Previous
Huan
Finarfin is the youngest and wisest son of Finwë. He initially follows Fëanor towards Middle-earth for the sake of his children, who want to accompany Fëanor and their cousins, but he turns back after Mandos pronounces the Doom of the Noldor. After receiving the Valar’s pardon, he rules the Noldor remaining in Valinor.
Get the entire The Silmarillion LitChart as a printable PDF.
Finarfin Character Timeline in The Silmarillion
The timeline below shows where the character Finarfin appears in The Silmarillion. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 5. Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië
Finwë’s sons are Fëanor, high-spirited, Fingolfin, valiant and steadfast, and Finarfin, wise and fair. Fëanor’s sons are Maedhros, Maglor, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin, Amrod, and Amras. Fingolfin’s...
(full context)
Chapter 6. Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor
...“no great love” for his father’s second wife, Indis, and their two sons Fingolfin and Finarfin. It’s said later that if Finwë hadn’t divided his house by remarrying, Fëanor might have...
(full context)
Chapter 7. Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor
...and forgetting that their light doesn’t belong to him. Melkor spreads lies that Fingolfin and Finarfin plan to usurp Fëanor as Finwë’s heir with the support of the Valar. When the...
(full context)
Chapter 9. Of the Flight of the Noldor
Fingolfin and Turgon speak against Fëanor, nearly leading to a fight, but Finarfin calms them down. Galadriel longs to rule her own land in Middle-earth, so she speaks...
(full context)
Finarfin turns back with many of his people and is pardoned by the Valar, but his...
(full context)
Chapter 13. Of the Return of the Noldor
Thingol doesn’t welcome all of the Noldor into Doriath, and only allows Finarfin’s sons through the Girdle because their mother was Thingol’s niece. Angrod brings Thingol’s message—that they...
(full context)
Chapter 15. Of the Noldor in Beleriand
At a feast, the sons of Finarfin gather with Galadriel, who asks why Finrod isn’t married yet. Finrod has a premonition that...
(full context)
Chapter 18. Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin
...Fingolfin and Fingon, driven back into their fortresses, are unable to aid the sons of Finarfin. Hador and his son also fall protecting Fingolfin, and Hithlum remains unconquered.
(full context)
...Ossiriand and the wild lands of the south. When news arrives that the sons of Finarfin and Fëanor are overthrown, Fingolfin believes it means the ruin of the Noldor and rides...
(full context)
