After an unintended and unforeseen hiatus, I am back. This is part 6 of a series on Tolkien’s Letter 131, most of which is included in the preface materials of The Silmarillion. Begin reading at Part 1 — or visit the previous post in this series. * * * At this point in his letter,... Continue Reading →
This shall be my own Kingdom
From the very beginning of the legends of Middle-earth, there is evil. I suppose, rather, that it is better to say that soon after the beginning there is evil. The evil does not reside with Eru Ilúvatar at the beginning of all things but surfaces very quickly after the making of the Ainur. Melkor’s rebellion... Continue Reading →
A Cosmogonical Myth (Letter 131, pt.3)
This is part 3 of a series on Tolkien’s Letter 131, most of which is included in the preface materials of The Silmarillion. Read Part 1 and Part 2 here. * * * Tolkien’s stated goal behind the Ainur, the gods (or “angelic powers”) was to provide being of the same order of beauty, power,... Continue Reading →
