The Silmarillion

by

J.R.R. Tolkien

Turgon Character Analysis

Turgon is the son of Fingolfin and the ruler of the elven city Gondolin. The Vala Ulmo inspires him to secretly build Gondolin in the mountains and hide his people from Melkor. Though Turgon is strict about whom he permits to enter and leave Gondolin, he allows Húrin and Aredhel to leave despite their knowledge of Gondolin’s location. Tuor leads the armies of Gondolin out of hiding to participate in the fifth battle of the Wars of Beleriand, but their loss forces him to retreat back to the city. Though Ulmo warns Turgon against attachment to his creations and possessions, Turgon grows proud of Gondolin and refuses to flee when Tuor advises it. As one of the Noldor elves who departed Valinor with Fëanor, Turgon is caught in the Doom of the Noldor; because of it, treachery will destroy him. His pride leads to the deaths of many of his people when his nephew Maeglin gives Melkor the location of the city in exchange for Turgon’s daughter Idril. Turgon is killed defending the city during Melkor’s attack, and Gondolin is destroyed.

Turgon Quotes in The Silmarillion

The The Silmarillion quotes below are all either spoken by Turgon or refer to Turgon. 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:
Unity vs. Division Theme Icon
).
Chapter 20 Quotes

Thus was the treachery of Uldor redressed; and of all the deeds of war that the fathers of Men wrought in behalf of the Eldar, the last stand of the Men of Dor-lómin is most renowned.

[…]

Last of all Húrin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed; and it is sung that the axe smoked in the black blood of the troll-guard of Gothmog until it withered, and each time that he slew Húrin cried: ‘Aurë entuluva! Day shall come again!’

Related Characters: Húrin (speaker), Melkor/Morgoth, Fëanor, Maedhros, Turgon, Fingon, Gothmog
Related Symbols: Light
Page Number: 195
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23 Quotes

Then Turgon pondered long the counsel of Ulmo, and there came into his mind the words that were spoken to him in Vinyamar: ‘Love not too well the work of thy hands and the devices of thy heart; and remember that the true hope of the Noldor lieth in the West, and cometh from the Sea.’ But Turgon was become proud, and Gondolin as beautiful as a memory of Elven Tirion, and he trusted still in his secret and impregnable strength, though even a Vala should gainsay it; and after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad the people of that city desired never again to mingle in the woes of Elves and Men without, nor to return through dread and danger into the West.

Related Characters: Melkor/Morgoth, Turgon, Tuor, Ulmo
Related Symbols: The Silmarils
Page Number: 240
Explanation and Analysis:
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Turgon Quotes in The Silmarillion

The The Silmarillion quotes below are all either spoken by Turgon or refer to Turgon. 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:
Unity vs. Division Theme Icon
).
Chapter 20 Quotes

Thus was the treachery of Uldor redressed; and of all the deeds of war that the fathers of Men wrought in behalf of the Eldar, the last stand of the Men of Dor-lómin is most renowned.

[…]

Last of all Húrin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed; and it is sung that the axe smoked in the black blood of the troll-guard of Gothmog until it withered, and each time that he slew Húrin cried: ‘Aurë entuluva! Day shall come again!’

Related Characters: Húrin (speaker), Melkor/Morgoth, Fëanor, Maedhros, Turgon, Fingon, Gothmog
Related Symbols: Light
Page Number: 195
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23 Quotes

Then Turgon pondered long the counsel of Ulmo, and there came into his mind the words that were spoken to him in Vinyamar: ‘Love not too well the work of thy hands and the devices of thy heart; and remember that the true hope of the Noldor lieth in the West, and cometh from the Sea.’ But Turgon was become proud, and Gondolin as beautiful as a memory of Elven Tirion, and he trusted still in his secret and impregnable strength, though even a Vala should gainsay it; and after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad the people of that city desired never again to mingle in the woes of Elves and Men without, nor to return through dread and danger into the West.

Related Characters: Melkor/Morgoth, Turgon, Tuor, Ulmo
Related Symbols: The Silmarils
Page Number: 240
Explanation and Analysis: