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Elwë/Thingol
Melian is a Maia and the servant of Vána and Estë. After the elves awaken in Middle-earth, Melian meets her husband, the elf Thingol, and they build an elven kingdom called Doriath. When Melkor arrives in the surrounding areas, Melian uses her powers to create a defensive barrier around the forest. With the foresight of the Ainur, she gives coolheaded counsel and warnings to Thingol and others in Doriath. When Thingol sends Beren on an impossible quest to steal a Silmaril from Melkor, Melian’s foresight warns her that the quest will lead to Doriath’s ruin. After Thingol’s death (caused by his obsession with the Silmaril and an altercation with a group of dwarves), Melian’s power fades from the land, leaving Doriath defenseless against the attack, and she returns to Valinor before the kingdom falls.
Melian Quotes in The Silmarillion
The The Silmarillion quotes below are all either spoken by Melian or refer to Melian. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 17
Quotes
Now the world runs on swiftly to great tidings. And one of Men, even of Bëor’s house, shall indeed come, and the Girdle of Melian shall not restrain him, for doom greater than my power shall send him; and the songs that shall spring from that coming shall endure when all Middle-earth has changed.
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Chapter 19
Quotes
Then Morgoth looking upon her beauty conceived in his thought an evil lust, and a design more dark than any that had yet come into his heart since he fled from Valinor. Thus he was beguiled by his own malice, for he watched her, leaving her free for a while, and taking secret pleasure in his thought. Then suddenly she eluded his sight, and out of the shadows began a song of such surpassing loveliness, and of such blinding power, that he listened perforce; and a blindness came upon him, as his eyes roamed to and fro, seeking her.
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Get the entire The Silmarillion LitChart as a printable PDF.
Melian Quotes in The Silmarillion
The The Silmarillion quotes below are all either spoken by Melian or refer to Melian. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 17
Quotes
Now the world runs on swiftly to great tidings. And one of Men, even of Bëor’s house, shall indeed come, and the Girdle of Melian shall not restrain him, for doom greater than my power shall send him; and the songs that shall spring from that coming shall endure when all Middle-earth has changed.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 19
Quotes
Then Morgoth looking upon her beauty conceived in his thought an evil lust, and a design more dark than any that had yet come into his heart since he fled from Valinor. Thus he was beguiled by his own malice, for he watched her, leaving her free for a while, and taking secret pleasure in his thought. Then suddenly she eluded his sight, and out of the shadows began a song of such surpassing loveliness, and of such blinding power, that he listened perforce; and a blindness came upon him, as his eyes roamed to and fro, seeking her.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
