The Silmarillion is long, so let me do your homework for you!
Okay, there's nothing I like more than helping people write book reports or form presentations or whatever without reading the book. After all, reading is boring, I agree completely. So, this in mind, I've summarized the major plot points of The Silmarillion for you, and provided some discussion points at the end.
~*~*~
Everything started when Nana Erúo created God. They got along marvelously for awhile, but then they got into a fight and became estranged. This of course is prehistory. The actual Quenta Silmarillion begins with the Music of the Angels. You see, after the great feud, God created the angels, and the angels helped to create the world. Two of the angels, Melkor and Morgoth, were mightiest in strength. They led their brethren down to the world, so that they may live as kings.
Melkor was the Father of Elves. He created them with care, and when it finally came time for them to accept the breathe of life, were guided to the Far North, where the kingdom of heaven could be found. The Elves then accepted the tutelage of the angels, and this is why they are so powerful throughout history. Always have the Elves revered the north, for that is where Melkor dwelt.
Yet Morgoth, who was in fact Melkor's brother, grew envious of the Elves, and so he created his own children, Men. But because Men were created out of envy and malice, they have been forever marred, and are inclined to accept the shadow. The wisest of Elves thus say that Orks are in fact Men, despite what Peajé, a disciple of Morgoth, may claim.
Anywho, there you have the bare essentials of the plot's background. I can now proceed with the actual story. You see, In the Kingdom of Heaven, the mightiest of Elven smiths, Durin, began working to create the most beautiful jewels ever. After several thousand years of toiling, he was successful in creating the Silmarils, nine great jewels that shone with the power of the sun. Durin displayed these jewels proudly and for all to see, for it was his claim that they belonged to the world, not to him. Yet it came into the hearts of the Nine Kings of Men, the Fëanorions, to steal these jewels for themselves. Fëanor, Maedron, Maglor, Curufin, Caranthir, Celegorn, Amrod, Amras, and Celebrimbor were their names, and they swore a blasphemous oath in the name of God that the Silmarils would come into their hands, and they would slay however stood in their path.
The Great War of the Jewels began when the Fëanorians marched upon the Kingdom of Heaven, their grand armies following behind. At this time, the Elves were still a peaceful race, and were yet to devise any sort of weapons. Frightened, they begged Melkor save them. Yet though Melkor was an angel, he was only one angel, and he could not stop entire armies. As the Fëanorians laid siege to the Tower of Alqualondë where Durin dwelt, Melkor at least succumbed. Desperate to preserve his kingdom, he seized the Silmarili from Durin and surrendered them to Morgoth. Thus, the armies of the Fëanorions retreated; but not before the people of Alqualondë were grievously harmed, and many were slain. This was known as the First War of Elves and Men. Some Men, however, were appalled at the actions of the Fëanorions, and they begged the Elves to forgive them. These few Men became known as the Edain, the Elf-friends, and their descendants would later found the Kingdom of Númenórë in the Uttermost West.
Melkor may have saved the Kingdom of Heaven from ruin, but not all the Elves could accept that the Silmarili had fallen into the hands of Morgoth. Angered at Melkor's surrender, Prince Fingolfin and Prince Finarfin began to chase after Morgoth. The Herald of Melkor, Manwë, appeared to the fleeing Elves, and told them that if they continued their pursuit they would be forever banished from the Kingdom of Heaven. Furthemore, claimed Manwë, death was the only path they would take. Finarfin's resolve wavered at that point, but Fingolfin then made a glorious speech upon Mount Tirion, urging the Elves to continue. "We are the Ñoldor!" cried he, and thus the resolve of the Elves was strengthened, for Ñoldor is Grey Elven for "Proudly Exiled." And so the Elves dared the Suicidal Ice, that they might cross the seas that separated Heaven from Valinor, the realm of Morgoth and Men.
. . .
That should be enough of a summary to get you through your homework. Before I head off, though, think it's worth mentioning that the Fëanorions, defeated in the Third War of the Elves and Men, turn to Sauron for aid. Thus were they reborn as the nine Nazgûl, as seen in the popular Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. Wow! Turns out The Silmarillion was written as a prequel to The Lord of the Rings! Awesome!
Discussion Points
1. In Middle-earth, nothing seems to be all-powerful; everyone can be beaten. Examples: Melkor is lesser in power than Morgoth, but Morgoth was pacified by the Lúthien's skit about monarchies. God, in most mythologies, is an omnipotent being, but in Middle-earth even he has a mother. Perhaps this trend has something to do with Tolkien's strong adherence to the Buddhist code of ethics? Discuss.
~*~*~
Everything started when Nana Erúo created God. They got along marvelously for awhile, but then they got into a fight and became estranged. This of course is prehistory. The actual Quenta Silmarillion begins with the Music of the Angels. You see, after the great feud, God created the angels, and the angels helped to create the world. Two of the angels, Melkor and Morgoth, were mightiest in strength. They led their brethren down to the world, so that they may live as kings.
Melkor was the Father of Elves. He created them with care, and when it finally came time for them to accept the breathe of life, were guided to the Far North, where the kingdom of heaven could be found. The Elves then accepted the tutelage of the angels, and this is why they are so powerful throughout history. Always have the Elves revered the north, for that is where Melkor dwelt.
Yet Morgoth, who was in fact Melkor's brother, grew envious of the Elves, and so he created his own children, Men. But because Men were created out of envy and malice, they have been forever marred, and are inclined to accept the shadow. The wisest of Elves thus say that Orks are in fact Men, despite what Peajé, a disciple of Morgoth, may claim.
Anywho, there you have the bare essentials of the plot's background. I can now proceed with the actual story. You see, In the Kingdom of Heaven, the mightiest of Elven smiths, Durin, began working to create the most beautiful jewels ever. After several thousand years of toiling, he was successful in creating the Silmarils, nine great jewels that shone with the power of the sun. Durin displayed these jewels proudly and for all to see, for it was his claim that they belonged to the world, not to him. Yet it came into the hearts of the Nine Kings of Men, the Fëanorions, to steal these jewels for themselves. Fëanor, Maedron, Maglor, Curufin, Caranthir, Celegorn, Amrod, Amras, and Celebrimbor were their names, and they swore a blasphemous oath in the name of God that the Silmarils would come into their hands, and they would slay however stood in their path.
The Great War of the Jewels began when the Fëanorians marched upon the Kingdom of Heaven, their grand armies following behind. At this time, the Elves were still a peaceful race, and were yet to devise any sort of weapons. Frightened, they begged Melkor save them. Yet though Melkor was an angel, he was only one angel, and he could not stop entire armies. As the Fëanorians laid siege to the Tower of Alqualondë where Durin dwelt, Melkor at least succumbed. Desperate to preserve his kingdom, he seized the Silmarili from Durin and surrendered them to Morgoth. Thus, the armies of the Fëanorions retreated; but not before the people of Alqualondë were grievously harmed, and many were slain. This was known as the First War of Elves and Men. Some Men, however, were appalled at the actions of the Fëanorions, and they begged the Elves to forgive them. These few Men became known as the Edain, the Elf-friends, and their descendants would later found the Kingdom of Númenórë in the Uttermost West.
Melkor may have saved the Kingdom of Heaven from ruin, but not all the Elves could accept that the Silmarili had fallen into the hands of Morgoth. Angered at Melkor's surrender, Prince Fingolfin and Prince Finarfin began to chase after Morgoth. The Herald of Melkor, Manwë, appeared to the fleeing Elves, and told them that if they continued their pursuit they would be forever banished from the Kingdom of Heaven. Furthemore, claimed Manwë, death was the only path they would take. Finarfin's resolve wavered at that point, but Fingolfin then made a glorious speech upon Mount Tirion, urging the Elves to continue. "We are the Ñoldor!" cried he, and thus the resolve of the Elves was strengthened, for Ñoldor is Grey Elven for "Proudly Exiled." And so the Elves dared the Suicidal Ice, that they might cross the seas that separated Heaven from Valinor, the realm of Morgoth and Men.
. . .
That should be enough of a summary to get you through your homework. Before I head off, though, think it's worth mentioning that the Fëanorions, defeated in the Third War of the Elves and Men, turn to Sauron for aid. Thus were they reborn as the nine Nazgûl, as seen in the popular Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. Wow! Turns out The Silmarillion was written as a prequel to The Lord of the Rings! Awesome!
Discussion Points
1. In Middle-earth, nothing seems to be all-powerful; everyone can be beaten. Examples: Melkor is lesser in power than Morgoth, but Morgoth was pacified by the Lúthien's skit about monarchies. God, in most mythologies, is an omnipotent being, but in Middle-earth even he has a mother. Perhaps this trend has something to do with Tolkien's strong adherence to the Buddhist code of ethics? Discuss.