Arts and Humanities Commons^™

In Memoriam: Pauline Baynes, Wayne G. Hammond, Christina Scull

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

A brief appreciation of artist Pauline Baynes’s life and work, particularly her illustrations for the works of Tolkien and Lewis, with reminiscences of the authors’ friendship with her.

Gandalf And Merlin: J.R.R. Tolkien's Adoption And Transformation Of A Literary Tradition, Frank P. Riga

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Concerns the roots of the wizard Gandalf’s character in the legendary figure of Merlin, tracing Merlin’s development through a variety of English and continental literature up through the twentieth century, and showing how various authors, including Tolkien, interpreted and adapted the wizard for their purposes.

Letters, Ruth Lacon

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

No abstract provided.

Pauline Baynes In Mythlore, Janet Brennan Croft, Edith Crowe

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

A listing of artist Pauline Baynes’s appearances in Mythlore as illustrator or author, or as the subject of articles or reviews.

Dragons And Serpents In J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series: Are They Evil?, Lauren Berman

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Investigates the role and symbolism of dragons and serpents in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, with side excursions into Lewis and Tolkien for their takes on the topic. Concludes that dragons are morally neutral in her world, while serpents generally represent or are allied with evil.

Time And J.R.R. Tolkien's "Riddles In The Dark", Marie Nelson

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Close reading of the two riddle games in The Hobbit—the first between Bilbo and Gollum, and the second a three-sided game where both Smaug and the reader try to decode Bilbo’s riddling self-references. Discusses “priming” in riddling, how riddles work as a speech act, and the sources of riddles used in these games. Includes a translation of Bilbo’s riddles to Smaug into Old English.

Reconstructing Arda: Of Fëanor And The Unchaining Of Melkor, Douglas C. Kane

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Discusses Tolkien’s Silmarillion and how it was constructed from the materials later published in the twelve-volume History of Middle-earth, in particular the version of “Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor” in the published Silmarillion compared with the source material given in Morgoth’s Ring. The author finds intriguing patterns in what Christopher Tolkien used and did not use from the original material.

Editorial, Janet Brennan Croft

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

No abstract provided.

The Blade Against The Burden: The Iconography Of The Sword In The Lord Of The Rings, Michael J. Brisbois

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Invites us to consider the deeper social implications of carrying and using a sword in the medieval world of Middle-earth—how bearing a sword not only indicates leadership and service, but provides an opportunity for social mobility, in addition to its more obvious military meanings. Considers as examples Merry and Pippin swearing oaths to, respectively, Théoden and Denethor; Éowyn’s heroic deeds; and especially Aragorn’s use of Narsil/Andúril as a symbol of legitimacy and service to his people.

So Far From The Shire: Psychological Distance And Isolation In The Lord Of The Rings, Ginna Wilkerson

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Considers Frodo’s psychological isolation in The Lord of the Rings and offers a perspective on Frodo and post-traumatic stress syndrome, looking closely at what was happening to him during his quest rather than after and using current understanding of the dynamics of domestic abuse to provide a framework for understanding his experiences and reactions.

"The Homecoming Of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son": J.R.R. Tolkien's Sequal To "The Battle Of Maldon", Marie Nelson

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Considers the application of speech act theory to Tolkien’s “The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm’s Son” and its source, “The Battle of Maldon,” and how different speech acts propel the action of each story.

Nice, Good, Or Right: Faces Of The Wise Woman In Terry Pratchett’S "Witches" Novels, Janet Brennan Croft

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Examines the moral system that guides the use of magic by the witches of Discworld. Considers the definitions of Nice, Good, and Right under this system, and demonstrates how mature witches strive do what is Right.

Letters, Ruth Berman

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

No abstract provided.

"That Most Unselfish Man": George Sayer, 1914-2005: Pupil, Biographer, And Friend Of Inklings, Mike Foster

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

An appreciation of Inkling George Sayer, author of Jack: C.S. Lewis and His Times, widely regarded as one of the best biographies of Lewis. Includes personal reminiscences of his friendship with Sayer, as well as of Sayer’s friendships with Tolkien and Lewis.

Editorial, Janet Brennan Croft

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

No abstract provided.

Song As Mythic Conduit In The Fellowship Of The Ring, Cami Agan

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Explores the complex layering of history and legend that convey Tolkien’s themes across a wide array of genres within the legendarium, reinforcing the sense of depth of time Tolkien hoped to achieve even within The Hobbit.

What The Spirit Knows: Charles Williams And Kenneth Burke, Grace L. Veach

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Explores parallels between the philosophy of Kenneth Burke and the poetry of Charles Williams.

The Christian Parody In Sara Paretsky’S Ghost Country, Joe R. Christopher

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Paretsky is best known for her V.I. Warshawski detective novels; in this non-series book, Chicago is haunted by what may be an avatar of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. Includes a listing of references to other fictional detective stories in the Warshawski series.

Witches, Wives And Dragons: The Evolution Of The Women In Ursula K. Le Guin’S Earthsea—An Overview, Melanie A. Rawls

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

A survey of the evolution of women in Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea series, examining how the author reassessed her depiction of gender in the earlier books and deliberately changed her viewpoint in the later books.

Selected Sayer Holdings At The Wade Center, Christopher W. Mitchell

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Bibliography of selected items by George Sayer held at the Wade Center library at Wheaton College, IL; not exhaustive.

Two Views Of Faërie In Smith Of Wootton Major: Nokes And His Cake, Smith And His Star, Josh B. Long

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

An analysis of Smith of Wootton Major, showing how the cake and the star symbolize two diametrically opposed sets of attitudes towards Faërie.

Tolkien's Linguistic Application Of The Seventh Deadly Sin: Lust, Emma B. Hawkins

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

A look at how Tolkien developed the concept of the sin of lust in Middle-earth, giving it his own unique but linguistically-based interpretation as an intensifier of other sins, rather than using its more common, purely sexual, modern interpretation.

Putting Away Childish Things: Incidents Of Recovery In Tolkien And Haddon, Alana M. Vincent

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Applies the concept of Recovery from Tolkien’s “On Fairy-stories” to an unusual subject—Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a novel about a young boy with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Six Characters In Search Of Shakespeare: Neil Gaiman’S Sandman And Shakespearian Mythos, John Pendergast

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Looks at episodes from Neil Gaiman’s Sandman comics dealing with two of Shakespeare’s most fantastic plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest.

Reviews, Emily E. Auger, Joe R. Christopher, Janet Brennan Croft, Jason Fisher, John D. Rateliff, David Bratman

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Tolkien and Shakespeare: Essays on Shared Themes and Language. Ed. Janet Brennan Croft. Reviewed by Emily E. Auger.

The Evolution of Tolkien's Mythology: A Study of the History of Middle-Earth. Elizabeth A. Whittingham. Reviewed by David Bratman.

Charles Williams: Alchemy and Integration. Gavin Ashenden. Reviewed by Joe R. Christopher.

The History of The Hobbit. Part One: Mr. Baggins; Part Two: Return to Bag-End. John D. Rateliff. Reviewed by Jason Fisher.

Past Watchful Dragons: Fantasy and Faith in the World of C. S. Lewis. Ed. Amy H. Sturgis. Reviewed by John D. Rateliff.