Im thinking that the best one would have to be Beren. I mean, he went all the way into Angband and stole a Silmarillion right from Morgoth's crown (though he did have help). But, correct me if I'm wrong, the only time anyone ever got that far into Angband was in the final battle, when Morgoth was overthrown. So I'm gonna have to say Beren (and Luthien too maybe cuz she helped so much).

You are absolutely right, Jay. Beren and Luthien did what no man, elf, or Valar had ever done. That is most of the reason why they're so famous (the rest of the reason being that Beren was a man, and Luthien was an elf, and they got married.) They were utterly the picture of courage and valor, and I hope we all aspire to be like them.

I got hold of the silmarillion about 6 months ago. I've read it 3 times already. What a epic book! My all time favourite part is the tale of beren and luthien. It gets you where it hurts I think. Long live the power of imagination!

I do agree with you, Gil-Galad82, but I must ask: When you read Tolkien, are you thinking about Tolkien's power of imagination? Yes, he had a wonderful intellect and imagination, but if that's what you're thinking about when you read his work, then you are not getting the full Tolkien experience. The only way to really appreciate any such story is to totally and absolutely believe, when you're reading it, that it is history, not fantasy. You must believe that these are real events, and that this story really happened, and that you are there, witnessing it all. This applies even better to the films. In order to see LOTR right, you must believe that these events really happened, and that, somehow, a camera was there to document it all. You mustn't think of the people on screen as actors doing a brilliant job. You must think of them as the REAL Gandalf, Frodo, Sam, Aragorn.
Sorry for the rant, but I need to strongly encourage you: If you have not read a book or watched a movie in this way before, you need to. It's the only way to experience it in full.

By the way: great to have you! Feel free to introduce yourself in our "New Members" section.

Darn.. I remeber the stories of the silmarils, but all the names are lost >.< I personally think the sons of finrod are absolute beasts <3 Especially the red-haired one that was hung from the wall. But there was that one story... the one where the female elf wanders off and meets this other elf who lives in the dark. I believe he's a smith. Then he, like, traps her there... I really liked their son.

Gosh. I sound so stupid not remembering any of the names. Ill repost this after i go peruse my copy of the Silmarillion a bit.

Sorry beren but I disagree. I know that tolkien wrote the tale of middle-earth because we british never had any real history to tell, just folk stories. I understand that he wished to write his own history and it IS believeable. Especially the tale in the hobbit when Bullroarer took knocked the Goblins head off and it went down a rabbit-hole. That's where we get golf from. I never laughed so hard in my life after reading that But all it is is a fictional world where anybody is welcome. That's the beauty of it.

"All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you"

@hObBiTzWiLlEaTyOu
I think you mean Fenor's sons. Finrod was also called Felegund and an alround great guy(just ask Felegund on this site!). The one hung from the Wall I think was Maedros. and it was Finrod who saved him. This lead to Finrod being named high king of the Noldor. Or maybe it was Fingon... Nope, just checked, it was Fingolfin that was named high king. Fingon was Fingolgin's son, and Fingolfin was Fenor's half brother. So when Fingon saved Maedros he was saving his cousin, or half-cousin. I don't know, I think you need a degree in Geneology to fully understand the story.
The names had to be the absolute worst part of that whole book. And after checking some more, Fingon and Finrod were also cousins. Finrod being the son of Finarfin, Finarfin being the other brother of Fingolfin and Fenor. And to further clarify my poor clairification, it was Fingon that saved Maedros, not Finrod.
Wow, the Simarillion, I still love it, but it hurts my brain sometimes.
The dark elf you were thinking of was Eol, but his wife and son's names escape me. No, the son was Maeglin. And I believe he fell in love with his cousin.
I just checked, the Elf maiden was Aredhel, who was a daughter of Fingolfin.


And for me, I think my favorite in the whole tale had to be Sauron. (more on that later)

Really tough question.

Hurin has a special place in my heart. He was so good and so noble. When captured he had the courage to tell Morgoth off to his face. Such a shame and tragedy how Morgoth spitefully cursed and tormented Hurin through destroying his family. Though he played into Morgoth's plans in the end, I cannot blame Hurin, because he was an unwilling victim/participant.

Tuor and Earendil both would be great to meet.

Of the pureblood elves, Glorfindel and Ecthelion both come to mind.

The folk in the Silmarillion all seem a bit above my likes and dislikes. I think I'll stick to my own kind (and my own hobbit hole!)

Odo

Turin.
Just the finest Tolkien character ever.
Desperate,, tragic , a proper misunderstood 'hero' before they became cool.


plus he killed some one with a gold cup