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File:Middleearth.jpg
A map of the Northwestern part of Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age, courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arda

Middle-earth is the name for the lands on J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional ancient Earth where most of the tales of his legendarium take place. The term can apply generally to the entire world (Arda) depicted in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, or in a narrow sense relating only to the main continent (also properly called Endor).

Although Middle-earth's setting is often thought to be another world, it is actually a fictional period in Earth's own history - set 6000 to 7000 years ago. Tolkien empathically insisted that Middle-earth is our Earth in several of his letters. The action of the books is largely confined to the north-west of the continent, corresponding to modern-day Europe. Little is known about the east and south of Middle-earth.

The history of Middle-earth is divided into several Ages — The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings deal exclusively with events towards the end of the Third Age, while the Silmarillion deals mainly with the First Age. Its world was originally flat but was made round at the end of the Second Age due to divine intervention by Eru Ilúvatar, the Creator.

Inspiration

The term "Middle-earth" was not invented by Tolkien, rather it existed in Old English as middanġeard, in Middle English as midden-erd or middel-erd; in Old Norse it was called Midgard. It is English for what the Greeks called the oikoumenē or "the abiding place of men", the physical world as opposed to the unseen worlds.

Middangeard occurs half a dozen times in Beowulf which Tolkien translated and was, arguably, the world's foremost expert in. (See also J. R. R. Tolkien on discussion of his inspirations and sources). See Midgard and Norse mythology for the older use.

Tolkien was also inspired by this fragment:

Eala earendel engla beorhtast / ofer middangeard monnum sended.
Hail Earendel, brightest of angels / above the middle-earth sent unto men.

in the Crist poem of Cynewulf. The name earendel (which may mean the 'morning-star' but in some contexts was a name for Christ) was the inspiration for Tolkien's mariner Eärendil.

The name was consciously used by Tolkien to place The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and related writings, gradually replacing the older terms Outer Lands and Great Lands. Tolkien's great mythological tales of Middle-earth are meant to be taken, fictitiously, as an ancient history of the Earth, particularly of northwestern Europe, from several thousand years before the lands took their present shape.

The term Middle-earth can be interpreted in several ways:

  • as the oikoumenē,
  • as the "middle" land between the unreachable Aman in the west and the unknown Sun-lands in the east, and
  • as the fixed land above the seas of Vaiya, but below the upper skies where Sun, Moon, and stars reside.

The world

Template:Spoiler

A map of Arda before the end of the First Age, courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arda

Although 'Middle-earth' strictly refers to a specific continent (called Endor in Quenya and Ennor in Sindarin, meaning "middle land"), representing what we know as Eurasia and Africa, the term is often used to refer to this entire 'earth' (properly called Arda). This was because Aman was removed from Arda, and the Eastlands were unknown, and thus 'Middle-earth' was the only known part of the world.

If the map of Middle-earth is projected on our real Earth (a rough approximation at best), and some of the most obvious climatological, botanical, and zoological similarities are aligned, we get the Hobbits' Shire in the temperate England, Gondor in the Mediterranean Italy and Greece, Mordor in the arid Turkey and Middle East, South Gondor in the deserts of Northern Africa, the Rhovanion in the forests of Eastern Europe and the steppes of Western and Southern Russia, and the Ice Bay of Forochel in the fjords of Norway. According to Tolkien, the Shire is supposed to reside at the approximate location of England's Midlands area (specifically Warwickshire), whereas Minas Tirith in Gondor is comparable to Venice, and Pelargir with Byzantium (Constantinople).

Tolkien wrote extensively about the linguistics, mythology and history of the land, which form the back-story for these stories. Most of these writings, with the exception of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, were edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher. Notable among them is The Silmarillion, which describes a larger cosmology which includes Middle-earth as well as Valinor, Númenor, and other lands. Also notable are Unfinished Tales and the multiple volumes of The History of Middle-earth, which include incomplete stories and essays as well as detailing the development of Tolkien's writings from early drafts through the last writings of his life.

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings present themselves as the life work of Bilbo, Frodo and other Hobbits, and are presented as a translation of the Red Book of Westmarch. It is clear that Middle-earth is supposed to take place in north-western Europe in an imaginary time long before recorded history: the lands of the Shire resemble England precisely because they occupy the same geographical position. Like Shakespeare's King Lear or Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian stories, the tales occupy a historical period that could not have actually existed. Dates for the length of the year and the phases of the moon, along with descriptions of constellation, firmly fix the world as Earth, no longer than several thousand years ago.

Cosmology

Main article: Ainulindalë

The supreme deity of Tolkien's universe is called Eru Ilúvatar. In the beginning, Ilúvatar created spirits named the Ainur, and he led them in divine music. The Ainu Melkor, Tolkien's equivalent of Satan, broke the harmony, and in response Ilúvatar introduced new themes that enhanced the music beyond the comprehension of the Ainur. The essence of their song established the history of the as yet unmade universe and the people who were to dwell therein.

Then Ilúvatar created Eä, the universe itself, and the Ainur formed within it Arda, the Earth, "globed within the void": the world together with the airs is set apart from Kuma, the "void" without. The fifteen most powerful Ainur who came to shape and govern Arda are called the Valar.

The world of the First and Second Ages (and before) is radically different than the world of the Third and later Ages: in the First Age, Arda is a flat world, represented as a ship or an island floating on the surrounding ocean (Vaiya), which forms water below Arda and air above. The Sun and Moon, as well as some stars (including Venus), follow paths within Vaiya, and as such are a part of Arda, set apart from the Void.

In the cosmic upheaval after the Downfall of Númenor the cosmology is radically changed, as Arda is turned into a globed world much like the nonfictional Earth. The continent of Aman is removed from the world, and new lands are created "below" the old lands.

Peoples

Middle-earth is home to several distinct intelligent species. First are the Ainur, angelic beings created by Ilúvatar. The Ainur help Ilúvatar create Arda in the cosmological myth called the Ainulindalë, or Music of the Ainur. Some of the Ainur later enter Arda, and the greatest of these are called the Valar. Melkor (later called Morgoth), the representation of Evil in Middle-earth, is initially one of them.

The lesser Ainur who entere Arda are called the Maiar. In the First Age the chief example is Melian, wife of the Elven King Thingol; in the Third Age the Maiar are represented by the wizards, including Gandalf. Evil Maiar also appear, including the Balrogs and the Dark Lord Sauron.

Later come the Children of Ilúvatar: Elves and Men, intelligent beings created by Ilúvatar alone. The Silmarillion, set in the First Age and before, mainly deals with the Elves, the Elder children, although Men appear towards the end.

The tale of the Downfall of Númenor, set in the Second Age, deals with the descendants of those Men who were friends to the Elves in the First Age. Their descendants in the Third Age are the Men of Arnor and Gondor who appear in The Lord of the Rings. Hobbits are described as an offshoot of Men.

Dwarves have a special position in the legendarium, in that they are not created by Ilúvatar, but rather by the Vala Aulë. However, Aulë offers his creations to Ilúvatar, who adopts the Dwarves and gives them life and free will. The Ents, shepherds of the trees, are created by Ilúvatar at Yavanna's request to balance the Dwarves.

Orcs and Trolls are evil creatures bred by Morgoth; they are not original creations but rather "mockeries" of Elves and Ents. Their ultimate origin is uncertain, but at least some of them were bred from corrupted Elves and Men.

Seemingly sentient animals also appear, such as the Eagles, Huan the Hound, and the Wargs. The Eagles are created by Iluvatar along with the Ents, but in general these animals' origins and nature are unclear. Some of them might be Maiar in animal form.

Languages

Main article: Languages of Middle-earth

Tolkien originally started writing the Silmarillion as a spin-off from his conlang projects. He devised two main languages, that would later become known to us as Quenya, the language of the Eldarin Elves, and Sindarin, the language of the Sindar Elves. These languages were related, and a Common Eldarin form ancestral to them both postulated.

Other languages of the world include

History of Middle-earth

Main article: History of Arda

The history of Middle-earth is divided into three time periods, known as the Years of the Lamps, Years of the Trees and Years of the Sun. The Years of the Sun are further subdivided into Ages. Most Middle-earth stories take place in the first three Ages of the Sun.

The Years of the Lamps began shortly after the creation of Arda by the Valar. The Valar created two large lamps, and the Vala Aulë forged great towers, one in the furthest north, and another in the deepest south. The Valar lived in the middle, at the island of Almaren.The end of the Years of the Lamps marked by Melkor's destruction of the Two Lamps.

File:Aman.png
A map of Aman during the Second Age, courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arda

Then, Yavanna made the Two Trees, named Telperion and Laurelin in the land of Aman. The Trees illumined Aman, leaving Middle-earth in darkness. The Elves awoke in Cuiviénen in the middle of Middle-earth, and were soon approached by the Valar. Many, of the Elves were persuaded to go on the Great March westwards towards Aman. The Valar had captured Melkor, but he appeared to repent and was released, he sowed great discord among the Elves, and stirred up rivalry between the Elven princes Fëanor and Fingolfin. He then slew king Finwë and stole the Silmarils, three gems crafted by Feänor that contained light of the Two Trees, from his vault, and destroyed the Trees of the Valar themselves.

Feänor and his house left to pursue Melkor, cursing him with the name 'Morgoth'. A larger host, following Fingolfin followed. They reached the Teleri's port-city, Alqualondë, and were forbidden to use the Teleri's boats to get to Middle-earth. The first Kinslaying thus ensued. Feänor's host sailed on the boats, leaving Fingolfin's behind - who crossed over to Middle-earth on the Helcaraxë or Grinding Ice in the far north, losing many. Feänor was soon lost, but his sons survived, and founded realms; along with the kingdoms of the House of Fingolfin.

File:Beleriand.png
A map of Beleriand during the First Age, courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arda

The Years of the Sun began when the Valar made the Sun and the Moon out of the final fruit and flower of the Trees. The Long Peace lasted hundreds of years; during which time Men arrived over the Blue Mountains. But one by one the elven kingdoms — even the hidden ones fell. At the end of the age, all that remained of free Elves and Men in Beleriand was a settlement at the mouth of the River Sirion. Among them was Eärendil, whose wife Elwing's ancestors Beren and Luthien had taken a Silmaril from Morgoth. But the Feänorians had a claim on the Silmaril still and so there was another Kinslaying. Eärendil and Elwing took the Silmaril across the Great Sea, to beg the Valar for aid. They responded. Melkor was exiled into the Void; and most of his works destoyed. This came at a terrible cost, as Beleriand itself was sunk.

Thus began the Second Age of the Sun. The Men who had remained faithful were given the island of Númenor, in the middle of the Great Sea; whilst the Elves were allowed to return home. The Númenoreans became great seafarers, but became jealous of the Elves for their immortality. Meanwhile, in Middle-earth it became apparent that Sauron, Morgoth's chief servant, was still active. He worked with Elven smiths in Eregion on the craft of rings, and forged the One Ring to dominate them all. The Elves noticed this and removed theirs.

File:Numenor.png
A map of Númenor during the Second Age, courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arda

Númenorean king Ar-Pharazôn humbled even Sauron and brought him to Númenor as a hostage. Eventually, Pharazôn was persuaded by Sauron to attempt to invade Aman, promised that immortality would result. Amandil, chief of the faithful, sailed westward to warn the Valar of this. His son Elendil and grandsons Isildur and Anárion prepared to flee eastwards. When the King's men had landed on Aman, the Valar called for Illuvatar to intervene. The world was changed into a sphere, and the straight road from Middle-earth to Aman was broken. Númenor was utterly destroyed, as was the fair body of Sauron. Elendil and his sons founded the realms of Gondor and Arnor. Sauron arose again and challenged them, but the Elves allied with the Men to form the Last Alliance which defeated him. His One Ring was taken from him by Isildur, but not destroyed.

The Third Age saw the rise in power of the realms of Arnor and Gondor, and their fall. By the time of The Lord of the Rings, Sauron has recovered again, and is seeking the One Ring. He discovers that it is in the possession of a Hobbit and sends out the Ringwraiths to bring it. The Ring-bearer, Frodo Baggins, is sent to Rivendell, where it is decided that the Ring must be destroyed — and it can only be melted in the hot fires of Mount Doom. He sets out on this quest with eight companions. Eventually, he succeeds, and along with his companion, Sam Gamgee is lauded as a hero. Sauron is destroyed forever.

The end of the Third Age marked the end of the involvement of the Elves in Human affairs. Most Elves that have lingered in Middle-earth leave for Valinor — those that remain behind "fade", and eventually diminish. A similar fate happens to the Dwarves. Morgoth's creatures are almost wiped out. During the later Fourth Age the tales of the earlier Ages turn into legends, until they are eventually thought of as fantasies.

A note on "truth" and canon

It is remarkably difficult to speak of what is true in the context of Middle-earth. There are various reasons for this:

  • Tolkien worked on Middle-earth over the course of decades, making substantial changes. Readers may remember, for example, the differences between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with regard to Gandalf and the Elves. Moreover, toward the end of his life the focus of his writing shifted from pure story telling to more philosophical concerns, which led to a considerable shift in tone and content.
  • Tolkien's writing is laden with details and hints, which can be contradictory, especially in the posthumously published work. Such information should not take precedence over more explicit statements elsewhere, but it can help to flesh out our understanding of Middle-earth (even if it does at times add confusion). In general, the revised versions of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings are considered canon, but with The Silmarillion the matter is more complex.
  • To add to the confusion, in some cases, Tolkien intentionally left some gaps in his works. In one of his letters (#144) he provided both an explanation and an example of this, writing that "even in a mythical Age there must be some enigmas, as there always are. Tom Bombadil is one (intentionally)." Giving an incomplete picture in this way can be frustrating, but it also makes the invented world feel more natural.
I am doubtful myself about the undertaking. Part of the attraction of the L.R. is, I think, due to the glimpses of a large history in the background: an attraction like that of viewing far off an unvisited island, or seeing the towers of a distant city gleaming in a sunlit mist. To go there is to destroy the magic, unless new unattainable vistas are again revealed. Also many of the older legends are purely 'mythological', and nearly all are grim and tragic: a long account of the disasters that destroyed the beauty of the Ancient World, from the darkening of Valinor to the Downfall of Númenor and the flight of Elendil.
Tolkien's letter #247

As essentially only The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Adventures of Tom Bombadil were published during Tolkien's lifetime, only those works (in their latest editions) can be considered true canon, and even then questions remain about a few minor deviations from his intent (as can be seen from the drafts of LotR in the History of Middle-earth series). The Silmarillion was heavily edited for consistency with the LotR and internal consistency and therefore is by some considered to be canonical, however Christopher Tolkien himself has stated multiple times after its publication that the book contains many factual errors introduced by this editing. Unfinished Tales and the Silmarillion sections of History of Middle-earth (HoMe) have not generally received such editing for consistency, and they therefore are not only at points inconsistent with the published Silmarillion, but also with the LotR or even themselves.

An example of the canon question is the lineage of Gil-galad. In the published Silmarillion he is said to be the son of Fingon, but as disclosed in the HoME Tolkien considered many arrangements before apparently deciding that he was the son of Orodreth, who would then also be displaced as a son of Finarfin and turned into Finarfin's grandson instead. If the published Silmarillion is taken as canon all later material must be discarded, but if the later writings by Tolkien are taken as canon the Silmarillion must be rewritten, a task which Christopher Tolkien has stated he will not do as he is now retired. So we are left with a Quenta Silmarillion which contradicts the original author's intentions, but which is the only consistent narrative in existence for most of the traditions. The latter third of the Quenta Silmarillion in particular was never rewritten by Tolkien as a whole after the early narrative of his youth.

A further problem is reconciling The Hobbit with The Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit was revised by Tolkien to make it more consistent with its sequel, but there are still problems. For example, Bilbo and the Dwarves took far too long to reach Rivendell when a map from LotR is used to gauge the distance, which can only be explained with great difficulty if at all. There are additional problems as well, such as the exact location of the Troll encounter. When writing The Hobbit Tolkien did not yet consider that the world of Hobbits might be the same as his Middle-earth, but he still included several references to his (at the time) unpublished tales to give the story a sense of depth. Thus Gandalf and Thorin Oakenshield wield swords from Gondolin, and Elrond, ruler of Rivendell, is Half-elven.

Books

Works by Tolkien


Tolkien died in 1973. All further works were edited by Christopher Tolkien. Only The Silmarillion tries to portray itself as a finished work — the others are collections of notes and draft versions.


The History of Middle-earth series:

Books about Tolkien's world by other authors

A small selection of the dozens of books about Tolkien and his worlds:

Adaptions

Films

In Letter 202 to Christopher Tolkien; JRR Tolkien set out his policy regarding film adaptions of his works : "Art or Cash". He sold the film rights to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings in 1969 after being faced with a sudden tax bill.

The first adaption to be shown was The Hobbit in 1977, made by Rankin-Bass studios. This was initially shown on United States television.

The next year, in 1978, a movie entitled The Lord of the Rings (1978 movie) was released, produced by Ralph Bakshi, an adaption of the first half of the story, using rotoscope animation. Although relatively faithful to the story, it was neither a commercial nor a critical success.

In 1980, Rankin-Bass produced a TV special covering roughly the last half of the Lord of the Rings called The Return of the King (1980 movie). However this did not follow on directly from the end of the Bakshi film.

Plans for a live-action version would wait until the late 1990s to be realised. These were directed by Peter Jackson and funded by New Line Cinema.

The films were a box-office success and together won seventeen Oscars. However, the (in some cases drastic) changes in storyline and characters offended many fans of the books and have split the fandom.

Games

The works of Tolkien have been a major influence on role-playing games along with others such as Robert E. Howard, Fritz Leiber, H. P. Lovecraft and Michael Moorcock. Although the most famous game to be inspired partially by the setting was Dungeons & Dragons, there have been two specifically Middle-earth based and licensed games. These are the Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game from Decipher Inc. and the Middle Earth Role Play game (MERP) from Iron Crown Enterprises.

Simulations Publications created three war games based on Tolkien's work. War of the Ring covered most of the events in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Gondor focused on the battle of Pelennor Fields, and Sauron covered the Second Age battle before the gates of Mordor. A war game based on the Lord of the Rings movies is currently being produced by Games Workshop.

The computer game Angband is a free roguelike D&D-style game that features many characters from Tolkien's works. The most complete list of Tolkien-inspired computer games can be found at http://www.lysator.liu.se/tolkien-games/

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