The Silmarillion Ch 9: Of the Flight of the Noldor

[Diamond of Long Cleeve]

CHAPTER 9 - OF THE FLIGHT OF THE NOLDOR

This is a crucial chapter in Tolkien's histories - the end of the years of bliss in Valinor and the beginning of the numbered ages of the world. It contains the account of the Oath of Fëanor, which is the cause of so much of the grief of the Elves. It also contains the account of the Kinslaying of Alqualondë and the Doom of Mandos.

Outline of this post:

Post 1. Plot Summary
Post 2. HoME references
post 3. Discussion topics and themes


1. Plot Summary

The Valar meet after the light of the Trees had been drained. Yavanna declares that she cannot repeat her act of creation of their light but she could recall the light if she had a little of all that now remains - held in the Silmarils of Fëanor. By unlocking the light of the Silmarils she could rekindle the light of the Trees, but the jewels would be broken.

Fëanor echoes Yavanna's lament that for each person there is one work (deed) that they can accomplish but once only. If he were to break the jewels he would break his heart. In bitterness he refuses to relinquish the jewels of his free will, refusing the request of the Valar. He declares that if the Valar force him, he will know them as akin to Melkor.

Word then comes to Fëanor that Melkor has slain his beloved father Finwë and stolen the silmarils. Fëanor curses Melkor, naming him Morgoth, and curses the summons of Manwe which had drawn him away from Formenos.

Morgoth escapes to Angband, a figure of hatred and terror. Ungoliant is driven out by balrogs at Morgoth's bidding, he having refused her the Silmarils.

Fëanor defies his banishment and calls the Noldor to him, making a great speech inspiring them to join him in leaving Valinor for Middle-earth. Although he speaks against Morgoth, Fëanor also echoes Morgoth's lies, sowing the seeds of jealously of Men and of distrust of the Valar.

Then Fëanor swears his terrible oath, immediately repeated by his seven sons. They swear to pursue with vengeance and hatred any creature, including the Valar, who should hold or take or keep a Silmaril from their possession. They swear by the name of Iluvatar, calling Manwe and Varda as witnesses.

Although there was dissension and both Fingolfin and Fanarfin were reluctant to depart, Fëanor inspired nine/tenths of the Noldor to go, though the greater part of the host followed under Fingolfin and did not take Fëanor as their king. They followed despite the warning of a messenger of Manwe who confirmed their freedom to depart but counselled them to stay. Fëanor is exiled, but replies to the warning of future sorrow that it was in Aman that they first learned of sorrow. Even if he cannot overthrow Morgoth, Fëanor declares, he will not delay in assailing him.

Fëanor tries to persuade the Teleri to join him but although they hold to their friendship with the Noldor they will not join nor give up their ships. Fëanor takes the ships by force and many are killed, especially the mariners of the Teleri who were lightly armed. The Noldor prevail with the aid of the hosts of Fingolfin, although the latter coming late to the battle were less sure of its cause. The Kinslaying of Alqualondë marks the first great evil in the fall of the Noldor.

Mandos appears to pronounce the Doom - a chilling curse and prophecy of the grief of the elves placed on those who will not turn back: "Tears unnumbered ye shall shed ..."

The Doom of the Valar foretells that their oath shall betray them, that evil will result from all their endeavours through treason and the fear of treason. The spilling of blood of their own kindred will result in further bloodshed and although the elves are immortal and suffer no sickness, they can and will be slain and come to Mandos as houseless spirits. Those that are not slain shall "grow weary of the world as with a great burden, and shall wane, and become as shadows of regret before the younger race that cometh after."

Of the Nolodorin lords only Finarfin, with some of his people, turn back and receive the pardon of the Valar. His sons go forward to the icy North with Fëanor and the Noldori in exile. Here Fëanor commits another great evil in abandoning his brother Fingolfin and much of the host. He takes his own people by ship to Middle-earth, burning the ships after the crossing. Fingolfin and his people endure great hardship and loss in crossing over the Grinding Ice to the North and come at last to Middle-earth.


There are maps of Aman and Arda before the First Age at The Encyclopedia of Arda site