The Second Prophecy of Mandos: Eschatology, Mythic Sources, and Editorial Choices in Tolkien’s legendarium

This article examines the development and significance of the Second Prophecy of Mandos within J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium. Through an analysis of Tolkien’s published works and posthumously edited texts, the study traces the evolution of the prophecy from its earliest formulations in The Book of Lost Tales to its later iterations in the Quenta Silmarillion tradition. Particular attention is devoted to the editorial decision by Christopher Tolkien to omit the prophecy from the 1977 publication of The Silmarillion, assessing both the philological and interpretative factors that may have influenced this choice. The essay further investigates Tolkien’s conceptualization of eschatology by comparing the prophecy with its principal mythological and theological sources, namely the Norse Ragnarök and the Christian Apocalypse. While acknowledging these influences, the analysis demonstrates how Tolkien developed an original eschatological framework centered on the final defeat of Morgoth, the pivotal role of Túrin Turambar, and the ultimate renewal of the world in the form of Arda Healed. The Second Prophecy of Mandos thus emerges as a key element for understanding Tolkien’s vision of history, mythmaking, and the ultimate destiny of his Secondary World.