Why did Feanor's sons take the Oath?

[with-rainfall.livejournal.com]

With all the discussion/speculation going on about the elves' motivations at Alqualonde, I'd like to throw this question out there: Why did Feanor's sons feel the need to simultaneously leap to his side and take the Oath? Was it truly a "madness" caused by grief over the death of their grandfather, family loyalty and Feanor's speeches? Was it an obligation to be by their father's side, or a sense of injustice, or simply the quasi-magical lure of the Silmarils? Was it more hesitant than the text paints it?

All of these? Or is there a simpler explanation, as in this Silmarillion/Good Omens fanfic?

Comments

[anna-wing.livejournal.com]

Elves have telepathy, especially among close colleagues or family members, so knowing the words wouldn't be a problem.

As to why: filial piety, grief, shock, rage, the desire to Do Something and (not unjustified) mistrust that the Valar would be able to fix the problem and the thing that I don't think has been raised before: survivors' guilt. Finwe their beloved grandfather had been murdered and they hadn't been there for him. Going after Morgoth was the least that they could do. I suspect that the Silmarils would have been almost incidental at that point, except as a sort of shorthand for get-Morgoth-and-fix-all-of-this. I agree that they didn't fully understand what they were swearing to, especially the bit about the Darkness Everlasting. Not their fault, since clearly even Tolkien wasn't too sure. Actual non-existence, I assume.

[tehta.livejournal.com]

I did mention telepathy, but I forgot to mention that it has some of the same problems as just hearing the Oath... as it gets more dramatic near the end, it gets more worrying. Not that the begininning isn't a bit overzealous, for someone who just wants to go after Morgoth.

New theory forming...

[clotho123.livejournal.com]

On reflection I'm not sure elven telepathy would have worked well. It's supposed to be less precise than speech so if Feanor had tried that he might have got seven different versions of the Oath ('NO Caranthir! It's 'Morgoth' not 'warthog'!)

Further suggestion - Feanor had prepared seven scripts beforehand. In extra large print, due to Morgoth having turned out the lights ;)

[tarion-anarore.livejournal.com]

seven different versions of the Oath ('NO Caranthir! It's 'Morgoth' not 'warthog'!)

Please, please write this! ;)