Summary
Of the many inspirations author J.R.R. Tolkien drew upon to createThe Lord of the Ringsuniverse, Norse mythology is a major one. In fact, Ragnarök, the end-of-days event in Norse mythology, inspired a possible Day of Judgment event for Tolkien’s world, Arda, as well.
Tolkien cited the Norse apocalyptic event as inspiration for a final battle at the end of days, long after the events ofThe Lord of the Rings. It is to be fought between the first Dark Lord, Morgoth, who will rise again, and the Gods, with elves, men, and dwarves playing a part too. This apocalypse would destroy the sun, moon, and all evil. After this, Arda will be remade again, and a new world will begin.
What Is the Last Battle in Tolkien’s Legendarium?
Dagor Dagorath (meaning ‘Battle of Battles’ or ‘Day of Doom’) is an elusive, scantily fleshed-out cosmic war in Tolkien’s legendarium, mentioned in books likeThe Lord of the Rings,The Silmarillion,Unfinished Tales, and more.In a letter Tolkien wroteto his publisher, Milton Waldman, in 1951, the author described his vision for Dagor Dagorath, a fitting grand finale to his mythology that would break and then remake the world.
This legendarium ends with a vision of the end of the world, its breaking and remaking, and the recovery of the Silmarilli and the ‘light before the Sun’ – after a final battle which owes, I suppose, more to the Norse vision of Ragnarök than to anything else, though it is not much like it.
What Will Happen in Dagor Dagorath?
Dagor Dagorath is part of a second prophecy made by the Vala Mandos, the herald of Doom and dealer of judgment, akin to the Norse God, Hel, keeper of the underworld realm. It alludes to certain events that will come to pass when the last battle is fought, while some more are mentioned in the various works of Tolkien. What is thus gathered is a rough outline that mentionsthe return of Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, and his ultimate defeat in a battle that would destroy the world. A few more details about who will participate in this battle are specified.
The Return of Morgoth
After his defeat at the end of the First Age, the Dark Lord Morgoth was imprisoned by the Valar in the Void. However, the prophecy of Mandos claims that when the world is old, and the Valar have grown weary, Morgoth will escape through the Doors of the Night to return to Valinor and destroy the Sun and the Moon. Then, on the plain of Valinor, a great battle will be fought, with all of Morgoth’s servants pitted against the might of the Valar and several other legendary warriors. In the end, Morgoth will be defeated permanently.
In the chapter about the Istari (wizards) inUnfinished Tales, it is alluded thatManwë, the King of the Valar, will only descend ‘the Mountain’ (the hill in Valinor where the Valar live), “at the coming of the End, when Melkor returns.” However, this has not been explained further or mentioned anywhere else.
The Return of The Dead
Morgoth’s match has always been the Vala Tulkas, a god of physical prowess and righteous wrath. According to Mandos’ prophecy, he would be the one fighting Morgoth in Dagor Dagorath. Eönwë, the herald of Manwë, would be on his right. The great warrior of Men, Túrin Turambar, whose family was cursed by Morgoth himself, would return from the dead to be on Tulkas’ left. Túrin’s legendary sword would ultimately slay Morgoth, and he would therefore avenge not just his own family, but also the race of Men.
In the chapter Akallabêth inThe Silmarillion, which detailsthe Fall of Númenor, it is mentioned that the king Ar-Pharazôn and his army, who had sailed to Valinor and landed on its shores, were buried under falling hills and imprisoned in the “Caves of the Forgotten.” They would stay there until the Last Battle, though it doesn’t mention if they would rise and fight on the side of the Valar or Morgoth.
The Recovery of the Silmarils
At the end of the First Age, two of the three Silmarils — precious jewels crafted by the elf Fëanor — were lost to the earth and sea. The third Silmaril is borne by Ëarendil, the father of Elrond, who sails the skies and keeps an eye on Morgoth in the Void. During Dagor Dagorath, it is prophesied that Ëarendil, with the Silmaril on his brow, will descend as a “white and searing flame” upon Morgoth when he is destroying the Sun and Moon, and cause his fall from the sky, thus beginning the Last Battle.
After the battle, when the earth is broken and remade, the two lost Silmarils will be recovered and reunited with Ëarendil’s Silmaril. Their creator, Fëanor, will return andbreak these Silmarils, finally revealing what they were made of. With the fire from these stones, the Vala Yavanna will rekindle the Two Trees of Valinor that were destroyed by Ungoliant the Spider at Morgoth’s behest. In addition, the mountains of Valinor will collapse, and the light of the Tress will be able to reach all over Arda, healing it.
The Healing of Arda
There are several mentions in Tolkien’s legendarium, includingThe Hobbit, of a renewed world. This new world is prophesied to come only after Dagor Dagorath is fought. Arda, the world, was marred due to the evil of Morgoth. And even though Morgoth was defeated multiple times, Arda was never the same as imagined by the God, Eru Ilúvatar, and the Ainur. But after the Last Battle, there will be a Second Music of the Ainur that rebuilds Arda into the perfect world. The role of the Elves in this is unclear; however, it is mentioned that the race of Men will, this time, sing with the Ainur to create this new world.
The Fate of the Dwarves During Dagor Dagorath
Unlike the Elves and Men inThe Lord of the Rings,the dwarves are not the Children of Ilúvatar, the One God, but more like his adopted offspring. The Vala Aüle made them, and Eru only gave souls to them, while prophesying that his adopted children and his firstborn elves would always be at odds. However, according to dwarven legends, at the end of days, Ilúvatar will finally accept the dwarves as his own children. The dwarven spirits that have gone to sleep (died ) will reawaken, and they will then help their creator, Aûle, in remaking the world.
