A breakdown of Tolkien’s ‘Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor’, Chapter 7 in The Silmarillion. As usual I share a mini summary with my thoughts, 10 tidbits and 5 quotes!

A Mini Summary and Some Personal Thoughts

In this chapter we get to the making of the Silmarils! Which is very exciting. We learn about who made them, what they’re made of, and how people felt about them. But of course there’s also a lot of drama, and we see the peace of Valinor poisoned, tensions growing hot between Feanor and Fingolfin, and Melkor on the run, with Tulkas and Oromë on the chase.

Let’s get into the tidbits!

Ten Tidbits About ‘Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor’

1. Fëanor makes the Silmarils – and the title of the book suddenly makes so much more sense.

Here in Chapter 7 we finally see the making of the Silmarils. Given that ‘Quenta Silmarillion’ means ‘the tale of the Silmarils’, this is clearly a very important moment in the book. Fëanor uses all of his knowledge, skill and power to the most beautiful result: three great jewels.

There’s some ominous foreshadowing here, where Tolkien contemplates whether Fëanor might have ‘some shadow of foreknowledge’ of ‘the doom that drew near’, and how he might preserve the light of the Trees. Fëanor began a ‘long and secret labour’, which is an interesting way to describe his work. We’ve heard of others embarking on their own secret labours and those seem to have pretty mixed outcomes (i.e. Aulë’s making of the dwarves).

2. No one knows what the outside of the Silmarils are made of, but we know what’s inside.

‘As three great jewels they were in form. But not until the End … not until the Sun passes and the Moon falls, shall it be known of what substance they were made.’

It’s a mystery what the outside of the Silmarils is made of. They appeared like the crystal of diamonds, but had the strength and hardness of adamant, making them almost impossible to mar or break. This crystal encasing protected the ‘inner fire’ of the Silmarils, which was made from the blended light of the Two Trees of Valinor. Remember how once a day there was an hour when the light from one tree waxed while the light from the other tree waned, creating this hour when the lights blended together? Somehow Fëanor was able to capture that and encase it within the SIlmarils.

Tolkien gives us the spoiler that the Trees will die (so you can be looking out for that to happen). That makes the Silmarils all the more precious for preserving their light within them.

3. Hallowed by Varda, and the fates of Arda locked within them

Varda hallowed the Silmarils, so that thereafter no mortal flesh, nor hands unclean, nor anything of evil will might touch them, but it was scorched and withered; and Mandos foretold that the fates of Arda, earth, sea, and air, lay locked within them.

The fact that Varda hallowed the Silmarils comes into play later! So it’s worth trying to remember that nothing evil can touch them or it would be scorched and withered, cause we’ll see that in action (or not!).

4. There were strong reactions to the Silmarils.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given how extraordinary the Silmarils are, people had quite strong reactions to them once they were made.

• Fëanor’s heart was bound to them: he did make them, and obviously had a lot of pride in them. But he loved them with a greedy love and begrudged the sight of them to all except his father and sons And ‘he seldom remembered now that the light within them was not his own.’ That doesn’t sound very healthy.
• All who dwelt in Aman were filled with wonder and delight at the work of Fëanor. Understandable, I’d say. I’m in awe just from the description of them!
• Melkor lusted after them: ‘the very memory of their radiance was a gnawing fire in his heart.’ That’s also understandable I’d say, especially knowing Melkor. But this was probably pushing it too far: ‘From the moment they were made, he wanted to destroy Fëanor and end the friendship between the Valar and the Elveshe sought ever more eagerly how he should destroy Fëanor and end the friendship of the Valar and the Elves.’

5. The peace of Valinor was poisoned with evil whisperings (it’s always evil whisperings).

When he saw that many leaned towards him, Melkor would often walk among them, and amid his fair words others were woven, so subtly that many who heard them believed in recollection that they arose from their own thought. Visions he would conjure in their hearts of the mighty realms that they could have ruled at their own will, in power and freedom in the East; and then whispers went abroad that the Valar had brought the Eldar to Aman because of their jealousy.

Melkor got to work straight away, sowing lies to the Elves to dismantle the authority of the Valar. And though it was ‘slow at first and barren was his labour’, eventually his words began to take root. And so the Elves began to murmur against the Valar, and ‘the peace of Valinor was poisoned.’

6. Melkor’s counsel kindled the hearts of the Noldor to strife and there was great unrest in Tirion.

There was increasing unrest as Melkor’s lies began to escalate. Melkor spread lies to pit Feanor and his half-brothers against each other:

• Fëanor heard that Fingolfin (his half-brother) and his sons were looking to usurp their father Finwë
• Fingolfin and Finarfin heard that Fëanor was going to drive to drive them out of Túna.

Melkor also began speaking to the Noldor about weapons, and so they began the smithing of swords, axes, spears and shields. Feanor made a secret forge (there he goes again, doing things in secret) and crafted swords for himself and his sons. His father-in-law, the great smooth Mahtan, greatly regretted teaching Fëanor all that he himself was taught from Aulë.

Because of Melkor’s initial work, Feanor began to openly speak words of rebellion against the Valar. This all led to great unrest in Tirion.

7. Feanor and Fingolfin came to blows. And Fingolfin comes out looking better (in my opinion).

With all of this unrest, FIngolfin went to his father Finwë, urging him to get Fëanor under control. But at that very moment, Fëanor himself shows up in the chambers, fully armed and quite upset (can you picture this all going down?!).

Fingolfin doesn’t incite the situation, instead choosing to bow to Finwë and leaving the chamber without even looking at Fëanor. But Fëanor followed him out, and put Fingolfin at sword tip and threatens him. But again Fingolfin just leaves without saying a word.

Of course, this whole scene plays out in a great open square, with many overhearing all the drama.

8. The Valar believed Feanor was causing all the problems, and summoned him to the gates of Valmar to answer for his words and deeds.

Given the quiet public scene that just went down, the Valar suspected Fëanor of instigating the unrest currently going through the land. So they summon Fëanor to come before them ‘to answer for all his words and deeds.’ standing before Mandos in the Ring of Doom was commanded to answer all that was asked of him.

Then at last the root was laid bare, and the malice of Melkor revealed; and straightway Tulkas left the council to lay hands upon him and bring him again to judgement.

I like how Tulkas is the one to ‘straightway’ go after Melkor. Fëanor also was ‘not held guiltless’ and Mandos declares his sentence, exiling him to leave Tirion for 12 years. Mandos allows for him to return at that time, if one should release him. And good ol’ Fingolfin steps up and says, ‘I will release my brother.’ He sounds like such a good guy!

9. Fëanor is banished, the Silmarils are shut up, and Fingolfin takes over as King.

So Fëanor, his seven sons, and his father went into banishment. In the meantime, the Silmarils were shit up in a chamber of iron. And because Finwë went with Fëanor, Fingolfin took over the rule of the Noldor in Tirion.

Thus the lies of Melkor were made true in seeming, though Fëanor by his own deeds had brought this thing to pass; and the bitterness that Melkor had sown endured, and lived still long afterwards between the sons of Fingolfin and Fëanor.

10. Melkor tries to get Fëanor on his side, and almost succeeds.

With the cat basically out of the bag, Melkor went into hiding. He wasn’t seen for some time. But he did show up in Formenos and spoke to Fëanor, trying to convince him of friendship. Melkor almost succeeds too. But when he brought up the Silmarils it pushed Fëanor too far. Fëanor cursed Melkor, saying ‘Get thee gone from my gate, thou jail-crow of Mandos!’

5 Fav Quotes from ‘Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor’

In that time were made those things that afterwards were most renowned of all the works of the Elves.

I love this introduction to the Silmarils!

But he that sows lies in the end shall not lack of a harvest, and soon he may rest from toil indeed while others reap and sow in his stead.

This feels like an old proverb to me.

[Fëanor] pondered how the light of the Trees, the glory of the Blessed Realm, might be preserved imperishable. Then he began a long and secret labour, and he summoned all his lore, and his power, and his subtle skill; and at the end of all he made the Silmarils.

I think it’s quite a nice idea that Fëanor made the Silmarils with the desire to preserve the light of the Trees of Valinor.

And the inner fire of the Silmarils Fëanor made of the blended light of the Trees of Valinor, which lives in them yet, though the Trees have long withered and shine no more. Therefore even in the darkness of the deepest treasury the Silmarils of their own radiance shone like the stars of Varda; and yet, as were they indeed living things, they rejoiced in light and received it and gave it back in hues more marvellous than before.

The blending of the Two Trees is one of my very fav descriptions of The Silmarillion, so I can’t imagine how beautiful it must have been to preserve that light within jewels.

Thus Melkor departed from Valinor, and for a while the Two Trees shone again unshadowed, and the land was filled with light. But the Valar sought in vain for tidings of their enemy; and as a cloud far off that looms ever higher, borne upon a slow cold wind, a doubt now marred the joy of all the dwellers in Aman, dreading they knew not what evil that yet might come.

We’re left on quite an ominous note at the end of this chapter.

Further Study

I love listening to podcasts to gain more insights and thoughts on Tolkien’s works. Here a couple I listened to about this chapter:

• The Prancing Pony Podcast Episode 014 – Trouble in Paradise
• The Tolkien Professor’s Silmarillion Seminars

The Silmarillion Second Breakfast Book Club

That’s Chapter 7, ‘Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor’! If you’ve missed any previous posts on The Silmarillion in our Second Breakfast Book Club, then check out the Reading Schedule. You can find updates on future chapters there as well. Next up, Chapter 8!