Help! I love the LOTR movies, and i would like to read the books, however i am more interested in knowing the background of middle earth........i tried to read the silmarillion, but i got so lost in the names, i couldn't even make it through without being utterly confused! Do they have a cliff's notes version of this book? And if not, can someone point me to a web site that gives the book summary to be easily understandable?
2007-01-03 01:25:26 · 6 answers · asked by sleep_chic 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
The Silmarillion is a very difficult read! It took me months, a notebook and a load of patience to get through it. Years later someone gave me this book....The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth by Robert Foster, which helped so much! You might want to try it.....also, at the link below is a lot of information about middle earth.
The second link is to a good summary of the Silmarillion....
2007-01-03 03:42:24 · answer #1 · answered by aidan402 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Silmarillion Summary
2016-10-06 06:37:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Silmarillion doesn't lend itself to an easy reading, I'll grant you that much. On the other hand, Tolkien's work has brought about a huge amount of side remarks, comments and essays. You might want perhaps to take a quick look at the site of the Tolkien society. Below is the address where they give a summary of what has been published. You should find enough indications for starters there, should you make a search for the word "silmarillion" on your browser.
Best of luck
2007-01-03 01:49:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
ouch. yes, the Silmarillion reads like the King James Bible. very heavy stuff. I havent seen a cliff's notes version, or even a "silmarillion for dummies". But there is a book-on-tape version (abridged) that can help.
If you really want some backround on Middle Earth and the history of how it came to be, Christopher Tolkein (JRR's son) has released a 12 book set of the History of Middle Earth. Basically its all of JRRs notes, epic poems, and original stories that were never released about Middle Earth, with lots of comments about how he wrote them and what his process was for creating it.
2007-01-03 01:34:18 · answer #4 · answered by Kutekymmee 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Reference to what? Though i agree.. The Silmarillion is definitely a much more interesting read.
2016-05-22 22:39:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pretty tough reading, I give you that.
I had to read it twice to actually grasp some of its concepts... And i probably still don't completely understand it. Hm, I guess someone's up for a third reading! :-) Thanx!
2007-01-04 23:02:25 · answer #6 · answered by Roqui 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋