Editing Fëanor

{{Short description|Character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox character
| name        = Fëanor 
| series      = [[J. R. R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] 
| image       = FEANOR AND FINGOLFIN.jpg
| caption     = Fëanor (left) threatens [[Fingolfin]]<br/>[[Middle-earth artwork]] by [[Tom Loback]], 2007
| aliases     = Fëanáro,<br/>Curufinwë
| race        = [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]]
| lbl24       = Book(s)
| data24      = ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' (1977)
}}
'''Fëanor''' ({{IPA|qya|ˈfɛ.anɔr}}) is a fictional character in [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Silmarillion]]''. He creates the [[Tengwar]] script, the [[palantír]] seeing-stones, and the three [[Silmarils]], the skilfully forged jewels that give the book their name and theme, triggering division and destruction. He is the eldest son of [[Finwë]], the King of the [[Noldor]] Elves, and his first wife Míriel.

Fëanor's Silmarils form a central theme of ''The Silmarillion'' as Men and Elves battle with the forces of evil for their possession. After the [[Dark Lord]] [[Morgoth]] steals the Silmarils, Fëanor and his seven sons swear the '''Oath of Fëanor''', vowing to fight anyone and everyone—whether [[Elves in Middle-earth|Elf]], [[Men in Middle-earth|Man]], [[Maiar in Middle-earth|Maia]], or [[Valar in Middle-earth|Vala]]—who withholds the Silmarils.

The oath commands Fëanor and his sons to press to [[Middle-earth]], in the process committing atrocities against their fellow Elves, the first Kinslaying, at the havens of the Teleri. Fëanor dies soon after his arrival in Middle-earth; his sons unite in the cause of defeating Morgoth and retrieving the Silmarils, but end up causing further harm among the Elves.

The Tolkien scholar [[Jane Chance]] has seen Fëanor's pride as leading to his downfall, alongside Morgoth's corruption of Elves and Men as reflecting [[Satan]]'s temptation of [[Adam and Eve]], and the desire for godlike knowledge as in the [[Garden of Eden]]. Others have likened Fëanor to the Anglo-Saxon leader [[Byrhtnoth]] whose foolish pride led to defeat and death at the [[Battle of Maldon]]. [[Tom Shippey]] writes that the pride is specifically a desire to make things that reflect their own personality, and likens this to Tolkien's own desire to [[Worldbuilding|sub-create]]. John Ellison further likens this creative pride to that of the protagonist in [[Thomas Mann]]'s 1947 novel ''[[Doctor Faustus (novel)|Doctor Faustus]]'', noting that both that novel and Tolkien's own [[Tolkien's legendarium|legendarium]] were responses to World War.

== Fictional history ==

=== Early life ===

Fëanor's father is [[Finwë and Míriel|Finwë]], the first King of the [[Noldor]]; his mother, Míriel, dies, "consumed in spirit and body", shortly after giving birth to him.{{sfn|Dickerson|2013}} Fëanor "was made the mightiest in all parts of body and mind: in valour, in endurance, in beauty, in understanding, in skill, in strength and subtlety alike: of all the Children of Ilúvatar, and a bright flame was in him." Finwë remarries and has several children, including Fëanor's half-brothers [[Fingolfin]] and [[Finarfin]]. Fëanor studies under his father-in-law Mahtan, who was a student of the godlike Vala [[Aulë]]. He becomes a craftsman and gem-smith, inventor of the [[Tengwar]] script, and the creator of the magical seeing-stones, the [[palantír]]s.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, Chapter 6 "Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor"</ref>

=== Silmarils ===

{{further|Silmarils}}

Fëanor, "in the greatest of his achievements, captured the light of the [[Two Trees]] to make the three [[Silmaril]]s, also called the Great Jewels, though they were not mere glittering stones, they were alive, imperishable, and sacred."<ref name="Of the Silmarils" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, Chapter 7, "Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor"</ref> Even the [[Vala (Middle-earth)|Valar]] with their godlike powers could not copy them. In fact, Fëanor himself could not copy them, as part of his essence goes into their making. Their worth is close to infinite, as they are unique and irreplaceable. The Vala "[[Varda (Middle-earth)|Varda]] hallowed the Silmarils so that thereafter no mortal flesh, nor hands unclean, nor anything of evil will might touch them, for it would be scorched and withered."<ref name="Of the Silmarils" group=T/>

Fëanor prizes the Silmarils, and grows suspicious of the Valar and [[Elves in Middle-earth|Elves]] who he believes covet them. The Vala [[Melkor]], recently released from imprisonment and now residing in [[Valinor]], sees an opportunity to sow dissent among the Noldor. Fëanor refuses to communicate with Melkor, but is still caught in his plot. Fëanor angrily warns Fingolfin not to spread lies, and threatens to kill him. As punishment, the Valar exile Fëanor to his remote home Formenos for twelve years. Finwë too withdraws to Formenos.<ref name="Of the Silmarils" group=T/>

The Valar learn that Melkor is manipulating Fëanor, and send one of their number, [[Tulkas]], to capture Melkor, but he has already escaped. Fëanor wisely realises that Melkor's goal is to obtain the Silmarils, "and he shut the doors of his house in the face of the mightiest of all the dwellers in [[Eä]]."<ref name="Of the Silmarils" group=T/> The Valar invite Fëanor and Fingolfin to Valinor to make peace. Fingolfin offers a hand to his half-brother, recognising Fëanor's place as the eldest. Fëanor accepts, but soon Melkor and [[Ungoliant]] destroy The Two Trees,<ref name="Of the Darkening of Valinor" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, ch. 8, "Of the Darkening of Valinor"</ref> leaving the Silmarils as the only surviving light of the Trees. The Valar ask Fëanor to give them up so that they can restore the Trees. Fëanor replies: "It may be that I can unlock my jewels, but never again shall I make their like; and if I must break them, I shall break my heart."<ref name="Of the Flight of the Noldor" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, Chapter 9, "Of the Flight of the Noldor"</ref> He refuses to give up the Silmarils of his own free will. Messengers from Formenos tell him that Melkor has killed Finwë and stolen the Silmarils. [[Yavanna]] is thus unable to heal the Two Trees.<ref name="Of the Flight of the Noldor" group=T/>

For this deed, Fëanor names Melkor "Morgoth", "Black Enemy".<ref name="Of the Flight of the Noldor" group=T/> Fëanor rails against the Great Enemy, blaming the Valar for Morgoth's deeds.<ref name="Of the Flight of the Noldor" group="T"/> He gives a speech in the Elvish city of Tirion, persuading most of his people to return to [[Middle-earth]] to avenge Finwë and free themselves from the Valar. Together with his seven sons, they swear the Oath of Fëanor:<ref name="Of the Flight of the Noldor" group="T"/>

{{blockquote|text=They swore an oath which none shall break, and none should take, by the name even of Ilúvatar, calling the Everlasting Dark upon them if they kept it not... ...vowing to pursue with vengeance and hatred to the ends of the World Vala, Demon, Elf or Man as yet unborn or any creature, great or small, good or evil, that time should bring forth unto the end of days, whoso should hold or take or keep a Silmaril from their possession.}}

=== Return to Beleriand ===

{{anchor|Kinslaying}}

[[File:Elvish_Migrations_and_Kindreds.svg|thumb|upright=2|[[Arda (Middle-earth)|Arda]] in the [[First Age]]. The Elves migrated across [[Middle-earth]]; many of them travelled to [[Valinor]] (green arrows to the left). Finwë's killing by [[Melkor]] led in turn to the [[Flight of the Noldor]] (red arrows to the right) back to [[Beleriand]] in Middle-earth.<!--<ref name="Clark Timmons 2000">{{cite book |first1=George |last1=Clark |first2=Daniel |last2=Timmons |title=J. R. R. Tolkien and his Literary Resonances |publisher=Greenwood Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-313-30845-1 |page=176 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ES0Hs75IVg0C&q=Finwe&pg=PA176}}</ref>-->]]

To get to Middle-earth, Fëanor goes to the shores of Aman, and asks the seafaring [[Teleri]] for their aid. When they refuse, Fëanor orders the Noldor to steal the ships. The Teleri resist, and many of them are killed. The battle became known as the Kinslaying at Alqualondë, or the first kinslaying.<ref name="Of the Flight of the Noldor" group=T/><!--<ref name="Fontenot 2019">{{cite web |last=Fontenot |first=Megan |url=https://www.tor.com/2019/03/07/exploring-the-people-of-middle-earth-miriel-historian-of-the-noldor-pt-1/|title=Exploring the People of Middle-earth: Míriel, Historian of the Noldor (Part 1) |date=7 March 2019 |website=[[Tor.com]] |access-date=19 March 2021}}</ref>--> His sons later commit two other acts of warfare against Elves in [[Middle-earth]] in his name. In repentance, Finarfin, Finwë's third son, takes his host and turns back. They are accepted by the Valar, and Finarfin rules as High-King of the Noldor in Valinor. The remaining Elves, those who follow Fëanor and [[Fingolfin]], become subject to the Doom of [[Mandos]], that they will come to harm if they continue their rebellion against the Valar. There are not enough ships to carry all the Noldor across the sea, so Fëanor and his sons lead the first group.<ref name="Of the Flight of the Noldor" group=T/> Upon arriving in the far west of [[Beleriand]], they decide to burn the ships and leave Fingolfin and his people behind. Fingolfin, furious, returns to Beleriand by the long and hard land route, via the northern ice.<ref name="Of the Flight of the Noldor" group=T/>

Morgoth summons his armies from his fortress of [[Angband (Middle-earth)|Angband]] and attacks Fëanor's encampment in Mithrim. This battle was called the Battle under the Stars, or ''[[Dagor-nuin-Giliath]]'', for the Sun and Moon had not yet been made. The Noldor win the battle. Fëanor presses on toward Angband with his sons. He comes within sight of Angband, but is ambushed by a force of [[Balrog]]s, with few Elves about him. He fights mightily with [[Gothmog]], captain of the Balrogs. His sons come upon the Balrogs with a great force of Elves, and drive them off; but Fëanor knows his wounds are fatal. He curses Morgoth thrice, but with the eyes of death, he sees that his Elves, unaided, will never throw down the dark towers of [[Thangorodrim]].<ref name="Of the Flight of the Noldor" group="T"/>

=== Aftermath ===

The Oath of Fëanor affects the lovers [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]]. They steal a Silmaril from Morgoth, leading to Kinslaying and years of strife among the Elves,<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, Chapter 19, "Of Beren and Lúthien"</ref> until [[Eärendil]] carries the Silmaril off into the West.<ref name="Of the Voyage of Eärendil" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, Chapter 24, "Of the Voyage of Eärendil"</ref> That Silmaril is lost to the Sons of Fëanor, but the other two remain in the crown of Morgoth. They too are stolen, one ending in the earth, one in the sea.<ref name="Of the Voyage of Eärendil" group=T/>

According to Mandos' prophecy, following Melkor's final return and defeat in the [[Dagor Dagorath]], the world will be changed and the Valar will recover the Silmarils. Fëanor will be released from the [[Halls of Mandos]] and will give Yavanna the Silmarils. Fëanor will break them, and Yavanna will revive the Two Trees. The [[Pelóri Mountains]] will be flattened and the light of the Two Trees will fill the world in eternal bliss.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1986}}, ch. 3: "Quenta Noldorinwa"</ref><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1994}}, Part 2, "The Later Quenta Silmarillion", "The Last Chapters of the Quenta Silmarillion"</ref>

=== House of Fëanor ===

{{further|Finwë#House of Finwë}}

{{Tree chart/start|align=center}}
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{{Tree chart|MDH | |MAG | |CEL | |CUR | |CAR | |AMR | |AMD |MDH=Maedhros|MAG=Maglor|CEL=Celegorm|CAR=Caranthir|CUR=Curufin|AMD=Amrod|AMR=Amras
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{{Tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | |CLB| | | | | | | | | | | | |CLB=[[Celebrimbor]]<br/>maker of [[Rings of Power|Rings]]
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<p align=left>[[File:Cib-gov-uk (CoreUI Icons v1.0.0).svg|20px]]    Kings of the Noldor in [[Valinor]]</p>

<p align=left>[[File:Icon crown.png|20px]]    High Kings of the Noldor in Exile (in Middle-earth)</p>

All the characters shown are [[Elf (Tolkien)|Elves]]. The above tree follows the late note ''[[The Shibboleth of Fëanor]]''.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1996}}, "[[The Shibboleth of Fëanor]]"</ref> In the published Silmarillion, the birth order of Fëanor's sons is Maedhros, Maglor, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin (father of Celebrimbor), Amrod, and Amras; Fëanor's half-sisters Findis and Lalwen do not appear.<ref name="Temp Silm I" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age": Family Tree I: "The house of Finwë and the Noldorin descent of Elrond and Elros"</ref>

== Development ==

Fëanor was originally named '''Curufinwë''' ("skilful [son of] [[Finwë and Míriel|Finwë]]") in Tolkien's [[fictional language]] of [[Quenya]]. He is known as '''Fëanáro''', "spirit of fire" in Quenya, from ''fëa'' ("spirit") and ''nár'' ("flame"). Fëanáro is his "mother-name" or ''Amilessë'', the name given by an Elf's mother at, or some years after, birth and it was one of their true names.<ref name="Shibboleth" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1996}}, Chapter 11 "[[The Shibboleth of Fëanor]]"</ref>

Tolkien wrote at least four versions of the Oath of Fëanor itself, as found in ''[[The History of Middle-earth]].'' The three earliest versions are found in ''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]'': in [[alliterative verse]] (circa 1918–1920s), in chapter 2, "Poems Early Abandoned" ''The Flight of the Noldoli from Valinor''. Lines 132–141;{{sfn|Tolkien|1985|loc=ch. 2 "Poems Early Abandoned"}} in rhyming [[couplets]] (circa 1928), in chapter 3, "[[The Lay of Leithian]]". Canto VI, lines 1628–1643; and in a different form as restated by Celegorm, third son of Fëanor, in chapter 3, "The Lay of Leithian." Canto VI, lines 1848–1857.{{sfn|Tolkien|1985|loc=ch. 3 "The Lay of Leithian"}} A later version is found in ''[[Morgoth's Ring]]''.{{sfn|Tolkien|1993|loc="The Annals of Aman"}} Fëanor is among those major characters whom Tolkien, who also used to [[Tolkien's artwork|illustrate his writings]], [[Heraldry of Middle-earth|supplied with a distinct heraldic device]].{{sfn|Hammond|Scull|1995|pp=192, 195}}

== Analysis ==

[[File:Brythnoth statue Maldon (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|The proud Anglo-Saxon leader [[Byrhtnoth]] may have inspired Tolkien to create Fëanor.{{sfn|Solopova|2009|p=42}} Statue at Maldon by John Doubleday]]

=== Pride and downfall ===

The [[Tolkien scholar]] [[Jane Chance]] sees Morgoth's corruption of Elves and Men as clearly Biblical, as it "mirrors that of [[Adam and Eve]] by [[Satan]]; the desire for power and godlike being is the same desire for knowledge of good and evil witnessed in the [[Garden of Eden]]."{{sfn|Nitzsche|1980|pp=131–133}} She treats the Silmarils as symbols of that same desire. She identifies Fëanor's wish to be like the Valar in creating "things of his own" as rebellious pride, and that, like Melkor, he "succumbs to a 'greedy love'" of his creations that causes his downfall. She points out that Fëanor's rebellion is echoed by that of the [[Númenor|Númenórean]] man Ar-Pharazon, and then at the end of ''The Silmarillion'' by the (angelic) [[Maia (Middle-earth)|Maia]], [[Sauron]], who becomes the [[Dark lord|Dark Lord]] of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.{{sfn|Nitzsche|1980|pp=131–133}}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
|+ [[Jane Chance]]'s comparison of Fëanor and [[Morgoth]]<br/>with [[Bible|Biblical]] characters in the [[Book of Genesis]]{{sfn|Nitzsche|1980|pp=131–133}}
! Tolkien !! Bible            
! scope="col" style="width: 225px;" | Action 
! scope="col" style="width: 225px;" | Result
|-
| [[Morgoth]] ||                  || corrupts [[Men in Middle-earth|Men]], [[Elves in Middle-earth|Elves]] || Exiled, his fortress of [[Angband (Middle-earth)|Angband]] destroyed, [[Beleriand]] drowned
|-
|         || [[Satan]]        || corrupts [[Adam and Eve]] || fallen [[angel]]
|-
| Fëanor  ||                  || rebellious pride, desire for pride and godlike being, creates the [[Silmarils]] || downfall: his death, disaster for his people, ruin of Beleriand
|-
|         || [[Adam and Eve]] || desire for godlike knowledge of good and evil || [[Fall of man]], expelled from [[Garden of Eden]] 
|}

The philologist [[Elizabeth Solopova]] suggests that the character of Fëanor was inspired by the Anglo-Saxon leader [[Byrhtnoth]], and in particular his appearance in the poem "[[The Battle of Maldon]]". The poem tells how he is slain in [[Battle of Maldon|that battle]], which took place in the year 991. Tolkien wrote a short play in verse, ''[[The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, Beorhthelm's Son]]''<ref name="Homecoming" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1966}}, "[[The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, Beorhthelm's Son]]"</ref> on the character's misplaced pride,{{sfn|Honegger|2007}} and described Byrhtnoth as misled by "pride and misplaced chivalry proven fatal" and as "too foolish to be heroic".<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1966}}, pp. 4, 22</ref> Fëanor is similarly driven by "overmastering pride" that causes his death and that of countless followers.{{sfn|Solopova|2009|p=42}}

=== Pride in sub-creation ===

[[File:The surprizing life and death of Doctor John Faustus Fleuron T182305-1.png|thumb|Fëanor's self-destructive pride in his own creation has been likened to that of [[Thomas Mann]]'s "Doctor Faustus", in the person of the fictional 20th century composer [[Adrian Leverkühn]], a reworking of the [[Faust]] legend.{{sfn|Ellison|2003}} 1740 English print of [[Faust|Doctor Faustus's]] pact with the Devil.]]

The Tolkien scholar [[Tom Shippey]] comments that Fëanor and his Silmarils relate to ''The Silmarillion''{{'}}s theme in a particular way: the sin of the Elves is not human pride, as in the [[Fall of man|Biblical fall]], but their "desire to make things which will forever reflect or incarnate their own personality". This Elvish form of pride leads Fëanor to forge the Silmarils, and, Shippey suggests, led Tolkien to write his fictions: "Tolkien could not help seeing a part of himself in Fëanor and [[Saruman]], sharing their perhaps licit, perhaps illicit desire to 'sub-create'."{{sfn|Shippey|2005|pp=273–274}}

John Ellison, writing in [[the Tolkien Society]]'s journal ''[[Mallorn (journal)|Mallorn]]'', draws a comparison between Fëanor and the [[Faust]] legend, in particular [[Thomas Mann]]'s version in his 1947 novel ''[[Doctor Faustus (novel)|Doctor Faustus]]''. In Ellison's view, the life history of both characters is of "genius corrupted finally into insanity; the creative drive turns on its possessor and destroys him, and with him a good part of the fabric of society."{{sfn|Ellison|2003}} He describes as parallel Mann's depiction of his Faust character Leverkühn in a collapsing Nazi Germany and Tolkien's starting his mythology amidst the collapse of pre-1914 Europe in the [[World War I|First World War]]<!--: he likens the "Good German" narrator Zeitblom (who does not support the Nazis) to one of "the Faithful" (like [[Elendil]]) among the gone-bad [[Númenórean]]s-->. Fëanor is, he writes, not an exact equivalent of Doctor Faustus: he does not make a [[pact with the devil]]; but both Fëanor and Leverkühn outgrow their teachers in creative skill. Ellison calls Leverkühn "a Fëanor of our times", and comments that far from being a simple battle of good versus evil, Tolkien's world as seen in Fëanor has "the creative and destructive forces in man's nature ... indivisibly linked; this is the essence of the '[[fall of man|fallen world]]' in which we live."{{sfn|Ellison|2003}} He adds that Fëanor is central to the whole of [[Tolkien's legendarium]], "the hinge on which the whole great Tale ... turns."{{sfn|Ellison|2003}}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
|+ John Ellison's analysis of Fëanor's resemblance to Leverkühn<br/>in [[Thomas Mann]]'s version of the [[Faust]] legend{{sfn|Ellison|2003}}
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 225px;" | Tolkien's Fëanor 
! scope="col" style="width: 225px;" | Mann's Leverkühn 
|-
| colspan=2 | {{center|"genius corrupted finally into insanity"}}
|-
| colspan=2 | {{center|"creative drive turns on its possessor and destroys him", and much of society}}
|-
| Tolkien sees England's "green country ruined and despoiled by industrial or commercial development"
| Mann sees early 20th century Germany "about to slide into barbarism"
|}

Like Shippey, Ellison relates Fëanor's making of the Silmarils to what he supposes was Tolkien's own belief: that it was "a dangerous and impermissible act" that went beyond what the Creator had intended for the Elves.{{sfn|Ellison|2003}} Further, Ellison suggests that while Fëanor does not directly represent Tolkien, there is something about his action that can be applied to Tolkien's life. Tolkien calls Fëanor "[[wikt:fey|fey]]"; Ellison notes that Tolkien <!--mistakenly, but that's not the point here--> analysed his own name as ''tollkühn'', with the same meaning. Further, Tolkien seems, Ellison writes, to have felt a conflict between his own "sub-creation" and his Catholic faith.{{sfn|Ellison|2003}}

{{anchor|Aredhel}}

=== Ancestry as guide to character ===

{{further|Ancestry as guide to character in Tolkien's legendarium}}

Shippey and the Tolkien scholar [[Verlyn Flieger]] both note that Tolkien intended ancestry to be a guide to character.{{sfn|Shippey|2005|pp=282–284}}{{sfn|Flieger|1983|pp=88–131}}  Shippey writes that ''The Silmarillion'' echoes [[Norse mythology]] in this belief, and that one perhaps needs to study the family trees to see clearly how it all works:{{sfn|Shippey|2005|pp=282–284}}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
|+ [[Tom Shippey]]'s analysis of the [[Ancestry as guide to character in Tolkien's legendarium|effect of ancestry on character]]{{sfn|Shippey|2005|pp=282–284}}
|-
! Character !! Ancestry !! Effect
|-
| '''Fëanor''' || pure [[Noldor]] from both father and mother || Creative, headstrong, selfish
|-
| Fëanor's half-brothers [[Finarfin]] and [[Fingolfin]] || mother (Indis) is of "'senior' race", [[Vanyar]] || "Superior" to Fëanor "in restraint and generosity"
|-
| Finarfin's children [[Finrod]] and [[Galadriel]] || [[Galadriel#Relationships|mother (Eärwen)]] is of "junior" race, [[Teleri]] || Relatively sympathetic
|-
| Fingolfin's children, e.g. Aredhel || "mixed Noldor/Vanyar" || "Reckless"
|- 
|  Fëanor's sons || pure Noldor || Aggressive, unsympathetic
|}

=== "Subtle" and "skilled" ===

Flieger writes that Fëanor's fire drives his creativity, making the beautiful letters of the Fëanorian script, and jewels, including, fatefully, the Silmarils. She comments that Tolkien, choosing his words very carefully, calls Fëanor both "subtle", by etymology from [[Latin]] ''sub-tela'', "under the warp (of a weaving)", hence the crosswise weft threads that go against the grain, a dangerous part of the fabric of life; and "skilled", by etymology from [[Indo-European]] ''skel-'', "to cut", like the Noldor as a whole tending to cause division among the Elves; and indeed his choices, and the Silmarils, lead to division and war, to the [[Kinslaying]] of Elf by Elf, the theft of the Telerin Elves' ships in Aman, and in turn to further disasters across the sea in Beleriand.<ref name="Flieger 1983">{{harvnb|Flieger|1983|pp=95–107}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
|+ [[Verlyn Flieger]]'s analysis of Tolkien's choice of terms for Fëanor<ref name="Flieger 1983"/>
|-
! Tolkien's terms !! [[Etymology]] !! Implications
|-
| "subtle" || Latin: ''sub-tela'', "under the [[Warp and weft|warp]]" of a weaving || A person who goes against the grain, dangerous
|-
| "skilled" || Indo-European ''skel-'', "to cut" || A divisive person, one who causes conflict
|}
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== In popular culture ==

The name of the album ''[[Oath Bound]]'', by the [[black metal]] band [[Summoning (band)|Summoning]], comes from the [[Oath of Fëanor]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showinterview.php?id=1304 |title=Summoning: Interview |website=Lords Of Metal |issue=58 |date=April 2006 |archive-date=6 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606085418/http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showinterview.php?id=1304 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the lyrics are about the ''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]''. [[Blind Guardian]]'s song "The Curse of Fëanor", featured on the album ''[[Nightfall in Middle Earth]]'', tells of Fëanor swearing to go after Morgoth.<ref>{{cite media |title=[[Nightfall in Middle Earth]] |author=[[Blind Guardian]] |publisher=[[Virgin Records]]/[[Century Media]] |type=CD |date=1998 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AOS74uZTasYC&pg=PA134 |author-last=Sturgis |author-first=Amy H. |chapter='Tolkien is the Wind and the Way': The Educational Value of Tolkien-Inspired World Music |title=Middle-earth Minstrel: Essays on Music in Tolkien |editor-last=Eden |editor-first=Bradford Lee |editor-link=Bradford Lee Eden |date=2010 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9780786456604 |page=134}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=72r0AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA185|title=Middle-earth Envisioned: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: On Screen, On Stage, and Beyond |last1=Robb |first1=Brian J. |last2=Simpson |first2=Paul |date=2013 |publisher=Race Point Publishing |isbn=978-1627880787 |page=185}}</ref> The Russian [[power metal]] band [[Epidemia]] has a song entitled "Fëanor" about the character's campaign against Morgoth, and his death.<ref>{{cite web |title=Феанор (Feanor) (English translation) |url=https://lyricstranslate.com/en/feanor-%D1%84%D0%B5%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%80-feanor.html-0 |publisher=Lyrics Translate |access-date=18 November 2020}}</ref>-->

== References ==

=== Primary ===

{{reflist|group=T|22em}}

=== Secondary ===

{{reflist|22em}}

===Sources ===

{{refbegin}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Dickerson |first=Matthew |author-link=Matthew T. Dickerson |title=Finwë and Míriel |editor-first=Michael D. C. |editor-last=Drout |editor-link=Michael D. C. Drout |year=2013 |orig-year=2007 |encyclopedia=[[The J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia]] |chapter=Popular Music |pages=212–213 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-0-415-96942-0 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B0loOBA3ejIC&pg=PA212}}
* {{cite journal |last=Ellison |first=John |title=From Fëanor to Doctor Faustus: a creator's path to self destruction |journal=[[Mallorn (journal)|Mallorn]] |date=July 2003 |issue=41 |pages=13–21 |jstor=45320486 }}
* {{cite book |last=Flieger |first=Verlyn |author-link=Verlyn Flieger |year=1983 |title=Splintered Light: Logos and Language in Tolkien's World |title-link=Splintered Light |publisher=[[William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company]] |isbn=978-0-8028-1955-0 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Hammond |first1=Wayne G. |last2=Scull |first2=Christina |author-link1=Wayne G. Hammond |author-link2=Christina Scull |title=J. R. R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator |publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin]] |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-395-74816-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780618083619}}
* {{cite journal |last=Honegger |first=Thomas |author-link=Thomas Honegger |title=The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth: Philology and the Literary Muse |journal=[[Tolkien Studies]] |date=2007 |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=189–199 |doi=10.1353/tks.2007.0021 |s2cid=170401120}}
* {{cite book |last=Nitzsche |first=Jane Chance |author-link=Jane Chance |title=[[Tolkien's Art: 'A Mythology for England']] |date=1980 |orig-year=1979 |publisher=Papermac |isbn=0-333-29034-8}}
* {{ME-ref|Solopova}} <!--Solopova 2009-->
* {{ME-ref|ROAD}}     <!--Shippey 2005-->
* {{ME-ref|TR}}       <!--Tolkien 1966-->
* {{ME-ref|Silm}}     <!--Tolkien 1977-->
* {{ME-ref|Lays}}     <!--Tolkien 1985-->
* {{ME-ref|SoME}}     <!--Tolkien 1986-->
* {{ME-ref|MR}}       <!--Tolkien 1993-->
* {{ME-ref|WJ}}       <!--Tolkien 1994-->
* {{ME-ref|PoME}}     <!--Tolkien 1996-->
{{refend}}

{{Middle-earth}}
{{Elves}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Feanor}}
[[Category:The Silmarillion characters]]
[[Category:Literary characters introduced in 1977]]
[[Category:Noldor]]
[[Category:Middle-earth rulers]]

[[pl:Lista Calaquendich#Fëanor]]