STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE

The Silmarillion

J. R. R. Tolkien
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The Silmarillion

J. R. R. Tolkien

94 pages • 3-hour read

J. R. R. Tolkien

The Silmarillion

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1977

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During Reading

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.


PARTS 1-2


Reading Check


1. Which two factions does Melkor secretly hope to bend to his whims?

2. Which one of the seven Lords of Valar is the strongest?


Short Answer


Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.


1. What does Eru’s figurative use of song suggest about the type of world being created?


Paired Resource


“J. R. R. Tolkien”

  • This Biography entry on Tolkien gives an overview of the author’s life and legacy.
  • As described in this piece, Tolkien built the Religion and Mythology of his world with not only text but also illustrations and maps.
  • How might the tumult of World War I have influenced Tolkien’s writing?


PART 3, CHAPTERS 1-3


Reading Check


1. What is Utumno?

2. Where did Aulë create Dwarves in Part 3, Chapter 2?


Short Answer


Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.


1. What evidence suggests that the world created by Eru is imperfect?


PART 3, CHAPTERS 4-6


Reading Check


1. Which Maia is the most beautiful, wise, and skilled in songs of enchantment, as described in Chapter 4?

2. What do the Teleri love most after learning about the sea from Ossë and Uinen?


Short Answer


Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.


1. What are some of the Elves’ key demographics? What do they allow Tolkien to convey?


Paired Resource


“Why You Should Read J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion”

  • In this Entertainment Weekly article, journalists Devan Coggan and Christian Holub discuss why people should read Tolkien’s “strangest and most challenging book.”
  • Coggan and Holub argue that the book is connected to the overall Religion and Mythology of Tolkien’s universe.
  • What are the unique aspects of The Silmarillion? According to the article, how is it different from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings?


PART 3, CHAPTERS 7-9


Reading Check


1. What does the Silmarils appear to be made from, as noted in Chapter 7?

2. For whom does Manwë host a giant feast in Chapter 8, in an attempt to heal the evil that surrounds the Elves?


Short Answer


Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.


1. How do the Trees function in this section as a metaphor for the budding relationship between the Valar and the Elves?


PART 3, CHAPTERS 10-12


Reading Check


1. Which two factions are described as having a relationship that is “cool,” but profitable? (Chapter 10, Page 42)

2. Who guides the sun, as mentioned in Chapter 11?


Short Answer


Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.


1. What are some of the differences between Men and Elves, as explored in this section?


Paired Resource


“How to Read The Lord of the Rings in Order”

  • This Esquire article discusses the order in which to read Tolkien’s 30 books in The Silmarillion universe.
  • The article author charts two paths: one for the casual reader, and one for people who are interested in getting the full breadth of the Religion and Mythology of this universe.
  • Why might the article author recommend people read The Silmarillion fifth, when, chronologically, it is the origin story for Tolkien’s world?


PART 3, CHAPTERS 13-15


Reading Check


1. Which two factions have united to become almost one people by the end of Chapter 13?

2. What mountain region surrounds where Melkor lives in Angband?


Short Answer


Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.


1. In addition to the location and scenery of the region, how does Tolkien describe the geography of The Silmarillion’s world in Chapter 15? Why is this important?


PART 3, CHAPTERS 16-18


Reading Check


1. Whom does Turgon allow to leave Gondolin after several centuries in a heavily fortified castle, at the start of Chapter 16?

2. Which important battle is detailed in Chapter 18?


Short Answer


Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.


1. How is Eöl different from other Elves?


PART 3, CHAPTERS 19-21


Reading Check


1. How many of Barahir’s companions does Melkor leave alive in Dorthonion at the opening of Chapter 19?

2. Whose foster son does Turin grow up as in Chapter 21?


Short Answer


Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.


1. How is the story of Beren and Lúthien different from the rest of the novel?


PART 3, CHAPTERS 22-24


Reading Check


1. How many years has Húrin spent in captivity at the start of Chapter 22?

2. Who raises Tuor after his father dies?


Short Answer


Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.


1. What is the result of Melkor’s quest to find and eradicate Gondolin?


Paired Resource


“Tolkien: Tedious or Tremendous?”

  • This New Yorker piece by Jon Michaud acknowledges and questions Adam Gopnik’s assertion that Tolkien set the template for fantasy with his Legendarium.
  • This connects to the theme of Religion and Mythology.
  • Do you believe Tolkien’s reputation as one of the best fantasy writers is justified? Or do you agree with Michaud that he is overrated? Why?


PARTS 4-5


Reading Check


1. Who are the Men who aided the Elves against Melkor?

2. Who becomes the second Dark Lord and makes Mordor his home in Part 4?


Short Answer


Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.


1. What is one of the main similarities between the age of Elves and the age of Men, as described in Parts 4-5? What are the differences?


Recommended Next Reads 


The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien

  • The first part of The Lord of the Rings series, The Fellowship of the Ring is Tolkien’s epic adventure story about the Rings of Power, crafted by the Elven-smiths.
  • Set many years after The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring adds to the richness of Tolkien’s Religion and Mythology and explores the concept of Good Versus Evil.
  • The Fellowship of the Ring on SuperSummary


The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

  • This prelude to The Lord of the Rings follows the hobbit Bilbo Baggins as he goes on a treasure-hunting adventure with a company of dwarves and the wizard Gandalf.
  • The Hobbit deals with the eternal war of Good Versus Evil, a common theme woven through the entire universe created by Tolkien’s Religion and Mythology.
  • The Hobbit on SuperSummary

Reading Questions Answer Key

PARTS 1-2


Reading Check


1. Elves and Men (Part 1)

2. Tulkas (Part 2)


Short Answer


1. It suggests that the world will be harmonious and melodious, and that songs, music, and storytelling will be highly valued. It also gives the novel a lyrical quality. (Parts 1-2)


PART 3, CHAPTERS 1-3


Reading Check


1. Melkor’s underground fortress (Part 3, Chapter 1)

2. In the darkness of Middle-earth (Part 3, Chapter 2)


Short Answer


1. The very existence of Melkor means there is a force of evil operating in Eru’s otherwise near-perfect world. In the opening chapters of “Quenta Silmarillion,” Melkor’s presence suggests that war is inevitable. (Part 3, Chapters 1-3)


PART 3, CHAPTERS 4-6


Reading Check


1. Melian (Part 3, Chapter 4)

2. The water (Part 3, Chapter 5)


Short Answer


1. Some examples of Elven groups are the Noldor, the Sindar, the sons of Fëanor, and the Quendi. These demographics allow Tolkien to convey to the audience the vast scale of the world he’s creating, and it gives him the ability to add nuance to the variety of conflicts within the world. (Part 3, Chapters 4-6)


PART 3, CHAPTERS 7-9


Reading Check


1. Unbreakable diamonds (Part 3, Chapter 7)

2. Eru (Part 3, Chapter 8)


Short Answer


1. The Trees are poisoned by the Ungoliant, under the direction of Melkor; when this happens, the relationship between the Elves and the Valar begins to wither. (Part 3, Chapters 7-9)


PART 3, CHAPTERS 10-12


Reading Check


1. Elves and Dwarves (Part 3, Chapter 10)

2. Arien (Part 3, Chapter 11)


Short Answer


1. Elves are the main protagonists of the story; they’re seen as the most admirable creations of Eru. Men, on the other hand, are morally ambiguous and are prone to temptation. (Part 3, Chapters 10-12)


PART 3, CHAPTERS 13-15


Reading Check


1. The Noldor and Sindar (Part 3, Chapter 13)

2. The Iron Mountains (Part 3, Chapter 14)


Short Answer


1. In addition to the location and scenery of the region, Tolkien describes who exercises power over the land and the history of the people who have controlled it. This is important because many of the geographical conflicts help animate the plot of The Silmarillion. (Part 3, Chapters 13-15)


PART 3, CHAPTERS 16-18


Reading Check


1. Aredhel (Part 3, Chapter 16)

2. The Battle of Sudden Flame (Part 3, Chapter 18)


Short Answer


1. He is a solitary figure who prefers to be left alone, while most Elves live and operate in complex social groups. He is also generally a nefarious figure. (Part 3, Chapters 16-18)


PART 3, CHAPTERS 19-21


Reading Check


1. 12 (Part 3, Chapter 19)

2. Thingol’s foster son (Part 3, Chapter 21)


Short Answer


1.  It functions as a tragic love story, and it is one of the only complete stories in the novel, with a beginning, middle, and end. (Part 3, Chapters 19-21)


PART 3, CHAPTERS 22-24


Reading Check


1. 28 years (Part 3, Chapter 22)

2. The Grey Elves (Part 3, Chapter 23)


Short Answer


1. Melkor finds but is unable to eradicate Gondolin. Because he is so obsessed with the secrecy surrounding the city, once he makes his way in, he doesn’t think about how to deal with the Elves who reside within it. (Part 3, Chapters 22-24)


PARTS 4-5


Reading Check


1. The Edain (Part 4)

2. Sauron (Part 4)


Short Answer


1. Both ages are ridden with war and misunderstanding. In terms of differences, Men and Elves are themselves quite different: Men are more morally dubious, and they are not as powerful or as capable as they Elves. However, the antagonist the Men face (Sauron) is not as powerful as Melkor. (Parts 4-5)

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