Outline of Middle-earth
The following outline is provided 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.
- Intellectual property
General reference
Authors
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 (1978 film)– a 1978 animated film by Ralph Bakshi which retold the first one and a half of Tolkien's books.
- 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: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
Cosmology of Eä
Geography of Middle-earth
The stories mostly take 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
- Dor Daedeloth
- Dorthonion, later Taur-nu-Fuin
- Forodwaith
- Hithlum
- Ossiriand
Present after the First Age:
- Angmar
- Arnor
- Dorwinion
- Drúadan Forest
- Dunland
- Enedwaith
- Eriador
- Eregion, or Hollin
- Fangorn Forest
- Gap of Rohan
- Gondor
- Harad
- Khand
- Lindon
- Lothlórien, or simply Lórien
- Minhiriath
- Mirkwood, earlier also Greenwood the Great
- Mordor
- 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:
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:
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 Settlements of Gondor
Miscellaneous
- Argonath or The Pillars of the Kings
- Black Gate of Mordor
- Dead Marshes
- Rath Dínen
- Udûn
History of Middle-earth
Historical periods
A more detailed list can be found at Ages of Middle-earth.
Named weapons
- Anglachel/Gurthang
- Glamdring
- Hadhafang (movies only)
- Narsil/Andúril
- Orcrist
- Sting
- Aeglos
Unions
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
Timeline
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
House of Elwë and Olwë
House of Bëor
House of Marach
Descendants of Lúthien and Beren
- Dior Thingol's Heir
Descendants of Idril and Tuor
Haladin of Brethil
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
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)
- 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
- 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
- Elves (Quendi, the Elder Children of Ilúvatar, The Firstborn) (see Sundering of the Elves)
- Calaquendi
- 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
- House of Marach/House of Hador-Third 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
- Edain — Men of the West
- Easterlings
- Southrons
- Haradrim of Far and Near Harad
- Corsairs of Umbar
- Forodwaith — Ice-men of the North
- Lossoth, also known as Snowmen of Forochel
- Atanatári — Men descended of or related to the 'Fathers of Men'
- Half-elven
- Dwarves (Naugrim, the Adopted Children of Ilúvatar)
- Hobbits
- Ents
- Eagles
- Dragons
- Orcs — usually called "goblins" in The Hobbit
- Trolls
- Wargs
- The Dead
Major languages
- General overview
- Valarin
- Elvish languages:
- Mannish languages:
- Adûnaic (the language of Númenor)
- Westron (aka Common Speech)
- Tongue of Umbar's Black Númenóreans
- Rohirric, (translated with Anglo-Saxon)
- Adûnaic (the language of Númenor)
- 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
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 Silmaril
- The Arkenstone
- The Palantíri
- The Red Arrow of Gondor
- Mithril
See also
For a list of Middle-earth related articles by name, see: Lists 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.