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'''The Tale of Eärendel''' is the fifth chapter of [[The Book of Lost Tales Part 2|The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]. It contains a discussion of the various notes and "condensed and often contradictory outlines"<ref name="LT252">{{HM|LT2|}}, "[[The Tale of Eärendel]]", p. 252</ref> of the uncompleted Tale of [[Eärendil|Eärendel]]. This narrative was to pick up where ''[[The Fall of Gondolin]]'' and the ''[[Tale of the Nauglafring]]'' left off, with upbringing of Eärendel and [[Elwing]] amongst the [[Lothlim]] at the Mouths of [[Sirion]], and the love between them. The outlines then sketch Eärendel's from a wreck rescue by [[Ulmo]], his voyages in search of [[Valinor]], the [[War of Wrath|binding of Morgoth]] and finally his departure to the "[[Void|firmament]]".
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'''The Tale of Eärendel''' is the fifth chapter of ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]''. It contains a discussion of the various notes and "condensed and often contradictory outlines"<ref name="LT252">{{HM|LT2|}}, "[[The Tale of Eärendel]]", p. 252</ref> of the uncompleted Tale of [[Eärendil|Eärendel]]. This narrative was to pick up where ''[[The Fall of Gondolin (chapter)|The Fall of Gondolin]]'' and the ''[[Tale of the Nauglafring]]'' left off, with upbringing of Eärendel and [[Elwing]] amongst the [[Lothlim]] at the Mouths of [[Sirion]], and the love between them. The outlines then sketch Eärendel's rescue from a wreck by [[Ulmo]], his voyages in search of [[Valinor]], the [[War of Wrath|binding of Morgoth]] and finally his departure to the "[[Void|firmament]]".


There are two major discrepancies between this outline of the Eärendel narrative and that of the later [[Silmarillion]]. Firstly, in the ''Lost Tale'' Eärendel arrives in Valinor too late: a message borne by the birds of [[Gondolin]] have already roused the Valar and Valinorian Eldar to war and they have departed to the [[Middle-earth|Great Lands]]. According to [[Christopher Tolkien]] the "extraordinary" conclusion that Eärendel's quest was fruitless survived to the early versions of the Silmarillion, but leaves a serious unresolved question regarding Ulmo's purpose in guiding the fates of Tuor and Eärendel<ref name="LT257">{{HM|LT2|}}, "[[The Tale of Eärendel]]", p. 257</ref>. The image of Eärendel arriving in Kôr ([[Tirion]]) only to find it deserted is indeed preserved in the published Silmarillion, but in the later conception it is because the inhabitants are attending a feast in [[Valmar]].  
There are two major discrepancies between this outline of the Eärendel narrative and that of the later [[The Silmarillion|Silmarillion]]. Firstly, in the ''Lost Tale'' Eärendel arrives in Valinor too late: a message borne by the birds of [[Gondolin]] have already roused the Valar and Valinorian Eldar to war and they have departed to the [[Middle-earth|Great Lands]]. According to [[Christopher Tolkien]] the "extraordinary" conclusion that Eärendel's quest was fruitless survived to the early versions of the Silmarillion, but leaves a serious unresolved question regarding Ulmo's purpose in guiding the fates of Tuor and Eärendel<ref name="LT257">{{HM|LT2|}}, "[[The Tale of Eärendel]]", p. 257</ref>. The image of Eärendel arriving in Kôr ([[Tirion]]) only to find it deserted is indeed preserved in the published Silmarillion, but in the later conception it is because the inhabitants are attending a feast in [[Valmar]].  


Secondly, it does not appear that Elwing was intended to be resurrected after her death in the sack of Eärendel's home. In contrast to the Silmarillion the earlier narrative has Eärendel driven through the Door of Night in search of Elwing, not at the design of the Valar and not bearing a [[Silmaril]]. His brightness is instead attributed to having trodden in the 'diamond dust' of Kôr. The ambiguity concerning the fate of the Silmarils after the otherthrow of Morgoth is referenced in a note on one of the Eärendel outlines, anticipating their greater importance to the legends of the First Age in later conceptions.
Secondly, it does not appear that Elwing was intended to be resurrected after her death in the sack of Eärendel's home. In contrast to the Silmarillion the earlier narrative has Eärendel driven through the Door of Night in search of Elwing, not at the design of the Valar and not bearing a [[Silmaril]]. His brightness is instead attributed to having trodden in the 'diamond dust' of Kôr. The ambiguity concerning the fate of the Silmarils after the otherthrow of Morgoth is referenced in a note on one of the Eärendel outlines, anticipating their greater importance to the legends of the First Age in later conceptions.
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[[Category: Book of Lost Tales Part Two chapters]]

Revision as of 19:20, 10 April 2018

"...It is a long tale..." — Aragorn
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"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
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The Book of Lost Tales Part Two chapters
  1. The Tale of Tinúviel
  2. Turambar and the Foalókë
  3. The Fall of Gondolin
  4. The Nauglafring
  5. The Tale of Eärendel
  6. The History of Eriol or Ælfwine

The Tale of Eärendel is the fifth chapter of The Book of Lost Tales Part Two. It contains a discussion of the various notes and "condensed and often contradictory outlines"[1] of the uncompleted Tale of Eärendel. This narrative was to pick up where The Fall of Gondolin and the Tale of the Nauglafring left off, with upbringing of Eärendel and Elwing amongst the Lothlim at the Mouths of Sirion, and the love between them. The outlines then sketch Eärendel's rescue from a wreck by Ulmo, his voyages in search of Valinor, the binding of Morgoth and finally his departure to the "firmament".

There are two major discrepancies between this outline of the Eärendel narrative and that of the later Silmarillion. Firstly, in the Lost Tale Eärendel arrives in Valinor too late: a message borne by the birds of Gondolin have already roused the Valar and Valinorian Eldar to war and they have departed to the Great Lands. According to Christopher Tolkien the "extraordinary" conclusion that Eärendel's quest was fruitless survived to the early versions of the Silmarillion, but leaves a serious unresolved question regarding Ulmo's purpose in guiding the fates of Tuor and Eärendel[2]. The image of Eärendel arriving in Kôr (Tirion) only to find it deserted is indeed preserved in the published Silmarillion, but in the later conception it is because the inhabitants are attending a feast in Valmar.

Secondly, it does not appear that Elwing was intended to be resurrected after her death in the sack of Eärendel's home. In contrast to the Silmarillion the earlier narrative has Eärendel driven through the Door of Night in search of Elwing, not at the design of the Valar and not bearing a Silmaril. His brightness is instead attributed to having trodden in the 'diamond dust' of Kôr. The ambiguity concerning the fate of the Silmarils after the otherthrow of Morgoth is referenced in a note on one of the Eärendel outlines, anticipating their greater importance to the legends of the First Age in later conceptions.

Also included are four early poems which deal with Eärendel:

References