Episode 20: Hope kindles when Men and Elves stand side by side. The Elven lord Finrod shares his wisdom. Mean-girl Morgoth tries out some new tricks. Thingol wants everybody off his lawn. Sam and Raleigh tour the Houses of Men, hang out with the warrior-woman Haleth, and shake up their understanding of Aragorn's cinematic Helm's Deep optimism. 

Quenya Questions in Quarantine: Join a first-time reader and a Middle Earth veteran on an isolation-inspired adventure through J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Silmarillion.’

Episode 19: The conflict between safety and freedom can lead to bitter ends. Turgon urges safety. Aredhel struggles for freedom. Eöl makes all the wrong moves. Raleigh and Sam oversee the rise of Maeglin, twilight child of darkness and light, who embodies the mighty abilities of his parents, but is tainted by a forbidden desire. 

Quenya Questions in Quarantine: Join a first-time reader and a Middle Earth veteran on an isolation-inspired adventure through J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Silmarillion.’ Sponsorship music for this episode provided by Scott Holmes through Creative Commons: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode.

Episode 18: While Morgoth stews in his northern fortress, the Elves prepare for the wars to come. Turgon builds the hidden city of Gondolin. Galadriel spills the beans. Thingol throws down a very Tolkien punishment. Sam and Raleigh parse the Elven politics and swing away with some of Middle Earth's most famous weapons. 

Quenya Questions in Quarantine: Join a first-time reader and a Middle Earth veteran on an isolation-inspired adventure through J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Silmarillion.’

Episode 17: Hold on tight as Tolkien takes the name game to the next level and unleashes a masterclass in fantasy world-building. Morgoth holds the mountainous North. The Elves take everything else. Raleigh and Sam keep the battle-board organized and follow the wandering footsteps of the oldest living creature in Middle Earth. 

Quenya Questions in Quarantine: Join a first-time reader and a Middle Earth veteran on an isolation-inspired adventure through J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Silmarillion.’

Episode 16: It's a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs as the Elves wage war against Morgoth for the Silmarils. Fëanor burns too hot. Fingon takes wing. Maedhros could use a hand. Here come earthquakes and Balrogs and Dragons (oh my). Sam and Raleigh revel in the action, tracing out Lord of the Rings' connections amid heroic battles, reforged alliances, and daring rescues.  

Quenya Questions in Quarantine: Join a first-time reader and a Middle Earth veteran on an isolation-inspired adventure through J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Silmarillion.’

Episode 15: Men awake in Middle Earth and encounter dark elves on the journey West. Illúvatar, now an empty nester, gives the second-born a strange gift. Raleigh and Sam compare the two children of Illúvatar, weighing all the Elven powers against the singular and secret weapon of Men. 

Quenya Questions in Quarantine: Join a first-time reader and a Middle Earth veteran on an isolation-inspired adventure through J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Silmarillion.’

Episode 14: From the ashes of a two-tree tragedy, new hope blossoms. A godly super-group sends cosmic aid to Middle Earth. Morgoth wishes he had more sunblock. Sam and Raleigh shine new sunlight on some of the most epic battles of the Lord of the Rings, including the legendary charge of Théoden and his Riders of Rohan. 

Quenya Questions in Quarantine: Join a first-time reader and a Middle Earth veteran on an isolation-inspired adventure through J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Silmarillion.’

Episode 13: As ages passed in the Blessed Realm, those back in Middle Earth were not idle. Thingol builds a top-notch stronghold. The Dwarves wake up from their long nap. Melian girdles-up for dangers to come. Raleigh and Sam admire the results of Elf/Dwarf synergy and behold the first battle of Elves and Orcs. 

Quenya Questions in Quarantine: Join a first-time reader and a Middle Earth veteran on an isolation-inspired adventure through J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Silmarillion.’

Episode 12: Are you lost? With the action (and names) flying fast and furious in the Silmarillion, Sam and Raleigh take a step back to make sure they know what the heck is going on. Sam runs through our journey so far, from the emptiness of the void to the exile of the Noldor elves. Raleigh, the first time reader, gets going on geography, genealogy, and cosmology, while exploring freedom, fallibility, and fate. If you're confused by the Tolkiens' messy, brilliant narrative, this is the perfect opportunity to catch up on the key characters and events before pressing forward. 

Quenya Questions in Quarantine: Join a first-time reader and a Middle Earth veteran on an isolation-inspired adventure through J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Silmarillion.’

Episode 11: Corruption of the best is the worst. Melkor and Ungoliant pull off a nefarious jewel heist. Fëanor leads a divided people into exile. Innocent blood is spilled in the Blessed Realm. Raleigh and Sam bemoan the end of Valinor's Golden Age and the evil that grows from Fëanor's loathful oath. 

Quenya Questions in Quarantine: Join a first-time reader and a Middle Earth veteran on an isolation-inspired adventure through J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Silmarillion.’