Orgulas' Ainulindalë - Summary

[Desi Baggins]

Ainulindalë - Summary

Eru Ilúvatar, the One, first created the Ainur, the Holy Ones. He showed them themes of music, which they sang for him, and as they sang they learned to understand each other’s part in the greater whole. Finally Ilúvatar called them together to show them a greater theme as he had never given before, and when they sang the void places no longer was empty but filled with marvellous melodies and harmony. However Melkor, the greatest of the Ainur, wanted to add his own imagination to the theme, even while those thoughts didn’t correspond to the theme Ilúvatar had given and brought disharmony to the whole. Melkor longed for greater power and the ability to create life of his own. Ilúvatar listened for a while to the turbulent music, until he finally stood up to give the Ainur a second theme. It brought new harmony, until Melkor’s own music rose again. When Ilúvatar changed the theme for a third time, it was as if two different plays were brought, differing greatly of each other.

Ilúvatar ended the music and spoke. He told the Ainur none of them should play a theme that didn’t originate in him, for that the one who tried would only show to be his instrument to bring wonderful things the Ainur’s mind would not have seen otherwise. Ilúvatar then brought them to the void places and to show what their music had brought forth. He showed them a vision of the world Arda, and the Ainur saw in it much they had not thought of themselves, like the coming of the Children of Ilúvatar. The Children of Ilúvatar were Elves and Men, who only came from Ilúvatar’s mind, and to who he had given Arda to live in. Many of the most powerful Ainur focussed their thoughts and their desire on this world. Amongst them was Melkor, who controlled the heath and cold and wanted to use his powers to form Arda. But also he desired to subject the Children of Ilúvatar to his will. The Ainu Ulmo had focussed his song on water, the substance that contained most of the echo of the music. Manwë, the noblest of the Ainur, and the one who had taken the lead in composing Ilúvatar’s theme, had thought most of the air and winds. Aulë had given his attention to the materials of the earth, but unlike Melkor he found honour in the deed of the creation and not in the possession of what he had made. Ilúvatar spoke to Ulmo and showed him Melkor’s heath and cold had not destroyed the fountains of water, but instead had created ice, clouds and rain, things Ulmo hadn’t thought of. In the clouds and rain, Ulmo was brought closer to Manwë, the Ainur of the air.

Ilúvatar took away the vision, leaving the Ainur to darkness, but he knew what was in their hearts. Therefore he created Eä, the world that exists, to which the Ainur descended and to which their powers were bound to until the end. But the world was not like in the vision they had seen, and they understood they still had to prepare it for the coming of the Children. They began their greatest efforts, of which Manwë, Aulë and Ulmo had the greatest part. But also Melkor was there, and he claimed Arda as his kingdom and wanted to form it as he wanted. Manwë opposed him and called many of the lesser Ainur to him so Melkor could not hinder them in their labour. The Valar, as they were called by the Elves, took form to dwell upon Arda in beauty, and also Melkor did, but his shape was dark because of the evil in him. The Children of Ilúvatar know only little of the first war of the Valar against Melkor, as the Valar did not wish to speak about it, but they know Melkor undid many of the Valar’s creations. He brought down mountains, undid depths and changed everything in a way the Valar did not intend, but even he could not prevent Arda to be prepared for the coming of the Children.

The Ainulindalë is not a part of the actual Quenta Silmarillion. Why was it important to add it according to you? Do you like this piece?

Who is Ilúvatar and who are the Ainur?

What is the purpose of the themes of music Ilúvatar presents to the Ainur?

What do you think the Ainur saw in the vision of Arda? How came this vision into existance?

What about Melkor? An interesting discussion about this Ainu you can find here on the Tolkien and Christianity forum.

Remember you don't need to stick on these questions only. You can add all your thoughts on this part in here, or create a new topic for deeper discussion on a particular matter.