Does anyone know where can I find the references to the Dagor Dagorath, the last battle at the end of the world in Tolkien's legendarium? I remember something in the Book of Lost Tales, at the end of the Tale of Turambar. But where are the other sources, like the Second Prophecy of Mandos? Also, why it wasn't included in the published Silmarillion? Is it because it disappeared from the last rewritings of the book, or because C.Tolkien removed it?
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1Tolkien Gateway has a very good write-up on the topic. As far as leaving it out, please see their link to this article by Michael Martinez– DVK-on-Ahch-ToCommented Apr 6, 2013 at 13:15
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The Dagor Dagorath/Second Prophecy material can primarily be found in HoME 4 and 5 and formed the end of QS, after the War of Wrath and casting out of Morgoth. This part of QS was never revisited (much) during the post LotR revisions and expansion, and the material was removed from the published Silmarillion because the text of the last version of the Valaquenta contradicted it. As this text was the later work, it was given priority. This is discussed in HoME 10.
Here ends the Valaquenta. If it has passed from the high and beautiful to darkness and ruin, that was of old the fate of Arda Marred; and if any change shall come and the Marring be amended, Manwe and Varda may know; but they have not revealed it, and it is not declared in the dooms of Mandos.
(My emphasis.) (This text will be familiar - it was recycled for the end of QS in the published Silmarillion.)
CT's reading is that the "not declared in the dooms of Mandos" element means that the Second Prophecy had definitively disappeared from the mythology.
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Thank you, I found the passages. It seems indeed that the battle has completely disappeared in the last rewritings. Though I discovered it was mentioned again in Unfinished Tales (in a text that, I suppose, was fairly late). Weird... Commented Apr 7, 2013 at 16:34
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That's why I was careful to make sure I said it was "CT's reading of it"... obviously within the scope of the writings selected to make the published Silmarillion he presents an argument for removing it, but outside of that scope... well that's one for Tolkien fan discussion sites, not here.– user8719Commented Apr 7, 2013 at 16:51