The Silmarillion

The Silmarillion 

• Genre: Fiction; Epic Fantasy; Mythology 
• Originally Published: 1977 
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1150L; College/Adult 
• Structure/Length: Approximately 448 pages; approximately 14 hours and 49 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The Silmarillion is a collection of mythopoeic stories that form the prehistory to Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. It narrates the creation of the world and details the history of the Silmarils—three precious jewels crafted by Fëanor—and the wars fought over them. The central conflicts revolve around the rebellion of Fëanor and his kin against the gods, the tragedy of their oath to recover the Silmarils, and the broader struggle between good and evil in Middle-earth. 
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: War and betrayal; mythical violence; complex narratives involving loss and doom 

J.R.R. Tolkien, Author 

• Bio: Born 1892; died 1973; British writer, poet, philologist, and academic; best known for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings; credited with revitalizing the fantasy genre in the 20th century; has profoundly impacted literature, art, and culture with his legendarium, which is rooted in extensive linguistic and mythological scholarship 
• Other Works: The Hobbit (1937); The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (1954-1955); Unfinished Tales (1980)
• Awards: Winner of the Locus Award in 1997

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Good Versus Evil
• Religion and Mythology
• Hubris

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the philosophical context around good versus evil and the literary practice of worldbuilding, which shape the narrative in The Silmarillion.
• Read paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Good Versus Evil, Religion and Mythology, and Hubris.
• Craft and present a creative writing piece set in the existing universe of The Silmarillion with a new character written in Tolkien’s style.
• Analyze and evaluate plot and character details to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding religious allusions, the archetype of the “tragic hero,” and other topics.