The Nature of Middle Earth
From Tolkien Gateway
The Nature of Middle Earth is a collection of J.R.R. Tolkien's works, published posthumously and edited by Carl F. Hostetter.
It also features some unpublished writings post-Lord of the Rings, and taps into the time and space of Middle Earth, lifestyles, free will,[1] elvish reincarnation, [2] and how they are related to his mythology.
Contents
- Foreword
- Editorial Practices
- Abbreviations and Conventions
Part One: Time and Ageing
- Introduction
- The Valian Year
- Valinorian Time-Divisions
- Of Time in Arda
- Time-scales
- Natural Youth and Growth of the Quendi
- The Awaking of the Quendi
- The March of the Quendi
- Eldarin Traditions Concerning the "Awakening"
- Time-scales and Rates of Growth
- Difficulties in Chronology
- Ageing of Elves
- Concerning the Quendi in their Mode of Life and Growth
- Key Dates
- Calculation of the Increase of the Quendi
- A Generational Scheme
- Note on the Youth and Growth of the Quendi
- Generational Schemes
- Elvish Ages and Reincarnation
- Elvish Life-cycles
- Time and its Perception
- Notes on Elvish Time-reference
- A Fragment from The Annals of Aman
- A Fragment from The Grey Annals
Part Two: Body, Mind and Spirit
- Introduction
- Beauty and Goodness
- Gender and Sex
- Eldarin Hands, Fingers, and Numerals
- Hair
- Beards
- Descriptions of Characters
- Mind-pictures
- Knowledge and Memory
- ósanwe-kenta
- Notes on órë
- Fate and Free Will
- The Knowledge of the Valar
- Spirit
- The Visible Forms of the Valar and Maiar
- Elvish Reincarnation
- From The Statute of Finwë and Míriel
- Death
Part Three: The World, Its Lands, and Its Inhabitants
- Introduction
- Dark and Light
- The Primal Impulse
- Powers of the Valar
- The Making of Lembas
- Note on Elvish Economy
- Dwellings in Middle-earth
- The Founding of Nargothrond
- Manwë's Ban
- Elvish Journeys on Horseback
- Rider to "The White Rider"
- Lives of the Númenóreans
- The Ageing of Númenóreans
- Of the Land and Beasts of Númenor
- Note on the Consumption of Mushrooms
- The Númenorean Catastrophe & End of "Physical" Aman
- Galadriel and Celeborn
- Silvan Elves and Silvan Elvish
- Note on the Delay of Gil-galad and the Númenóreans
- Note on Dwarvish Voices
- Note on the Dwarf Road
- From The Hunt for the Ring
- The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor
Appendices
- Metaphysical and Theological Themes
- Glossary and Index of Quenya Terms
- Index
References
- ↑ Resources, An Elf Friend.
- ↑ New Tolkien Book: The Nature of Middle Earth, Tolkien Society.