
Tolkien and the Study of His Sources
Critical Essays
Jason Fisher(Editor)
McFarland & Co Inc (Publisher)
Published on 5. August 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-0-7864-6482-1 (ISBN)
Description
Source criticism--analysis of a writer's source material--has emerged as one of the most popular approaches in exploring the work of J.R.R. Tolkien. Since Tolkien drew from many disparate sources, an understanding of these sources, as well as how and why he incorporated them, can enhance readers' appreciation. This set of new essays by leading Tolkien scholars describes the theory and methodology for proper source criticism and provides practical demonstrations of the approach.
Reviews / Votes
"an intriguing work that provides another angle on one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century"-Midwest Book Review; "well-written and well-edited volume...excellent...can serve as a how-to guide for both research and writing"-Beyond Bree; "the collection will be of interest to scholars and dedicated readers of Tolkien...the essays are well documented"-Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts; "This critical collection provides a solid defense of the sometime-maligned literary discipline of 'source-hunting' along with outstanding examples of the value of this approach in understanding the depths of Tolkien's literary creation."-Douglas A. Anderson, author of The Annotated Hobbit; "A valuable book for anyone serious about Tolkien. It not only adds new, confirming material to what is known about Tolkien's sources but covers areas of influence previously denied or underplayed."-Marjorie J. Burns, author of Perilous Realms: Celtic and Norse in Tolkien's Middle-earth; "The most exhaustive examination yet published of demonstrable, probable, and conjectural sources for Tolkien's legendarium."-Verlyn Flieger, author of Splintered Light: Logos and Language in Tolkien's World.More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Jefferson, NC
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Interest Age: From 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
notes, bibliography, index
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
399 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7864-6482-1 (9780786464821)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Jason Fisher is an independent scholar specializing in J.R.R. Tolkien, the Inklings, and Medieval Germanic philology. He is also the editor of Mythprint, the monthly publication of The Mythopoeic Society, and has written for Tolkien Studies, Mythlore, Beyond Bree, North Wind, Renaissance, and other publications.
Content
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Preface
Jason Fisher
Introduction: Why Source Criticism?
Tom Shippey
Source Criticism: Background and Applications
E. L. Risden
Tolkien and Source Criticism: Remarking and Remaking
Jason Fisher
The Stones and the Book: Tolkien, Mesopotamia, and Biblical Mythopoeia
Nicholas Birns
Sea Birds and Morning Stars: Ceyx, Alcyone, and the Many Metamorphoses of Eaerendil and Elwing
Kristine Larsen
"Byzantium, New Rome!" Goths, Langobards, and Byzantium in The Lord of the Rings
Miryam Libran-Moreno
The Rohirrim: "Anglo-Saxons on Horseback"? An Inquiry into Tolkien's Use of Sources
Thomas Honegger
William Caxton's The Golden Legend as a Source for Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings
Judy Ann Ford
She and Tolkien, Revisited
John D. Rateliff
Reading John Buchan in Search of Tolkien
Mark T. Hooker
Biography as Source: Niggles and Notions
Diana Pavlac Glyer and Josh B. Long
About the Contributors
Index
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Preface
Jason Fisher
Introduction: Why Source Criticism?
Tom Shippey
Source Criticism: Background and Applications
E. L. Risden
Tolkien and Source Criticism: Remarking and Remaking
Jason Fisher
The Stones and the Book: Tolkien, Mesopotamia, and Biblical Mythopoeia
Nicholas Birns
Sea Birds and Morning Stars: Ceyx, Alcyone, and the Many Metamorphoses of Eaerendil and Elwing
Kristine Larsen
"Byzantium, New Rome!" Goths, Langobards, and Byzantium in The Lord of the Rings
Miryam Libran-Moreno
The Rohirrim: "Anglo-Saxons on Horseback"? An Inquiry into Tolkien's Use of Sources
Thomas Honegger
William Caxton's The Golden Legend as a Source for Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings
Judy Ann Ford
She and Tolkien, Revisited
John D. Rateliff
Reading John Buchan in Search of Tolkien
Mark T. Hooker
Biography as Source: Niggles and Notions
Diana Pavlac Glyer and Josh B. Long
About the Contributors
Index