The Silmarillion/Characters: Difference between revisions

See also the character sheet for ''[[The Lord of the Rings/Characters|The Lord of the Rings]]'' and ''[[The Hobbit (novel)/Characters|The Hobbit]]'', which are set in the same universe (and, indeed, features some of the same characters).

== Eru and the Valar ==

Eru (the One), also called Ilúvatar (All-Father), is the monotheistic God of Tolkien's universe. He created the Ainur (Holy Ones), angelic spirits who aided in the creation of the universe, as well as his Children, the Elves and Men.

* [[World Sundering]]: The form his most spectacular [[Divine Intervention]] took: he removed Valinor from the world, sunk Númenor into the sea and turned the once flat world into a sphere.

The Powers of the World. The most powerful of the angelic spirits created by Eru to effect and oversee his creation; they occupy a role somewhere between archangels and polytheistic gods. Manwë is their leader; he is the King of Arda (the world), under Eru, and lord of the airs. There were originally fifteen Valar, but Melkor was cast from their number. They are served by an unspecified number of Maiar (roughly angels or demigods). They dwell in Valinor (the Land of the Gods) in the utter west.

== Enemies ==

Melkor (He Who Arises in Might; later named Morgoth, the Black Enemy, by the Elves) is the originator of evil in Tolkien's universe. He is the most powerful of the Ainur. During the "Great Music" that is the creation process, he rebels against Eru by singing his own themes, corrupting many lesser Ainur to his side. When he and many other Ainur have entered the world, he tries to claim it for himself, and wars against his fellow Valar (the Powers) in an attempt to wrest it from them. Later, when Elves and Men come on the scene, he attempts to destroy them by using the massive armies of Orcs, Balrogs, and dragons that he created. His pursuit of evil causes him to lose most of his original power, and he is eventually banished from the world by the Valar. Sauron was his greatest servant, and takes over for his master upon his banishment.

* [[Villain Cred]]: Melkor was as prideful as [[Satan|the person he was based on]] and at the least wanted everyone else to respect and/or fear him. This was especially true of the armies of monsters he would later create as he grew weaker by the act of creating them and warping the substance of Arda to better control the world. He needed his minions to respect and fear him as he came the point that he no longer had to power to keep all of the creatures he ruled under control through sheer force. The Elf King Fingolfin used this against him by calling him out to duel at the gate of Melkor's keep. Melkor knew that none of his men would truly respect or fear him again if a small elf lord came banging on his door, challenged him to a fight while calling him a wussie and he turned down the challenge or order his Balrogs to pulverize him.

A powerful Maia, formerly of Aulë, corrupted to Morgoth's service. He was the Enemy's right-hand. Ruled Tol-in-Gaurhoth in Morgoth's name, where he caused the death of Finrod Felagund before being driven off by Lúthien. Took over his master's position as the pre-eminent force of evil following his defeat. Sauron is the direct cause of the fall of Númenor, whose king and people he corrupted with promises of immortality. He is most well-known as the [[Big Bad]] of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''--for tropes relating to him during that era, see ''[[The Lord of the Rings/Characters|The Lord of the Rings]]'' character sheet.

* [[Xanatos Gambit]]: Pulls one on the Númenoreans after he perusades them into declaring war on the Valar. While it does get out of his control when Eru gets personally involved (resulting in the loss of Sauron's fair form), it's worth noting that he still accomplished his primary goals--the defeat of Ar-Pharazôn and the destruction of the Númenoreans.

A horrific creature of darkness incarnate as a [[Giant Spider]], Ungoliant's origins and history are unknown, though she might was involved with Melkor on multiple occasions. She aided the Dark Lord in the theft of the Silmarils and the destruction of the Two Trees, but was driven off by the Balrogs after they fell to quarreling over the spoils. She later spawned numerous offspring, including [[Lord of the Rings|Shelob]], and ultimately was believed to have perished after she ate herself.

* [[You Cannot Grasp the True Form]]: Even the Valar are confused by her webs of un-light.

Called the Father of Dragons, Glaurung was one of the greatest of Morgoth's servants in addition to being the first and progenitor of the great worms. He took over as [[The Dragon]] after Lúthien put Sauron out of commission. He fought at the Dagor Bragollach and the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and commanded the force that sacked Nargothrond. He was also the primary enforcer of the curse of the House of Húrin, which he executed with tremendous skill and cruelty, only for this to result in his end when Túrin son of Húrin killed him.

* [[Our Dragons Are Different]]: For one thing, he's a wingless ''Urulókë'' rather than a winged dragon, therefore resembling those from Norse mythology.

Gothmog was the Lord of Balrogs and High-Captain of Angband, one of Melkor's greatest servants. He was the general of Melkor's armies, leading them in the Wars of Beleriand. Gothmog killed Fëanor and Fingon, and later was killed by Ecthelion in the sack of Gondolin.

* [[Playing with Fire]]

Evil spirits incarnated as large wolves, the werewolves are servants of Melkor. Sauron especially is connected with them; one his titles is Lord of Werewolves. They feature in many stories of Middle-earth, notably in the Lay of Leithian, which saw two great werewolves, Draugluin and Carcaroth.

* [[Talking Animal]]: It's implied they can talk, as Draugluin says to Sauron [[Oh Crap|"Huan is there!"]]

A mysterious character mentioned in the Lay of Leithian. She was a vampire that took the form of a bat serving Sauron as a messenger. Next to nothing is known of her or her kind, but she is often referenced in the discussion whether vampires exist in Middle-earth.

Notice that all the characters in this section aren't necessarily of the first generation of Elves, but they're the founding members of the royal Elven houses. Most of the plot of the Silmarillion stems from the drama they started.

The High King of the first Elven clan, the Vanyar. Also considered to be THE High King of all Elves.

* [[Royals Who Actually Do Something]]: Mentioned specifically for being a rare Middle-earth [[Averted Trope|aversion.]] While he is looked up as the Highest of the High, after leading his people into Valinor he ceases to be an active part of the story. His influence is only seen through his descendants.

The High King of the second Elven clan, the Noldor. His first wife Míriel died giving birth to their son Fëanor, and he married Indis, Ingwë's niece. However, it didn't work as well [[Big Screwed-Up Family|as he hoped.]]

* [[Suddenly-Suitable Suitor]]: To Indis. She had loved him [[I Will Wait for You|since long ago]], but because he was already married, she though it was Star-crossed. Then he became a widower...

Finwë's first wife and the mother of Fëanor. Giving birth to him exhausted her of all her strength, causing her to wish to die a true, mortal death. As an immortal Elf, this was beyond her reach. Instead she departed from her body and willingly passed into the Halls of Mandos. She refused to return to the world of the living even though Finwë was missing her. Because of this, Finwë was granted the right to marry Indis on the condition Míriel would never return, as one man cannot have two living wives.

The niece of High King Ingwë, the second wife of High King Finwë, and the mother of Fingolfin and Finarfin. Had loved Finwë for long, and when he was widowed she brought joy back into his life. However, Míriel's shadow didn't leave their family.

* [[Single Woman Seeks Good Man]]: She thinks Finwë is the most wonderful person on the face of Arda.

The High King of the third Elven clan, the Teleri. He remains in Middle-earth and becomes the king of the Sindar, a branch of Teleri who stayed in Middle-earth. His brother Olwë becomes the king of those Teleri who journey to Valinor. Has his tropes below in a folder for his House.

== The House of Fëanor ==

Fëanor was the son of Finwë, King of the Noldorin Elves. His spirit was so fiery that the strain of giving birth to him killed his mother. He was the greatest of the Elves in craftsmanship, and one of the most knowledgeable. Unfortunately, he was also extremely proud and arrogant. Fëanor swore revenge on Morgoth when Morgoth murdered his father and stole the Silmarils (holy jewels) he had made, and led the Noldor out of Valinor into Middle-earth to fight him, slaughtering the Teleri elves to steal their ships and betraying his half-brothers' hosts by abandoning them. Fëanor was killed in battle by Gothmog shortly after arriving in Beleriand; his rage was so great, his spirit incinerated his body as it left.

* [[You Killed My Father]]

The daughter of the renowed Noldorin smith Mahtan, Nerdanel was a strong and intelligent woman. She was a gifted sculptor and a blacksmith, even though smithery was usually seen as something belonging to men. She and Fëanor met and married young. They had seven children, more than any other Elven couple ever. Nerdanel was the only person Fëanor took advice from, but later on his growing instability and foul deeds separated them, causing her to finally leave him.

* [[Wrench Wench]]: Of [[The Blacksmith]] variety. Though her skills extend beyond just that.

Oldest son of Fëanor. Maedhros is more temperate and less rash than his younger brothers. He is captured by Morgoth, tortured, and then chained to Thangorodrim by his right hand. He is rescued by his cousin and best friend Fingon, but at the expense of his hand. He becomes one of the leaders of the Noldor in the war against Morgoth, ruling his brothers' hosts from the hill of Himring, but ultimately fails because of the Oath. Later on he came to hate and regret the Oath and the deeds he did in its name. He is one of the few to survive the war against Morgoth, but after he tries to steal back the Silmarils, they burn his hand so badly he leaps into a fiery chasm to escape the pain.

* [[Warrior Prince]]

Fëanor's second son and reputed to be the most like their mother, resulting in wisdom and a gentler nature than with the rest of his brothers. His forces guard the pass of Maglor's Gap between Morgoth's lands and East Beleriand. He also survives the war and steals a Silmaril with his brother Maedhros, but casts it into the sea when the pain of its burning overwhelms him. He is the only son of Fëanor not reported to have died.

* [[You Can't Go Home Again]]

Third son of Fëanor; he and Curufin rule the plain of Himlad in East Beleriand. Celegorm and Curufin capture Lúthien to stop her from helping Beren recover the Silmaril, but Celegorm's hound Huan turns on him because of his treachery and helps her escape. He and Dior, son of Beren and Lúthien, kill each other in the sack of Doriath when the Sons of Fëanor attempt to steal back the Silmaril.

* [[Warrior Prince]]

Fourth son of Fëanor, "the harshest and most quick to anger". He ruled the land of Thargelion to the east of Beleriand, where he prospered from trading with the Dwarves. Caranthir accepted the aid of the Swarthy Men in the war against Morgoth, but the tribe of Ulfang betrays the Union of Maedhros at a critical moment, costing them the Fifth Battle. He died in battle in Doriath.

* [[Warrior Prince]]

Fifth son of Fëanor; he most fully inherited his father's talent in craftsmanship. He ruled Himlad with Celegorm. Curufin aided Celegorm's plan to ransom Lúthien and tried to kill her when it failed, but wounded Beren instead; because of his treachery, Thingol refused to join the Union of Maedhros. Curufin also died in the attack on Doriath. His son Celebrimbor inherited his skill and was the creator of the Rings of Power.

* [[You're Not My Father]]: At the receiving end of this by his son Celebrimbor, who repudiated him and refused to follow him when he and Celegorm were cast out of Nargothrond.

Sixth son of Fëanor; twin brother of Amras. He is the only one of Fëanor's sons to speak against him because of his father's murder of Amras. Amrod claimed rulership of the empty lands of East Beleriand, where he became a great hunter. He dies in the attack on the Havens of Sirion, in pursuit of a Silmaril.

* [[Warrior Prince]]

Youngest son of Fëanor, twin brother of Amrod. In the published ''Silmarillion'' he ruled East Beleriand with Amrod and died alongside him; but according to ''[[The History of Middle Earth]]'', Amras was shocked by his father's deeds and planned to sail one of the ships back to Valinor to reunite with his mother, but Fëanor kills him by burning the ship he was sleeping in.

* [[Theme Twin Naming]]: Originally Nerdanel gave the both twins the name "Ambarussa". Fëanor objected to this, pleading that the boys would at least have different names. This lead to the above [[Prophetic Names]] situation. The twins still called each other Ambarussa.

The son of Curufin. Celebrimbor survived the ruin of Beleriand and settled in the elf-realm of Eregion in the Second Age, which he ruled after Galadriel and Celeborn relocated to Lothlórien. Like his father and grandfather, Celebrimbor was the greatest smith of his age. Against Galadriel's advice, he created the Rings of Power with the disguised Sauron, but suspecting his partner, he created the Three Rings of the Elves in secret, which were not corrupted by the Dark Lord. When the treachery was uncovered, Sauron declared war on Eregion and slew Celebrimbor, but not before the Three Rings were entrusted to Gil-galad and Galadriel.

== The House of Fingolfin ==

The half-brother of Fëanor and full brother of Finarfin. Father of Fingon, Turgon, and Aredhel. When Fëanor rebels against the Valar, he joined so as not to leave the Noldor solely to his leadership, but took no part in the Kinslaying. He and his host were betrayed by Fëanor, who stranded them on the shores of Valinor; Fingolfin led them on foot across the Grinding Ice in the utter north to enter Middle-earth. After Fëanor's death, Maedhros waived his right to kingship in gratitude to Fingon, and Fingolfin became High King of the Noldor. He ruled Hithlum to the north of Beleriand, to maintain the Siege of Angband. When it broke, Fingolfin went to Angband and challenged Morgoth to single combat, where he perished.

* [[Warrior Prince]]: Just like the other Noldorin leaders.

Oldest son of Fingolfin, who joined him in exile. Upon arriving in Middle-earth and learning of his friend Maedhros's capture, Fingon climbs Thangorodrim and rescues him, partially healing the rift caused by Fëanor's betrayal. He serves as a vassal of Fingolfin in Hithlum and later leads the Noldor after his father's death. Fingon is himself killed in battle by Gothmog only a few years later.

* [[Warrior Prince]]

The son of Fingon<ref>...in the published ''Silmarillion''; this was an error on Christopher Tolkien's part. JRRT settled on him being Orodreth's son</ref> and the high king of the Noldorin Exiles after Turgon's death. Gil-galad remained king throughout the Second Age, ruling from Lindon, and befriended the Men of Númenor and, later, Arnor and Gondor. He received two of the Three Rings of the Elves, but gave Vilya to his herald, Elrond, and Narya to his friend, Círdan. He was killed in Mordor in the War of the Last Alliance.

* [[Warrior Prince]]

Brother of Fingon; he initially rules Nevrast south of Hithlum, but a message from Ulmo caused him to lead his people to found the the secret city of Gondolin, which lasted longest of all the Elven realms in the war against Morgoth. Turgon took up the kingship of the Noldor after Fingon's death. Turgon died in the sack of Gondolin when his tower collapsed with him within it. His sword Glamdring was taken by the Orcs and, millennia later, was found by [[The Lord of the Rings|Gandalf]].

* [[Warrior Prince]]

Turgon's daughter and the princess of Gondolin. Both the mortal hero Tuor and her cousin Maeglin love her, but she contemns Maeglin and marries Tuor. She becomes the mother of Eärendil and the grandmother of Elrond. Unlike her father, who ignores the warning Tuor brings from Ulmo, Idril prepares for the coming doom and manages to save many of her subjects.

* [[Princess Classic]]

Adventurous, willful daughter of Fingolfin and sister to Turgon and Fingon. She initially resided with Turgon in Gondolin before tiring of the kingdom's isolation. Her brother reluctantly allowed her her to depart, leading to her capture by the Dark Elf, Eöl, who forced her into marriage and had a son with her, Maeglin. Aredhel and Maeglin escaped back to Gondolin, but Eöl followed them and killed Aredhel; Eöl was executed for his crimes.

* [[Woman in White]]: Known as the White Lady of the Noldor, she is always arrayed in silver and white.

The son of Aredhel and Eöl. He learned smithcraft from his father and the Dwarves, becoming one of the greatest smiths of the Noldor. After Eöl's death, Maeglin grew up in Gondolin and fell in love with his cousin, Idril, which was forbidden among the Elves. When Tuor arrived and won Idril's heart, Maeglin's jealousy caused him to betray the city to Morgoth when he was captured by Orcs. He was killed in the following battle by Tuor.

== The House of Finarfin ==

Finwë's youngest son, half-brother of Fëanor and full brother of Fingolfin. Taking after his Vanyarin mother, he was the wisest and kindest of the three, and tried to stay away from his brothers' quarrels. Instead he preferred the company of the sea-loving Teleri, and married Eärwen, the daughter of Olwë, the king of Teleri in Valinor and the brother of Thingol. This put him into very uncomfortable position during the unfortunate events that came. Finarfin didn't want to leave Valinor, and when most of the Noldor and his family - including all his children - went into exile, Finarfin stayed behind with some of the Noldor, becoming their High King in Tirion.

* [[Youngest Child Wins]]: Fëanor and Fingolfin argue which one should be the king and get themselves killed, Finarfin becomes the High King instead.

Oldest son of Finarfin and Eärwen of the Teleri. His epithet is Dwarvish (specifically Sindarinized Khuzdul) meaning "hewer of caves", and it was given to him by the Dwarves he hired and worked with to build the city of Nargothrond, of which he was king. He was also the first of the Eldar to meet Men, the Younger Children of Ilúvatar, and he helped secure territory for them to live in from Thingol, King of Doriath. Also nicknamed "Nom the Wise."

* [[Warrior Poet]]: Upon meeting Men for the first time, he impresses them by composing a lay on the harp.

Son of Finarfin. He and his younger brother Aegnor ruled the highlands of Dorthonion until defeated and killed by invading armies of Morgoth. In early versions Orodreth is his brother, in later versions Orodreth is his son. Very little is said of him otherwise.

* [[Warrior Prince]]

In early versions he is a son of Finarfin, in later versions he is the son of Angrod and therefore a granchild to Finarfin. Originally granted lordship over Tol Sirion as a vassal to Finrod, when Sauron conquered it he retreated to Nargothrond, which he became lord of after Finrod's death. Killed by Glaurung in the sack of Nargothrond. Father of Finduilas. He should also be the father of Gil-Galad, but Christoper self-addmittedly messed that part up in the published Silmarillion, making him the son of Fingon instead.

* [[Reasonable Authority Figure]]: Of all the princes of the Noldor, he had the most calm demeanor and was slow to go to war.

Daughter of Orodreth, friend of Túrin, and fiance of Gwindor before the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. When Gwindor returns to Nargothrond fourteen years later, her feelings for him are no longer the same, and she is [[Love Hurts|torn in heart]] as she falls for Túrin. She is captured by Orcs in the sack of Nargothrond; when Túrin elects to save his mother and sister instead of her<ref>who were never in danger to begin with, Glaurung having lied to him</ref>, Finduilas is murdered by the Orcs.

* [[Star-Crossed Lovers]]: with Túrin. In some versions (including the published ''Silmarillion''), the romantic interest is [[Like Brother and Sister|one-sided]]; in others, the feeling is mutual but unrequited.

Son of Finarfin. He and his older brother Angrod ruled the highlands of Dorthonion until defeated and killed by invading armies of Morgoth. Aegnor was in love with the mortal woman Andreth, but didn't marry her for multiple reasons. Ironically he dies much before her.

* [[Wild Hair]]: His hair was stiff and straight, stiking out of his head as if golden flames of fire.

Youngest child of Finarfin and his only daughter. Galadriel was the wisest and most powerful of all Elven-women. Though she hated Fëanor, she took part in his rebellion out of a desire to rule her own kingdom in Middle-earth. In the published Silmarillion she travelled into Middle-earth over the ices of Helcaraxë with the rest of the Noldor, and lived in Doriath where she met and married Celeborn. Later in ''[[The History of Middle Earth]]'' this was revised: she and Celeborn married already in Valinor and sailed into Middle-earth on their own. During the Second Age she took up in Eregion under Celebrimbor, and after its fall, she became the White Lady of Lothlórien. See ''[[The Lord of the Rings/Characters|The Lord of the Rings]]'' character sheet for tropes that apply to her in that work.

* [[Statuesque Stunner]]: She was exceptionally tall at 6'4".

A prince of Nargothrond (vassal of the House of Finarfin but not related to them) and a friend of Túrin Turambar. Taken captive when he rushes out of cover impulsively in battle, he escapes from Morgoth's mines many years later and is rescued by Túrin. After Túrin's freakout upon killing Beleg, Gwindor takes him to safety in Nargothrond. He is killed in Nargothrond's fall.

== The House of Thingol ==

Elvenking of Doriath and one of the most important monarchs of the First Age. While leading his people, the Teleri, through Middle-earth on the way to Valinor, Elu Thingol (then known as Elwë Singollo, his Quenya name) met Melian in the woods of Nan Elmoth and fell in love with her. They stayed there enchanted by each other for centuries, and the greater part of the Teleri stayed in Middle-earth to search for him; they became the Sindar, or Grey-elves. When they finally reunited with Thingol's people, they founded the kingdom of Doriath. Together, they had a daughter, Lúthien Tinúviel.

* [[Unscrupulous Hero]]: He was a good king and genuinely cared for his wife and Lúthien. It didn't stop him from sending Beren on a suicide mission and imprisoning his own daughter.

One of the holy Maiar, Melian loved to stray from Valinor to the woods of Middle-earth, and there met Thingol. Together they founded the kingdom of Doriath, which Thingol ruled and she protected with the Girdle of Melian, an enchantment that bewildered any unbidden intruders. Melian gave birth to Lúthien, and after her husband and daughter's deaths, she left Doriath in grief and returned to Valinor. She was a friend and mentor to Galadriel.

* [[Royals Who Actually Do Something]]

Lúthien was the daughter of Thingol, the Elven-king of Doriath. Her mother was a Maia, one of those spirits that helped create the universe. Her magical powers were essential in helping Beren achieve his quest. She chose to become mortal so that she could be with Beren forever.

* [[World's Most Beautiful Woman]]

Son of Beren and Lúthien, he became the king of Doriath after Thingol's death, leading the realm into a new rise after all the tumultous events. However, he was slain only four years after his coronation when the Sons of Fëanor assaulted Doriath in the Second Kinslaying, killing much of its inhabitants. The kingdom never recovered.

* [[Warrior Prince]]: Fought in the Sack of Doriath against the invading Fëanorians.

Daughter of Dior. Her family died in the attack by the Sons of Fëanor, but she escaped with the Silmaril and married Eärendil the Voyager, and gave birth to the twin sons [[The Lord of the Rings|Elrond]] and Elros. Once while Eärendil was on the sea, the Sons of Fëanor attack trying take the Silmaril by force, but she rather cast herself into the sea. Ulmo Lord of Waters then gave her the shape of a sea bird, and she flew till she found Eärendil's ship.

* [[No Escape but Down]]: Cornered by the Fëanorians, she jumps off the cliffs into the sea.

A loremaster, linguist and minstrel in Thingol's court. He was renowed as the greates minstrel that ever lived, and he also invented the ''Cirth'' alphabet (the runes). In [[The History of Middle Earth|the original version]] he was also Thingol's son and Lúthien's brother, but in the published Silmarillion he was not related to the ruling family. Instead he loved Lúthien and played music to her dancing, but she only saw him as a friend. He betrayed her trust twice out of jealousy by informing Thingol of her intentions. When she escaped Doriath to help Beren, Daeron sought her but never found her, and was lost himself.

* [[What the Hell, Hero?]]

A captain in Thingol's army, Beleg was the greatest tracker among the Gray-elves. He aided Beren and Thingol in hunting the wolf Carcharoth, and years later becomes a dear friend and brother-in-arms of Túrin, whose band of raiders he joins. Beleg was grievously wounded when their hideout was discovered and Túrin captured, but risked his life to rescue his friend. Tragically, when Beleg undoes Túrin's bindings, Túrin mistakes him for an enemy and kills his friend.

* [[They Call Him "Sword"]]: His surname Cúthalion means "Strongbow".

Chief captain of Thingol. Unlike Beleg, who's almost always at Doriath's borders, Mablung is positioned in the capital Menegroth, and is present at many important events, such as Beren's arrival at Menegroth and the hunt for Carcharoth. He was killed by the dwarves of Nogrod after they killed Thingol.

* [[My Greatest Failure]]: He considers the dissapearance of Morwen and Niënor to be this.

A Nandorin Elf and one of Thingol's councilors. Jealous of the favor Túrin enjoyed in Thingol's court, Saeros harassed the young Man, but Túrin took his abuse with grace. That is, until Saeros insulted the pride of both his people and his mother, whereupon Túrin hurled a goblet at his face and injured him. The next day Saeros ambushed Túrin, but Túrin got the better of him, stripped him naked, and drove him through the woods as payback--which ended in tragedy when Saeros fell into a ravine in his panic and died, causing Túrin to voluntarily exile himself in shame.

== Men of the Edain ==

Chieftainess of the Haladin, the second of the three tribes of the Edain. Haleth's father Haldad led their people into Beleriand, where they settled on Caranthir's land. When Orcs attacked their encampment, Haldad was killed but Haleth rallied the Haladin for seven days before Caranthir's forces arrived. Under her leadership, the Haladin removed to the forest of Brethil and renamed themselves the Folk of Haleth.

* [[Virgin Power]]

Beren was a mortal Man who fell in love with Lúthien, princess of the Elven kingdom of Doriath. Her father Thingol was displeased and demanded a Silmaril in exchange for his daughter's hand in marriage. With the help of some Elves and Lúthien herself, Beren accomplished this seemingly hopeless quest. Later, after Thingol was killed by Dwarves, Beren led a counter-attack on the Dwarves and got the Silmaril back from them.

The heir of the House of Hador and Lord of Dor-lómin. Húrin stumbled upon Gondolin with his brother Huor as a youth and befriended Turgon; later he became a hero in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad (Battle of Unnumbered Tears), covering Turgon's retreat and killing seventy trolls before being taken alive by Morgoth. Húrin defied the Dark Lord when tortured for the location of Gondolin, and so his family was cursed and Húrin forced to watch from afar as his children (Túrin and Nienor) died. Finally, Morgoth released Húrin as a tool of his malice, leading to the ruin of Doriath and the discovery of Gondolin.

* [[You Can't Go Home Again]]: She came to Dor-lomin as a displaced refugee of Ladros.

Túrin was a Man whose father, Húrin, had defied Morgoth. In retaliation, Morgoth cursed Húrin's family, and Túrin got the brunt of it. He ran away from his foster-father Thingol, accidentally killed his best friend, got caught in a love triangle, brought about the fall of the Elven kingdom Nargothrond through bad advice, brought suffering upon his people, and married his sister, causing both of them to commit suicide upon the revelation. In spite of all this, he did manage to kill the most powerful dragon in Middle-earth at that time.

* [[You Can't Fight Fate]]

Daughter of Húrin and Morwen and sister of Túrin. She grows up in the occupied region of Dor-Lomin with her mother before their escape to Doriath, where her brother was sent before her birth; however, he had long since departed. When word reached Doriath about his whereabouts, Nienor followed Morwen in the search for Túrin against her mother's wishes. The search party was ambushed and scattered by Glaurung, and the dragon inflicted Nienor with amnesia. She was discovered by Túrin in Brethil, and they were wed years later.

* [[Touched by Vorlons]]: Though born a mortal Man, he was raised by Elves and learned their lore and had bearing like them. In the end he was counted as an Elf, a once-in-the-universe exception (like Lúthien becoming of the kindred of Men).

The son of Tuor and Idril, Eärendil was half Elf and half Man. During his time, all the Elven and human kingdoms had been destroyed by Morgoth. He realized that the Valar would have to send aid to defeat Morgoth, so he set sail to Valinor. He was unable to reach it, because of the barriers the Valar had set up, until his wife gave him the Silmaril, which could cut through the darkness. Eärendil asked the Valar for pardon and aid, and they granted it. His ship, bearing the Silmaril, was put up into the sky as a star, as a sign of his success. In the resulting war, Morgoth was overthrown and banished from the world.

== Númenoreans ==

Eärendil's son and Elrond's brother, Elros chose to be counted among the Edain at the end of the First Age. He became the first king of Númenor (Tolkien's version of Atlantis) and established a royal line of long-lived Men that lasted for millennia. Ar-Pharazôn, Elendil, Isildur, and Aragorn are among his noteworthy descendants.

* [[Who Wants to Live Forever?]]: Gives up his immortality because he identifies more with the race of Men.

The last King of Númenor, a descendant of Elros. Ar-Pharazôn was extremely proud, and when he heard that Sauron had claimed the title of "King of Men", he decided to overthrow Sauron and claim that title for himself. Sauron surrendered to him, and Ar-Pharazôn took him to Númenor as a hostage. Sauron quickly used his powers to bewitch Ar-Pharazôn and win his freedom. From there he convinced Ar-Pharazôn and the Númenoreans to worship Melkor and attack the Valar. As a punishment, Númenor was destroyed, the world was made round so that humans could never get to Valinor again, and Ar-Pharazôn was buried under a landslide.

== Others ==

A great hound of Oromë, given as a gift to Celegorm son of Fëanor. He followed his master into Middle-earth, and later befriended Lúthien and Beren there, helping them in their Quest for the Silmaril. He had a human intelligence, being able to understand speech, but he was destined to speak only thrice before his death - and he wouldn't die but fighting the greates wolf that ever lived.

* [[Talking Animal]]: He spoke thrice during his life, just as prophecied.

A Dark Elf living in the woods of Nan Elmoth near Doriath. He hated the Noldor and was a friend of the Dwarves. Yet when Aredhel daughter of Fingolfin wandered into his woods, he took her in and married her. They had a son, Maeglin. However, Eöl forbade them of ever leaving his forest or going to see her family, causing them to rebel and run away. He followed them into Gondolin, where he threw a poisoned spear at Maeglin, accidentally killing Aredhel instead when she [[Taking the Bullet|interposed herself]]. He was executed by being thrown off the cliffs of Gondolin.

* [[Rewrite]]: Originally, and in the published ''Silmarillion'', Eöl was a Sindarin elf who was distantly related to Thingol. Tolkien later changed his mind about Eöl, making him the one of the only Avarin elves in the canon.

Glorfindel was a great Elven warrior from the hidden elf city of Gondolin. When the city was attacked by Morgoth's armies and destroyed, Glorfindel died in a duel with a balrog protecting the escaping survivors, including Idril and Eärendil. Later he was allowed to reincarnate and leave the Halls of Mandos to live in Valinor. There he befriended Gandalf. He was then sent back into Middle-earth to help in the fight against Sauron. In [[The Lord of the Rings]] he lives in Rivendell, serving Elrond son of Eärendil, and comes to rescue Aragorn and the Hobbits when they're chased by the Ringwraiths.

* [[Taking You with Me]]: He and the balrog both fell down from the narrow mountain path they were fighting on into the depths.

The Shipwright, the oldest and wisest known Elf in existence--so old that he had a long silver beard, a trait unknown in any other Elf in the mythos. Círdan was one of the Teleri who stayed behind to search for Thingol and later became the lord of the Sindar on Beleriand's coast, whom he ruled as Thingol's vassal. He built the ship in which Eärendil sailed to Valinor.

* [[Wizard Beard]]: He's not literally a wizard, but his beard does signify his exceptional age and wisdom.

The greatest of the Great Eagles created by Manwë to keep watch over the mountains of Middle-earth to bring news to him in Valinor. Thorondor helped Fingon rescue Maedhros from his torture on Thangorodrim and later kept watch over the hidden city of Gondolin. When Morgoth slew Fingolfin, Thorondor swooped down, scarred the Dark Lord's face with his talons, and bore Fingolfin's body to his place of burial on a mountain above Gondolin.

* [[Talking Animal]]

An aged Dwarf whose dwelling Túrin takes over after his men kill Mîm's son. Though he bonds with Túrin, Mîm's resentment over his son's death and the appearance of the Elf Beleg stoke his resentment, and eventually he betrays Túrin to Orcs. Mîm's second son is killed in the fight, but he escapes, and after the death of Glaurung he claims the Dragon's treasure for himself. Here Mîm is found and slain by Húrin, but the Dwarf cursed the treasure, leading to the downfall of King Thingol.