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Morgoth’s Ring

Morgoth’s Ring

the later Silmarillion, part 1, the legends of Aman
FantasyLiterary Fiction
Pages
471
Published
1993
Language
English

Synopsis

Volume Ten of the History of Middle-earth presents the later evolution of the mythology of the First Age, covering the period after the completion of The Lord of the Rings when Tolkien turned his attention back to the Silmarillion material. The volume traces the development of what Christopher Tolkien calls the Later Quenta Silmarillion, revealing how Tolkien's cosmological thinking deepened and in some cases changed fundamentally -- including major reworkings of the Valaquenta, the myths of creation, and the nature of Morgoth. The title refers to a crucial theological concept Tolkien developed in this period: that Morgoth, unlike Sauron, dispersed his power into the very substance of Arda itself, making his evil inseparable from the matter of the world.

Prose complexity
8/10

Vibe

DarkThought-ProvokingIntellectualPhilosophical
Dual TimelineSacrificeBetrayalChosen One

Genres

Fantasy Literary Fiction Mythology

About the author

J
J.R.R. Tolkien

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa in 1892 and raised in England after his mother brought him home at age three. Orphaned before he was thirteen — his mother died a devout Catholic convert — Tolkien went on to study Old and Middle English, Germanic languages, Welsh, and Finnish at Oxford. He graduated in 1915, married Edith Bratt before shipping out to the Western Front, and fought in the Battle of the Somme. Nearly all of his closest friends were killed. He contrac...

Characters

MorgothAntagonist

The focus of this volume's theological exploration -- Tolkien reworks the nature of the first Dark Lord, arguing that he dispersed his essence into the matter of Arda itself.

ManweSupporting

The lord of the Valar appears in revised and expanded forms in the Later Quenta Silmarillion sections of this volume.

All characters in Morgoth’s Ring

Frequently asked questions

  • What is Morgoth's Ring?

    Volume Ten of the twelve-volume History of Middle-earth. It presents the later revisions Tolkien made to the Silmarillion mythology after completing The Lord of the Rings.

  • What is the theological significance of Morgoth's Ring?

    The title refers to Tolkien's developed idea that Morgoth, unlike Sauron (who concentrated his power in the One Ring), dispersed his power into the substance of Arda itself -- making corruption inseparable from matter. This concept has significant implications for the cosmological theology of the legendarium.

  • Do I need to read The Silmarillion before this volume?

    Yes -- this volume is of most value to readers deeply familiar with The Silmarillion, as it traces how the myths evolved in Tolkien's later thinking, often in ways that contradict the published Silmarillion.

  • What is this volume's position in the History of Middle-earth?

    Volume Ten of twelve.