Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Silmarillion, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Unity vs. Division
Fate, Doom, and Free Will
Pride and Arrogance
Greed, Jealousy, and Obsession
Inevitable Loss
Myth and Memory
Summary
Analysis
Morwen, Húrin’s wife, has a son, Túrin, the year that Beren and Lúthien meet. At the time of Húrin’s capture, Túrin is eight years old and living in Dor-lómin with his mother, who is pregnant again. When other men, the Easterlings, are sent by Morgoth to invade, Morwen sends Túrin to Doriath with two servants.
Túrin’s misfortunes begin with his separation from his mother and unborn sister. By dividing the race of men and corrupting the Easterlings into his service, Morgoth is able to get a new foothold in Beleriand—he doesn’t just have armies there now, but also settlements.
Themes
Morwen gives birth to a daughter, Nienor, and that same year Thingol takes Túrin in and fosters him. Thingol invites Morwen to come to Doriath, but she refuses to leave her house. Túrin lives with Thingol for nine years, exchanging messages with his mother until Thingol’s messengers stop returning from the north. He then puts on the Dragon-helm, an heirloom sent by his mother, and goes to battle to protect Doriath’s borders with Beleg Strongbow.
Morwen’s unwillingness to leave her husband’s house, though the land is overrun by men loyal to Morgoth, inadvertently contributes to the fulfillment of the curse, as does the loss of communication between her and Túrin. Though Morgoth carries out his curse by arranging for certain events to take place, it is also aided by the poor choices of Húrin’s family.
Themes
When Túrin returns to Doriath three years later, an elf named Saeros (jealous of the honor Thingol gives him) mocks his appearance. The next day, Túrin forces Saeros to run naked through the woods, where Saeros falls into a chasm and dies. Mablung, one of the wardens of Doriath, urges Túrin to go to Thingol and ask for forgiveness, but Túrin flees, afraid he’ll be imprisoned, and joins a band of outlaws. When Thingol hears of what happened, he pardons Túrin and still considers him a son. Beleg leaves Doriath to find Túrin and convince him to return.
As is true for Morwen, Túrin’s own volatile nature and bad choices contribute to the fulfillment of his curse. He brings sorrow upon himself without Morgoth’s direct interference because of his pride and anger—though Thingol now accepts men into Doriath and even loves Túrin as a son, Túrin won’t return home and remains in his self-imposed exile.
Themes
Meanwhile, Túrin has renamed himself Neithan, the Wronged. While he’s away from his camp, the other outlaws catch Beleg, assuming he’s a spy. Túrin returns and releases him and then swears not to harm anyone but Morgoth’s servants again. Despite the pardon, Túrin refuses to return to Doriath even to help defend it. Beleg returns to Thingol to relay the message and receives permission to stay with Túrin as his guard. Thingol gives him the sword Anglachel, made by Eöl. Melian warns him that it contains malice and won’t “love the hand it serves,” then gifts him lembas, the waybread of the elves.
This is the first of Túrin’s name changes. He seems to believe that the names he takes on dictate who he is, and that by taking on a new name he can create for himself a new destiny. Still, he will not return to Doriath—Túrin has a self-destructive streak that especially aids Morgoth’s endeavors to bring him to ruin. Beleg now bears a sword that Melian (whose foresight has proven accurate several times) thinks will betray him—a good indication that such a betrayal will come to pass.
Themes
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Túrin’s outlaws search for a safe place to stay. They meet three dwarves, shooting at one and capturing another named Mîm, who offers them hospitality in exchange for his life, then follow him to his home on Amon Rûdh. When they arrive, Mîm’s son has died from the arrow-wound, and Turin offers to pay a ransom for his loss if he ever comes into a fortune. Túrin stays with Mîm and learns about Mîm’s people, who, since their banishment from the dwarf-cities of the east, have diminished until only Mîm and his son remain. That winter, Beleg finds Túrin there, bringing the Dragon-helm and healing the sickly outlaws with lembas.
Mîm appears suspiciously generous to the group of men who kill his son. What with the curse of the Noldor which foretells betrayal and Morgoth’s curse which promises sorrow and misfortune, it’s safe to assume that anything that can go wrong for Túrin will go wrong, especially in his relationships. Still, Beleg arrives, bringing Túrin healing, protection, and as much safety as can be found outside of Doriath.
Themes
Mîm hates Beleg and broods with his son at the back of the house. Around that time, Morgoth’s influence grows, and his armies take the land north of Doriath. Beleg and Túrin guard the land around Amon Rûdh and rumors about them spread. Leaderless men flock to the Two Captains and Túrin renames himself again—Gorthol, the Dread Helm. Mîm betrays the outlaws to a band of orcs, but asks that they spare Túrin, which the orcs agree to. The orcs kill many of Túrin’s men and capture Túrin with a net.
Túrin and Beleg’s partnership again proves the great strength of the collaboration between men and elves. Túrin’s name change reveals a change in his perception of himself, or possibly in how he wishes to be perceived. He becomes the Dread Helm, defined by his skill in battle. As expected because of the two curses on Túrin, Mîm betrays him and his men to Morgoth’s orcs.
Themes
Mîm enters his house again, realizes that Beleg isn’t dead, and tries to stab him with his own sword. Beleg retrieves his sword and frightens Mîm away, promising vengeance. He heals slowly and travels north to rescue Túrin, though he has little hope of success. Passing through the treacherous woods of Taur-nu-Fuin, he meets Gwindor, who has escaped from one of Morgoth’s labor camps. Gwindor has seen the orcs that took Túrin, and Beleg inspires Gwindor to join him on his quest.
Mîm’s attempt to turn Beleg’s sword against him seems to satisfy Melian’s warning that the sword will betray Beleg. Injured, betrayed by Mîm, and nearly betrayed by his own sword, Beleg still presses on to reunite with Túrin. Though divided from his allies, he quickly gains a new one. On the way, he meets Gwindor, the elf who led the charge of Fingon’s army during the fifth battle of the Wars of Beleriand.
Themes
They catch up with the orc company, camped for the night, and carry Túrin away while the orcs sleep. While Beleg tries to cut off Túrin’s shackles, Anglachel slips and cuts Túrin’s foot. Túrin wakes up abruptly, thinking he’s still with the orcs, and uses Aglachel to kill Beleg. A flash of lightning reveals Beleg’s face. The orcs wake up, and Gwindor tries to convince Túrin to flee, but he only sits beside Beleg’s body during the storm.
Though Beleg avoids Anglachel’s first betrayal, he can’t avoid the second, and Melian’s prophecy comes to pass. Túrin’s unfortunate fate leads to the death of another innocent. Because of Morgoth’s orcs, Anglachel’s betrayal, and Túrin’s own fear and confusion, Túrin accidentally kills his closest friend and protector.
Themes
The orcs depart after the storm, and Gwindor helps Túrin bury Beleg. Túrin doesn’t speak until Gwindor leads him to a spring sacred to Ulmo, where he drinks and composes a song for Beleg. Gwindor gives Túrin Anglachel, and the two travel to Nargothrond, where Túrin thrives under a false name. He reforges Anglachel, naming it Gurthang, and later becomes known as Mormegil, the Black Sword.
Though Túrin’s life in Nargothrond is prosperous, he is still haunted by guilt and regret. Mourning Beleg, Túrin takes on yet another name, representing himself as the Black Sword, the very weapon that he used to kill his friend.
Themes
Though Finduilas, Orodreth’s daughter, had once loved Gwindor, she now falls in love with Túrin, who doesn’t notice her affection. Gwindor encourages her to follow her heart but warns her that Túrin has a dark fate and reveals his true identity to her. Finduilas realizes that Túrin will never love her and Túrin confronts Gwindor about revealing his name and calling his “doom” upon him. Gwindor replies that his doom is in himself, not in his name.
Túrin feels that, by changing his name, he can alter his fate—that if he is not Túrin, son of Húrin, Morgoth’s curse might not be able to find him. This, as Gwindor knows, is not the case. Túrin’s fate is his to accept or struggle against, no matter what name he takes. By changing his name so frequently, he forgets to instead alter the behaviors and tendencies that lead him to misfortune. Túrin’s belief in the power of his new names is arrogance, as is his refusal to listen to Gwindor’s advice.
Themes
When Orodreth hears Túrin’s identity, Túrin convinces him to return to open battle against Morgoth and drives the orcs out of the land. Túrin advises Orodreth to build a bridge over the defensive Narog river so that their weapons can be delivered faster. Gwindor, who speaks against Túrin to the king, falls out of favor. A message arrives at Nargothrond from Círdan that Ulmo warns of an imminent orc attack and advises that they stay in their fortress to wait it out. At the same time, Morwen and Nienor flee to Doriath.
In Nargothrond, Túrin applies himself, to the best of his ability, to being useful and productive, urging the elves from the fear and hesitancy instilled in them by Curufin. However, just because his efforts are well-intended doesn’t mean they have the desired results. Túrin, like all the men of the three great Houses, is caught up in the doom of the Noldor—his efforts are often subverted.
Themes
Túrin refuses to listen to Ulmo’s warning and instead leads Nargothrond’s forces out to fight Morgoth’s army. The orc armies, aided by Glaurung, are too strong. Orodreth is killed and Túrin carries Gwindor, gravely wounded, from the battlefield into the woods. Though Gwindor loves Túrin, he regrets meeting him. He advises Túrin to leave him and save Finduilas, since she’s the only thing standing between him and his doom. The bridge Túrin built over the River Narog to transport weapons is used against him by the orc army to sack Nargothrond.
Túrin is again too overconfident in his own fortification of Nargothrond to listen to good advice—even the advice of a Vala. His great efforts (such as the creation of the bridge) are turned against him and used by the enemy. While dying, Gwindor attempts to guide Túrin away from the fate Morgoth plans for him—he can alter it with actions, not with names. One single choice (saving Finduilas) is enough to change the course of Túrin’s life, if Túrin will finally heed Gwindor.
Themes
Túrin arrives and meets Glaurung in front of the doors of Nargothrond. Túrin withstands his fire, thanks to his Dragon-helm, but falls under Glaurung’s binding spell. Glaurung taunts him about his mother and sister living in poverty in Dor-lómin. Túrin suddenly sees himself as Glaurung portrays him—a traitor and deserter of his family—and stands frozen as the orcs take the women and children of Nargothrond captive. Finduilas, among them, calls out to Túrin, but Glaurung doesn’t release him until she’s gone.
By showing Túrin a twisted vision of himself, Glaurung gives credence to all Túrin’s fear and self-loathing. Part of what leads Túrin again and again to misfortune is his inability to forgive himself for his past mistakes and accept help and kindness. In addition, Morwen and Nienor are no longer in Dor-lómin, indicating that Glaurung is lying to Túrin about them for some purpose beyond attacking his character.
Themes
Túrin attacks Glaurung, who jumps back and offers Túrin his freedom to go and find Morwen and Nienor, telling him there won’t be time to save them if he stops to rescue Finduilas. Still confused by Glaurung’s spell, Túrin believes him and travels north, unaware that Glaurung was sent by Morgoth to keep him away from Finduilas. Glaurung breaks Túrin’s bridge and sleeps on the treasure in Nargothrond.
Despite Gwindor’s warning, Túrin again makes the wrong choice, trusting the insults of his enemy (Glaurung) over the aid of his friend (Gwindor). Glaurung is now revealed not only as a servant of Morgoth but also as the enactor of the curse on Túrin. By following the trap laid for him by Glaurung, Túrin is walking towards his own doom.
Themes
When Túrin arrives at Dor-lómin, he learns from Morwen’s servant that she and Nienor went to Doriath. Realizing Glaurung tricked him, Túrin becomes enraged and kills several Easterlings, causing trouble for the remnants of the house of Hador, before escaping south again. He decides to leave his mother and sister in Doriath where they’re safe behind Melian’s Girdle and search for Finduilas.
Glaurung has, first, fed into Túrin’s fears about his family and his own character and, second, prevented him from rescuing Finduilas, the action which could have saved him from whatever fate Morgoth has planned. Since Glaurung has succeeded in driving Túrin to Dor-lómin, it seems unlikely now that Túrin will be able to avoid his fate.
Themes
Túrin meets the men of Brethil who fought the orc company that took Finduilas. A man named Dorlas reveals that the orcs killed their prisoners rather than allow them to escape. Finduilas died asking the men of Brethil to tell Mormegil (Túrin’s alias) where she was. When Túrin cries over her grave, the men of Brethil realize he’s Mormegil and take him in, despite their leader Brandir’s feeling of foreboding. Túrin takes a new name, Turambar, meaning Master of Doom, and wields a bow rather than his sword.
According to Gwindor’s warning, with Finduilas dead, Túrin has missed his chance to save himself from his fate. Still, Túrin rarely listens to advice or warnings. Rather than accepting his fate or, again, attempting to alter his behavior, he changes his name once more. Turambar is the most arrogant of his aliases; it declares that Túrin has complete control of his life and that he rejects Morgoth’s influence.
Themes
Some survivors of the sacking of Nargothrond travel to Doriath and reveal that Mormegil is actually Túrin. Rumor says that he was either killed or is still a captive of Glaurung. Morwen leaves Doriath to find Túrin and Nienor secretly follows her. Though Thingol sends guards after them, they both refuse to return. Thingol’s guards, led by Mablung, follow them to Nargothrond, where Glaurung sees them and raises a mist over the river. Morwen is lost, and no news about her ever returns to Doriath. Nienor stumbles upon Glaurung, who casts a spell of forgetfulness on her, then returns to Nargothrond.
Morwen and Nienor are lured to Nargothrond by the possibility of finding Túrin, despite the efforts of others (like Thingol and Mablung) to dissuade them from the path. It seems that only the objects of the curse themselves can take action to change their fates—just as Gwindor couldn’t change Túrin, Mablung can’t control Morwen and Nienor. As a result, they come within the reach of Glaurung, the instigator of Morgoth’s curse.
Themes
Mablung finds Nienor, who won’t speak and doesn’t seem to hear him, and leads her away. Near Doriath, they’re attacked by an orc-band, and Nienor flees from both the orcs and her elf guards. Mablung returns to tell Thingol and Melian what happened, then leaves Doriath again to search for Morwen and Nienor.
A combination of bad luck, Morgoth’s planning, and individual choices bring about the curse on Húrin’s family. Though the orc attack was almost certainly planned by Morgoth, it is Nienor’s terror and confusion (like Túrin’s during the murder of Beleg) that drives her away.
Themes
Nienor, who doesn’t remember her own name or “the name of any other thing,” wanders into Brethil and throws herself onto Finduilas’s grave when frightened by a storm. Túrin finds her there and takes her in. She’s comforted by his presence and refuses to be parted from him but, unable to understand his speech, becomes troubled when he tries to question her. Túrin names her Níniel, Tear-maiden. Brandir heals her illness, and the women of Brethil teach her language, though she never remembers anything from the time before Túrin found her.
Níniel has lost Nienor’s memories, and Túrin has never seen his sister in person. When they meet, they have no way of recognizing each other besides Níniel’s vague sense of comfort and familiarity. Though the reunion (even unknown as it is) seems a happy and fortunate one, the knowledge that Morgoth arranged it indicates that there is something worse in store for the siblings now that they’re together.
Themes
Brandir falls in love with Níniel, but she loves Túrin. Brandir reveals Túrin’s identity to her, and though she doesn’t recognize the name, it gives her a bad feeling. Because of it, she rejects Túrin the first time he proposes to her but accepts him three years later. When Glaurung sends orcs into Brethil again, Túrin takes up his sword and leads his men to defeat them. The following year, Níniel becomes pregnant and grows “wan and sad.” Túrin promises her that he won’t go to battle unless the people of Brethil are directly attacked.
Morgoth’s plan is finally revealed, at least in part; because of his interference, Túrin and Níniel fall in love. For once, Morgoth doesn’t create evil through division, but by reuniting the lost siblings. Though Níniel’s intuition (and Brandir’s sense of foreboding) warns her against it and later indicates that something is amiss, she marries Túrin. Túrin’s best intentions go awry—so has his marriage from the start and so, likely, will his resolution not to fight unless he must.
Themes
Shortly after, Glaurung appears on the borders of Brethil, and Túrin makes a plan to defeat him with trickery. Túrin leaves with Dorlas and Hunthor (a relative of Brandir’s), and Níniel leads a crowd of people to follow them. Brandir tries to dissuade them, but they refuse to listen. He renounces his lordship and tries to follow Níniel to protect her, though, lame from childhood, he falls behind. Glaurung lies on the other side of a gorge, and Túrin plans to climb down, cross the river, and climb up the other side. Though Dorlas turns back, Túrin and Hunthor cross the river safely.
As soon as Glaurung arrives in the area, Túrin abandons his promise to Níniel not to fight until attacked. It seems reasonable—Glaurung is a threat to them, whether or not he will imminently attack—but a broken vow rarely leads to good in The Silmarillion. Brandir becomes one of the many onlookers to the curse who attempt to intervene but are unable to dissuade the stubborn children of Húrin from their paths.
Themes
Glaurung wakes up and begins to crawl over the gorge while Túrin is still below, and Hunthor is killed by a falling stone. Túrin climbs the gorge alone and stabs Glaurung’s soft belly with Gurthang. Glaurung throws himself across the chasm, wrenching Gurthang from Túrin’s grip. Túrin crosses the river again and climbs back up to retrieve his sword, then mocks Glaurung. When he pulls the sword from Glaurung’s belly, the blood burns him, and Glaurung stares at him with malice. Túrin faints.
Against all odds, and despite the loss of his two companions, Túrin’s plan succeeds. He singlehandedly sneaks up from the gorge and slays the dragon. But Glaurung is not dead yet, and the curse is not complete. Glaurung’s very presence, his poison, even his injury and death causes harm.
Themes
Níniel, waiting near Nen Girith, hears Glaurung screaming and, followed by Brandir, runs to find Túrin, who’s still unconscious and appears to be dead. As Níniel cries and tends to his burned hand, Glaurung stirs for the last time. He congratulates her on finding her brother—faithless and treacherous—and tells her that she carries “the worst of all his deeds.” As Glaurung dies, he removes his spell from her, allowing her to remember her life as Nienor.
Glaurung’s last act is to enact the final piece of the curse: revealing Nienor’s identity. Glaurung again slanders Túrin (defining him by all his worst mistakes, many of which were beyond his control) as he did at Nargothrond. Glaurung is skilled in twisting the truth—making Túrin’s sins and Nienor’s fate sound as cruel and hopeless as possible.
Themes
Nienor cries that Túrin Turambar, the Master of Doom, is now “mastered” by his doom. Brandir, who heard what the dragon said, runs towards her, but she flees and throws herself into the gorge. As Brandir walks back to Nen Girith, he finds Dorlas in the woods and kills him—the only blood he ever spills. The crowd at Nen Girith ask where Níniel is, and he explains that she, Túrin, and Glaurung are all dead. He also reveals Níniel and Túrin’s identities as brother and sister, and the people weep.
Nienor now also recognizes that Túrin’s many names can’t save him. Their fate has already found them, and Nienor sees no way to live with it. Brandir’s helplessness to save her turns to violence—had Dorlas stayed with Túrin and helped to kill Glaurung before Nienor arrived, they all might have lived their lives peacefully, never knowing Níniel’s true identity.
Themes
Túrin wakes up, confused about his bandaged hand, and arrives at Nen Girith, asking where Níniel is. Brandir tells Túrin that she’s dead. Dorlas’s wife calls Brandir crazed, and Túrin is cruel to him, assuming he’s “begrudging” his relationship with Níniel. Brandir repeats Glaurung’s last words, revealing Níniel as Nienor again and calling Túrin a curse on his family. Túrin accuses Brandir of leading Níniel to her death and spreading Glaurung’s lies, then curses and kills him.
Túrin often allows his pride and temper to control him. That is the case now, when Túrin, self-proclaimed master of fate, refuses to believe Brandir’s story of Nienor’s realization and death. Rather than accept that the curse has found him at last, he unjustly accuses and murders Brandir.
Themes
As Túrin cries on Finduilas’s grave, unsure of what to do, he meets Mablung with a company of elves who came to help kill Glaurung. Túrin begs for news of his family in Doriath. Mablung explains that Morwen was lost and Nienor lost her memory before running away, and Túrin realizes that Glaurung was telling the truth. Túrin curses Doriath and flees from the elves. At the gorge, Túrin takes out Gurthang and asks if it will kill him swiftly. The sword answers that it will gladly kill him to forget Beleg and Brandir, who were unjustly killed. Túrin sets the sword on the ground and throws himself onto it.
Túrin has spent much of his life running from Doriath and from Morgoth’s curse. Both catch up to him at once as Mablung arrives from Doriath with the news of his mother and sister, confirming Brandir’s story. Now that Túrin has failed to avoid the curse, he chooses to die. By falling on the sword that killed Beleg, he is finally allowed the atonement for his sins that he so wanted. Gurthang, reforged from Anglachel, is still willing to betray its wielder.
Themes
Mablung and the elves arrive and learn the reason for Nienor’s death, and Mablung mourns that his arrival caused Túrin’s suicide. When they lift Túrin up to bury him, they find Gurthang broken. The elves sing a lament for the children of Húrin and carve Túrin and Nienor’s names into a stone on his burial mound, though they never find Nienor’s body.
Mablung is an unwilling participant in Morgoth’s curse on the children of Húrin. He attempted to keep Nienor safe, but ultimately delivers the last blow that drives Túrin to suicide. Túrin and Nienor, separated for most of their lives, are remembered together on their tombstone and by the elves, though their bodies rest apart.
Themes
