Newest References

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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'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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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Answers from Old Sources: Elven Food by darthfingon

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

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Plato in Númenor by Angelica

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

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"I Desired Dragons" by Angelica

History of dragons in world myth.

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Beowulf in Beleriand by Angelica

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

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