April 1
Day 91
Basic Reading:
The Silmarillion: Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 22: Of the Ruin of Doriath
*Finish this chapter today.
Supplementary Reading:
Prior Versions:
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section II. The Earliest ‘Silmarillion’ Chapter 14 (including Commentary)
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section III. The Quenta, Chapter 14 (including Commentary)
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section VII. The Earliest Annals of Beleriand, Years 201 - 206 (including corresponding Commentary)
The Lost Road: Part Two, Section III. The Later Annals of Beleriand, Years 301 - 306
The War of the Jewels: Part Three, Section V: The Tale of Years[This is the last reading from The War of the Jewels.]
Enrichment Activities:
Maps:
Timeline: First Age 501-506
Discussion Questions:
1. Why does the Silmaril cause such greed and lust?
2. What are the similarities and differences between this second kin-slaying, and the first at Alqualondë?
3. What prevents the sons of Fëanor from regaining the Silmaril?
April 2
Day 92
Basic Reading:
Unfinished Tales: Part One, I. Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin
*This story will be read over the course of eight days, so read about one eighth of it today.
Supplementary Reading:
Background:
The Fall of Gondolin: Preface
The Fall of Gondolin: Prologue
Unfinished Tales: Introduction, Part One, I. Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin
Prior Versions:
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section II. The Earliest ‘Silmarillion’ Chapter 15
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section III. The Quenta, Chapter 15 (including Commentary)
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section III. The Quenta, Chapter 15 in the Q II version
Enrichment Activities:
Maps:
Beleriand: Dor-lómin, Lake Mithrim, Haudh-en-Ndengin, Anfauglith, Hithlum, Angband, Androth, Mouths of Sirion, Ered Lómin
Timeline: First Age 472 - 495
Discussion Questions:
1. How does Tuor’s childhood compare with that of his cousin, Túrin?
2. Was Annael a wise leader?
3. Why was Tuor’s heart stirred at the mention of the Hidden Kingdom?
April 3
Day 93
Basic Reading:
Unfinished Tales: Part One, I. Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin
*Read the second eighth of this story today.
Supplementary Reading:
Prior Versions:
The Book of Lost Tales 2: III. The Fall of Gondolin
The Fall of Gondolin: The Tale of The Fall of Gondolin (This is almost identical to the story in The Book of Lost Tales 2, so you don’t need to read it again if you don’t want to. There are only a few words which are different.)
Enrichment Activities:
Maps:
Beleriand: Mithrim, Dor-lómin, Ered Lómin, Western Shores, Cirith Ninniach, Echoing Mountains, Lammoth, Firth of Drengist
Timeline: First Age 495
Other: Listen to some 8-string harp music.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why did Tuor believe the stream would lead him to the Gate of the Noldor?
2. What is the “great doom” written on Tuor’s brow?
3. Was Tuor meant to follow the white birds?
April 4
Day 94
Basic Reading:
Unfinished Tales: Part One, I. Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin
*Read the third eighth of this story today.
Supplementary Reading:
Prior Versions:
The Fall of Gondolin: The The Earliest Text
The Fall of Gondolin: Turlin and the Exiles of Gondolin
Enrichment Activities:
Maps:
Timeline: First Age 495
Other: Look up illustrations of Vinyamar.
Discussion Questions:
1. What is Tuor’s destiny?
2. Was Tuor meant to come to Vinyamar?
3. Was it wise of Tuor to accept the doom of the arms without knowing what it was?
April 5
Day 95
Basic Reading:
Unfinished Tales: Part One, I. Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin
*Read the fourth eighth of this story today, so that you have finished about half.
Supplementary Reading:
Prior Versions:
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section II. The Earliest ‘Silmarillion’ Chapter 16 (including Commentary on 15 and 16)
The Fall of Gondolin: The Story Told in the Sketch of the Mythology (This is almost identical to the story in The Shaping of Middle-Earth, Chapters 15 and 16 of The Earliest ‘Silmarillion’, so you don’t need to read it again if you don’t want to. There are only a few words which are different; however, the notes and commentary on each are different.)
The Lays of Beleriand: II. Poems Early Abandoned, (iii) The Lay of the Fall of Gondolin
Enrichment Activities:
Maps:
Timeline: First Age 495
Other: Look up illustrations of Ulmo’s meeting with Tuor.
Discussion Questions:
1. Who had scorned Ulmo’s counsels?
2. Why did Tuor’s heart yearn for the sea?
3. What is Ulmo trying to accomplish? How?
April 6
Day 96
Basic Reading:
Unfinished Tales: Part One, I. Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin
*Read the fifth eighth of this story today.
Supplementary Reading:
Prior Versions:
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section III. The Quenta, Chapter 16 (including Commentary)
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section III. The Quenta, Chapter 16 in the Q II version
The Fall of Gondolin: The Story Told in the Quenta Noldorinwa (This is a compilation of Chapters 15 and 16 of the Quenta in The Shaping of Middle-Earth - not quite identical, but similar enough that some readers may wish to skip it.)
Enrichment Activities:
Maps:
Timeline: First Age 495
Discussion Questions:
1. How does Voronwë’s account of history compare with what you have read so far?
2. How does Voronwë feel about guiding Tuor to Gondolin?
3. What was the purpose of Voronwë’s voyage?
April 7
Day 97
Basic Reading:
Unfinished Tales: Part One, I. Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin
*Read the sixth eighth of this story today.
Supplementary Reading:
Prior Versions:
The Fall of Gondolin: The Last Version
Enrichment Activities:
Maps:
Beleriand: Woods of Núath, River Narog, Ivrin, Angband, Nargothrond, River Glithui, River Malduin, River Sirion, Dor-lómin, Gondolin
Timeline: First Age 496
Discussion Questions:
1. What had happened at Ivrin?
2. How is Tuor’s fate connected to Túrin’s?
3. Compare Tuor’s character to that of Túrin.
April 8
Day 98
Basic Reading:
Unfinished Tales: Part One, I. Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin
*Read the seventh eighth of this story today.
Supplementary Reading:
Background:
The Fall of Gondolin: The Evolution of the Story
Enrichment Activities:
Maps:
Beleriand: Gondolin, Dimbar, River Sirion, Ford of Brithiach, Dungortheb, Gorgoroth, Brethil, Nargothrond, Doriath, Crissaegrim, Thangorodrim
Timeline: First Age 496
Other: Examine close-up diagrams of the secret approach to Gondolin via the dry river.
Discussion Questions:
1. Do the eagles know that Tuor is on Ulmo’s errand?
2. Will Turgon receive Tuor as Ulmo’s messenger?
3. Does this feel like a homecoming for Voronwë?
April 9
Day 99
Basic Reading:
Unfinished Tales: Part One, I. Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin
*Finish this story today.
Supplementary Reading:
Background:
The Fall of Gondolin: Additional Notes
Enrichment Activities:
Maps:
Beleriand: Gondolin, Nevrast, Vinyamar, Echoriath
Timeline: First Age 496
Other: Look up illustrations of the Seven Gates of Gondolin and their layout.
Discussion Questions:
1. What is the purpose of the Seven Gates?
2. Does Elemmakil believe Tuor?
3. What might Tuor be thinking and feeling as he enters the Last Gate?
April 10
Day 100
Basic Reading:
The Silmarillion: Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 23: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin
Supplementary Reading:
Expanded Story:
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section III. The Quenta, Appendix 2
Background:
The Fall of Gondolin: Conclusion
Prior Versions:
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section I. Prose Fragments Following the Lost Tales, sections (i) and (ii)
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section VII. The Earliest Annals of Beleriand, Year 207 (including corresponding Commentary)
The Lost Road: Part Two, Section III. The Later Annals of Beleriand, Year 307
Enrichment Activities:
Maps:
Beleriand: Mithrim, Androth, Hithlum, Dor-lómin, Nevrast, Cirith Ninniach, Nargothrond, Vinyamar, Mount Taras, Gondolin, Mountains of Shadow, Pools of Ivrin, Orfalch Echor, Tumladen, River Sirion, Angband, Encircling Mountains, Doriath, Pass of Anach, Cirith Thoronath, Nan-tathren, Balar, Arvernien
Arda: Belegaer, Middle-Earth, Tirion, Araman, Valinor
Timeline: First Age 472 - 511
Other: Listen to Paul Corfield Godfrey's operatic composition, “The Fall of Gondolin”.
Discussion Questions:
1. Was the fall of Gondolin Maeglin’s fault?
2. Was the fall of Gondolin Turgon’s fault?
3. Was the fall of Gondolin inevitable?
April 11
Day 101
Basic Reading:
The Silmarillion: Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 24: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath
*This chapter will be read over the course of two days, so read about half of it today.
Supplementary Reading:
Prior Versions:
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section II. The Earliest ‘Silmarillion’ Chapter 17 (including Commentary)
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section III. The Quenta, Chapter 17 (including Commentary)
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section III. The Quenta, Chapter 17 in the Q II version
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section VII. The Earliest Annals of Beleriand, Years 208 - 240 (including corresponding Commentary)
The Book of Lost Tales 2: V. The Tale of Eärendil
The Lays of Beleriand: II. Poems Early Abandoned, (ii) Fragment of an alliterative Lay of Eärendil
The Lost Road: Part Two, Section III. The Later Annals of Beleriand, Year 308 - 340 (including corresponding Commentary)
Beren and Lúthien: “Beren and Lúthien” The Morning and Evening Star
Enrichment Activities:
Maps:
Character Cards: Elrond, Elros
Timeline: First Age 532 - 542
Other: Look up illustrations of Eärendil sailing through the sky in Vingilot with the Silmaril on his brow.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why did Ulmo help Elwing?
2. Was it right of Maglor to keep Elros and Elrond?
3. What do you make of Eönwë’s greeting?
April 12
Day 102
Basic Reading:
The Silmarillion: Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 24: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath
*Finish this chapter today.
Supplementary Reading:
Background:
The Fall of Gondolin: The Conclusion of the Sketch of the Mythology
Prior Versions:
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section II. The Earliest ‘Silmarillion’ Chapters 18 and 19 (including Commentary)
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section III. The Quenta, Chapter 18 (including Commentary)
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section III. The Quenta, Chapter 18 in the Q II version
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section III. The Quenta, Chapter 19 (including Commentary)
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section III. The Quenta, Appendix 1
The Shaping of Middle-Earth: Section VII. The Earliest Annals of Beleriand, Years 233-43 - 250 (including corresponding Commentary)
The Lost Road: Part Two, Section III. The Later Annals of Beleriand, Year 333-343 - 397 (including corresponding Commentary)
The Fall of Gondolin: The Conclusion of the Quenta Noldorinwa
The Lost Road: Part Two, Section VI. Quenta Silmarillion, The Conclusion of the Quenta Silmarillion
Enrichment Activities:
Maps:
Timeline: First Age 542 - 590
Other: Watch the video, “Lord of the Rings: First Age (Complete)” by CivilizationEx, which gives a brief overview of the entire First Age.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why were the Valar able to defeat Morgoth so quickly this time?
2. Why did Maedhros and Maglor decide to pursue the Silmarils?
3. What was the greatest tragedy of the First Age?