The Lamps and the Trees

The first section focuses on the sources of light in Middle-earth. The World was dark and the Valar recognized the need for light. The Quenta describes the building of the Lamps whereas the Sketch jumps right into the overthrow of the Lamps by Morgoth. He is named in the Sketch "Demon of Dark" (p. 11, The Shaping of Middle-earth). Another lovely title. 

Both the Sketch and Quenta describe the Valar's retreat to the uttermost West and the building of Valinor. In Valinor the Valar built their great mansions and halls. "But Manwë and Varda have halls upon the highest of the Mountains of Valinor, whence they can look across the world even into the East" (p. 80, The Shaping of Middle-earth). Removed but not unseeing.

After the fortication of Valinor Yavanna planted the Two Trees--"...about their fate all the stories of the world are woven" (p. 80, The Shaping of Middle-earth). I am not well read in other mythologies but the idea of trees illuminating the land seems unique to me (let me know if that idea is found elsewhere!). Alas, "...Men have no names for them, for their light was slain before the coming of the younger children of Ilúvatar upon the earth" (p. 81, The Shaping of Middle-earth). 

Their is also a replacement passage given with this section that must have been written sometime later. There are elements in it (such has Yavanna's song and Nienna's tears) that strongly resemble the published Silmarillion.