Newest References

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

Fact, Interpretation and the Hard Business of Proof by darthfingon

Deciding what constitutes canon for the purpose of making fanworks relies partly on the words of the texts but also on the geographical and temporal vastness and diversity of Tolkien's world.

Published on 10 October 2010 .

Not Just the Son of That Guy: Creating Effective Names for Original Characters by darthfingon

So you need an Elvish name for your OC? This article gives tips and strategies for coming up with believable names that sound good.

Published on 1 March 2010 .

Elven Holidays and Festivals: What do we have to work with in the First Age? by darthfingon

A rundown of the holidays we know existed in the First Age, as well as tips on how to design your own holiday.

Published on 1 January 2010 .

Everyday Elves and What They Do by darthfingon

Not every Elf was a prince or a smith. The word lists give insight into some of the more unglamorous professions available to everyday Elves.

Published on 9 November 2009 .

'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 .

Sindarin vs Quenya: RELEVANCE FIGHT! by darthfingon

So you're working on a fanfiction ... what Elvish language should you use for names and snippets of dialogue? Here is a handy guide to choosing between Quenya and Sindarin.

Published on 1 September 2009 .

Elvish Fanons and Canon Contradictions by darthfingon

The early word lists provide many refutes to the most common claims of "Elves would never ..." Here are four of the most salient.

Published on 1 August 2009 .

Elven Families and What They Wore by darthfingon

This column uses old word lists to tackle two questions: Did the Elvish languages provide specific terms for relatives, or is everyone just kinsman? And what are the words for various items of clothing?

Published on 1 June 2009 .

Twenty-Two Words You Never Thought Tolkien Would Provide by darthfingon

Some of Tolkien's earliest word lists include terms for words that provide sometimes surprising insights into the habits and cultures of the Elves.

Published on 1 May 2009 .

Answers from Old Sources: Elven Food by darthfingon

Tolkien's early Elvish word lists reveal details about what Elves ate.

Published on 1 April 2009 .

Plato in Númenor by Angelica

History of the Atlantis myth that inspired Tolkien's Númenor.

Published on 1 August 2009 .

"I Desired Dragons" by Angelica

History of dragons in world myth.

Published on 1 November 2009 .

Beowulf in Beleriand by Angelica

Basic historical background on the Anglo-Saxon people that Tolkien studied.

Published on 1 June 2009 .

Samwise Gardner's Birthday by Lindariel

A two-part series about holidays celebrated on April 6, these articles discuss canonical foods that might have been used to celebrate Sam's birthday, investigates their history, and offers recipes to try at home.

Table of Contents

Published on 1 August 2020 .

Nost-na-Lothion by Lindariel

The first edition of our new column explores the Gondolindrim Festival of Flowers, its connections to the Beltane festival, and the foodways of Gondolin and possible recipes for this celebration.

Published on 1 May 2020 .

Women Find a Room of Their Own in Tolkien Fanfiction by oshun

As a genre belonging almost exclusively to women, fanfiction creates a "room of their own," apart from mainstream publishing that is often hostile to women, for women authors to critically and creatively explore ideas in popular texts and, in the style of Tolkien, create new mythologies that appeal to them.

Published on 17 May 2018 .