Who truly stands out as the greatest in Middle Earth lore?

[Turin_Turambar]

There are very important characters that are not on the list, but I have included the most important and famous ones as much as I could. Who do you think is the biggest and most important figure and character of Middle Earth mythology? I say Turin because;
He traveled all over Beleriand
He fought alongside Sindar Elves, Noldor Elves, and Haleth Men.
He was a military leader in Doriath and Nargothrond, two of the three greatest elven kingdoms of the First Age.
He killed Glaurung, the character who killed the most elves and humans in the first age and destroyed armies single-handedly.
According to the prophecy of Andreth, he fought in the War of Wrath and slew the greatest dragon Ancalagon.
In Dagor Dagorath, he killed the most powerful being of the Middle Earth universe Melkor.
And as one of the children of the valar, he was brought to the level of divinity.
Please everyone be honest and think objectively. There is no other character that has had such a profound impact on Middle Earth mythology as Turin.

 

[Glorfindel Goldtress]

I vote for Eärendil because it was he who plead the case for both Men and Elves, convincing the Valar to fight Morgoth. Middle-Earth's history hinges on his bravery to sail and not give up when he couldn't find a way at first. Ever after, he sails the night sky with the Silmaril on his brow, and eventually he takes part in the War of Wrath, killing Ancalagon the Black. Eärendil, not knowing what the outcome would be initially, sacrificed all to save Middle-Earth.

 

[HALETH✒🗡]

I think there should also be an option to vote for Eru.

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

I think there should also be an option to vote for Eru.

The correct answer clearly, but then there would be no discussion. 😆

 

[Ent]

Well yes, I thought of Eru too, because without him none of the others would exist to 'do their bit' in his themes, much less Arda itself, etc.
But then... I got really radical. I personally chose Tolkien, as I believe he's very much "in" Middle-earth too... but for most, he's even more 'unseen' than Eru. Without him though, there would simply be no Middle-earth mythology.

I'll shut up now...

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

No Tom Bombadil?

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

I'm just going to say Aulë. People need some ground to walk on and build stuff with. Aulë probably put the most effort into repairing Melkor's disruptions, which otherwise would have made the ground an entirely inhospitable place for the Children of Eru to walk. Also, Aulë created the Dwarves. After being brought to life by Eru, the Dwarves certainly had their own part to play in all the events of the world that followed, alongside the Elves and Men.

 

[Turin_Turambar]

I think there should also be an option to vote for Eru.

Eru is the one god in the real universe. In other words, the god in Islam and Christianity is Eru in Middle Earth mythology. Middle earth mythology is just an alternative fictional universe created by the real god.

 

[Turin_Turambar]

Well yes, I thought of Eru too, because without him none of the others would exist to 'do their bit' in his themes, much less Arda itself, etc.
But then... I got really radical. I personally chose Tolkien, as I believe he's very much "in" Middle-earth too... but for most, he's even more 'unseen' than Eru. Without him though, there would simply be no Middle-earth mythology.

I'll shut up now...

Eru is actually one God who created the middle earth. So it represents God who created the real universe. That's why it is off the list.

 

[Turin_Turambar]

No Tom Bombadil?

I did not include Tom Bombadil in the list because he did not have much participation in the major wars and events in Middle Earth.

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

I did not include Tom Bombadil in the list because he did not have much participation in the major wars and events in Middle Earth.

But the whole theme of Tolkien's writing is about not glorifying war. For example:

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."

"War will make corpses of us all."

"The Shire must truly be a great realm, Master Gamgee, where gardeners are held in high honor."

I think if we're looking at who Tolkien would consider most important to his own mythology, we have to evaluate it from his point of view. Tolkien says repeatedly that war is not to be glorified or romanticized, and to live a small and humble life is a higher ideal than dying gloriously in battle. And considering that Tom Bombadil is actually one of Tolkien's self-inserts into the story, and he is "The Eldest" and has great powers, I'd say Tom Bombadil is pretty important to Tolkien.

I vote for Eärendil because it was he who plead the case for both Men and Elves, convincing the Valar to fight Morgoth. Middle-Earth's history hinges on his bravery to sail and not give up when he couldn't find a way at first. Ever after, he sails the night sky with the Silmaril on his brow, and eventually he takes part in the War of Wrath, killing Ancalagon the Black. Eärendil, not knowing what the outcome would be initially, sacrificed all to save Middle-Earth.

I think this is a good answer because Eärendil was actually the first character Tolkien created in this universe, and he sparked the rest of the myths of The Silmarillion, and later on LotR and The Hobbit.

 

[EstelRhiw]

I am surprised to see less focus on Fëanor. His actions are so influential in the Middle-earth mythology that maybe we take them for granted... his actions are the catalyst for almost all the actions of almost all of the characters on this list, even figures such as Melkor, Manwë, Ulmo, etc. His life and the Silmarils are so fundamental to the development of Middle-earth that maybe we only look at his as a backdrop for everyone else.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

I think how I view this is who had the most consistent presence over the ages which would lead to me picking Sauron. His influence can be seen in almost all of morgoth's plans and the decisions of some of the greatest elven lords and of the edain.

 

[LaurelinBearsFruit]

As far as importance in the turning of the pages of history and the succession of events concerning the Three Kindreds, I would say Ulmo. He was always present in ME and was one of the few Vala to still appear clad in physical form to give messages and warnings to the Children. And his power is still to be felt by all the Children, even if they are not actively aware of what they sense in the music of the waters.

 

[ZehnWaters]

ALL of the story hinges on Melkor turning evil. He afflicted the very matter of Arda. As far as the story is concerned he has the most importance and is the "greatest" as far as impact.

 

[Aldarion]

I think there should also be an option to vote for Eru.

Eru isn't a character though, he's the scriptwriter.

When it comes to characters, though, this:

ALL of the story hinges on Melkor turning evil. He afflicted the very matter of Arda. As far as the story is concerned he has the most importance and is the "greatest" as far as impact.

 

[Turin_Turambar]

But the whole theme of Tolkien's writing is about not glorifying war. For example:





I think if we're looking at who Tolkien would consider most important to his own mythology, we have to evaluate it from his point of view. Tolkien says repeatedly that war is not to be glorified or romanticized, and to live a small and humble life is a higher ideal than dying gloriously in battle. And considering that Tom Bombadil is actually one of Tolkien's self-inserts into the story, and he is "The Eldest" and has great powers, I'd say Tom Bombadil is pretty important to Tolkien.


I think this is a good answer because Eärendil was actually the first character Tolkien created in this universe, and he sparked the rest of the myths of The Silmarillion, and later on LotR and The Hobbit.

I guess the first sentence belongs to Thorin Oakenshield. According to Tolkien, if living a small and humble modest life in Middle Earth mythology is more higher ideal than fighting in wars, this really shows that Tolkien is a very peaceful and humble person who does not attach importance to violence. Also, I learned for the first time that a humble life in Middle Earth is more higher ideal than fighting in wars. You really enlightened me with your answer, thank you very much.

As for Tom Bombadil, it is not known that Tom Bombadil interacts with the Silmarillion and LOTR characters (except Frodo). Yes, as you mentioned, he is a very powerful character, in fact, in my opinion, Tom Bombadil is the most powerful being after Melkor and I think Tom Bombadil can even defeat Tulkas. But my question is less about power and more about the greatest interaction and achievement in mythology.

 

[Turin_Turambar]

I am surprised to see less focus on Fëanor. His actions are so influential in the Middle-earth mythology that maybe we take them for granted... his actions are the catalyst for almost all the actions of almost all of the characters on this list, even figures such as Melkor, Manwë, Ulmo, etc. His life and the Silmarils are so fundamental to the development of Middle-earth that maybe we only look at his as a backdrop for everyone else.

In my opinion, if Feanor had not made the silmarils, Melkor would still have waged war against the Valar and the Elves and escaped to Middle Earth. And most of the wars in the Silmarillion would still have happened. So, in my opinion, the wars in the Silmarillion could still have happened again if there were no Silmarils. Because Melkor was obsessed with returning to evil again. So he didn't kill Finwe just for the Silmarils. If it weren't for the Silmarils, he would still have declared war on the Valar and the Elves as before.

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

According to Tolkien, if living a small and humble modest life in Middle Earth mythology is more higher ideal than fighting in wars, this really shows that Tolkien is a very peaceful and humble person who does not attach importance to violence. Also, I learned for the first time that a humble life in Middle Earth is more higher ideal than fighting in wars. You really enlightened me with your answer, thank you very much.

You're welcome, glad my answer helped you out!

See, Tolkien fought in the trenches of World War I, which was one of the most horrible and gruesome places to fight in all of human history. You were stuck in these muddy trenches, and due to the moisture and enclosed spaces, diseases spread rampantly there. Plus, if I remember correctly, I believe there was some incident like an explosion or something that killed a bunch of Tolkien's friends, and he was the lone survivor. In his writing, you can really feel the grief and heartbreak he feels from war and what it does to people.

Now, he understood war to be a "necessary evil" of sorts for defending your homeland and innocents. He's not saying we shouldn't fight to defend what we love. But he points out time and time again that there's nothing glorious about a dying a gruesome death on the battlefield, and if everyone focused on the blessings given to them and living a peaceful and humble life, the world would be a better place.

Eowyn's character arc is a perfect example of this. She starts off yearning for the glory of war, and she fully intends to die on the battlefield. But instead she's wounded and survives. For a while she's bitter about it because she didn't get the glorious end she yearned for, and eventually it's Faramir who teaches her that living on is better than a glorious death.

In The Silmarillion, these themes are less explicit and not spelled out as clearly as they are in LotR, but they're still there. The wars surrounding the Silmarils were not glorious, but rather miserable and tragic, and the "epic quest" to reclaim the Silmarils only brought pain, misery, grief and ultimately death to everyone involved.

 

[Glorfindel Goldtress]

Plus, if I remember correctly, I believe there was some incident like an explosion or something that killed a bunch of Tolkien's friends, and he was the lone survivor.

I did not know this!!! 🥺 Thank you for sharing. Tolkien's a miracle, guys!

he points out time and time again that there's nothing glorious about a dying a gruesome death on the battlefield, and if everyone focused on the blessings given to them and living a peaceful and humble life, the world would be a better place.

Indeed as you said, this is so true in all his writing! I can see with this additional story why Tolkien would so fervently uphold this.