Favorite Battle in the Silmarillion

[bmilder]

In the entire War of the Jewels, which was your favorite battle?

[emilsson]

Well, it´s been some time since I read Silmarillion but my favorite battle ( which is also one of my favorite parts in the book ) is The Great Battle. I like it because the good side finally wins over Morgoth :).

[Loopy]

definitely Fingolfin vs. Morgoth

[Quaff Down Gin]

The Nirnaeth Arnoediad. However, I think the Fall of Gondolin from the Book of Lost Tales II takes the cake if we're including sources other than the published Silmarillion. The chapter is a MUST read for those who have not. I still weep for Ecthelion, Lord of the Fountain...

[Hernalt]

The Fall of Gondolin is the most detailed and comprehensive depiction of Tolkienesque battle. And my pet favorite has always been the Battle of the Hornberg.

[Gimli the Dwarf]

I agree with Loopy, Finglefin vs. Morgath RULED! especially when Finglefin cut off Morgoth's leg, and then drowned in th blood from it. It was awsome, and unquestionably the best battle in the Sillmarillion.

[Elanor]

Thats gross Gimli!

[anduin]

El, how come I never see you on ICQ anymore?

[Elanor]

I am at home and don't have it here.

[Elanor]

I finished the Sil! Nice to have free time for two weeks! My favorite battle...hm, I think I like the one where the Valar defeat Morgoth and kick him out.

[Darth Tater]

Three's nothing like the Nirnaeth Arnidiad or however you spell it. Definately my favorite.

[Finduilas]

I do believe you have the facts wrong here. The actual series of events was (having just found out its ok to quote): Therefore Morgoth came, climbing slowly from his subterranean throne, and the rumor of his feet was like thunder underground. And he issued forth clad in black armour; and he stood before the King like a tower, iron-crowned, and his vast shield, sable unbazoned, cast a shadow over him like a stormcloud. But Fingolfin gleamed beneath it as a star; for his mail was overlaid with silver, and his blue shield was set with crystals; and he drew his sword Ringil, that glittered like ice. Then Morgoth hurled aloft Grond, the Hammer of the Underworld, and swung it down like a bolt of thunder. But Fingolfin sprang aside, and Grond rent a mighty pit in the earth whence smoke and fire darted. Many times Morgoth essayed to smite him, and each time Fingolfin leaped away, as a lighting shoots from under a dark cloud; and he wounded Morgoth with seven wounds, and seven times Morgoth gave a cry of anguish, whereat the hosts of Angband fell upon their faces in dismay, and the cries echoed in the Northlands. But at last the King grew weary, and Morgoth bore down his shield upon him. Thrice he was crushed to his knees, and thrice arose again and bore up his broken shield and stricken helm. But the earth was all rent and pitted about him, and he stumbled and fell backward before the feet of Morgoth; and Morgoth set his left foot upon his neck, and the weight of it was like a fallen hill. Yet with his last and desperate stroke Fingolfin hewed the foot with Ringil, and the blood gushed forth black and smoking and filled the pits of Grond. Thus died Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor, most proud and valiant of the Elven-Kings of old. The Orcs made no boast of that duel at the gate; neither do the Elves sing of it, for their sorrow is too deep. The Silmarillion, pages 184-185. However, my favourites (something tells me its time to re-read the Silm) would have to be the battles (if they can be called that) in the quest of the Silmaril, especially the song-combat between Finrod and Sauron.

[Elanor]

Yeah, Gimli admitted to me that he got that wrong. No drowning in blood! I guess it was just his strange mind mixing things up. ;)

[Quaff Down Gin]

...is a battle of the minds between Morgoth and Luthien when she reveals herself to him at the foot of his throne. He lusts for her, yet she seduces him with her song which causes his mind to meander blindly in a dream and he topples to the floor unconscious, thus allowing for Beren and Luthien's escape from Angband. Cooleeyoyo!

[Finduilas]

Though it was a rather close call at the end there when Angrist snapped.

[Maglor]

It was in the original Silm (read HoME IV and V)
The final battle Dagor Dagorath where the spirit of Turin slays Morghoth, that's just soooo cool

[Finduilas]

That would be in the Book of Lost Tales, I think. (We have been discussing the Dagor Dagorath on my discussion board or I might not have a clue here (it started as a trivia question which I couldn't answer).

[Anteater]

Hi... New here.

I dig the part when Turin kills Glaurung the dragon.

I am partial to monsters, so I also like the battle between Huan and Carcaroth.

Later!!!

[Maglor]

The story of the Dagor Dagorath is in several of the HoME books.

Maglor

[Finduilas]

Could have used you at my board when that discussion was going on. Thanks for pointing that out to me though.

(Things have slowed down so much since then that I'm lucky to get a post a week)

[Fat middle]

uuh, welcome to Dead Boards Admins Club :)

[Finduilas]

Not something I really wanted to join, but thanks anyway. :)

It's hard coming up with new ideas for "discussion", especially when almost all of the 10 people at my board come from here.

[Elwen Aiwelinde]

My absolute favourite battle in the Silmarillion is the Fall of Fingolfin. There is just something so very stirring about the High King, truly seeing the hopelessness of the situation, riding forth and sacrificing himself in hopes of defeating Morgoth. The imagery, the starkness of the scene... They touched me like no other battle did. Even wrote a poem about it... Anyway, that's my vote

[anduin]

Hullo Elwen Aiwelinde, welcome to Entmoot.

Hey, maybe you would like to submit your poem to the Tolkien Trail (http://www.tolkientrail.com)? ;)

[Finduilas]

Yes, that is a beautiful piece of text. It seems to be fairly popular here.

[noldo]

I always liked the battle of Gondolin, absolutely.

Besides that it's dramatic and horrible, as any battle, it somehow captured a great feeling to it: nothing lasts forever and everything is transient.

One of the major themes of Silmarillion and other works of Tolkien.

Innosence lost!

[Finduilas]

Your sig is from the Doom of the Noldor, right? It's another of my favourite pieces of text.

[noldo]

Yes...

I personally like The Darkening of Valinor the best. :)

[Morkhon]

Fingolfin vs. Morgoth. I prefer the verse version in The Lays of Belerians to the prose version in Silmarillion.

[easterlinge]

Battle Under Stars, where King Elu Thingol of Doriath beat off an Orc invasion before the Noldor arrived. I've always admired Thingol.



Dagor Aglareb. Feanor had just sailed over with a portion of the Noldor, and were attacked by lots of Orcs. THere was no strategy, the Elves weren't in battle formation, but kicked butt all the same.

[Captain Stern]

The fall of Fingolfin.

A lot of you seem to ahve overlooked the battle ( I borrowed the Silmarilion to some one and I can't remember the name )where Hurin and Huor hold off the entire army of Morgoth to let the future High King escape ( Finrod was it? ) Hurin killed 70 Trolls! and we get the impression that Gothmog feared him too.

I wish I hadn't borrowed The Silmarilion to my friend because there is a big void in my life now and I'm forgeting everything. I'll have to buy a new copy and maybe get a girlfriend too.

[easterlinge]

"A lot of you seem to ahve overlooked the battle ( I borrowed the Silmarilion to some one and I can't remember the name )where Hurin and Huor hold off the entire army of Morgoth to let the future High King escape ( Finrod was it? ) Hurin killed 70 Trolls! and we get the impression that Gothmog feared him too."

That was the tail-end of Dagor-Bragollach, Battle of Sudden Flame, which included the Fall of Fingolfin. No one has mentioned Dagor Bragollach, though a few referred to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.