Sin, Sanctity, and the Semiotics of the Silmarils: the Quenta Silmarillion 5-10

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Kathryn Ney

Texts: Tolkien, “Quenta Silmarillion 5-10,” in The Silmarillion

Discussion Leaders: Kienan Burrage, Marcy Nelson

Discussion Questions:

  1. Jewels/jewelry and gems with magical or sacred properties are quite commonplace in the fantasy genre and mythologies. Can the Silmarils be characterized as simply being a trope, or are they of much higher significance in and of themselves?
  2. Further, how do we make sense of the holiest of gems in Arda being the impetus for the darkening of Valinor and the exile of the Noldor? Do we find any similarities between the Silmarils and the One Ring in terms of either their properties or the catastrophe they are associated with?
  3. Unlike Aulë, we see Fëanor as unwilling to part with his creation, the Silmarils. This brings to mind Christian ideas of jealousy and more specifically, false idol worship. Is it only from a somewhat Christian perspective that Fëanor can be held to blame for his jealous love and pride of his creation, or is he morally accountable for the ensuing chaos because of his failure to yield the Silmarils, even in a secular context?
  4. Fëanor and the Noldor commit many misdeeds which in some ways parallel the Biblical fall of man and subsequent banishment. Yet contrary to simply being tempted into sin, their actions are inherently against Melkor, the ‘devil’ figure. How does this affect the way Tolkien presents the nature of good and evil?
  5. Throughout this narrative, music and speech has immense power, turning the fear of the ocean to desire and sparking huge societal changes and exoduses, what is the significance of this? Why are music/language so inextricably linked to power and magic in Tolkein’s world?
  6. What is Tolkein doing with the narrative voice/narrator? Are we meant to see this as a “true” history? Who is telling this story?
  7. What do we think of the possible biblical parallels in this narrative? (the exodus of the Noldor, The Cursing of the Noldor by the Valar, The Kinslaying, Feanor’s sin and hardening his heart, etc…) Is Tolkein using them to say something? How do they function in the text?

About Kathryn Ney

I am a Teacher Candidate in the Bachelor of Education Program (Secondary) with two teachable subjects, Social Studies and English. I graduated from the Global Stewardship Program at Capilano University in 2014 and completed a double major at UBC in English Literature Honours and History in November 2018. During my studies at CapU, I volunteered as an English teacher with the Global Volunteer Network in Nepal and this experience first prompted me to consider a career in education. While studying at UBC, I led a Student Directed Seminar on the Inklings (Tolkien and C.S. Lewis), thus enabling me to gain experience designing syllabi and marking rubrics for peer evaluation. I am also an alumni of the UBC Arts Coop program, through which I predominantly worked as a docent and archivist in the culture and heritage industry. Some of my work during my Coop placements included developing educational programs for museums, and through this experience, I learned how to make history engaging and accessible for young people as well as for the general public. I spent the past year participating in the Odyssey Program as an English Language Assistant in small-town Quebec, during which time I gleaned extensive in-class and interpersonal experience working with both kids and young adults on their English skills. Since my return in May, I have been leading summer camps for youth focused on conservation issues and outdoor skills. This experience allowed me to share my love of nature and the environment with young people from across the province. Ideally, after completing the BEd. program and having gained some teaching experience, I would like to find a way to combine these disciplines and interests in the form of extracurricular involvement, or otherwise to work abroad doing professional or curriculum development for teachers in developing countries.
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