published on 7 August 2025 .

"Promote What You Love": An Interview with Elleth by Elleth, Dawn Felagund

After discovering an interest in female characters and femslash, Elleth used her enthusiasm for these fanworks to run multiple events that helped the Tolkien fandom undergo its transformation from dismissal of women characters to accepting and even celebrating fanworks about them.

Published on 23 December 2022 .

'Sindarin' is a Quenya Word: how the clan names make Elvish more confusing by darthfingon

The clans of the Elves are almost always named in Quenya, and this month's column demystifies how various Elven people would have referred to themselves in their own languages.

Published on 1 October 2009 .

10 Important Moments in Tolkien Fanfiction History by Dawn Walls-Thumma

From the appearance of the first Tolkien fanfics in 1960 to the latest appreciation months, Tolkien fanfiction has weathered changes great and small—and has persisted, changed, and grown.

Published on 22 February 2024 .

1936 by Simon J. Cook

In 1936, a shadow had fallen over Europe. Tolkien's lecture on Beowulf looked to the past to draw for the present moment a theory of courage in the face of an uncertain future. 

Published on 6 August 2023 .

A Sudden Outcry: The Tolkien Estate and Fanworks by SWG Newsletter Staff

In March 2022, the Tolkien Estate opened a newly designed website, including an FAQ that left fans asking: Did the Tolkien Estate just ban fanworks? We use the Estate's history, along with copyright law, to make the case that fans have nothing to fear.

Published on 11 March 2022 .

A Tribute to the Library of Moria by Dawn Felagund, Himring, and Talullah

As the Library of Moria prepares to close its doors, we look back at twenty years of the archive's history and consider the ways that the Library contributed to making slash and femslash a part of mainstream Tolkien fanworks fandom.

Table of Contents

Published on 30 July 2022 .

Aegnor by oshun

Like so many Silmarillion characters, Aegnor has a complex and sometimes contradictory textual history. A fiery warrior and romantic with a heart of gold that could belong only to a son of Finarfin, Aegnor is one of The Silmarillion's many fascinating minor characters.

Published on 1 September 2010 .

Aerin by Himring

Like many women of The Silmarillion, Aerin receives little attention in The Silmarillion but plays a much-expanded role in other posthumously published texts. Aerin simultaneously fulfills the role of a victim and as an example of female agency.

Published on 1 June 2015 .

Affirmational Fandom, Transformational Fandom, and Two Old Tolkien Fanfics by Dawn Walls-Thumma

The two oldest known Tolkien-based fanfiction works illustrate the concepts of transformational and affirmational fandom and how both approaches are vital to Tolkien fanworks fandom.

Published on 17 June 2023 .

Ailinel by oshun

In honor of Legendarium Ladies April, this biography looks at the life of a woman who existed at the heart of the politics during Aldarion's reign in Númenor and yet remains voiceless. What do we know of Ailinel's character and what of the vast questions that remain?

Published on 1 April 2018 .

All About Accents! by darthfingon

What do all those accents and symbols in Tolkien's languages mean? This column explains what they mean and how to pronounce them.

Published on 1 November 2010 .

Amandil by Russandol

Amandil - During Akallabêth in August we feature Amandil, the patriarch of the founders of the realms of Men in Middle-earth. Russandol addresses what the stories tell of Amandil, his evolution as the texts developed, and prompts unanswered questions for inspiration and debate. Originally featured August 2010.

Published on 2 August 2010 .

Amárië of the Vanyar by oshun

Who was this briefly mentioned woman, the beloved of Finrod Felagund? Much of what we know about Amárië must be inferred from the texts.

Published on 1 April 2009 .

Amdir by oshun

King of Lórien in the Second Age, Amdír invites questions of how the Light, Dark, and Grey Elves interacted in the early history of Middle-earth.

Published on 1 March 2013 .

Amlach by Himring

A dissenting voice in Marach's alliance with the Elves of Beleriand, Amlach experiences a change of mind after a mysterious twist in the story reorients his priorities toward enmity with Morgoth.

Published on 29 September 2023 .

Amrod and Amras by Dawn Felagund

Although Amrod and Amras appeared early in Tolkien's work on the legendarium, their characters unwent significant shifts as he worked on the Silmarillion materials of which they were part.

Published on 1 February 2021 .

Amrod and Amras (Seven in '07) by Dawn Felagund

In a brief biography written for the Seven in '07 event, Amrod and Amras are assigned roles that changed and evolved over the course of Tolkien's work on the legendarium.

Published on 6 July 2007 .

Anairë by oshun

Anairë, the wife of Fingolfin, is named only in the auxillary texts to The Silmarillion, yet this character offers fruitful possibilities for exploration.

Published on 1 May 2014 .

Anárion Son of Elendil by oshun

Anárion is one of the characters that acts as a direct link between the histories of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings. This biography considers his role in Tolkien's larger themes, his place in the legendarium, and thorny fannish questions about his status related to Isildur.

Published on 1 September 2017 .