Middle Earth Challenge: The Tale of Tinúviel

“…It is a long tale…” — Aragorn

This one is a little different. As the The Tale of Tinúviel is really the first chapter in the novel The book of Lost Tales Vol. 2. I kinda felt I should write about this before the I write about Beren and Lúthien. Now the Book of Lost Tales Vol. 1 & 2, cover of events that happen in the first age of Middle Earth. They also go with the The Silmarillion to add support to the events and stories within that novel as well.

In the story of The Tale of Tinúviel it is the earliest version of Lúthien(but in this story she is named Tinúviel) writen by Tolkien in 1917. It’s a complex tale of the love between her and Beren and the quest/adventure they have to get the Silmaril. **Spoilers** it also tells the stories of the deaths of Finrod Felagund, Draugluin, Carcharoth, Huan (Beren’s wolf-hound), and the tragic death of Beren.

The Silmarils is the jewels of the Fëanor. Made with the essence of the two trees of Valinor. Said to be the most prized wonders that would made by the Elves. It was this that started the War of the Jewels and ended the first age of Middle Earth. Now much this tale is told again in the novel The Silmarillion as the epic poem The Lay of Leithian and it does not differ much. In the Lord of the Rings, Aragorn told Frodo of the story Beren and Lúthien. Plus the fact the both Aragorn and Arwen were both descendants of Beren and Lúthien.

It is also said that the tale of Aragorn and Arwen were to act a follow up to the Beren and Lúthien love story. So the themes are similar to each other and Tolkien also mirrored his relationship with his wife within these stories. In 2017 Christopher Tolkien wrote and worked on a 3 part series of the first age of Middle Earth. Beren and Lúthien became the first, taking the tales from Vol 1 & 2 and the works from the Silmarillion. Plus with the note from his father Christopher was able to make a book out of their quest.

Fun History Facts:

• Tinúviel is only known by that name, which in this version is her given name and not an epithet given by Beren; the name Lúthien never appears.

• Tevildo, “Prince of Cats”, is the precursor to the later character of Sauron.

• Tinwelint was the name of the King of Artanor, who later would be changed to Thingol, King of Doriath.

• Gwendeling was the name of Tinwelint’s wife, who later would be changed to the Maia Melian, Queen of Doriath.

• Umuiyan is a character who is Tevildo’s doorkeeper.

• Karkaras is the name of the beast-villain who later would be the wolf Carcharoth.

• When Beren cuts the Silmaril from Melkor’s crown, he uses a kitchen-knife of Tevildo’s in this tale. Later, Angrist is what he uses instead.

• Glorund the dragon is mentioned, who later becomes Glaurung.

• Two named giants are mentioned, Nan and Gilim. In a certain song that Tinúviel sings, they are noted for their length of sword and height of neck, respectively. (Nan’s sword is said to be named Glend).