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Book Home  Books Information Valaquenta
Valaquenta
Valaquenta is the second part of The Silmarillion by
J. R. R. Tolkien. The Eldar name Valaquenta translates as the "Tale
of the Valar" ("Valar" means "Powers", however
usually this name is left untranslated). This is a work of fiction.
Summary
Valar is the name given to the chief Ainur following their descent
to Arda. The Ainur were holy spirits created by the supreme deity
Eru Ilúvatar (see Ainulindalë). The most powerful of the
Valar was Melkor; however he turned to evil, and therefore ceased
to be considered one. Except for him, there were fourteen other Valar,
whose existence was aimed at good.
Everything created by Ilúvatar had both male
and female forms. Thus, there were 7 male Valar, and 7 female ones
(Valier). Some of the Valar were considered siblings or spouses, yet
it is not clear what such relations could mean. Of the 14, 8 had the
greatest might (they were called Aratar). Each of the Aratar was responsible
for some attribute of life in Arda, such as crafts and mining or agricultural
growth. The king of the Valar was Manwë.
In addition to the Valar, there were Ainur of lesser
might called the Maiar. The Valar ruled over the Maiar, who were their
students and assistants in governing Arda. The Valar (and initially
Melkor) had the ability to change their physical appearance, or to
bear no shape at all. This was also true for some of the Maiar; however
their abilities were not limitless. Some of the Maiar bore the form
of animals (Huan, the hound of the Valar, and the Eagles of Manwë).
History of Composition
Although sequential descriptions of the Valar go back to The Book
of Lost Tales, the earliest writing that resembles the Valaquenta
is found in the text called Quenta Noldorinwa (published in volume
4 of The History of Middle-Earth). It then became Chapter 1 of the
Quenta Silmarillion (entitled Of the Valar). In revisions to the QS
done in 1958, the section was split off into a separately titled work.
There is nothing to indicate why Tolkien felt that the piece should
stand alone. While it is not a narrative, neither is the chapter Of
Beleriand and its Realms, and Tolkien never seems to have considered
removing that section.
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