How do you throw an awesome lotr theme party?

Make an Invite List. First, choose the three coolest people you know. You definitely want them at the party. Then, choose the seven shortest people you know. They should come too. Fill up the rest of the space with the nine most power-hunger guys you can think of. Send Out Invitations. Send all 19 people…

Writing in the Black Speech

When Frodo first sees the words carved into the One Ring, he says he cannot read them. But Gandalf can, and describes them to us: The letters are Elvish, of an ancient mode, but the language is that of Mordor. And see, this is interesting. Because (as far as Tolkien told us) the only written…

This is an excerpt from “The Akallabeth”, part of The Silmarillion. This part tells of Ar-Pharazon and Sauron, and how they rose to power (and how this contributed to the fall of Numenor.) This excerpt was recorded as part of my Tolkien Reading Day 2015 celebrations. You can download the file as an .mp3 here…

This is an excerpt from the collection of essays titled “Myths Transformed”, found in volume 10 of The Histories of Middle Earth. This particular section discusses the differences between Sauron and Morgoth, especially concerning their motives is attempting world domination. This excerpt was recorded as part of my Tolkien Reading Day 2015 celebrations. You can download…

I recently saw a theory about Morgoth during the Tale of Adanel and I was curious about your opinion on it. The theory is that Morgoth in this case was actually Sauron in his fair form, (especially because he calls himself “the giver of gifts” which is so similar to his Annatar disguise). I like this theory because I think it makes sense, but I’d really like to hear your opinion on it.

(Here’s a post about the Tale of Adanel and the Fall of Men, for those who don’t know it yet.) Hmmm… I like this theory in that it fits the timeline for the Flat World version of Arda’s history, which I personally prefer to the Round World version. (See this post for more information on…

Protecting Mount Doom

Ah, but Sauron didn’t know that someone would try and destroy the Ring. In fact, he never even considered that this was Frodo’s goal. Sauron’s one great weakness was that he could not understand people who weren’t like him, and as Gandalf explains at the Council of Elrond, this was the weakness Frodo’s quest was…

Aaaaaand, look what came out today – another CGP Grey video about Middle Earth! This one’s all about the rings of power, and I once again got a chance to read the script ahead of time, so I can personally attest to its awesomeness.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

I have a question that’s more personal than research, if that’s ok. what, for you, is the most visual moment of Tolkien’s books (that wasn’t in any of the movies?) Like, what do you see most clearly in your mind?

Hmmm, that’s a good question… probably Sauron and Ar-Pharazon sailing to Numenor together. To put it in context, here’s what’s happening: Ar-Pharazon rules over Numenor at the absolute peak of its military strength. He sails a fleet so terrible that the coastal people fled when they saw the sails, and his army in Umbar is…

Sauron and Morgoth After the First Age

celestialwanderer:

askmiddlearth:

As far as Tolkien wrote, there was no attempt on Sauron’s part to bring Morgoth back into the world. To be honest, I don’t think he would have wanted Morgoth to return. The two had pretty different philosophies (while Morgoth wanted to destroy everything, Sauron was more…

I actually disagree with this, though I haven’t the books to hand to locate anything to back my claims up, but from what I recall Sauron was incredibly loyal to Morgoth and tried to get him back but realised he couldn’t, so then took up the mantle himself.

If there’s another version of this story I can’t find it (but would love to read it, so if anyone knows anything let me know!), but from what the Silmarillion tells us there was no attempt to free Morgoth:

When Thangorodrim was broken and Morgoth overthrown, Sauron put on his fair hue again and did obeisance to Eonwe the herald of Manwe, and abjured all his evil deeds. And some hold that this was not at first falsely done, but that Sauron in truth repented, if only out of fear, being dismayed by the fall of Morgoth and the great wrath of the Lords of the West. But it was not within the power of Eonwe to pardon those of his own order, and he commanded Sauron to return to Aman and there receive the judgement of Manwe. Then Sauron was ashamed, and he was unwilling to return in humiliation and to receive from the Valar a sentence, it might be, of long servitude in proof of his good faith; for under Morgoth his power had been great. Therefore when Eonwe departed he hid himself in Middle-earth; and he fell back into evil, for the bonds that Morgoth bad laid upon him were very strong. 

Not only is there no mention of Sauron wanting to free Morgoth, but it sounds like his repentance was even fairly sincere in the beginning, but his pride and fear of punishment pushed him to run instead of return to Valinor.

Sauron and Morgoth After the First Age

Sauron and Morgoth After the First Age

As far as Tolkien wrote, there was no attempt on Sauron’s part to bring Morgoth back into the world. To be honest, I don’t think he would have wanted Morgoth to return. The two had pretty different philosophies (while Morgoth wanted to destroy everything, Sauron was more than happy to let things and people exist,…