LOTR Discussion: Appendix B - The Tale of Years

[Valandil]

Appendix B – The Tale of Years

Introduction:

Appendix A gives a broad general account of events and peoples in the historical background of Middle Earth. Appendix B however, gives very specific information on when many of these things happened. As a “chronicle of years” Appendix B can be somewhat tedious to just read straight through – but you should try it at least once. As a reference however, it’s invaluable – and it give us further glimpses of how thoroughly JRR Tolkien had developed historical Middle Earth.

The Ages:

First Age – We learn little more of this time here – no dates or years. Just that there was a great Battle, after which many Noldor and Sindar (Elves both) went into the Far West.
Second Age – This ended with the first overthrow of Sauron and the taking of the One Ring.
Third Age – This ended with the War of the Ring – but was not considered truly over until the departure of Elrond from Middle Earth.
Fourth Age – This was the time for the dominion of Men and the decline of other ‘speaking peoples’ in Middle Earth.

The Second Age:

Narrative – We’re initially told that these years were dark times for the men of Middle Earth, but years of glory for Numenor. We’re also told of Elven Lords: Thanduil in the north of Greenwood the Great, Gil-galad in Lindon and Celeborn and Galadriel in Lorien. Galdriel is said to be sister of a “Finrod Felagund” who gave his life to save Beren. In this age some of the Noldor moved near to the Misty Mountains and founded Eregion near the Dwarven realm of Moria – for the Dwarves had found Mithril there. Celebrimbor, a descendant of Feanor, was King in Eregion.

Next follows a timeline from the founding of Lindon and the Grey Havens in year 1 to the overthrow of Sauron in 3441.

Note how the timeline shifts in focus. Initially it is more Elven-centered – but becomes much more centered on Numenor as the years of the Second Age progress.

The Third Age:

Narrative – We’re told that these are fading years for the Eldar. They wield their Three Rings, but attempt nothing new. Eventually evil begins to stir once more – and dragons come forth to plunder the ancient treasures of the Dwarves. About 1000 years into this ago, the Istari, or Wizards, arrive from the Far West – and among them are Saruman and Gandalf. The Three Elven Rings were initially in the keeping of Gil-galad, Cirdan and Galadriel. Gil-galad gave his to Elrond – and when Gandalf arrived in Lindon from the West, Cirdan gave him his own Ring to support him in his labours.

Next follows a timeline from the last actions of Isildur to his death in year 2 to year 3017 when Gollum is taken by Aragorn and left in the keeping of Thranduil, and when Gandalf reads the scroll of Isildur in Minas Tirith.

The dates here largely chronicle the rise and fall of Gondor. There are increased events involving Gollum, Rohan and the Dwarves in latter part. Also the births of many major characters are given - and even those of some minor ones we don’t meet in the story (like Finduilas, wife of Denethor, and Gilraen, mother of Aragorn).

The Great Years:

This section chronicles the main events of LOTR by exact date from Gandalf’s arrival in Hobbiton on April 12, 3018, up to the Ring’s destruction on March 25, 3019.

Note that there’s a February 29 and 30 – not a mistake – we’ll get to that when we cover Appendix D.

A narrative follows which gives resolution to the War of the Ring. Accounts of war at other places are given, including; Lorien, Mirkwood and Dale-Erebor.

Chief Days from the Fall of the Barad-dur to the End of the Third Age:

Chronicle of main events by exact date after the Ring’s destruction – from March 27, 3019, to the departure of the Ringbearers from the Havens and Sam’s return to Bag End on October 6, 3021.

Later Events Concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring:

Chronicle of the next 120 years (in Shire Reckoning) – we learn the fates of Sam, Pippin, Merry, Eomer, Legolas & Gimli – and that Aragorn’s passing, recorded in Appendix A – had come on his 210th birthday.

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Discussion Questions:

1. If you’re familiar with Appendix B – had you actually read through it, or just used it as a reference?
2. What, if anything, is most striking to you – as far as when it happens, or for what duration?
3. Do you notice any “clusters of activity” – lots of things happening around the same time?
4. What historical event recorded here most inspires or intrigues you?
5. ‘Fess up – did you really suspect that Gandalf wielded one of the 3 Elven Rings?
6. How does this chronology presented in Appendix B further shape your perspective or appreciation of Tolkien and/or the story?

[Landroval]

First Age – We learn little more of this time here – no dates or years. Just that there was a great Battle, after which many Noldor and Sindar (Elves both) went into the Far West.

The Grey Annals, HoME XI and Annals of Aman, HoME X, both state that the first age began with the awakening of the elves, which occured in the valarian year 1050. The valar years (VY) ended 450 VY later, after which started the sun years, with the coming of men; the valar themselves came 5000 VY (roughly 50.000 sun years) beore the rising of the moon.

As Tolkien notes in the Letters, the ages become less and less mythical; in the fourth ages, the descendants of Aragorn are nothing more than administrators, "like Denethor or worse", cf #256.

1. If you’re familiar with Appendix B – had you actually read through it, or just used it as a reference?

I read it; a very interesting and useful bit, perhaps as referrenced in debates as The Shadow of the past, Council of Elrond or Last debate.

2. What, if anything, is most striking to you – as far as when it happens, or for what duration?

The coming of the istari.

3. Do you notice any “clusters of activity” – lots of things happening around the same time?

The fight against Sauron around 1700 - an important moment, arousing the fury of Sauron for quite some time; the period of Ar-Pharazon ruling, up until the end of the age; the renewal of communication between Gondor & Arnor, up until the watchful peace

4. What historical event recorded here most inspires or intrigues you?

The fall of Cardolan - still debating over some issues related to it.

5. ‘Fess up – did you really suspect that Gandalf wielded one of the 3 Elven Rings?

Nope; I was hardly grasping the events on my first read..

6. How does this chronology presented in Appendix B further shape your perspective or appreciation of Tolkien and/or the story?

Recent discussions have required that I take a closer look at it; it really lines up many of the events; a definite must read, I would say.

[Valandil]

Thank you for your response and input Landroval.

As for this part of your post...

Originally Posted by Landroval

The Grey Annals, HoME XI and Annals of Aman, HoME X, both state that the first age began with the awakening of the elves, which occured in the valarian year 1050. The valar years (VY) ended 450 VY later, after which started the sun years, with the coming of men; the valar themselves came 5000 VY (roughly 50.000 sun years) beore the rising of the moon.

As Tolkien notes in the Letters, the ages become less and less mythical; in the fourth ages, the descendants of Aragorn are nothing more than administrators, "like Denethor or worse", cf #256.

... I was trying to hold off from looking into other sources - at least at first. With these Appendix portions, we may need to do so more than with the story chapters - but I wanted to initially present material only found (and only as found) in the appendices or story themselves. I even noticed a thing or two that contradicts what other sources say - but we'll hold off on that until later too.

I'll hold off until you reply further or until others answer before I go on and address the issues I raised.

[Landroval]

Here are some incongruences that I found reading the LotR Reader's Companion's comments on this chapter:

521 Birth in NUmenor of Silmarien - As first published this date was given as 548. It was emended in the edition of 2004. In the Line of Elros, it is said that the eldest child of Tar-Elendil "was a daughter, Silmarien, born in the year 521; and in an accompanying note, Christopher Tolkien expresses the opinion that the date 548 in The Tale of Years, which survived from the first drafts of the text, "should have been reivsed but escaped notice".

2251 Death of Tar-Atanamir: in the first publishing (I guess that's mine too) this read "Tar Atanamir takes the sceptre", but it was revised in the 2004 edition

2683 Isengrim II becomes tenth Thain: it is explained that he was the tenth Thain of the Took line; in 2340, Isumbras was already the 13th thain

2872 Belethor II of Gondor dies: it was previously dated at 2852, but listed correctly as 2872 in the list of Stewards; in HoME XII, Chris notes that it was evidently a casual error

[Serenoli]

I didnt really read it straight through, I read bits and pieces here and there... I was far more interested in some of it after I had read the Silmarillion, for before that, all the references to the different elves just confused me.

5. ‘Fess up – did you really suspect that Gandalf wielded one of the 3 Elven Rings?

I actually thought it was Glorfindel for a long time into the book. Gandalf always seemed so different in his powers from the others that I could never link him with a ring... besides which, he wasn't an Elf, and everyone kept going on about how three Elf-lords held the rings, so I never suspected.

[jammi567]

same here

1. If you’re familiar with Appendix B – had you actually read through it, or just used it as a reference?

being the really sad person i am, i admit i have read it all the way through.