The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide about Tolkien's fantasy universe:
Middle-earth – fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. The term Middle-earth is also a nickname of the entirety of Tolkien's creation, instead of the more appropriate, but less known terms Arda which refers to Tolkien's world (including celestial bodies), and Eä, which refers to the universe.
Middle-earth can be described as:
Fiction – form of narrative which deals, in part or in whole, with events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary and invented by its author(s). Although fiction often describes a major branch of literary work, it is also applied to theatrical, cinematic, and musical work.
Fantasy fiction
High fantasy fiction
a fantasy world
a fictional setting
a fictional universe
a constructed world
a fantasy world
a paracosm
Intellectual property
a media franchise
J.R.R. Tolkien
Christopher Tolkien
The Hobbit (1937)
The Lord of the Rings
The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)
The Two Towers (1954)
The Return of the King (1955)
The Silmarillion (published posthumously in 1977, compiled and edited by Christopher Tolkien)
These works present extended selections of unpublished texts by J.R.R. Tolkien, with extensive notes by Christopher Tolkien.
Unfinished Tales (1980)
The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 1: The Book of Lost Tales 1 (1983)
The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 2: The Book of Lost Tales 2 (1984)
The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 3: The Lays of Beleriand (1985)
The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 4: The Shaping of Middle-earth (1986)
The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 5: The Lost Road and Other Writings (1987)
The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 6: The Return of the Shadow (The History of The Lord of the Rings v.1) (1988)
The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 7: The Treason of Isengard (The History of The Lord of the Rings v.2) (1989)
The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 8: The War of the Ring (The History of The Lord of the Rings v.3) (1990)
The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 9: Sauron Defeated (includes The History of The Lord of the Rings v.4) (1992)
The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 10: Morgoth's Ring (The Later Silmarillion v.1) (1993)
The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 11: The War of the Jewels (The Later Silmarillion v.2) (1994)
The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (1996)
The History of Middle-earth: Index (2002) – combined index published six years after the series was completed.
The Hobbit – a 1977 animated musical television special created by Rankin/Bass
The Lord of the Rings – a 1978 animated film by Ralph Bakshi which retold the first one and a half of Tolkien's books.
The Lord of the Rings film series
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
The Hobbit film series
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
Tabletop role-playing games
Middle-earth Role Playing (Iron Crown Enterprises, 1984)
Lord of the Rings Adventure Game (Iron Crown Enterprises, 1991)
The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game (Decipher, Inc., 2002)
The One Ring: Adventures over the Edge of the Wild (Cubicle 7, 2011)
Adventures in Middle-earth (OGL supplement by Cubicle 7, 2016)
Role-playing video games
Elendor (1991)
MUME (1992)
The Two Towers (1994)
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (2007)
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (2004)
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North (2011)
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014)
Video games based on The Hobbit
The Hobbit (1982)
The Hobbit (2003)
Video games based on The Lord of the Rings
Guardians of Middle-earth
Lego The Lord of the Rings
Middle-Earth DEM Project
The Lord of the Rings (pinball)
The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest
The Lord of the Rings: Conquest
The Lord of the Rings: Tactics
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (Game Boy)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The Lord of the Rings: The White Council
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North
Timeless Halls
Eä
The Void
Arda
The Sun
The Moon
Eärendil, the Evening Star
The Two Trees
The Two Lamps
The stories mostly take place in Beleriand, Eriador, and Rhovanion, but there are many other places in Middle-earth.
See also Aman, Númenor for places outside Middle-earth.
Nations and large regions
First Age only:
Ard-galen, later Anfauglith
Beleriand
Doriath
East Beleriand
Falas
Nan Elmoth
Dor Daedeloth
Dorthonion, later Taur-nu-Fuin
Forodwaith
Hithlum
Ossiriand
Present after the First Age:
Angmar
Arnor
Arthedain
Cardolan
Rhudaur
Dorwinion
Drúadan Forest
Dunland
Enedwaith
Eriador
Eregion, or Hollin
Fangorn Forest
Gap of Rohan
Gondor
Ithilien
Harad
Khand
Lindon
Lothlórien, or simply Lórien
Minhiriath
Mirkwood, earlier also Greenwood the Great
Mordor
Gorgoroth
Núrn
The Old Forest
Rohan, anciently Calenardhon
Rhovanion, or Wilderland
Rhûn
The Shire
See also Regions of Gondor, Realms of Arda.
Middle-earth was carefully designed by Tolkien, and contains many natural features such as rivers, mountains, and seas.
First Age only:
Bay of Balar
Helcaraxë, the Grinding Ice
Inland Sea of Helcar
Present after the First Age:
Bay of Belfalas
Belegaer the Great Sea
Ice-bay of Forochel
The Great Gulf
Gulf of Lhûn (present only after the First Age)
Lake Evendim
Long Lake of Esgaroth
Inland Sea of Núrnen
Inland Sea of Rhûn
Mountains and Hills
First Age only:
Crissaegrim, home of the great Eagles
Mount Dolmed
Echoriath or Encircling Mountains
Ered Engrin or Iron Mountains
Thangorodrim or Mountains of Tyranny
Present after the First Age:
Amon Anwar
Barrow-downs or Tyrn Gorthad
Coldfells
Emyn Muil
Ephel Dúath
Ered Gorgoroth or Mountains of Terror
Ered Lithui or Ash Mountains
Ered Luin or Blue Mountains, also known as Ered Lindon
Ered Mithrin or Grey Mountains
Ettenmoors
Hills of Evendim or Emyn Uial
Hithaeglir the Misty Mountains
Iron Hills
Lonely Mountain or Erebor
Mount Doom or Amon Amarth
Mount Gram
Mount Gundabad
Mount Mindolluin
Mountains of Angmar
Orocarni
Sarn Gebir
Tower Hills or Emyn Beraid
Weathertop or Amon Sûl
White Downs
First Age only:
Esgalduin
Gelion
Sirion
See also the Seven rivers of Ossiriand
Present after the First Age:
Adorn
Anduin the Great River
Baranduin or Brandywine
Bruinen or Loudwater
Carnen or Redwater
Celduin or River Running
Forest River of Mirkwood
Greylin
Gwathló or Greyflood
Isen or Angren
Mering Stream
Mitheithel or Hoarwell
Morgulduin
Onodló or Entwash
Snowbourn
Withywindle of the Old Forest
See also Rivers of Gondor
For a full list of rivers, see: List of Middle-earth rivers.
Cities, fortresses and other populated places
First Age only:
Angband
Gondolin
Menegroth
Nargothrond
Present after the First Age:
Annúminas
Barad-dûr
Bree
Caras Galadhon
Dale
Dol Amroth
Dol Guldur
Edhellond
Edoras
Esgaroth the Lake-town
Fornost
Helm's Deep
Isengard or Angrenost
Lond Daer or Lond Daer Enedh
Minas Morgul or Minas Ithil
Minas Tirith or Minas Anor
Moria or Khazad-dûm
Osgiliath
Rivendell or Imladris
Tharbad
Umbar
See also Settlements of Gondor
Argonath or The Pillars of the Kings
Black Gate of Mordor
Dead Marshes
Rath Dínen
Udûn
A more detailed list can be found at Ages of Middle-earth.
- Years of the Lamps
- Years of the Trees
- Years of the Sun
- Ages of the Children of Ilúvatar
- First Age
- Second Age
- Third Age
- Fourth Age
Anglachel/Gurthang
Glamdring
Hadhafang (movies only)
Narsil/Andúril
Orcrist
Sting
Aeglos
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Last Alliance of Elves and Men
Battles of Beleriand
Battle of the Crossings of Erui
Battle of the Hornburg
Battle of the Morannon
Battle of the Pelennor Fields
Battle of Dagorlad
Battle of Bywater
Dagor Bragollach
Dagor Dagorath
Nírnaeth Arnoediad
War of the Ring
War of Wrath
See Timeline of Middle-earth.
What follows is a brief and inevitably incomplete listing of characters from Tolkien's work who lived in Middle-earth, divided into First Age, Second Age, and Third Age. Note that characters are sorted according to several groups, and may appear multiple times. For a full list of characters see: List of Middle-earth characters.
House of Finwë
Finwë
Míriel (first wife of Finwë)
Fëanor
Indis (second wife of Finwë)
Findis
Fingolfin
Irimë
Finarfin
Sons of Fëanor
Maedhros
Maglor
Celegorm
Caranthir
Curufin
Celebrimbor
Amrod
Amras
House of Fingolfin
Fingon
Turgon
Idril Celebrindal
Aredhel
Maeglin
Argon
House of Finarfin
Finrod Felagund
Angrod
Orodreth
Rodnor Gil-galad
Finduilas
Aegnor
Galadriel
Celebrían
Arwen
House of Elwë and Olwë
Elwë (Elu Thingol)
Melian (wife of Thingol)
Lúthien Tinúviel
Olwë
Eärwen
House of Bëor
Bëor the Old
Bregor
Barahir
Beren Erchamion
Bregolas
Belegund
Rían
Baragund
Morwen
House of Marach
Marach
Hador Lórindol
Gundor
Galdor
Húrin
Túrin Turambar
Nienor Níniel
Huor
Tuor
Glóredhel
Descendants of Lúthien and Beren
Dior Thingol's Heir
Eluréd and Elurín
Elwing
Elrond
Elros
Descendants of Idril and Tuor
Eärendil the Mariner
Elrond
Elladan
Elrohir
Arwen Undómiel
Elros
Kings of Númenor
Haladin of Brethil
Haldad
Haleth
Haldar
Haldan
Halmir
Haldir
Handir
Brandir the Lame
Hareth
Húrin
Huor
Hundar
Others
Círdan, lord of the Falas
Beleg the Bowman
Glorfindel of Gondolin
Ecthelion of the Fountain
Eöl the Dark Elf
Maeglin, sister-son of Turgon
Durin the Deathless, father of the Longbeards
Gothmog, lord of Balrogs
Sauron aka Gorthaur, Lord of Werewolves
For a list of the Valar, see that article.
Kings of Númenor: see Kings of Númenor
Sauron, a.k.a. Annatar
Ringwraiths or Nazgûl
Witch-king of Angmar
Khamûl, the Black Easterling
Thorin and Company
Thorin II Oakenshield
Balin
Dwalin
Fíli
Kíli
Dori
Nori
Ori
Óin
Glóin
Bifur
Bofur
Bombur
Bilbo Baggins
Gandalf The Grey
(13 Dwarves, 1 Hobbit, and 1 Wizard)
The Fellowship of the Ring
Frodo Baggins
Samwise Gamgee (Sam)
Meriadoc Brandybuck (Merry)
Peregrin Took (Pippin)
Aragorn (Strider)
Boromir
Gandalf the Grey, White
Legolas
Gimli (son of Glóin)
(4 Hobbits, 2 Men, 1 Wizard, 1 Elf, and 1 Dwarf)
Kings of Gondor: see Kings of Gondor
Kings of Arnor: see Kings of Arnor
Kings of Arthedain: see Kings of Arthedain
Chiefs of the Rangers of Arnor: see Chiefs of the Dúnedain
Stewards of Gondor: see Stewards of Gondor
Kings of Rohan: see Kings of Rohan
Wizards or Istari:
Saruman the White
Gandalf the Grey
Radagast the Brown
Ithryn Luin (Blue Wizards)
Dwarves of Durin's folk: see Durin's folk
Other characters
Elves
Círdan of Mithlond
Celebrían, wife of Elrond
Elladan
Elrohir
Thranduil, King of northern Mirkwood
Men
Beorn
Éowyn
Gríma Wormtongue
Imrahil, Prince of Dol Amroth
Vidugavia
Vidumavi
Hobbits
Baggins family
Bandobras Bullroarer Took
Boffin family
Bolger family
Brandybuck Clan
Déagol
Farmer Maggot
Mayor of the Shire
Sméagol, or Gollum
Treebeard
Tom Bombadil
Shelob
Sauron (often perceived as the Eye of Sauron)
The Mouth of Sauron
Aerin
Anairë
Arien
Elanor Gardner
Erendis
Finduilas of Dol Amroth
Fíriel
Goldberry
Ilmarë
Lalaith
Lothíriel
Nienna
Queen Berúthiel
Ruling Queens of Númenor
Théodwyn
Thuringwethil
Uinen
Ungoliant
Varda
Ainur
Valar
Maiar
Istari
Balrogs
Elves (Quendi, the Elder Children of Ilúvatar, The Firstborn) (see Sundering of the Elves)
Calaquendi
Vanyar — Light Elves
Noldor — Deep Elves
Teleri — Sea Elves
Moriquendi
Sindar — Grey Elves
Nandor and Laiquendi — Green Elves or Silvan Elves
Avari — Unwilling
Men (Atani, the Younger Children of Ilúvatar, The Followers)
Atanatári — Men descended of or related to the 'Fathers of Men'
Edain — Men of the West
Bëorians — First House of Men
Haladin — Second House of Men
House of Marach/House of Hador-Third House of Men
Drúedain (Woses of Drúadan Forest)
Marachians or Hadorians — Third House of Men
Númenóreans — Men of the West
Dúnedain — Men of Gondor and Arnor
Black Númenóreans — Servants of Sauron
Men of Twilight
Northmen (Distant relations of Bëorians and Marachians)
Men of Dale, or Bardings
Men of Esgaroth
Rohirrim (Descendants of the Éothéod)
Beornings
Woodsmen of Mirkwood
Dunlendings (Distant relations of Haladin)
Men of Bree
Easterlings
Wainriders
Balchoth
Variags of Khand
Southrons
Haradrim of Far and Near Harad
Corsairs of Umbar
Forodwaith — Ice-men of the North
Lossoth, also known as Snowmen of Forochel
Half-elven
Dwarves (Naugrim, the Adopted Children of Ilúvatar)
Hobbits
Harfoots
Stoors
Fallohides
Ents
Huorns
Eagles
Dragons
Glaurung
Smaug
Orcs — usually called "goblins" in The Hobbit
Uruk-hai
Trolls
Olog-hai
Wargs
The Dead
Barrow-wights
Dead Men of Dunharrow
General overview
Valarin
Elvish languages:
Sindarin
Quenya
Mannish languages:
Adûnaic (the language of Númenor)
Westron (aka Common Speech)
Tongue of Umbar's Black Númenóreans
Rohirric, (translated with Anglo-Saxon)
Khuzdul (Dwarvish language)
Black Speech
Entish, a language based on an ancient form of Common Eldarin
Tengwar script
Sarati script
Cirth runes
A Elbereth Gilthoniel
A Walking Song
All that is gold does not glitter
Namárië
The Lay of Leithian
The Lay of the Children of Húrin
The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late
The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen
The Tale of Beren and Lúthien
Ainulindalë
Akallabêth
Fall of Gondolin
Narn i Chîn Húrin
Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age
Quenta Silmarillion
The Quest of Erebor
The Scouring of the Shire
Valaquenta
The One Ring aka Ruling Ring
The Rings of Power
The Three Rings of the Elves:
Narya
Nenya
Vilya
The Silmaril
The Arkenstone
The Palantíri
The Red Arrow of Gondor
Mithril
