Light Symbol in The Silmarillion

In The Silmarillion, light, which takes many forms, symbolizes beauty, reason, hope, and creativity. Light appears first as the Flame Imperishable, the part of Ilúvatar’s power that gives life, brings things into being, and forms the heart of the world. The Flame Imperishable is divine light (reminiscent of the biblical Holy Spirit, which sometimes appears as flame), and all light created afterwards by the Valar has a symbolic connection to Ilúvatar, mirroring his goodness and creative power. Light is also found in the two Lamps created by the Valar, which foster the growth of the plants and animals on Middle-earth. That light is destroyed, however, when Melkor breaks the Lamps and their fire rages across the Isle of Almaren. Melkor’s destructive fire—such as the sacrificial fire of his altar in Númenor and his fire spirit servants the Balrogs—complicates light as a symbol and corrupts it into a distorted parody of the Flame Imperishable.

After the destruction of the Lamps, Yavanna grows the Two Trees of Valinor, which produce living light untouched by evil. The Silmarillion also mentions something called the Light of Valinor, which refers both to the unsullied light of the Trees and the reason and righteousness of its inhabitants. The Light of Valinor can spread from the inhabitants of Valinor to the people of Middle-earth and is visible in the faces of those who embody Valinor’s goodness, beauty, and wisdom. While the Trees provide light for Valinor, Middle-earth is lit only by the stars, created by Varda and sacred to the elves. Later, the Star of Eärendil, one of the Silmarils that also contain the light of the Trees, becomes a sign of hope and a guiding light for the people of Middle-earth. Though the Silmarils are bitterly fought over, the beauty of the Star of Eärendil is shared by all. After Melkor and Ungoliant destroy the Trees and send the world into darkness, the Valar create the sun and moon from the remnants of the Trees to brighten Middle-earth and frighten Melkor into hiding.

Light Quotes in The Silmarillion

The The Silmarillion quotes below all refer to the symbol of Light. 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:

Never since have the Ainur made any music like to this music, though it has been said that a greater still shall be made before Ilúvatar by the choirs of the Ainur and the Children of Ilúvatar after the end of days. Then the themes of Ilúvatar shall be played aright, and take Being in the moment of their utterance, for all shall then understand fully his intent in their part, and each shall know the comprehension of each, and Ilúvatar shall give to their thoughts the secret fire, being well pleased.

Related Characters: Ilúvatar, Melkor/Morgoth

Related Symbols: Light

Page Number and Citation: 15

Explanation and Analysis:

Thus ere the Valar were aware, the peace of Valinor was poisoned. The Noldor began to murmur against them, and many became filled with pride, forgetting how much of what they had and knew came to them in gift from the Valar. Fiercest burned the new flame of desire for freedom and wider realms in the eager heart of Fëanor; and Melkor laughed in his secrecy, for to that mark his lies had been addressed, hating Fëanor above all, and lusting ever for the Silmarils. But these he was not suffered to approach […] for Fëanor began to love the Silmarils with a greedy love, and grudged the sight of them to all save to his father and his seven sons; he seldom remembered now that the light within them was not his own.

Related Characters: Melkor/Morgoth, Fëanor, Finwë

Related Symbols: Light, The Silmarils

Page Number and Citation: 68-69

Explanation and Analysis:

Then perforce Morgoth surrendered to her the gems that he bore with him, one by one and grudgingly; and she devoured them, and their beauty perished from the world. Huger and darker yet grew Ungoliant, but her lust was unsated. ‘With one hand thou givest,’ she said; ‘with the left only. Open thy right hand.’

In his right hand Morgoth held close the Silmarils, and though they were locked in a crystal casket, they had begun to burn him, and his hand was clenched in pain; but he would not open it. ‘Nay!’ he said. ‘Thou has had thy due. For with my power that I put into thee thy work was accomplished. I need thee no more. These things thou shalt not have, nor see. I name them unto myself for ever.’

Related Characters: Melkor/Morgoth (speaker), Ungoliant (speaker), Fëanor

Related Symbols: Light, Darkness , The Silmarils

Page Number and Citation: 80

Explanation and Analysis:

Farewell sweet earth and northern sky
for ever blest, since here did lie
and here with lissome limbs did run
beneath the Moon, beneath the Sun,
Lúthien Tinúviel
more fair than mortal tongue can tell.
Though all to ruin fell the world
and were dissolved and backward hurled
unmade into the old abyss,
yet were its making good, for this—
the dusk, the dawn, the earth, the sea—
that Lúthien for a time should be.

Related Characters: Beren (speaker), Ilúvatar, Melkor/Morgoth, Lúthien

Related Symbols: Light, The Silmarils

Page Number and Citation: 178

Explanation and Analysis:

Thus was the treachery of Uldor redressed; and of all the deeds of war that the fathers of Men wrought in behalf of the Eldar, the last stand of the Men of Dor-lómin is most renowned.

[…]

Last of all Húrin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed; and it is sung that the axe smoked in the black blood of the troll-guard of Gothmog until it withered, and each time that he slew Húrin cried: ‘Aurë entuluva! Day shall come again!’

Related Characters: Húrin (speaker), Melkor/Morgoth, Fëanor, Maedhros, Turgon, Fingon, Gothmog

Related Symbols: Light

Page Number and Citation: 195

Explanation and Analysis:

‘If it be truly the Silmaril which we saw cast into the sea that rises again by the power of the Valar, then let us be glad; for its glory is seen now by many, and is yet secure from all evil.’ Then the Elves looked up, and despaired no longer; but Morgoth was filled with doubt.

Related Characters: Maglor (speaker), Melkor/Morgoth, Fëanor, Eärendil, Elwing, Maedhros

Related Symbols: Light, The Silmarils

Page Number and Citation: 250

Explanation and Analysis:

Light Symbol Timeline in The Silmarillion

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

...to make “Great Music.” He reveals that since he gave the Ainur something called the “Flame Imperishable,” they each have the power to create variations within their individual part of the... (full context)

Greed, Jealousy, and Obsession Theme Icon

...Before the beginning of the song, Melkor often went to the Void looking for the Flame Imperishable because he wanted the power to create new Beings, like Ilúvatar can. He never... (full context)

...vision to become real, so he says, “Eä! Let these things Be!” and sends the Flame Imperishable into the Void to form the heart of the World. Some of the Ainur... (full context)

...purposes and is appointed King of Arda. His wife is Varda, the Lady of the Stars, who is revered by the elves and called Elbereth. Melkor fears and hates her more... (full context)

...period of peace follows, and the Valar finish the construction of the world. To provide light, Aulë makes two lamps, which Varda fills and Manwë blesses before they’re placed on pillars... (full context)

...he’s returned. Before the Valar can find his hiding place, Melkor attacks, breaking the two lamps and spilling fire across Arda, then hides away again. The Valar focus their attention on... (full context)

...the city of Valmar, Yavanna sings a song that grows two trees. One—named Telperion—sheds white light and has flowers that produce silver dew, and the other—named Laurelin—sheds golden light and has... (full context)

Middle-earth remains in twilight, lit only by Varda’s stars, and the Valar rarely visit it. In their absence, Melkor... (full context)

...the Valar that the elves are fated to wake up in darkness, under only the light of the stars. Varda, who already created stars, leaves the council and begins the “greatest... (full context)

...“filled with wonder” seeing the elves, and names them the Eldar (the people of the stars), but many of the elves are afraid of Oromë since Melkor has plagued them with... (full context)

...Sea-elves. The elves that make it to Valinor are collectively called the Elves of the Light. Other members of the Eldar don’t complete the journey, becoming lost on the road or... (full context)

...appears tall and gray-haired, like one of the Maiar. Though he wants to see the light of Valinor’s Trees again, he’s content to see the same light visible in Melian’s face. (full context)

...Bay of Eldamar, and the Teleri stay there in sight of Valinor but under the stars. It becomes known as Tol Eresseä, or the Lonely Isle. Both the Valar and Finwë... (full context)

...children are Finrod, Orodreth, Angrod, Aegnor, and Galadriel, whose hair is as golden as Laurelin’s light. (full context)

In the peaceful days after the arrival of the Eldar, Fëanor (meaning Spirit of Fire) is born. After his... (full context)

...Though Fëanor becomes influenced by Melkor’s malice towards the Valar, he’s driven only “by the fire of his own heart” and acts alone. (full context)

...a new idea—or possibly has some premonition of his fate—about how he can preserve the light of the Trees of Valinor. Using all of his craft and skill, he creates the... (full context)

...Ungoliant lives. Taking the shape of a monstrous spider, she has the power to consume light and use it to spin webs of darkness. The elves believe she might have descended... (full context)

...and uses her webs to climb over the mountains that surround Valinor. Melkor sees the light of the Two Trees and laughs. (full context)

At the hour when the light of the Trees mingles, Melkor and Ungoliant arrive in Valinor as a dark cloud. Melkor... (full context)

The Valar gather around the dead Trees beneath Varda’s stars. Yavanna declares that, though she can’t remake the Trees, she can revive them with the... (full context)

...and, assuming Fingolfin will return to Valinor, burns the Teleri’s ships. Fingolfin’s people see the fires and realize they’ve been betrayed. Not yet weary, they refuse to return to Valinor in... (full context)

...flower and fruit, then gives them to Varda, who places them in the sky as lamps and gives them the power to travel on appointed paths. The Valar resolve to bring... (full context)

Telperion’s flower, steered through the sky by the Maia Tilion, becomes the moon, and Laurelin’s fruit, led by Arien, becomes the sun. Arien, a spirit of fire, cared... (full context)

When the sun (named Anar) rises, Morgoth is dismayed. Varda planned for the sun and moon to remain... (full context)

The light of the sun and moon isn’t the same as the light of the Trees before... (full context)

The first time the sun rises, men wake up in the land of Hildórien in the east of Middle-earth. They... (full context)

...then curses Morgoth and warns his sons to keep their oaths. When he dies, the fire of his spirit immediately burns his body to ash. He’s never been seen again in... (full context)

As the sun rises, Morgoth’s armies flee into Angband and Fingolfin leads his Noldor up to the gates... (full context)

Thirty peaceful years after the first sunrise, Turgon and Finrod, traveling together, receive a vision from Ulmo urging them to prepare for... (full context)

Aredhel isn’t unwilling to be married, but Eöl forbids her from seeking sunlight or meeting any of the Noldor. They have a son, who Eöl names Maeglin, meaning... (full context)

...about where they came from, only that they’ve left a darkness behind them and seek light in Beleriand. The elves don’t know for certain, but it’s said that Morgoth went among... (full context)

...The men of Beleriand grow nobler than the men elsewhere who don’t know about the light of Valinor. (full context)

...considers attacking Angband to destroy Morgoth’s threat to them. However, the Noldor aren’t eager to start a war during a period of peace. Before they can agree, Morgoth attacks suddenly in... (full context)

...who emerges in black armor, looming over Fingolfin. Fingolfin gleams under his shadow “like a star” with his silver armor and glittering sword. (full context)

...until only Húrin stands. He wields his axe with both hands, killing orcs and shouting, “day shall come again,” a modified version of Fingon’s earlier battle cry, until he’s taken captive. (full context)

...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,... (full context)

...king after Turgon. The next year, Tuor and Idril have a son, Eärendil, who has light in his face and loves the sea like his father. Meanwhile, Morgoth searches the mountains... (full context)

...no hope left in Middle-earth, Eärendil and Elwing sail again to find Valinor. The Silmaril’s light brightens as they travel farther west—with its power, they pass through the Enchanted Isles and... (full context)

...sails back to Valinor to visit Elwing, who dislikes the dark and cold but learns flight from the birds. When the people of Middle-earth first see Eärendil’s light, they call it... (full context)

...dragon Ancalagon and throws him down onto the towers of Thangorodrim, collapsing them. As the sun rises, the dragons are dead and the Valar are victorious. (full context)

...Silmaril is void and his oath is pointless. In despair, he throws himself into a fiery chasm with the Silmaril. Maglor, unable to bear the pain of holding the Silmaril, throws... (full context)

...a land near Valinor for them to live in. They sail from Middle-earth, following Eärendil’s star to reach it, and call it Númenor. They rename themselves the Númenóreans, or the Dúnedain,... (full context)

While “light and wisdom” fade from Middle-earth because of Morgoth’s servants, the Dúnedain thrive in friendship with... (full context)

...Ar-Pharazôn cuts down the White Tree and Sauron uses it to fuel the altar of fire in a new temple where men make blood sacrifices to Melkor. They often use the... (full context)

...has changed, growing dark and stormy. Sometimes Manwë’s giant eagles approach from the west, carrying lightning that strikes Melkor’s temple, and Sauron spreads the rumor that they’re part of a plot... (full context)

...take the rings back. The elves flee with their three rings: Narya the ring of fire, Nenya the ring of water, and Vilya the ring of air. They’re the most powerful... (full context)

...refuses to give it to Elrond and Círdan, who plan to throw it into the fires of Mount Doom to destroy it and consequently weaken Sauron. Isildur calls the Ring compensation... (full context)

...Halfling travels to Mount Doom with his servant and throws the One Ring into its fires, destroying it. Sauron is defeated; his physical form is destroyed, and his spirit becomes powerless. (full context)

The Silmarillion

J.R.R. Tolkien

Light Symbol Analysis

Light Quotes in The Silmarillion

Light Symbol Timeline in The Silmarillion