# A suggestion for understanding the Silmarillion

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-suggestion-for-understanding-the-silmarillion/80695>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** middle-earth\
**Created:** [September 10, 2001, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-suggestion-for-understanding-the-silmarillion/80695 "2001-09-10T16:26:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-suggestion-for-understanding-the-silmarillion/80695/1 "2001-09-10T16:26:12Z")

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A lot of people have stated they have a hard time following Tolkien’s The Silmarillion. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=86083](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=86083)

My suggestion (which helped me immensely) is to get a copy of The Atlas of Middle-Earth (which should be available at any well-stocked book store). It’s got nice maps, and capsule descriptions which helped walk me thru what was going on, and put it into context. It enhanced my enjoyment and comprehension quite a bit!

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**Author:** ![Pucette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/278dde/32.png) [@Pucette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucette)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-suggestion-for-understanding-the-silmarillion/80695/2 "2001-09-10T20:09:57Z")

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I definitely agree. I also copied the family trees out for easy viewing. Good idea about the maps though.