Quenta Silmarillion — Chapters

The published Quenta Silmarillion (the third Part of The Silmarillion, 1977) is divided into twenty-four chapters, from “Of the Beginning of Days” to “Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath”. The following chapters that stand after the Quenta in the book — Akallabêth and Of the Rings of Power — are treated as separate texts.

The Chapters

• Chapter 1 — Of the Beginning of Days: Quenta 1 — Of the Beginning of Days — the shaping and marring of Arda, the Two Lamps, Valinor and the Two Trees.
• Chapter 2 — Of Aulë and Yavanna: Quenta 2 — Of Aulë and Yavanna — Aulë makes the Dwarves; Yavanna asks for the Ents, “shepherds of the trees”.
• Chapter 3 — Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor: Quenta 3 — Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor — the Elves awaken at Cuiviénen; Melkor is chained in Angainor.
• Chapter 4 — Of Thingol and Melian: Quenta 4 — Of Thingol and Melian — Elwë meets Melian in Nan Elmoth; the Teleri become the Sindar.
• Chapter 5 — Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië: Quenta 5 — Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië — the settled realms of Aman and the three great princes Finwë, Ingwë, Olwë.
• Chapter 6 — Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor: Quenta 6 — Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor — Fëanor’s birth and craft; Melkor released to sow discord.
• Chapter 7 — Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor: Quenta 7 — Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor — the making of the Silmarils; the feud, the sword-drawing, and banishment to Formenos.
• Chapter 8 — Of the Darkening of Valinor: Quenta 8 — Of the Darkening of Valinor — Ungoliant slays the Trees; Finwë murdered, the Silmarils stolen.
• Chapter 9 — Of the Flight of the Noldor: Quenta 9 — Of the Flight of the Noldor — the Kinslaying, the Oath, the Doom of Mandos, and the exiles’ crossing.
• Chapter 10 — Of the Sindar: Quenta 10 — Of the Sindar — Menegroth and the Girdle of Melian; the havens of the Falas; the first orc-war in Beleriand.
• Chapter 11 — Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor: Quenta 11 — Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor — from the Trees spring the Sun and Moon; the West is shut against return.
• Chapter 12 — Of Men: Quenta 12 — Of Men — the Secondborn awaken at Hildórien under the first rising of the Sun.
• Chapter 13 — Of the Return of the Noldor: Quenta 13 — Of the Return of the Noldor — the first battles, Fëanor’s death, Maedhros and Thangorodrim, Fingolfin High King.
• Chapter 14 — Of Beleriand and its Realms: Quenta 14 — Of Beleriand and its Realms — the geographies and provinces of the divided land.
• Chapter 15 — Of the Noldor in Beleriand: Quenta 15 — Of the Noldor in Beleriand — the settled kingdoms, Nargothrond and Gondolin, and the Long Peace.
• Chapter 16 — Of Maeglin: Quenta 16 — Of Maeglin — Aredhel and Eöl; their son Maeglin grows to grief in Gondolin.
• Chapter 17 — Of the Coming of Men into the West: Quenta 17 — Of the Coming of Men into the West — the three houses of the Edain enter Beleriand.
• Chapter 18 — Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin: Quenta 18 — Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin — Dagor Bragollach breaks the Long Peace; the King’s duel at Angband.
• Chapter 19 — Of Beren and Lúthien: Quenta 19 — Of Beren and Lúthien — the quest of the Silmaril, the labours and the deaths, and the choosing of mortality.
• Chapter 20 — Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad: Quenta 20 — Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad — the Union of Maedhros, the treachery of the Easterlings, the Battle of Unnumbered Tears.
• Chapter 21 — Of Túrin Turambar: Quenta 21 — Of Túrin Turambar — the doom and curse that shadow Túrin across Doriath, Nargothrond and Brethil.
• Chapter 22 — Of the Ruin of Doriath: Quenta 22 — Of the Ruin of Doriath — the treasure of Nargothrond, Thingol’s fall, and the Second Kinslaying.
• Chapter 23 — Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin: Quenta 23 — Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin — Tuor comes to the hidden city; Maeglin’s betrayal and the sack.
• Chapter 24 — Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath: Quenta 24 — Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath — Eärendil’s errand to the Valar and the great war that ended the First Age.

Related

• Quenta Silmarillion
• The Silmarillion (the book)
• The Great Tales