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1
How is The Silmarillion related to The Lord of the Rings trilogy?
The Silmarillion essentially offers a background and history to The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is set before The Hobbit, focusing on the First Age of Middle Earth. The book covers the lore, mythology, and history which is referenced by characters in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. As such, we might see this as a kind of fictional history book.
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2
Who is the antagonist of this book?
There are two antagonists in this book: Melkor and Sauron. Melkor (also known as Morgoth) was the first Dark Lord, who introduced evil and disharmony into Middle Earth. Sauron is Melkor's apprentice, who follows his path of destruction, greed and control.
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3
How is the idea of order explored in this text?
On the one hand, order is presented as a desirable state to exist in. For example, Sauron was respected by his peers for his orderly and perfectionist nature. However, Tolkein shows that a desire for order can sometimes transgress into a need for control. As we see in the text, Sauron's desire for order makes him thirst for complete control over Middle Earth. This is something we see throughout history, as authoritarian ideologies are often motivated by an underlying desire for order.
The Silmarillion Essay Questions
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Essay Questions
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