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- Fiction (10)
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Articles 1 - 30 of 94
Full-Text Articles in English Language and Literature
Editorial, Glen H. Goodknight, Patricia Reynolds
Editorial, Glen H. Goodknight, Patricia Reynolds
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
No abstract provided.
Recollections Of J.R.R. Tolkien, George Sayer
Recollections Of J.R.R. Tolkien, George Sayer
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
Reminiscences of walking with Tolkien around Malvern and of visits to his house in Sandfield Road. What he said and what our mutual friend, C.S. Lewis, said about him.
Quid Hinieldus Cum Christo? - New Perspectives On Tolkien's Theological Dilemma And His Sub-Creation Theory, Nils Ivar Agøy
Quid Hinieldus Cum Christo? - New Perspectives On Tolkien's Theological Dilemma And His Sub-Creation Theory, Nils Ivar Agøy
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
In the 1920s and 1930s Tolkien’s developing, and to all appearances pagan, legendarium posed a theological dilemma to its devoutly Christian author. How could it be reconciled with his faith? There are striking parallels with the Danish theologian, poet and philologist N.F.S. Grundtvig (1783-1872). This paper will try to establish whether Tolkien’s answer, which is only partly to be found in “On Fairy-Stories”, was directly influenced by Grundtvig’s attempts at reconciling Norse myths and Christendom.
The Moral Epiphanies In The Lord Of The Rings, Joe R. Christopher
The Moral Epiphanies In The Lord Of The Rings, Joe R. Christopher
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
The topic of this study is not entirely new - other critics have written about the visionary moments in The Lord of the Rings that show various types of insights - but the author is interested in a modem context for those which are most psychologically orientated, suggested by Ashton Nichols’ Poetics of Epiphany, and also in their use in the genre of the prose romance.
The Earthly Paradise In Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings, Gwenyth Hood
The Earthly Paradise In Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings, Gwenyth Hood
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
Valinor, modelled on the Earthly Paradise, is described more fully in Tolkien’s posthumously published works than in The Lord of the Rings. Yet the fleeting Valinorean images within the trilogy have a powerful impact, heightening and simultaneously providing consolation for the horrors of Mordor.
Aspects Of The Fall In The Silmarillion, Eric Schweicher
Aspects Of The Fall In The Silmarillion, Eric Schweicher
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
This paper begins with an analysis of the evolution of the Fall in the Western tradition, which will be compared with its image in Middle-earth. The Ainulindalë and the Quenta Silmarillion will be examined to show how Vala, Elf, Dwarf, and Man fall into corruption, and the consequences of this fall.
J.R.R. Tolkien And Old English Studies: An Appreciation, Bruce Mitchell
J.R.R. Tolkien And Old English Studies: An Appreciation, Bruce Mitchell
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
Some scholars argue that Tolkien did not fulfil some of his responsibilities during his thirty- four years as an Oxford Professor, in that he spent the bulk of his research time on his imaginative writings, thereby depriving scholarship of valuable works he - or other holders of his Chairs — might have produced. This paper leaves posterity to judge this issue, but in assessing Tolkien’s contribution to Old English studies, it will argue that one of them - his 1936 British Academy lecture, “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics” - has had more influence than most of the products of …
The Critical Response To Tolkien's Fiction, Wayne G. Hammond
The Critical Response To Tolkien's Fiction, Wayne G. Hammond
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
This paper illustrates, primarily by reviewing reviews from The Hobbit to “The History of Middle-earth”, how Tolkien’s critics have approached his works and popularity. The paper also briefly comments on the state of Tolkien criticism in its second half-century.
Point Of View In Tolkien, Christine Barkley
Point Of View In Tolkien, Christine Barkley
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
Many stories are told by more than one teller in Tolkien's works. This paper compares different versions to see what areas of interest or emphasis arise, and what differences might be explained by the specific interests or culture of the teller. The paper also evaluates which kinds of stories are told most often by which tellers.
A Mythology? For England?, Anders Stenström
A Mythology? For England?, Anders Stenström
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
It is well known that J.R.R. Tolkien said that he wanted to make “a mythology for England”. Well known, but not true. This paper investigates how Tolkien really used the word mythology, and also looks at the relation with England.
Tolkien's Elvish Craft, Dwayne Thorpe
Tolkien's Elvish Craft, Dwayne Thorpe
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
This paper examines “fusion”, the basis of artistry, in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Fusion takes place in descriptive passages, in the characters’ perception and in the language Tolkien uses. Fusion works toward the purpose of Tolkien’s fiction, which is to be found in the Christian views of earth and escapism, especially as expressed by sea-longing.
Writing And Allied Technologies In Middle-Earth, Lester E. Simons
Writing And Allied Technologies In Middle-Earth, Lester E. Simons
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
This paper discusses the possible (and probable) methods by which the inhabitants of Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age kept permanent records. A number of concepts are introduced and defined: substrate, medium, implement, glyphs and last, but not least, scribe! Suggestions regarding the possibility of the existence, late in the Third Age, of printing will be presented.
Natural Mysticism In Kenneth Grahame's The Wind In The Willows, J. R. Wytenbroek
Natural Mysticism In Kenneth Grahame's The Wind In The Willows, J. R. Wytenbroek
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
This paper explores the use of Pan as the medium for an intense mystical experience in “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn”, and how this mystical passage fits in with the rest of The Wind in the Willows. The author also explores possible influences on Grahame from writers of the nineteenth century who had mystical emphases in their books. The “Piper” is one of the most beautiful passages of natural mysticism in twentieth-century literature, but one rarely discussed: the author hopes this paper will begin to fill this critical gap.
Cetacean Consciousness In Katz's Whalesinger And L'Engle's A Ring Of Endless Light, J. R. Wytenbroek
Cetacean Consciousness In Katz's Whalesinger And L'Engle's A Ring Of Endless Light, J. R. Wytenbroek
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
Both Canadian fantasist Welwyn Wilton Katz and American fantasist Madeleine L’Engle have written novels in which humans, in communicating with whales or dolphins, have been exposed to wholeness, harmony, unity, and pattern in the universe at large as perceived by cetaceans. While writing quite independently, these works show a remarkable similarity in their perception of cetacean consciousness. An exploration of these similarities shows the united mystical vision that writers from different backgrounds and beliefs can attain.
The Geology Of Middle-Earth, William Antony Swithin Sarjeant
The Geology Of Middle-Earth, William Antony Swithin Sarjeant
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
A preliminary reconstruction of the geology of Middle-earth is attempted, utilizing data presented in text, maps and illustrations by its arch-explorer J.R.R. Tolkien. The tectonic reconstruction is developed from earlier findings by R.C. Reynolds (1974). Six plates are now recognized, whose motions and collisions have created the mountains of Middle-earth and the rift structure down which the River Anduin flows. The stresses involved in the plate collisions have produced patterns of faults, whose lines have determined the courses of the other rivers and the occurrence of the richest ore deposits. However, the time of Bilbo and Frodo is a period …
More Than A Bandersnatch: Tolkien As A Collaborative Writer, Diana Lynne Pavlac
More Than A Bandersnatch: Tolkien As A Collaborative Writer, Diana Lynne Pavlac
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
It is commonly argued that the Inklings had no influence on Tolkien. This paper will show that they had a profound influence, so much so, that Lewis and Williams should be considered co-architects of Middle-earth.
Female Authority Figures In The Works Of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis And Charles Williams, Lisa Hopkins
Female Authority Figures In The Works Of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis And Charles Williams, Lisa Hopkins
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
The powerful, learned woman is a figure of fear in the works of Williams, seen as transgressing her proper role. In Lewis, legitimate authority figures are male, illegitimate ones are female, and gender roles are strictly demarcated. Tolkien, however, not only creates powerful and heroic women, but also suggests that the combination of authority and femininity can be particularly potent and talismanic.
Baggins Remembered, John Ellison
Baggins Remembered, John Ellison
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
Reprinted from The Hobbiton Advertiser, for 15 Astron 1521 S.R.
Hermetic Imagination: The Effect Of The Golden Dawn On Fantasy Literature, Charles A. Coulombe
Hermetic Imagination: The Effect Of The Golden Dawn On Fantasy Literature, Charles A. Coulombe
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was an English expression of the Nineteenth-Century occult revival in Europe. Dedicated to such practices as ceremonial magic and divination, it valued these more as gateways to true understanding of reality than for their intrinsic merit. The Golden Dawn’s essentially Neoplatonic world-view is reflected in the writings of such some-time members as W.B. Yeats, Arthur Machen and Charles Williams.
Short History Of The Territorial Development Of The Dwarves' Kingdoms In The Second And Third Ages Of Middle-Earth, Hubert Sawa
Short History Of The Territorial Development Of The Dwarves' Kingdoms In The Second And Third Ages Of Middle-Earth, Hubert Sawa
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
This speculative paper, discusses the emergence of the kingdoms of the Dwarves, changes in their borders, and different factors influencing them (e.g. wars with Elves and Orcs). Their history recorded up to the beginning of the Fourth Age, when, after the fall of the enemy, the kingdoms flourished again. This fictional history is extrapolated from references to the Dwarves in the published works of J.R.R. Tolkien, to which much new material has been added by the paper’s author.
Reminiscences: Oxford In 1920, Meeting Tolkien And Becoming An Author At 77, Vera Chapman
Reminiscences: Oxford In 1920, Meeting Tolkien And Becoming An Author At 77, Vera Chapman
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
Reminiscences of Vera Chapman’s life, including going up to Oxford just after the First World War (between the time when Tolkien was an undergraduate and his return as a Professor).
Higher Argument: Tolkien And The Tradition Of Vision, Epic And Prophecy, Dierdre Greene
Higher Argument: Tolkien And The Tradition Of Vision, Epic And Prophecy, Dierdre Greene
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
This paper attempts to place Tolkien’s fiction in a distinctively English literary context: a tradition of visionary writing which strives toward national epic, existing from Spenser through Milton (and in certain respects, Blake) to Tolkien.
Volsunga Saga And Narn: Some Analogies, Gloriana St. Clair
Volsunga Saga And Narn: Some Analogies, Gloriana St. Clair
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
“Narn”, one of the works in the Unfinished Tales, has many parallels with the thirteenth-century Old Norse Volsunga Saga, which Tolkien read and studied. This paper will assess comparisons between the heroes, women, dragons, plots, and tokens for their contribution to understanding Tolkien’s relationship to his sources, and will note Tolkien’s craft in source assimilation.
Tolkien's Revision Of The Romantic Tradition, Chris Seeman
Tolkien's Revision Of The Romantic Tradition, Chris Seeman
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
This paper explores Tolkien’s vision of fantasy within the broader historical context of Romanticism, clarifying the ways in which he inherits and revises Romantic views of the creative imagination via the concept of “sub-creation”. Possible links with Coleridge’s thought are considered, especially with respect to the uses of Romanticism in the context of Christianity.
Tolkien As A Post-War Writer, Tom Shippey
Tolkien As A Post-War Writer, Tom Shippey
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
The Lord of the Rings, though unique in many ways, is only one of a series of fantasies published by English authors before, during, and just after World War II, works united in their deep concern with the nature of evil and their authors’ belief that politics had given them a novel understanding of this ancient concept. This paper sets Tolkien in this contemporary context and considers what has been unique in his understanding of the modern world.
Tolkien As Reviser: A Case Study, Gloriana St. Clair
Tolkien As Reviser: A Case Study, Gloriana St. Clair
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
The publication of drafts of The Lord of the Rings allows scholars to assess Tolkien as a reviser. A comparison of the early presentations of Gondor in The History of “The Lord of the Rings”, with the finished scenes indicates the nature and direction of Tolkien’s changes. This paper will discuss how the process of revision contributed to the overall effect of the work.
Open Minds, Closed Minds In The Lord Of The Rings, Christina Scull
Open Minds, Closed Minds In The Lord Of The Rings, Christina Scull
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
A study of prejudice and tolerance, from the insularity of the Hobbits of the Shire to the mistrust between the Elves and Dwarves and the very nationalistic outlook of Denethor. This paper will show how some characters grew and became more tolerant, and that Tolkien was sensible enough to realize that only small steps can be taken at a time. It will also consider the unwillingness of some to believe in anything not witnessed with their own senses, thus leading them to discard as legendary much of the wonder of Middle-earth.
At The Wordface: J.R.R. Tolkien's Work On The Oxford English Dictionary, Peter M. Gilliver
At The Wordface: J.R.R. Tolkien's Work On The Oxford English Dictionary, Peter M. Gilliver
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
A description of J.R.R. Tolkien’s time working on the Oxford English Dictionary together with a detailed analysis of the evidence for his contribution to the entries for individual words.
The Growth Of Grammar In The Elven Tongues, Christopher Gilson, Patrick Wynne
The Growth Of Grammar In The Elven Tongues, Christopher Gilson, Patrick Wynne
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
While some features of Elven grammar go back to the earliest records, such as the “Qenya Lexicon”, others are unique to later works such as the “Secret Vice” poems and the Etymologies, and some do not emerge until after The Lord of the Rings. The Elven languages form an expanding canvas (like Niggle’s), and many of the individual poems and sentences can be examined in terms of how they elaborate or enhance the overall grammar of Elvish.
Good Guys, Bad Guys, Fantasy And Reality, Helen Armstrong
Good Guys, Bad Guys, Fantasy And Reality, Helen Armstrong
Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature
This paper begins by considering the nature of some of the stylised “evil” and “good” character types employed by J.R.R. Tolkien in his Middle-earth works, and their relationship both with folklore and with related character types appearing in the contemporary world (in Tolkien’s time and in our own). The paper then goes on to consider the role of women in Tolkien’s fictional world, with particular reference to their status as mothers (particularly as absent mothers), and as heroic figures, and looks at the victimisation of the woman/wife/mother in the Biblical tradition of the Book of Genesis, and its possible relation …