Video from Ryan Reeves
"This is a lecture on the themes and meaning in J.R.R. Tolkien's book The Silmarillion. We explore the origin of Tolkien's book, and then look at the meaning Tolkien may have invested into the stories of the Silmarillion. We explore in particular Tolkien's themes in his fantasy. For the best books on Tolkien and his background check these out: Tom Shippey's biography: http://amzn.to/2dChoJu
Classic biography: http://amzn.to/2dCh5hY
The Road to Middle Earth: http://amzn.to/2dCikOb
Ryan M. Reeves (PhD Cambridge) is Associate Professor of Historical Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary." from video introduction.
"The Silmarillion is the history of the War of the Exiled Elves against the Enemy, which all takes place in the North-west of the world (Middle-earth). Several tales of victory and tragedy are caught up in it; but it ends with catastrophe, and the passing of the Ancient World"― J.R.R. Tolkien in Letter 131 to Milton Waldman
The Silmarillion is a book which is a collection of J.R.R. Tolkien's works, edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien, with assistance from fantasy fiction writer Guy Gavriel Kay. It covers the history of the world of Arda from the birth of Eä to the end of the Third Age. The bulk of the book consists of the Quenta Silmarillion, which is mainly concerned with the deeds of the Noldor and the tales of the First Age of Middle-earth.." from The Tolkien Gateway