Of Greg and The Silmarillion
The harrowing tale of one male millennial's fourth grade class, Middle-Earth role-playing, and a few Gospel inspired reflections on his favorite Silmarillion passages.
In the third year of the second age, in that blessed realm, Öak Pǎrk, Grég the Gaunt, son of Mìchaél the Mirthful and Jôan the Jovial, happened for the first time, upon the Quenta Silmarillion.
-tales from the strange mind of this substack author
My first exposure to J.R.R Tolkien’s famous yet infamous, The Silmarillion, came in the winter of 2003. It was the noontide of fourth grade, Peter Jackson’s The Two Towers had just hit theaters (December 2002), and my teacher’s name was Ms. Tolkin! (So close!) Surely a greater Power was at work. While my fellowship of classmates and I discussed “The Battle of Helm’s Deep,” one of our number, Luke, came forth, and presented the volume to us. In no uncertain terms, Luke declared that watching the films wasn’t enough, and if we really liked The Lord of the Rings we had to read the books, one must read The Silmarillion. My Doom was sealed, though long delayed.
I didn’t know if Luke was strong with lore, but I did know that he was always Aragorn during recess and lunch-break battles for Middle-Earth. He had it all: the height, the hair, and the gravitas. If you didn’t immediately assume that yours truly was always the Witch-King of Angmar, Lord of Minas Morgul, and Lord of the Nine, I’m not sure we can stay friends. I was that kid - lithe, deceptive, and clever. Although, it may have surprised you to know - especially if you beheld the fervor and speed with which I scurried about the playground, live-action-role-playing as a Ring-Wraith, chasing Frodo Baggins (Taylor) - I had read nary a single word from the works of Tolkien.
I was strong in the field of battle, but weak with lore.
“Well, I read all the appendices, and did you know, the family trees reveal that Aragorn and Arwen are technically cousins?” Luke exclaimed.
“Oh! No way! Gross!” said the other children. Yet, Grég the Gaunt, lied, though he knew not why, and said before the whole court “Yeah, Duh.”
-tales from the strange mind of this substack author
Twenty-one years later, I picked up the gauntlet laid down by Luke all those ages ago, and mastered my Doom long foretold. I read The Silmarillion.
What a masterpiece it was. It’s glorious, dense, and was canonically transcribed by Bilbo Baggins from the perspective, and in the style of an ancient race of ageless elves! (Hence, the “famous yet infamous” ascription I opened this post with.) For some readers, it is too nerdy for its own good. But not for this one.
The beauty with which Tolkien constructs and describes the world is unlike any literature I have ever encountered. The weight that his writing gives to every moment is at times crushing. Character choices hit you like a sword hilt to the heart, and leave you frantically reading more, in the hopes of their redemption, deliverance, success, and/or defeat. I can assure you, the rumors of Tolkien’s fantasy genius are true. Tolkien’s titles, The Beloved Father of Fantasy, and simply The Professor, are here well earned.
Furthermore, at its core, central to its excellence; and what ultimately makes The Silmarillion a transcendent masterpiece (meaning it has merit beyond its literary value) is its astonishing declaration of True Myth. Its literary composition has the same logos, ethos, and telos, as the true story, The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For those unfamiliar with the concept of True Myth, it asserts that there is one fundamental narrative arc to reality; and from this narrative arc, all stories, concepts, theologies, religions, legends, etc., find their foundation, and inspiration. In other words, all stories are founded upon, and flow from that true story. Tolkien, and myself, happen to believe that the true story is the Bible’s story. 1
Before the Tolkien super-fans come at me like Aragorn on Weathertop, it is not my intention to pigeonhole this masterpiece as a “religious reflection.” As a literary work of any genre, and of course the fantasy genre, it stands as a triumph of human creativity, and sub-creation. It is a wholly unique, and a remarkably inspiring work of art in its own right. Yet, as I lost myself in the wonder world of Arda (whether in Valinor, Beleriand, or Númenor) my heart couldn’t deny the Gospel themes crying out from the pages. The Silmarillion is bursting from its binding with True Myth.
Now, if you would like to oppose either of these claims: The Gospel as the True Myth- and The Silmarillion as entangled with it, please reach out in person. I’m well aware of Tolkien and the other Inklings distaste for allegory; and please note that I do not categorize Tolkien’s works as such. But, if you want a more nuanced discussion of this, I’d be happy to engage with you.
With all that said, I have to synthesize my experience reading this fantasy epic somehow, and therefore, am excited to share three of my favorite examples of True Myth found in The Silmarillion with you. Below, you will find quotes from the text paired with a passage from the Bible, which as I read The Silmarillion came to my mind. Each of these pairings is then followed by short reflection.
On the Sovereignty of Ilúvatar and God
“And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.”
The Ainulidalë
But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Genesis 50:19-20
My wholehearted belief in the truth of these passages is what makes the heartaches of this life tolerable. To know that all of the evil, crooked, and broken ends we suffer, even the very wills of those who seek to harm us, will in the end be the tiles and caulk in the mosaic of divine good - good beyond our wildest imagination - has buoyed my heart through pains innumerable. Divorce, death, and miscarriage, to categorize a few.
As I encountered this passage in The Silmarillion, my eyes welled with tears, and yet my heart soared, as I raised my voice in the song of redemption. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”2
On the Impotence of Fortresses and Idols
“But 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.”
Of the Noldor in Beleriand
What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies?For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols!
Habakkuk 2:18
If the previous passage anchors me - this one cuts me deep. It should cut us all deep. Idolatry is the sin, is it not? “Take and eat” said the serpent to Eve; and so says the serpent to me.
But, one of the most beautiful facets of Tolkien’s writings, and the good news of the Gospel, is their affirmation of creation. Tolkien, the inspired biblical authors, and God, are not anti-creation; and they certainly are not anti “works of thy hands.” The issue only arises when we love the work of our hands and heart too much as Tolkien says; or as the Psalmist warns us: we trust in creation over God. “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”3
On the Foolishness of the Wise
“[Elrond]: ‘Indeed in a second darkness [this age] will end, unless some strange chance deliver us that my eyes cannot see.’ ‘Many are the strange chances of the world,’ said [Gandalf], ‘and help oft shall come from the hands of the weak when the Wise falter.”
On the Rings of Power and the Third Age
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1 Corinthians 1:18-20
This is it y’all. This is the one quote to bring them all and in the Gospel bind them. This is the theme, this is the motif, that reaches out from Middle-Earth, grabs me by hand and drags me back to Jesus every time.
This is the Creation: What God would created beings rule?
This is the Incarnation: What God would make himself their servant?
This is the Cross: What God would die for his enemies?
This is the Resurrection: What God would rise for they that killed him?
This is the Ascension: What God would leave his work unfinished?
And this is the Revelation: “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.4
Thank you for reading. Please…
If you don’t believe me, read Tolkien’s Poem Mythopia, and do some research on why he wrote it.
1 Corinthians 15:55, KJV
Revelation 7:10, ESV
Romans 15:25-27, ESV
Love those parallels to scripture. The meta-history is wild…. Bilbo transcribing in the voice of ancient elves??? Wild
Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were contemporaries with very similar writing styles and backgrounds. I used to read their books with my children when I was homeschooling them many years ago.