Ulmo Character Analysis in The Silmarillion

Ulmo is the Vala who controls Arda’s water and oceans. Rather than living in Valinor with the other Valar, he prefers to dwell in the oceans where he can watch over Middle-earth and advise men and elves. He frequently offers warnings of Melkor’s imminent attacks and occasionally intervenes directly to protect the people of Middle-earth, creating mists and calming storms.

Ulmo Quotes in The Silmarillion

The The Silmarillion quotes below are all either spoken by Ulmo or refer to Ulmo. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Then Turgon pondered long the counsel of Ulmo, and there came into his mind the words that were spoken to him in Vinyamar: ‘Love not too well the work of thy hands and the devices of thy heart; and remember that the true hope of the Noldor lieth in the West, and cometh from the Sea.’ But Turgon was become proud, and Gondolin as beautiful as a memory of Elven Tirion, and he trusted still in his secret and impregnable strength, though even a Vala should gainsay it; and after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad the people of that city desired never again to mingle in the woes of Elves and Men without, nor to return through dread and danger into the West.

Related Characters: Melkor/Morgoth, Turgon, Tuor, Ulmo

Related Symbols: The Silmarils

Page Number and Citation: 240

Explanation and Analysis:

Ulmo Character Timeline in The Silmarillion

The timeline below shows where the character Ulmo appears in The Silmarillion. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

The Ainur contemplate different aspects of Arda as they observe it. Ulmo, a great musician, thinks of water. The noblest Ainur, Manwë, thinks of wind and air.... (full context)

...Music. They spend “uncounted” ages constructing Arda, and Melkor meddles with everything Manwë, Aulë, and Ulmo create. Melkor attempts to declare himself the king of Arda, but Manwë leads the other... (full context)

...by the elves and called Elbereth. Melkor fears and hates her more than anyone else. Ulmo, the Lord of Waters, loves elves and men but doesn’t often come to land. His... (full context)

...handmaid of Varda, Eönwë, the herald of Manwë, and Ossë and Uinen, the vassals of Ulmo. Melkor almost succeeds in convincing Ossë to join him, but is thwarted by Ossë’s wife... (full context)

...their absence, Melkor wanders unchecked. Manwë rules Valinor peacefully, Aulë works as a craftsman, and Ulmo resides in the ocean, ensuring that water and life still run through Middle-earth. Yavanna travels... (full context)

The elves fear the sea that separates Middle-earth from Valinor until Ulmo comes to Beleriand to talk to them and play music. Ulmo uproots an island and... (full context)

Ossë calls out after the Teleri on their voyage, and they beg Ulmo to stop. Ulmo sets the island down in the Bay of Eldamar, and the Teleri... (full context)

...who can’t comprehend evil, believes that Melkor is cured of it and grants his pardon. Ulmo and Tulkas aren’t deceived by Melkor but can’t disobey Manwë. (full context)

...peaceful years after the first sunrise, Turgon and Finrod, traveling together, receive a vision from Ulmo urging them to prepare for Morgoth’s attack. While a guest of Thingol, Finrod has the... (full context)

...secretly constructs a citadel called Gondolin, the Hidden Rock. As he prepares to travel there, Ulmo tells Turgon that he’ll hide the city’s entrance, and that it will last the longest... (full context)

If Gondolin does fall, Ulmo predicts that someone will come from Nevrast to warn Turgon, and that person will bring... (full context)

...While fighting orcs, they’re cut off from their company and protected by a mist from Ulmo before Thorondor carries them to safety in the city of Gondolin. (full context)

...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... (full context)

...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... (full context)

Túrin refuses to listen to Ulmo’s warning and instead leads Nargothrond’s forces out to fight Morgoth’s army. The orc armies, aided... (full context)

...orcs and enslaved before his eventual escape, then lives as an outlaw. At that time, Ulmo chooses Tuor to carry out his plans. Tuor travels through a tunnel built by Turgon’s... (full context)

...with the sea. He finds Turgon’s abandoned home and takes the sword and armor that Ulmo commanded Turgon to leave for him before departing for Gondolin. In a storm, Ulmo urges... (full context)

Tuor meets with Turgon and delivers Ulmo’s warning that the curse of Mandos is almost complete. Ulmo urges him to abandon Gondolin... (full context)

At that time, Ulmo visits the other Valar and asks them to save the elves from Morgoth, but Manwë... (full context)

Ulmo carries Elwing out of the water and turns her into a bird with the Silmaril... (full context)

Ulmo Character Analysis

Ulmo Quotes in The Silmarillion

Chapter 23 Quotes

Ulmo Character Timeline in The Silmarillion