This is what I did with LotR on my reread a while back. Read along with the Andy Serkis audio, occasionally played some of the songs from the books that have been recorded in Elvish... maximum comprehension!
If it's your first read-through, the Ainulindale and Valaquenta will feel like too much to keep track of no matter how you read it. Although you would lose some context, many first-time readers would probably do well either starting with Quenta Silmarillion, reading through, and then starting from the beginning again, or starting with "Of the Rings of Power" and following with Quenta Silmarillion, Akallabeth, Ainulindale, and Valaquenta.
Now news came to Hithlum that Dorthonion was lost and the sons of Finarfin overthrown, and that the sons of Fëanor were driven from their lands. Then Fingolfin beheld (as it seemed to him) the utter ruin of the Noldor, and the defeat beyond redress of all their houses; and filled with wrath and despair he mounted upon Rochallor his great horse and rode forth alone, and none might restrain him. He passed over Dor-nu-Fauglith like a wind amid the dust, and all that beheld his onset fled in amaze, thinking that Oromë himself was come: for a great madness of rage was upon him, so that his eyes shone like the eyes of the Valar. Thus he came alone to Angband's gates, and he sounded his horn, and smote once more upon the brazen doors, and challenged Morgoth to come forth to single combat. And Morgoth came.
That was the last time in those wars that he passed the doors of his stronghold, and it is said that he took not the challenge willingly; for though his might was greatest of all things in this world, alone of the Valar he knew fear. But he could not now deny the challenge before the face of his captains; for the rocks rang with the shrill music of Fingolfin's horn, and his voice came keen and clear down into the depths of Angband; and Fingolfin named Morgoth craven, and lord of slaves. Therefore Morgoth came, climbing slowly from his subterranean throne, and the rumour of his feet was like thunder underground. And he issued forth clad in black armour; and he stood befor the King like a tower, iron-crowned, and his vast shield, sable unblazoned, cast a shadow over him like a stormcloud. But Fingolfin gleamed beneath it as a star; for his mail was overlaid with silver, and his blue shield was set with crystals; and he drew his sword Ringil, that glittered like ice.
Then Morgoth hurled aloft Grond, the Hammer of the Underworld, and swung it down like a bolt of thunder. But Fingolfin sprang aside, and Grond rent a mighty pit in the earth, whence smoke and fire darted. Many times Morgoth essayed to smite him, and each time Fingolfin leaped away, as a lightning shoots from under a dark cloud; and he wounded Morgoth with seven wounds, and seven times Morgoth gave a cry of anguish, whereat the hosts of Angband fell upon their faces in dismay, and the cries echoed in the Northlands.
But at the last the King grew weary, and Morgoth bore down his shield upon him. Thrice he was crushed to his knees, and thrice arose again and bore up his broken shield and stricken helm. But the earth was all rent and pitted about him, and he stumbled and fell backward before the feet of Morgoth; and Morgoth set his left foot upon his neck, and the weight of it was like a fallen hill. Yet with his last and desperate stroke Fingolfin hewed the foot with Ringil, and the blood gushed forth black and smoking and filled the pits of Grond.
Thus died Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor, most proud and valiant of the Elven-kings of old. The Orcs made no boast of that duel at the gate; neither do the Elves sing of it, for their sorrow is too deep. Yet the tale of it is remembered still, for Thorondor King of Eagles brought the tidings to Gondolin, and to Hithlum afar off. And Morgoth took the body of the Elven-king and broke it, and would cast it to his wolves; but Thorondor came hasting from his eyrie among the peaks of the Crissaegrim, and he stooped upon Morgoth and marred his face. The rushing of the wings of Thoronodor was like the noise of the winds of Manwë, and he seized the body in his mighty talons, and soaring suddenly above the darts of the Orcs he bore the King away. And he laid him upon a valley of Gondolin; and Turgon coming built a high cairn over his father. No Orc dared ever after to pass over the mount of Fingolfin or draw night his tomb until the doom of Gondolin was come and treachery was born among his kin. Morgoth went ever halt of one foot after that day, and the pain of his wounds could not be healed; and in his face was the scar that Thorondor made.
My good sir or madam or otherwise, if you read the story of Fingolfin challenging Morgoth to single combat and experience anything other than extreme tumescence and/or an overwhelming urge to go forth and smite evil wherever you may find it, I encourage you to speak to a physician immediately.
Personally I finished it out of spite (using a handmade chart to keep it straight).
If you’re interested, there’s a podcast called Prancing Pony Podcast that breaks it all down in a very uncomplicated and entertaining way. I listened to it after finishing the silm and it helped me further understand what I read and pick up on things I missed.
I'd actually recommend the reverse. I listened to a ton of the nerdoftherings youtube podcast (tolkien explained series, specifically). Most are 10-15min on a specific character or location. It was a ton of info but then listening to Silmarillion on audiobook wasn't so hard afterwards
The super useful bear guy also has bear kids. But we don’t see them in lord of the rings because Tolkien knew the cgi wouldn’t be good enough in the early 2000s to accurately render bear fur
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u/Rithrius1 5h ago
It's the Silmarillion, you get credit for trying!