1.
I think 'The Great Darkness' might be a reference to Melkor's menacing presence and growing influence in Middle Earth during the First Age. Quite a puzzling one. The Elves might have been less willing or interested in speaking to other beings during Melkor's sojourn in ME, and they were busy with wars.
I am of the belief that Ents were awakened by the Elves when these still lived near Cuivienen.
From Nogrod and Belegost the Naugrim came forth into Beleriand; and the Elves were filled with amazement, for they had believed themselves to be the only living things in Middle-earth that spoke with words or wrought with hands, and that all others were but birds and beasts.
What of the Ents? Everyone knows the huge debate of whether or not the Ents were older than the Elves, but surely the Elves would have known about the Ents by this time!
This quote might mean that the Elves thought there were no creatures that 'spoke with words' in Middle Earth, and the Ents were not counted here since the Elves themselves taught them how to speak.
2.
What caused this fear in the dwarves?
The Dwarves were children of Aulë, the Maia associated with the element of Earth. Earth, mountains, stone, jewels...these were their 'natural surroundings', and they were unused to water much like any creature of the land feels uncomfortable swimming in water or at the very sight of water and avoids it. Another thing that comes to mind is that the sound of water reminded Elves of the Undying Lands and it called to them and made them long for Aman. To Dwarves water would hold no such appeal.
3.
How in the world did the dwarves manage to create mail and weapons that did not rust?
I guess we could simply ascribe this to the immense skill of the Naugrim, and some 'magic' of their own. 
The following quotes show that they were extraordinarily skilled with iron and copper:
In the darkness of Arda already the Dwarves wrought great works, for even from the first days of their Fathers they had marvellous skill with metals and with stone; but in that ancient time iron and copper they loved to work, rather than silver or gold.
4.
Obviously the Elves knew of Ungoliant . . . why didn't they do anything to attempt to destroy her? I don't know about you, but I wouldn't be too comfortable having a giant spider living at my borders . . . especially since the Girdle of Melian was not in affect yet. So, could the Elves of Beleriand have helped themselves more by not sitting and simply accepting things as they were? What if they had taken aggresive action against the evils that were assailing them instead of waiting to be assailed? In short, where was all that Maia wisdom?
Perhaps her power was too great for the Elves to oust. Perhaps the cliffs where she dwelled were just too steep to climb. Perhaps she wove a darkness around her at all times, which prevented anyone from coming near her or finding a way - or at least prevented larger companies from finding her, since she would welcome a bewildered wanderer to fill her belly.
Also, any ideas of what happened to Ungoliant? How did she die? Did she go under the sea and drown when Beleriand was submersed in the War of Wrath?
In the previous chapter the manner of her death is stated, or at least hinted at:
...and fleeing from the north she went down into Beleriand, and dwelt beneath Ered Gorgoroth, in that dark valley that was after called Nan Dungortheb, the Valley of Dreadful Death, because of the horror that she bred there. For other foul creatures of spider form had dwelt there since the days of the delving of Angband, and she mated with them, and devoured them; and even after Ungoliant herself departed, and went whither she would into the forgotten south of the world, her offspring abode there and wove their hideous webs. Of the fate of Ungoliant no tale tells. Yet some have said that she ended long ago, when in her uttermost famine she devoured herself at last.
It looks like she departed before the ruin of Beleriand, and even if she had not I doubt she would have drowned - rather run away in search of a hiding place, much like the Balrog, Sauron, the Dragons...
5.
I wasn't aware that the Valar communicated by messenger with those in Beleriand before the death of the Trees. Perhaps Orome gave messages at times to Thingol? Perhaps Ulmo spoke through the waters?
The quote says:
for no news came out of Aman, whether by messenger, or by spirit, or by vision in dream, after the death of the Trees.
Prior to the destruction of the Two Trees, there was either messenger, spirit, vision or dream...out of Aman. The quote implies that one or two of these happened, not all of them necessarily and afterwards there was no message whatsoever.
I think the most likely way of communication between the Valar and the dwellers of Beleriand were visions that came to those who had foresight, notably Melian.
On the coasts of the Falas, Círdan might have recieved tidings of Aman from Ossë and Uinen.
Also, Oromë visited Beleriand:
In Beleriand still at times rode Oromë the great, passing like a wind over the mountains, and the sound of his horn came down the leagues of the starlight
Let me add a few wonderings of my own:
6.
Now Melian had much foresight, after the manner of the Maiar; and when the second age of the captivity of Melkor had passed, she counselled Thingol that the Peace of Arda would not last for ever. He took thought therefore how he should make for himself a kingly dwelling, and a place that should be strong, if evil were to awake again in Middle-earth; and he sought aid and counsel of the Dwarves of Belegost. They gave it willingly, for they were unwearied in those days and eager for new works; and though the Dwarves ever demanded a price for all that they did, whether with delight or with toil, at this time they held themselves paid. For [color=sky blue]Melian taught them much that they were eager to learn[/color], and Thingol rewarded them with many fair pearls.
What knowledge could Melian have had that the Dwarves would be interested in? She was said to be akin to Yavanna herself - and Dwarves had no interest in living things.
7.
Therefore the Naugrim laboured long and gladly for Thingol, and devised for him mansions after the fashion of their people, delved deep in the earth. Where the Esgalduin flowed down, and parted Neldoreth from Region, there rose in the midst of the forest a rocky hill, and the river ran at its feet. There they made the gates of the hall of Thingol, and they built a bridge of stone over the river, by which alone the gates could be entered. Beyond the gates wide passages ran down to high halls and chambers far below that were hewn in the living stone, so many and so great that that dwelling was named Menegroth, the Thousand Caves.
The Underground Halls of the Mirkwood Elves bear a striking resemblance to Menegroth. When were the former made? Could we assume that an elf of Doriath came up with the idea of underground halls in Mirkwood, after the fashion of Menegroth and in memory of it?
Who built those halls? The Dwarves? Judging by 'The Hobbit', the Mirkwood Elves were not on friendly terms with Dwarves.
8.
And as the years passed Melian and her maidens filled the halls with woven hangings wherein could be read the deeds of the Valar, and many things that had befallen in Arda since its beginning, and shadows of things that were yet to be.
Isn't this reminiscent of the Vala Vairë, the spouse of Mandos who is called the Weaver, and records 'all things that have ever been in Time into her storied webs, and the halls of Mandos that ever widen as the ages pass are clothed with them.'
9.
And ere long the evil creatures came even to Beleriand, over passes in the mountains, or up from the south through the dark forests. Wolves there were, or creatures that walked in wolf-shapes, and other fell beings of shadow; and among them were the Orcs, who afterwards wrought ruin in Beleriand: but they were yet few and wary, and did but smell out the ways of the land, awaiting the return of their lord. [color=sky blue]Whence they came, or what they were, the Elves knew not then, thinking them perhaps to be Avari who had become evil and savage in the wild; in which they guessed all too near, it is said[/color].
It is hinted that Orcs were Avari who were corrupted and mutilated by Morgoth in the pits of Utumno. Though an alternative solution is offered in Myths Transformed (HoME X), I find this one plausible and quite to my liking. Which do you prefer (regardless of the fact which theory might be 'right' or 'canon' !)?
10.
But the victory of the Elves was dear-bought For those of Ossiriand were light-armed, and no match for the Orcs, who were shod with iron and iron-shielded and bore great spears with broad blades; and Denethor was cut off and surrounded upon the hill of Amon Ereb. There he fell and all his nearest kin about him, before the host of Thingol could come to his aid.
Why were the Elves of Ossiriand light-armed? They were in contact both with the Naugrim and with Thingol's people, and if the former refused to give them better armour, Thingol's people at least would give them this, since they were close kin.
Last edited by Sharkey; 05-25-2003 at 03:38 AM.
Do you see that piece of land over there? That used to be a lake. And then this one November, all these ducks come by, and they landed in that lake, and then the temperature dropped so fast the whole lake just froze. Then the ducks took off and took the whole lake with them. Now that lake's somewhere over in Georgia.
I am hoping that in a way this will signal my entrance back into posting in the book sections . . . hopefully my life will allow it.
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