silwritersguild | "Analysing Arda" Challenge Entries (Reply)

Last month, we experimented with running our first nonfiction challenge and received eight essays and resources in response. Below is a list of the nonfiction pieces created for the Analysing Arda challenge. Check them out--and please consider letting the author know if you appreciate their work! As always, all links point to the Table of Contents, where you can learn more about a specific work.

9 Popular Misconceptions About Elf Sex (And What Tolkien Actually Wrote On The Matter) by Lyra. There are various recurring convictions concerning the matter of love, sex and marriage among the Eldar. We've probably all encountered them at some point. But a closer look at Tolkien's writings shows that matters aren't as simple as fanon tends to believe.

An Examination of Thingol as King by Grundy. A critical examination of Thingol as a leader in The Silmarillion.

Character of the Month Biography: Galadriel (Part 2) by Oshun. Continuing from Part 1's analysis of Galadriel's role in the early legendarium, this month's biography considers her role in the Second and Third Ages, where her foresight and penchant for leadership often allowed her to operate in highly significant ways in bringing the Ring Quest to fruition.

Fingon's Rescue of Maedhros in Old English by Himring. Extracts from the Annals of Beleriand, including the Old English version, that deal with the capture and rescue of Maedhros. With a very brief discussion.

Middle-earth Is Our Earth by Independence1776. A collection of quotes dealing with the fact that Tolkien explicitly set Middle-earth in our world from the very beginning of his Legendarium.

The Great Dying: J.R.R. Tolkien's Missing Mothers by Idrils Scribe. In the 'real' Middle Ages women died in childbirth in droves. In Tolkien's world motherhood is even more deadly, but in a narrative sense rather than an obstetrical one.

The Inequality Prototype: Gender, Inequality, and the Valar in Tolkien's Silmarillion by Dawn Felagund. The Valar present an interesting case study of sexism in Tolkien's legendarium because they occupy a prototypical role, representing Iluvatar's intentions on how the universe should operate. My research shows that the female Valar not only appear far less frequently in The Silmarillion than the male Valar but are less involved, less assertive, and speak less..

The Influence of Tinfang by LadyBrooke. Tinfang is accounted one of the greatest minstrels, along with Maglor and Daeron. In spite of this, the musical abilities of all three outside of sheer performance skills are described in less detail in The Silmarillion than other characters like Finrod. This essay attempts to gather the quotes that suggest Tinfang's degree of power and influence over objects and people in his original context.

Quick housekeeping note: All stamp collections for creators of challenge entries for May and June have been updated, and I've started on the collections for commenters. We also had a record eight new challenge participants--either as creators, commenters, or both--during the past two months. I will reach out over email when your collections have been set up.