Outline of Middle-earth

The following outline is presented as an overview of and topical guide about Tolkien's fantasy universe:

Middle-earth – fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. The term Middle-earth is also a nickname of the entirety of Tolkien's creation, instead of the more appropriate, but less known terms Arda which refers to Tolkien's world (including celestial bodies), and Eä, which refers to the universe.

Nature of Middle-earth

Middle-earth can be described as:

• Fiction – form of narrative which deals, in part or in whole, with events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary and invented by its author(s). Although fiction often describes a major branch of literary work, it is also applied to theatrical, cinematic, and musical work.
  • Fantasy fiction
    • High fantasy fiction
    • a fantasy world
  • a fictional setting
    • a fictional universe
      • a constructed world
        • a fantasy world
• Intellectual property
  • a media franchise

General reference

Authors

• J.R.R. Tolkien
• Christopher Tolkien

Published works

• The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 1: The Book of Lost Tales 1 (1983)
• The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 2: The Book of Lost Tales 2 (1984)
• The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 3: The Lays of Beleriand (1985)
• The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 4: The Shaping of Middle-earth (1986)
• The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 5: The Lost Road and Other Writings (1987)
• The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 6: The Return of the Shadow (The History of The Lord of the Rings v.1) (1988)
• The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 7: The Treason of Isengard (The History of The Lord of the Rings v.2) (1989)
• The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 8: The War of the Ring (The History of The Lord of the Rings v.3) (1990)
• The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 9: Sauron Defeated (includes The History of The Lord of the Rings v.4) (1992)
• The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 10: Morgoth's Ring (The Later Silmarillion v.1) (1993)
• The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 11: The War of the Jewels (The Later Silmarillion v.2) (1994)
• The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (1996)
• The History of Middle-earth: Index (2002) – combined index published six years after the series was completed.

Films

• The Hobbit – a 1977 animated musical television special created by Rankin/Bass*The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
• The Hobbit – two-part prequel to The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, currently in production, scheduled for release in 2012 and 2013.

Cosmology of Eä

• Timeless Halls
• Eä
  • The Void
  • Arda
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Eärendil, the Evening Star
    • The Two Trees
    • The Two Lamps

Geography of Middle-earth

The stories takes mostly place in Beleriand, Eriador, and Rhovanion, but there are many other places in Middle-earth.

See also Aman, Númenor for places outside Middle-earth.

Nations and large regions

First Age only:

• Ard-galen, later Anfauglith
• Beleriand
  • Doriath
  • East Beleriand
  • Falas
  • Nan Elmoth
• Dor Daedeloth
• Dorthonion, later Taur-nu-Fuin
• Forodwaith
• Hithlum
• Ossiriand

Present after the First Age:

• Angmar
• Arnor
  • Arthedain
  • Cardolan
  • Rhudaur
• Dorwinion
• Drúadan Forest
• Dunland
• Enedwaith
• Eriador
• Eregion, or Hollin
• Fangorn Forest
• Gap of Rohan
• Gondor
  • Ithilien
• Harad
• Khand
• Lindon
• Lothlórien, or simply Lórien
• Minhiriath
• Mirkwood, earlier also Greenwood the Great
• Mordor
  • Gorgoroth
  • Núrn
• The Old Forest
• Rohan, anciently Calenardhon
• Rhovanion, or Wilderland
• Rhûn
• The Shire

See also Regions of Gondor, Realms of Arda.

Natural features

Middle-earth was carefully designed by Tolkien, and contains many natural features such as rivers, mountains, and seas.

Large waters

First Age only:

• Bay of Balar
• Helcaraxë, the Grinding Ice
• Inland Sea of Helcar

Present after the First Age:

• Bay of Belfalas
• Belegaer the Great Sea
• Ice-bay of Forochel
• The Great Gulf
• Gulf of Lhûn (present only after the First Age)
• Lake Evendim
• Long Lake of Esgaroth
• Inland Sea of Núrnen
• Inland Sea of Rhûn

Mountains and Hills

First Age only:

• Crissaegrim, home of the great Eagles
• Mount Dolmed
• Echoriath or Encircling Mountains
• Ered Engrin or Iron Mountains
• Thangorodrim or Mountains of Tyranny

Present after the First Age:

• Amon Anwar
• Barrow-downs or Tyrn Gorthad
• Coldfells
• Emyn Muil
• Ephel Dúath
• Ered Gorgoroth or Mountains of Terror
• Ered Lithui or Ash Mountains
• Ered Luin or Blue Mountains, also known as Ered Lindon
• Ered Mithrin or Grey Mountains
• Ettenmoors
• Hills of Evendim or Emyn Uial
• Hithaeglir the Misty Mountains
• Iron Hills
• Lonely Mountain or Erebor
• Mount Doom or Amon Amarth
• Mount Gram
• Mount Gundabad
• Mount Mindolluin
• Mountains of Angmar
• Orocarni
• Sarn Gebir
• Tower Hills or Emyn Beraid
• Weathertop or Amon Sûl
• White Downs

Rivers

First Age only:

• Esgalduin
• Gelion
• Sirion

See also the Seven rivers of Ossiriand

Present after the First Age:

• Adorn
• Anduin the Great River
• Baranduin or Brandywine
• Bruinen or Loudwater
• Carnen or Redwater
• Celduin or River Running
• Forest River of Mirkwood
• Greylin
• Gwathló or Greyflood
• Isen or Angren
• Mering Stream
• Mitheithel or Hoarwell
• Morgulduin
• Onodló or Entwash
• Snowbourn
• Withywindle of the Old Forest

See also Rivers of Gondor

For a full list of rivers, see: List of Middle-earth rivers.

Cities, fortresses and other populated places

First Age only:

• Angband
• Gondolin
• Menegroth
• Nargothrond

Present after the First Age:

• Annúminas
• Barad-dûr
• Bree
• Caras Galadhon
• Dale
• Dol Amroth
• Dol Guldur
• Edhellond
• Edoras
• Esgaroth the Lake-town
• Fornost
• Helm's Deep
• Isengard or Angrenost
• Lond Daer or Lond Daer Enedh
• Minas Morgul or Minas Ithil
• Minas Tirith or Minas Anor
• Moria or Khazad-dûm
• Osgiliath
• Rivendell or Imladris
• Tharbad
• Umbar

See also Cities of Gondor

Miscellaneous

• Argonath or The Pillars of the Kings
• Black Gate
• Dead Marshes
• Rath Dínen

History of Middle-earth

Historical periods

A more detailed list can be found at Ages of Middle-earth.

1. Years of the Lamps
2. Years of the Trees
3. Years of the Sun
4. Ages of the Children of Ilúvatar
   1. First Age
   2. Second Age
   3. Third Age
   4. Fourth Age

Named weapons

• Anglachel
• Glamdring
• Hadhafang (movies only)
• Narsil
• Orcrist
• Sting
• Aeglos

Unions

• The Fellowship of the Ring
• The Last Alliance of Elves and Men

Battles

• Battles of Beleriand
• Battle of the Crossings of Erui
• Battle of the Hornburg
• Battle of the Morannon
• Battle of the Pelennor Fields
• Battle of Dagorlad
• Battle of Bywater
• Dagor Bragollach
• Dagor Dagorath
• Nírnaeth Arnoediad

Wars

• War of the Ring
• War of Wrath

Timeline

See Timeline of Middle-earth.

Characters

What follows is a brief and inevitably incomplete listing of characters from Tolkien's work who lived in Middle-earth, divided into First Age, Second Age, and Third Age. Note that characters are sorted according to several groups, and may appear multiple times. For a full list of characters see: List of Middle-earth characters.

First Age

House of Finwë

• Finwë
• Míriel (first wife of Finwë)
  • Fëanor
• Indis (second wife of Finwë)
  • Findis
  • Fingolfin
  • Irimë
  • Finarfin

Sons of Fëanor

• Maedhros
• Maglor
• Celegorm
• Caranthir
• Curufin
  • Celebrimbor
• Amrod
• Amras

House of Fingolfin

• Fingon
• Turgon
  • Idril Celebrindal
• Aredhel
  • Maeglin
• Argon

House of Finarfin

• Finrod Felagund
• Angrod
  • Orodreth
    • Rodnor Gil-galad
    • Finduilas
• Aegnor
• Galadriel
  • Celebrían
    • Arwen

House of Elwë and Olwë

• Elwë (Elu Thingol)
• Melian (wife of Thingol)
  • Lúthien Tinúviel
• Olwë
  • Eärwen

House of Bëor

• Bëor the Old
• Bregor
  • Barahir
    • Beren Erchamion
  • Bregolas
    • Belegund
      • Rían
    • Baragund
      • Morwen

House of Marach

• Marach
• Hador Lórindol
  • Gundor
  • Galdor
    • Húrin
      • Túrin Turambar
      • Nienor Níniel
    • Huor
      • Tuor
  • Glóredhel

Descendants of Lúthien and Beren

• Dior Thingol's Heir
  • Eluréd and Elurín
  • Elwing
    • Elrond
    • Elros

Descendants of Idril and Tuor

• Eärendil the Mariner
  • Elrond
    • Elladan
    • Elrohir
    • Arwen Undómiel
  • Elros
    • Kings of Númenor

Haladin of Brethil

• Haldad
• Haleth
• Haldar
• Haldan
  • • Halmir
      • Haldir
        • Handir
          • Brandir the Lame
      • Hareth
        • Húrin
        • Huor
      • Hundar

Others

• Círdan, lord of the Falas
• Beleg the Bowman
• Glorfindel of Gondolin
• Ecthelion of the Fountain
• Eöl the Dark Elf
• Maeglin, sister-son of Turgon
• Durin the Deathless, father of the Longbeards
• Gothmog, lord of Balrogs
• Sauron aka Gorthaur, Lord of Werewolves

For a list of the Valar, see that article.

Second Age

Kings of Númenor: see Kings of Númenor

Sauron, a.k.a. Annatar

Ringwraiths or Nazgûl

• Witch-king of Angmar
• Khamûl, the Black Easterling

Third Age

Thorin and Company

• Thorin II Oakenshield
• Balin
• Dwalin
• Fíli
• Kíli
• Dori
• Nori
• Ori
• Óin
• Glóin
• Bifur
• Bofur
• Bombur
• Bilbo Baggins
• Gandalf The Grey

(13 Dwarves, 1 Hobbit, and 1 Wizard)

The Fellowship of the Ring

• Frodo Baggins
• Samwise Gamgee (Sam)
• Meriadoc Brandybuck (Merry)
• Peregrin Took (Pippin)
• Aragorn (Strider)
• Boromir
• Gandalf the Grey, White
• Legolas
• Gimli (son of Glóin)

(4 Hobbits, 2 Men, 1 Wizard, 1 Elf, and 1 Dwarf)

Kings of Gondor: see Kings of Gondor

Kings of Arnor: see Kings of Arnor

Kings of Arthedain: see Kings of Arthedain

Chiefs of the Rangers of Arnor: see Chiefs of the Dúnedain

Stewards of Gondor: see Stewards of Gondor

Kings of Rohan: see Kings of Rohan

Wizards or Istari:

• Saruman the White
• Gandalf the Grey
• Radagast the Brown
• Ithryn Luin (Blue Wizards)

Dwarves of Durin's folk: see Durin's folk

Other characters

• Elves
  • Círdan of Mithlond
  • Celebrían, wife of Elrond
  • Elladan
  • Elrohir
  • Thranduil, King of northern Mirkwood
• Men
  • Beorn
  • Éowyn
  • Gríma Wormtongue
  • Imrahil, Prince of Dol Amroth
  • Vidugavia
  • Vidumavi
• Hobbits
  • Baggins family
  • Bandobras Bullroarer Took
  • Boffin family
  • Bolger family
  • Brandybuck Clan
  • Déagol
  • Farmer Maggot
  • Mayor of the Shire
  • Sméagol, or Gollum

• Treebeard
• Tom Bombadil
• Shelob
• Sauron (often perceived as the Eye of Sauron)
• The Mouth of Sauron

Women

• Aerin
• Anairë
• Arien
• Elanor Gardner
• Erendis
• Finduilas of Dol Amroth
• Fíriel
• Goldberry
• Ilmarë
• Lalaith
• Lothíriel
• Nienna
• Queen Berúthiel
• Ruling Queens of Númenor
• Théodwyn
• Thuringwethil
• Uinen
• Ungoliant
• Varda

Culture of Middle-earth

Races

• Ainur
  • Valar
  • Maiar
    • Istari
    • Balrogs
• Elves (Quendi, the Elder Children of Ilúvatar, The Firstborn) (see Sundering of the Elves)
  • Calaquendi
    • Vanyar — Light Elves
    • Noldor — Deep Elves
    • Teleri — Sea Elves
  • Moriquendi
    • Sindar — Grey Elves
    • Nandor and Laiquendi — Green Elves or Silvan Elves
    • Avari — Unwilling
• Men (Atani, the Younger Children of Ilúvatar, The Followers)
  • Atanatári — Men descended of or related to the 'Fathers of Men'
    • Edain — Men of the West
      • Bëorians — First House of Men
      • Haladin — Second House of Men
        • Drúedain (Woses of Drúadan Forest)
      • Marachians or Hadorians — Third House of Men
      • Númenóreans — Men of the West
        • Dúnedain — Men of Gondor and Arnor
        • Black Númenóreans — Servants of Sauron
    • Men of Twilight
      • Northmen (Distant relations of Bëorians and Marachians)
        • Men of Dale, or Bardings
        • Men of Esgaroth
        • Rohirrim (Descendants of the Éothéod)
        • Beornings
        • Woodsmen of Mirkwood
      • Dunlendings (Distant relations of Haladin)
      • Men of Bree
  • Easterlings
    • Wainriders
    • Balchoth
    • Variags of Khand
  • Southrons
    • Haradrim of Far and Near Harad
    • Corsairs of Umbar
  • Forodwaith — Ice-men of the North
    • Lossoth, also known as Snowmen of Forochel
• Half-elven
• Dwarves (Naugrim, the Adopted Children of Ilúvatar)
• Hobbits
  • Harfoots
  • Stoors
  • Fallohides
• Ents
  • Huorns
• Eagles
• Dragons
  • Glaurung
  • Smaug
• Orcs — usually called "goblins" in The Hobbit
  • Uruk-hai
• Trolls
  • Olog-hai
• Wargs
• The Dead
  • Barrow-wights
  • Dead Men of Dunharrow

Major languages

• General overview

• Valarin
• Elvish languages:
  • Sindarin
  • Quenya
• Mannish languages:
  • Adûnaic (the language of Númenor)
    • Westron (aka Common Speech)
    • Tongue of Umbar's Black Númenóreans
  • Rohirric, (translated with Anglo-Saxon)
• Khuzdul (Dwarvish language)
• Black Speech
• Entish, a language based on an ancient form of Common Eldarin
• Tengwar script
• Sarati script
• Cirth runes

Folklore of Middle-earth

Poetry/Songs

• A Elbereth Gilthoniel
• A Walking Song
• All that is gold does not glitter
• Namárië
• The Lay of Leithian
• The Lay of the Children of Húrin
• The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late

Love Stories

• The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen
• The Tale of Beren and Lúthien

Tales

• Ainulindalë
• Akallabêth
• Fall of Gondolin
• Narn i Chîn Húrin
• Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age
• Quenta Silmarillion
• The Quest of Erebor
• The Scouring of the Shire
• Valaquenta

Items

• The One Ring aka Ruling Ring
• The Rings of Power
  • The Three Rings of the Elves:
    • Narya
    • Nenya
    • Vilya
• The Silmaril
• The Arkenstone
• The Palantíri
• The Red Arrow of Gondor
• Mithril

See also

For a list of Middle-earth related articles by name, see: List of Middle-earth articles.

• Kings of Númenor
• List of hobbit families
• List of Hobbits
• List of Kings of Arnor
• List of Kings of Dale
• List of Kings of Gondor
• List of kings of Rohan
• List of male hobbits
• List of Middle-earth animals
• List of Middle-earth articles by category
• List of Middle-earth characters
• List of Middle-earth Dwarves
• List of Middle-earth Elves
• List of Middle-earth food and drink
• List of Middle-earth objects
• List of Middle-earth Orcs
• List of Middle-earth peoples
• List of Middle-earth plants
• List of Middle-earth rivers
• List of Middle-earth roads
• List of Middle-earth wars and battles
• List of Middle-earth weapons and armour
• List of Middle-earth writings
• List of Númenóreans
• List of original characters in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
• List of rulers of Númenor
• Minor battles in The Lord of the Rings
• Minor places in Arda
• Minor places in Beleriand
• Minor places in Middle-earth
• Ruling Queens of Númenor
• Stewards of Gondor

External links

• This outline displayed as a mindmap, at wikimindmap.com
• Tolkien Gateway – wiki about Middle-earth and Tolkien.
• Encyclopedia of Arda – encyclopaedia about Middle-earth.
• The Tolkien Meta-FAQ – answers to commonly asked questions about Tolkien and Middle-earth.
• Michael Martinez Tolkien Essays – a collection of essays on Tolkien and Middle-earth.