Valaquenta

From Tolkien Gateway
The Silmarillion chapters
  1. Ainulindalë
  2. Valaquenta
  3. Quenta Silmarillion
    1. Of the Beginning of Days
    2. Of Aulë and Yavanna
    3. Of the Coming of the Elves
    4. Of Thingol and Melian
    5. Of Eldamar
    6. Of Fëanor
    7. Of the Silmarils
    8. Of the Darkening of Valinor
    9. Of the Flight of the Noldor
    10. Of the Sindar
    11. Of the Sun and Moon
    12. Of Men
    13. Of the Return of the Noldor
    14. Of Beleriand and its Realms
    15. Of the Noldor in Beleriand
    16. Of Maeglin
    17. Of the Coming of Men
    18. Of the Ruin of Beleriand
    19. Of Beren and Lúthien
    20. Of the Fifth Battle
    21. Of Túrin Turambar
    22. Of the Ruin of Doriath
    23. Of the Fall of Gondolin
    24. Of the Voyage of Eärendil
  4. Akallabêth
  5. Of the Rings of Power

Valaquenta: Account of the Valar and Maiar according to the lore of the Eldar is the second part of The Silmarillion, edited by Christopher Tolkien from his father's later texts.

Although the text presents knowledge on the Ainur as derived from the Eldar, it is not written by their own first-hand point of view. There are also some references that are out of context, like the Númenóreans, which indicate that the text was written during or after the Second Age.

Synopsis[edit | edit source]

Of the Valar[edit | edit source]

Valar (the "Powers of Arda") is the name given to the chief Ainur following their descent to Arda. The Ainur were angelic spirits created by the supreme deity, Ilúvatar. The most powerful of the Valar was Melkor, who became corrupt, and ceased to follow the will of Ilúvatar. The fourteen remaining Valar continued in Ilúvatar's will.

The Ainur had either male or female forms, some were couples, while some were siblings in Ilúvatar's mind. Thus, there were seven male Valar, and seven female (Valier). Of the fourteen, those eight with the greatest might (called Aratar) were responsible for some attribute of life in Arda (e.g., crafts, mining, agriculture, etc.). The king of the Valar, and of all Arda was Manwë.

Of the Maiar[edit | edit source]

On their descent to Arda, the Valar, were followed by Ainur of lesser might, the Maiar, who were their subjects, students and assistants in governing Arda. The Valar had the ability to change their physical appearance, or to bear no shape at all.

Of the Enemies[edit | edit source]

Of the enemies are mentioned Melkor, Sauron and the Balrogs, spirits who were seduced by him and fell into hate.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Valaquenta is Quenya for "Account of the Valar", from the roots Vala ("powers")[1][2] and quenta ("story, account").[source?]

History of composition[edit | edit source]

Although sequential descriptions of the Valar go back to The Book of Lost Tales Part One, the earliest writing that resembles the Valaquenta is found in the text called Quenta Noldorinwa.[3] It then became Chapter 1 of the Quenta Silmarillion (entitled Of the Valar). In revisions to the Quenta Silmarillion done in 1958, the section was split off into a separately titled work.[4] There is nothing to indicate why Tolkien felt that the piece should stand alone. While it is not a narrative, neither is the chapter Of Beleriand and its Realms, and Tolkien never seems to have considered removing that section.

Within the legendarium, it is assumed that the Valaquenta was preserved through Translations from the Elvish by Bilbo Baggins.[5]

References