Great Tales

The Great Tales is a collection of stories written by J.R.R. Tolkien about Middle-earth characters in the First Age. Other books such as The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and History of Middle-earth mention these stories as well. But independent volumes also emerged, such as Beren and Luthien, The Children of Hurin, and the Fall of Gondolin. An awaited sequel to the last book was the Tale of Earendel, which has not been written and released.

• The Children of Hurin - This tale is about the tragic life and fate of the children of Hurin (released in 2007).
• Beren and Luthien - This story tells of a Man and a Maiden Elf who defied all perils to retrieve the Silmaril jewels (released in 2017).
• The Fall of Gondolin - It narrates the epic clash of the Elves of Gondolin against Morgoth (released in 2018).
• The Tale of Earendel. Its first mention was in one chapter of The Book of Lost Tales II [1] and later in a section of The Fall of Gondolin.

Tolkien called the Great Tales as The Lays of the Children of Atani or the Great Saga. Initially, he intended several tales of the Quenta Silmarillion to be published each as complete, independent books. He also specified that the most prominent stories in the time of the Eldar were the three narratives Beren and Luthien, The Fall of Gondolin, and the Children of Hurin. In the Children of Hurin's foreword, Christopher Tolkien detailed many aspects and his interpretations of the tales as well as his father's intentions in writing them. Since the Silmarillion, they anticipated that the stories lightly tackled in the book must be retold separately in its entirety.

Christopher referenced in a note in 1951 that the first three tales in the volume were also the most extensive in the Book of Lost Tales. Tolkien mentioned Beren and Luthien as the central tale of The Silmarillion. He described it as a fascinating, extraordinary story of love and courage, engaging to read without much familiarity in the history and factors leading up to the events. Still, it was a vital part of the whole narrative, which somehow taken the entirety of its value on its placement.

The Children of Hurin and The Fall of Gondolin also deserved a complete account on its own, but still connected to the central narrative. Tolkien also mentioned that he wanted to perfect his last, complete writings to the extent he expected. Once he does, he foresees the Children of Húrin, Beren and Lúthien, and the Fall of Gondolin, the three Great Tales of the time of the Elves as comprehensive enough to stand on its own and not require awareness and background of The Silmarillion, the entire history of the saga. In the notes of The War of the Jewels, Christopher added that it was a goal to continue and finish the Quenta Silmarillion, as the Great Tales received its rich elaboration from the initial writings of the book. And its final contents would also be taken from these tales but have never been completed.

There were other stories that Tolkien had written, which he also referenced as Great Tales. In one of his letters (131st, from which derived his other explanations for the Great Tales), he mentioned that all the contents of the Quenta Silmarillion were all Great Tales, but the final Great Tale of all would be the Lord of the Rings. He specified that the first of the Great Tales unfold through the perception and interpretation of the Elves. But the last of the tales would be passed down from Middle-earth history into heroic myths of our world, essentially told from the view of the Hobbits. Therefore, it became stories that involved the participation of Men and also directed for their benefit. Sam also said in one of his statements in The Return of the King, that they were still part of the very tales they speak of, as it continues and goes on forever (relating their journey to the story of Beren and Luthien).

Among the first mentions of the Great Tales was in The Book of Lost Tales, in the chapter of The Cottage of Lost Play. It narrates that a voyager from distant lands arrived with a great desire to explore and know about unreached places. Because of this, he searched for remote lands and inhabitants, sailed the faraway lands in the west, and reached the Lonely Island. The Gnomes named it Dor Faidwen, which means the Land of Release. In an old language, its name was Tol Eressea, and the island holds a Great Tale about its mysteries.

There were also other references for the Great Tales throughout the Book of Lost Tales. In the chapter about the Hiding of Valinor, it narrates that Vaire concludes the story, the Great Tale stilled those who were listening.

Meanwhile, in the chapter The Tale of Tinuviel, Beren coaxed Morgoth, then called Melkor. He spoke of the Great Tales he heard from his father of Melkor's brilliance and grandeur, that he was not a revolutionary of his power. He only wanted to attend to him whichever simple task he could do.

In The Fall of Gondolin, the narrative also mentioned another Great Tale. It described the survivors of the defeat of Gondolin, taking refuge in the mouth of Sirion, by the coast of the Great Sea. The Elves called themselves Lothlim, meaning people of the flower, as they refused to keep Gondothlim, with the past event still pains in their chest. There Earendil develops in the shelter of his father Tuor, whose Great Tale is slowly diminishing.

One of the sections of The Fall of Gondolin introduced Earendel. It also specified Tuor and the survivors of Gondolin. The narrative describes the destiny of the Elves all befall into one's fate, which is the Great Tale of Earendel, whose life unfolds into a new chapter. Although the life of Earendel was not yet an independent book and only revealed in a previous volume's chapter, it is still considered one of the primary Great Tales as The Fall of Gondolin leads onto Earendel as the following sequel and continuation of the story.

1. ^The Book of Lost Tales II.