References by Title

Interview with sesame by Dawn by sesamenom, Dawn Felagund

Sesame is the featured artist for Jaz's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation "Twilight, Child Of: Comparisons Between Tinúviel, Lómion, and Undómiel" and spoke with Dawn about their artwork and the evolution from a kid who loved The Hobbit to taking notes on the fall of Gondolin.

Published on 15 July 2025 .

Interview with Shadow by Himring by daughterofshadows, Himring

Aromanticism is a topic not often covered in Tolkien scholarship, but many Tolkien characters can be read as aromantic. In this interview, Himring talks with Shadow about their upcoming Mereth Aderthad presentation "The Aromantic in Tolkien."

Published on 8 March 2025 .

Interview with Silmalope by Dawn by silmalope

Silmalope is the featured artist for Shadow's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "The Aromantic in Tolkien." Dawn spoke with Silmalope about their approach to making art, what inspires their work, and the importance of diverse representation in fanworks.

Published on 14 May 2025 .

Interview with Stella Getreuer-Kostrouch by Quente by Stella Getreuer-Kostrouch, Quente

Stella Getreuer-Kostrouch has always felt deeply connected to the character of Elu Thingol. In this interview, Quente asks about this connection and how Stella sees Thingol as unjustly treated by many in the fandom.

Published on 17 February 2025 .

Interview with Tang Wen Xi by Dawn by Tang Wen Xi, Dawn Felagund

The featured artist for polutropos' Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation "'Kidnap Fam' and the Living Legendarium," Tang Wen Xi creates artwork, including martial scenes, with a bold, vibrant style that often seems to leap and move within the page. Dawn recently spoke to Tang Wen Xi about his inspirations within the legendarium and how he creates his one-of-a-kind art.

Published on 17 June 2025 .

Interview with Varda delle Stelle by Shadow by Varda delle Stelle, daughterofshadows

As the featured artist for cloudyhymn's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of the Dwarves," Varda delle Stelle describes her idea for this presentation as springing fully formed as Athena from Zeus's head. Varda chatted with Shadow about what drew her to this presentation, her approach to painting, and her hopes for her Mereth Aderthad work.

Published on 9 June 2025 .

Interview with Zdenka by Himring by Zdenka, Himring

Zdenka is a fan writer, poet, and musician who will be performing both a song and an alliterative poem at Mereth Aderthad 2025. Zdenka spoke with Himring about about her love of music and her evolving understanding of what it means to be a Jewish Tolkien fan.

Published on 15 July 2025 .

Interview with Zhie by Shadow by Zhie, daughterofshadows

There are rewards in considering the scientific roots of aspects of the legendarium typically considered mythic or folkloric. Shadow spoke with Zhie about the challenges of investigating such a topic as a non-scientist for Zhie's upcoming Mereth Aderthad paper "How to Make a Star from a Tree: The Science of Telperion and Laurelin."

Published on 3 May 2025 .

Írimë (Lalwen) by oshun

The youngest of Finwë's daughters, Írimë (like her sister) did not make it into the published text.

Published on 1 April 2015 .

Irmo/Lórien by oshun

Irmo is the Vala who is the master of visions and dreams.

Published on 1 August 2007 .

Isildur by Marta

Isildur is one of those characters from The Silmarillion whose name is just as recognizable to those only familiar with later ages as it is to Silmarillion aficionados.

Published on 1 August 2008 .

Ithryn Luin (Blue Wizards) by oshun

Alatar and Pallando of the Ithryn Luin passed into the east of Middle-earth and are subject to much speculation as to their intentions and fate.

Published on 1 January 2017 .

Lalaith (Urwen) by oshun

Lalaith, the second child of Húrin and Morwen, stands out within the narrative threads woven together into the lengthy tale of the children of Húrin as a singular bright light, though, sadly, swiftly and tragically extinguished.

Published on 1 November 2013 .

Legolas of Gondolin by oshun

Everyone knows Legolas. Far fewer will remember much, if anything, about an Elf of Gondolin also named Legolas.

Published on 1 May 2013 .

Lenwë by oshun

Living in Middle-earth during the Years of the Trees, Lenwë was an Elf of Telerin origin who helped lead the march from Cuiviénen.

Published on 1 March 2018 .

Libraries at the Edge of Middle-earth: Fanworks, Archives, and Communities as Heritage by Dawn Walls-Thumma

Tolkien fanfiction archives both preserve the "libraries of Middle-earth" in the form of keeping Tolkien's original words alive and promote conversations around heritage as community and fan identity that keeps those central texts relevant to diverse fans in a rapidly changing world.

Published on 8 December 2024 .

Love, Grief, and Alliterative Verse in Tolkien's Legendarium by Paul D. Deane

Presented at Mereth Aderthad 2025, this paper considers how the themes of love and grief run parallel throughout The Silmarillion and are central to Tolkien's imagination. Also central is alliterative verse, and the paper discusses Tolkien's use of alliterative verse in the legendarium, his literary and scholarly influences, and his professional interest in alliterative verse. The paper draws parallels between alliterative verse in the legendarium and in the English literary tradition, making the case that alliterative verse was used in-universe by the Elves. Finally, the paper uses this evidence to advocate for fanworks that use alliterative verse.

Published on 7 August 2025 .

Lúthien Tinúviel by oshun

Lúthien Tinúviel stands at the center of the legendarium, a character whose influence reaches past the Third Age and introduces, perhaps more than any other tale, the element of fairy-story into Tolkien's work. Yet Lúthien, who is "nobody's victim or reward," defies fairy-tale tropes in notable ways.

Table of Contents

Published on 1 December 2019 .

Mablung of Doriath by oshun

Mablung of Doriath is one of a small number of named Sindarin Elves who, while pledging their allegiance and fealty directly to Elu Thingol, either under instruction from their King or at his sufferance, actually traveled extensively outside of the protected enclave of Doriath.

Published on 8 October 2008 .

Maedhros by oshun

Maedhros is one of the most popular—and controversial—characters in The Silmarillion. The first part of this two-part biography considers his early years, before his capture and torment by Melkor, and how he was shaped by his years in Aman, his impetuous father, and the mediating influence of Nerdanel.

Published on 8 April 2022 .

Maedhros (Seven in '07) by Dawn Felagund

In a brief biography written for the Seven in '07 event, Maedhros is characterized as one of Tolkien's most tragic characters, but one whose kind and cooperative nature often seems contrary to his ruthless actions.

Published on 1 July 2007 .

Maeglin by Russandol

Maeglin is one of Tolkien's most notorious characters, credited with almost single-handedly bringing Gondolin unto its ruin. Was this his fate, and did his betrayal serve a necessary purpose in the history of Middle-earth? Russandol surveys Tolkien's sources to reveal much of this dark and oft-maligned character. Originally featured July 2009.

Published on 1 July 2009 .

Maglor by polutropos

As one of the most beloved Silmarillion characters, Maglor is a bundle of contradictions undergirded by a complex textual history. Warrior, musician, wanderer, and survivor, Maglor brings to the fore key themes in Tolkien's early legendarium, such as the role of music, oaths, and exile.

Published on 19 February 2023 .

Maglor (Seven in '07) by Dawn Felagund

In a brief biography written for the Seven in '07 event, Maglor's reputation as one of the gentler sons of Fëanor is contrasted to his martial nature.

Published on 2 July 2007 .

Mahtan by Dawn Felagund

The story of Mahtan, the father of Nerdanel, is one among many tales that illustrates the potential of knowledge to corrupt and lead to evil.

Published on 1 February 2013 .