Abandoning the Lost Tales

I've come to the last chapter of the first book of The History of Middle-earth series by Christopher Tolkien. The Tale being told was that of the trials of the Noldoli and the Coming of Men by a new character, Gilfanon. "It was here that my father abandoned the Lost Tales - or more accurately, abandoned those that still waited to be written; and the effects of this withdrawal never ceased to be felt throughout the history of 'The Silmarillion'. The major stories to follow Gilfanon's, those of Beren and Tinúviel, Túrin Turambar, the Fall of Gondolin, and the Necklace of the Dwarves, had been written (in the first three cases) rewritten; and the last of these was to lead on to the 'great tale of Eärendel'. But that was not even begun. Thus the Lost Tales lack their middle, and their end" (p. 231, The Book of Lost Tales - Volume I). I so admire and enjoy all of Tolkien's writings on Middle-earth but the stories from the Silmarillion are by far my favorite. I grieve the fact that they were never truly completed by Tolkien.

Gilfanon's Tale, in its brief few pages, highlights the spoke of the Elves in the Great Lands. There are a few mysterious characters such as Tû the wizard (who, in one outline, was in league with Melko) and Nuin the Dark Elf. Nuin, being a wanderer, stumbled upon Murmenalda (the Vale of Sleep), and discovered sleeping children of Men. Christopher Tolkien notes the tale essentially breaks off at this point. However several outlines (A, B, C, and D) project the story further.  I will highlight some of the points in the outlines:

•   Tû explained to Nuin these were the younger Children of Ilúvatar and forbade any Elves from going to Murmenalda

•   Nuin still went eventually waking two (Ermon and Elmir) and teaching the language. They were the first Men to see the Sun rise

•   Úvanimor (monsters, giants, and ogres of Melko) appear and Tû protects Elves and Men

•   A great battle is fought and some Men are corrupted by Melko

•   A later outline explains that Tû faded with the coming Sun

•   As for the Noldoli: their movements and camps are highlighted

•   The Noldoli meet Ilkorins (Elves who did not go to Valinor)

•   The death Fëanor and the birth of Turgon (with prophecies)

•   For the first time Maidros appears along with the Oath of Fëanor's seven sons against any and all who withheld a Silmaril

•   A great gathering of Noldoli, Men (Ermon's folk), and Ilkorins fought Melko's forces

•   The Battle of Unnumbered Tears, the last stand of the Children of Úrin, Turgon's escape (and rescue of women and children) and disappearance, aided by Mablon the Ilkorin's sacrifice

•   The wrath of Melko

Many of these points mirror what remained in the published work. It never ceases to impress me how Tolkien's meta ideas remained throughout his writings. Names, locations, small details changed many times over but the big ideas rarely moved. Not to say there weren't differences. Christopher Tolkien points out some big ones: What takes centuries in The Silmarillion seems to be condensed in a very short amount of time in these early Tales. Another big change was that Gondolin was founded after the Battle of Unnumbered Tears not long before it. Of this Christopher Tolkien writes: "After the story was changed, and the founding of Gondolin was placed far earlier, the concluding part of The Silmarillion was never brought into harmony; and this was a main source of difficulty in the preparation of the published work" (p. 245, The Book of Lost Tales - Volume I). 

There are some who do not feel the published Silmarillion is J.R.R. Tolkien's work as his son, Christopher, sought to publish the work posthumously and was required to make editorial decision for a deceased author. I can appreciate the validity of this perspective. I do not agree with it however. I'd much rather have additional writings, as many as possible, from Professor Tolkien even if some editorial decisions were made without him. And given the relationship between father and son and how integral Christopher was in his father's writings (as will be seen) I feel the best possible person available made those decisions. Unlike myself if you've read this blog. My ultimate goal would be to integrate as much into the published works from materials like The Book of Lost Tales or Unfinished Tales which will involve editorial decisions I have no qualifications to make. Which is why, of course, that little project will be for my eyes only.