Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons^™

On The Origin Of The Name "Hobbit", Donald O'Brien

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

Notes that although Tolkien believed at first that he had invented the word “hobbit,” he became concerned that he might have encountered it and subconsciously reproduced it. Reviews a number of possible sources of the word suggested by scholars.

Reviews, Glen H. Goodknight, Nancy-Lou Patterson, Joe R. Christopher

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

The Treason of Isengard: The History of the Lord of the Rings, Part Two. J.R.R. Tolkien. Reviewed by Glen GoodKnight.

Sold Into Egypt. Madeleine L'Engle. Reviewed by Nancy-Lou Patterson.

The Vampire in Literature: A Critical Bibliography. Margaret Carter. Reviewed by Joe R. Christopher.

Payer of Tribute. Margaret Carter. Reviewed by Joe R. Christopher.

Goldberry And Galadriel: The Quality Of Joy, L. Eugene Startzman

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

Argues the importance of joy, or eucatastrophe, in The Lord of the Rings. Sees the figures of Goldberry, Bombadil, and especially Galadriel as personifications of that joy arising unexpectedly.

Humpty Dumpty In The Heavens: Perspective In Out Of The Silent Planet, Douglas Loney

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

Notes the Humpty Dumpty imagery in Ransom’s dream of sitting on a garden wall in Out of the Silent Planet. Relates this to the importance of the ability to change one’s perspective for Ransom and other characters.

The High And Low Fantasies Of Feminist (Re)Mythopoeia, Patrick D. Murphy

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

Discusses elements of myth and fantasy in the works of five contemporary women poets. Notes the use of mythopoeia in a feminist context is used for “revisionist mythmaking.”

Tolkien's Monsters: Concept And Function In The Lord Of The Rings (Part Ii): Shelob The Great, Joe Abbott

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

Three-part examination of “how Tolkien’s theory of the centrality of the monsters in Beowulf influenced his own concept of ‘monster’ and what function that concept should fulfill within” The Lord of the Rings. Part II considers the characteristics of Shelob (and Ungoliant) as monsters, traces the sources and development of these characteristics, and analyzes the importance of the confrontation with Shelob in the overall plot, especially in the character development of Sam.

An Inklings Bibliography (37), Joe R. Christopher, Wayne G. Hammond, Pat Allen Hargis

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

For entries 34–41 in this series, Hammond reviews Tolkien titles, Christopher reviews the Lewis material, and Hargis reviews Williams and the other Inklings.

Rilke And Le Guin, Barbara J. Bucknall

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

Seeks similarities in Rilke and Le Guin, especially in the power of naming and the view of death as a necessary part of life. Notes in particular parallels between Rilke’s Duino Elegies and The Farthest Shore.

Quenti Lambardillion: Among The Trees: Seeking The Spirit Of Narqelion, Paul Nolan Hyde

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

Further discussion of the poem “Narqelion” and several other poems composed around the same time.

Letters, Jorge Quiñonez, Steven Wissler, Peter H. Berube

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

No abstract provided.

Three Artistic Versions Of "The Death Of Glorfindel", Sarah Beach, Patrick Wynne, Paula Disante

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

No abstract provided.

Charles Williams And His Theology Of Romantic Love: A Dantean Interpretation Of The Christian Doctrines Of The Incarnation And The Trinity, Nancy Enright

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

Relates Williams’s Romantic Theology to the precursors of Dante and Beatrice, and to the Christian doctrines of the Holy Trinity and the Incarnation.

Fantasy And Personal Involvement, Glen H. Goodknight

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

No abstract provided.

Ðe Us Ðas Beagas Geaf (He Who Gave Us These Rings): Sauron And The Perversion Of Anglo-Saxon Ethos, Leslie Stratyner

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

Notes that a central concept of Anglo-Saxon culture is the lord as ring-giver. Sauron, as Lord of the Rings, is a perversion of this concept. Other elements of Lord of the Rings reflect the Anglo-Saxon ethos as well

Neither Here Nor There: The Spirit Of Place In George Macdonald's Lilith And Lewis' Till We Have Faces, Kath Filmer

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

Sees Lilith as important influence on Lewis’s Till We Have Faces, especially the “spiritual implications of the sense of place.”

To Live From A New Root’: The Uneasy Consolation Of All Hallows’ Eve, Marlene Marie Mckinley

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

Analyzes Williams’s view of love in All Hallows’ Eve, noting the challenging and disquieting notion of giving up earthly attachments and definitions of the phrase to “live from a new root.”

Tolkien's Monsters: Concept And Function In The Lord Of The Rings (Part 1) The Balrog Of Khazad-Dum, Joe Abbott

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

Three-part examination of “how Tolkien’s theory of the centrality of the monsters in Beowulf influenced his own concept of ‘monster’ and what function that concept should fulfill within” The Lord of the Rings. Part I analyzes the literary function of Gandalf’s battle with the Balrog in Khazad-dûm.

Mythos: The Daughter Of Mountains, The Mother Of Pearls, Paul Nolan Hyde

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

Discusses various definitions of myth, and its relationship to the fairy-tale. Considers Tolkien’s views of these and use of them as subcreator.

A Ring Of Good Bells: Providence And Judgement In Dorothy L. Sayers' The Nine Tailors, Nancy-Lou Patterson

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

Analyzes the action of Providence in The Nine Tailors to bring about retributive justice. Sees the novel as an expression of Sayers’s views on the creative process of the Christian artist.

An Inklings Bibliography (36), Joe R. Christopher, Wayne G. Hammond, Pat Allen Hargis

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

No abstract provided.

Tales Newly Told, Alexei Kondratiev

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

No abstract provided.

Growth And Consolation, Glen H. Goodknight

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

No abstract provided.

Letters, Kathryn Lindskoog, David Doughan, Robert Elwood, Gracia Fay Elwood, Janice K. Coulter, Paul Nolan Hyde

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

No abstract provided.

Reviews, Paula Disante, Nancy-Lou Patterson, Maria Nikolajeva, Pat Reynolds

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

The 1990 J.R.R. Tolkien Calendar. Illus. by Ted Nasmith. Reviewed by Paula DiSante.

Letters: A Study in Friendship. C.S. Lewis and Don Giovanni Calabria. Reviewed by Nancy-Lou Patterson.

Joseph Campbell, An Introduction. Robert A Segal. Reviewed by Nancy-Lou Patterson.

The Magic Code: The Use of Magical Patterns in Fantasy for Children. Maria Nikolajeva. Reviewed by Pat Reynolds.

Dorothy L. Sayers: A Biography. James Brabazon. Reviewed by Nancy-Lou Patterson.

Perpetual Winter In C.S. Lewis And Patricia Mckillip, Margaret Carter

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

Sees a number of plot similarities and intriguing differences between Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and McKillip’s The Harrowing of the Dragon of Hoarsbreath. The most significant difference is the ambiguous world-view of the latter as regards good and evil and the motivations of the heroes.

The Middle-Earth Epic And The Seven Capital Vices, John L. Treloar S.J.

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

Examines Tolkien’s use of habitual evil choices of free beings leading to vices. Defines the seven capital sins more properly as vices, or habitual patterns, based on the work of Thomas Aquinas, and shows how Tolkien used them to give depth and motivation to characters in Middle-earth.

To Defend Of To Correct: Patterns Of Culture In Always Coming Home, Lilliam M. Heldreth

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

Relates Hilgartner and Bartter’s extension of linguistic theory into behavior theory to the cultures of the Kesh and the Condors. Explains their cultural patterns of “image-correction” and “image-defense.” Sees utopian and dystopian elements tempered by realistic views of human nature.

Mythcon 20 - Mythic Elements In Fantasy, The Mythopoeic Society

Mythcon Programs

The Mythopoeic Conferences - sometimes called "Mythcons" in short - are a unique blend of many creative and intellectual elements, where scholars, fans, and those who just like the literature, come together for both relaxing and stimulating exchange.

Tales Newly Told, Alexei Kondratiev

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

Edgerton, Teresa. Child of Saturn.

J.R.R. Tolkien And The Journey North, Marjorie J. Burns

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

Analyzes the symbolic importance of directions in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Notes the pervasive Nordic influence in particular, especially in the similar symbolic attributes of North and East.