The Silmarillion

The Silmarillion

by

J.R.R. Tolkien

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Idril Character Analysis

Idril is Turgon’s daughter who crosses the Helcaraxë with Fingolfin’s Noldor and later lives in Gondolin. Maeglin wants to marry her to inherit Gondolin, but she mistrusts him and instead marries Tuor, a mortal man. Idril creates a secret passage out of Gondolin, allowing many people to flee during the fall of the city. At the end of Tuor’s life, she sails west with him, leaving their son Eärendil behind.
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Idril Character Timeline in The Silmarillion

The timeline below shows where the character Idril appears in The Silmarillion. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 16. Of Maeglin
Fate, Doom, and Free Will Theme Icon
Pride and Arrogance Theme Icon
Greed, Jealousy, and Obsession Theme Icon
Inevitable Loss Theme Icon
Myth and Memory Theme Icon
Though Turgon’s daughter Idril mistrusts him, Maeglin is loved by the people of Gondolin. When Turgon finally leaves the... (full context)
Chapter 23. Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin
Fate, Doom, and Free Will Theme Icon
Pride and Arrogance Theme Icon
Greed, Jealousy, and Obsession Theme Icon
Inevitable Loss Theme Icon
Tuor remains in Gondolin and falls in love with Idril, and Turgon allows them to marry. Maeglin hates Tuor, since he wants to marry Idril... (full context)
Fate, Doom, and Free Will Theme Icon
Pride and Arrogance Theme Icon
Greed, Jealousy, and Obsession Theme Icon
Inevitable Loss Theme Icon
...Gondolin’s location and weaknesses to Morgoth. Morgoth promises to give Maeglin kingship of Gondolin and Idril as a wife, then sends him back to Gondolin to avoid suspicion. When Eärendil is... (full context)
Unity vs. Division Theme Icon
Inevitable Loss Theme Icon
Tuor and Idril lead the survivors of Gondolin away through Idril’s secret path. As they climb through the... (full context)
Unity vs. Division Theme Icon
Pride and Arrogance Theme Icon
Greed, Jealousy, and Obsession Theme Icon
Myth and Memory Theme Icon
...on the Silmarils. When Tuor grows old, he builds a ship and sails away with Idril. Elven tradition believes that he arrived in Valinor and became one of the immortal Noldor. (full context)