A breakdown of Tolkien’s ‘Of the Sindar’, Chapter 10 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

This is another one of my favorite chapters in The Silmarillion. It has a similar feel to the fairy tale quality of Chapter 4, which makes sense since both are about Melian and Thingol. Chapter 10 gives us more information about what these two have been getting up to!

We learn about the Sindar Elves, Melian gives Thingol all the wise counsel, she prevents Ungoliant (who even Melkor was afraid of) from coming into their Kingdom, and they have their child, Lúthien, who is as beautiful as the dawn in spring. There’s also more about the dwarfs and a name drop of Moria.

So let’s get into the tidbits!

Ten Tidbits About ‘Of the Sindar’

1. Melian and Thingol rule over the Sindar, the Gray-elves in Beleriand.

Thingol (previously known as Elwë) and Melian’s rule grows in Middle-Earth and they lead the Sindar, the Grey-elves of ‘star-lit Beleriand.’ The Sindar Elves are Moriquendi Elves, meaning they had never seen the light of the Trees in Valinor. But despite this, Tolkien describes them as ‘the fairest and the most wise and skilful of all the Elves of Middle-earth.’

2. Lúthien is born during the noontime of the Sindar.

Lúthien is one of my all-time fav Tolkien characters, so it’s exciting to get to her birth! Her introduction sounds like the epitome of a fairy tale beginning, with flowers opening to greet her. We don’t get much more about Lúthien in this chapter, but don’t worry – we’ll read plenty about her later!

3. The Sindar Elves and the Dwarves have a working relationship – so it’s a bit up and down, but there is friendship there.

In this chapter the Elves and Dwarves have a pretty good relationship – despite the fact that the Elves call the Dwarves the ‘stunted people’ (so rude!). The Dwarves called themselves Khazâd, but the Elves called them Naugrim (which translates to ‘the Stunted People’ – so rude!), and Gonnhirrim, which means Masters of Stone (so at least that’s nicer).

The Dwarves were swift to learn the Elves’ language, and didn’t want to teach their own to an ‘alien race’. I think that helps explain why the password to Moria in the Fellowship of the Ring was an elvish word and not a dwarf one!

The friendship between the Elves and Dwarves was ‘cool’, as in kind of frosty. But ‘the Naugrim gave their friendship more readily to the Noldor in after days than to any others of Elves and Men, because of their love and reverence for Aulë; and the gems of the Noldor they praised above all other wealth.’

4. Khazad-dûm, aka Moria, gets built!

We learn about the building of Moria! And it sounds pretty epic. Khadad-dûm translates to Mansions of the Dwarves.

Greatest of all the mansions of the Dwarves was Khazad-dûm, the Dwarrowdelf, Hadhodrond in the Elvish tongue, that was afterwards in the days of its darkness called Moria; but it was far off in the Mountains of Mist beyond the wide leagues of Eriador, and to the Eldar came but as a name and a rumour from the words of the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains.

5. Fell beings come to Beleriand.

There was a time of peace in Melian and Thingol’s Kingdom, but of course it couldn’t last. Before long, evil creatures made their way over to Beleriand, including wolves, or at least creatures that looked like wolves, and ‘other fell beings of shadows’, which also included the Orcs. The Dwarves actually came to King Thingol themselves to warn him of these evil developments and fell beasts.

6. Thingol arms his people and builds up an armoury.

In response, Thingol equips his people with armour and building up an armoury. He works with the Dwarves to do this, which I think is pretty cool. They are the ‘Masters of Stone’ after all.

Thingol took thought for arms, which before his people had not needed, and these at first the Naugrim smithied for him; for they were greatly skilled in such work … Their smithcraft indeed the Sindar soon learned of them; yet in the tempering of steel alone of all crafts the Dwarves were never outmatched even by the Noldor.

This put the Sindar in a really good position to hold off the evil creatures and keep the peace. Thingol’s armouries were stocked up with ‘axes and with spears and swords, and tall helms, and long coats of bright mail; for the hauberks of the Dwarves were so fashioned that they rusted not but shone ever as if they were new-burnished. And that proved well for Thingol in the time that was to come.’

7. We meet Denethor, but it’s not the one we know from LOTR.

We come across the familiar name of Denethor in this chapter, but of course it’s not the same Steward of Gondor we know from Lord of the Rings. This Denethor is the son of Lenwë, ruler of a host of Olwë’s who had gotten separated from the rest of the Teleri.

Therefore Denethor, the son of Lenwë, hearing rumour of the might of Thingol and his majesty, and of the peace of his realm, gathered such host of his scattered people as he could, and led them over the mountains into Beleriand. There they were welcomed by Thingol, as kin long lost that return, and they dwelt in Ossiriand, the Land of Seven Rivers.

8. Mountains in the South gain a new name thanks to Ungoliant.

We also learn a bit more about where Ungoliant ended up after taking down the Trees of Valinor. She first tried to get into the realm of Thingol, but was held back (check out tidbit #10 for more!). She then wandered into the shadows of the south, and as a result they ‘became known as Ered Gorgoroth, the Mountains of Terror, and none dared go thither, or pass nigh them; there life and light were strangled, and there all waters were poisoned.’ Sure sounds like Ungoliant’s presence to me.

9. The Elves win the first battle in the Wars of Beleriand, but it comes at a deep cost.

Morgoth’s armies try to take down Thingol’s people in the first battle in the War of Beleriand. Thingol calls upon Denethor and his men, and they come in force to fight for him. The Elves come out on top, but it’s at a high price. Denethor dies, and his people become known as the Laiquendi, the Green-elves, ‘because of their raiment of the colour of leaves.’

10. Melian is a boss.

My biggest takeaway from this chapter is that Melian is such a boss! Here’s some examples of how:

• Melian gives Thingol the best advice and counsel to keep their Kingdom and people safe: ‘Melian had much foresight, after the manner of the Maiar – she counselled Thingol that the Peace of Arda would not last for ever. He took thought therefore how he should make for himself a kingly dwelling, and a place that should be strong, if evil were to awake again in Middle-earth.’
• Ungoliant was afraid of her: ‘After Melkor and Ungoliant slew the Trees of Valinor, Ungoliant made her way into the realm of Thingol, but she did not enter because of the power of Melian.’
• Look at the power she displays here: Melian put forth her power and fenced all that dominion round about with an unseen wall of shadow and bewilderment: the Girdle of Melian, that none thereafter could pass against her will or the will of King Thingol, unless one should come with a power greater than that of Melian the Maia.

Just a few reasons why Melian is one amazing Maia!

5 Fav Quotes from ‘Of the Sindar’

And there in the forest of Neldoreth Lúthien was born, and the white flowers of niphredil came forth to greet her as stars from the earth.

Is this the most beautiful introduction to a character you’ve ever read?

Elves and Dwarves together, each with their own skill, there wrought out the visions of Melian, images of the wonder and beauty of Valinor beyond the Sea.

I love this depiction of Elves and Dwarves working together to creation something of wonder and beauty.

As the years passed Melian and her maidens filled the halls with woven hangings wherein could be read the deeds of the Valar, and many things that had befallen in Arda since its beginning, and shadows of things that were yet to be. That was the fairest dwelling of any king that has ever been east of the Sea.

Anyone else want to visit Melian and Thingol’s Kingdom?! I think I could be pretty happy living there.

But of bliss and glad life there is little to be said, before it ends; as works fair and wonderful, while still they endure for eyes to see, are their own record, and only when they are in peril or broken for ever do they pass into song.

I find this quite a poignant quote. And maybe explains a lot about The Silmarillion and how tragic is it.

And the beauty of Melian was as the noon, and the beauty of Lúthien was as the dawn in spring.

The comparison is just so lovely!

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 018 – Menegroth: Love it or List it
• The Tolkien Professor’s Silmarillion Seminars

The Silmarillion Second Breakfast Book Club

That’s Chapter 10, ‘Of the Sindar’! 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 11!