The Literary Role of History in the Fiction of J.R.R. Tolkien

The Literary Role of History in the Fiction of J.R.R. Tolkien PDF Author: Nicholas Birns
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781032597706
Category : History in literature
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
"This volume analyzes the literary role played by history in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. It argues that the events of The Lord of the Rings are placed against the background of an already-existing history, both in reality and in the fictional worlds of the books. History is unfolded in various ways, both in explicitly archival annals and in stories told by characters on the road or on the fly, and in which different visions of history emerge. In addition, the history within the work can resemble, or be patterned on histories in our world. These histories range from the deep past of prehistoric and ancient worlds to the early medieval era of the barbarian invasions and Byzantium, to the modern worlds of urbane civility and a paradoxical longing for nature, and finally to great power-rivalries and global prospects. The book argues that Tolkien did not employ these histories indiscriminately or reductively. Rather, he regarded them as aspects of aesthetic and representative figuration that are above all literary. While most criticism has concentrated on Tolkien's use of historical traditions of northern Europe, this book argues that Tolkien also valued Southern and Mediterranean pasts and registered the Germanic and the Scandinavian pasts as they related to other histories as much as his vision of them included a primeval mythic aura"--

The Literary Role of History in the Fiction of J.R.R. Tolkien

The Literary Role of History in the Fiction of J.R.R. Tolkien PDF Author: Nicholas Birns
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781032597706
Category : History in literature
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description
"This volume analyzes the literary role played by history in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. It argues that the events of The Lord of the Rings are placed against the background of an already-existing history, both in reality and in the fictional worlds of the books. History is unfolded in various ways, both in explicitly archival annals and in stories told by characters on the road or on the fly, and in which different visions of history emerge. In addition, the history within the work can resemble, or be patterned on histories in our world. These histories range from the deep past of prehistoric and ancient worlds to the early medieval era of the barbarian invasions and Byzantium, to the modern worlds of urbane civility and a paradoxical longing for nature, and finally to great power-rivalries and global prospects. The book argues that Tolkien did not employ these histories indiscriminately or reductively. Rather, he regarded them as aspects of aesthetic and representative figuration that are above all literary. While most criticism has concentrated on Tolkien's use of historical traditions of northern Europe, this book argues that Tolkien also valued Southern and Mediterranean pasts and registered the Germanic and the Scandinavian pasts as they related to other histories as much as his vision of them included a primeval mythic aura"--

J.R.R. Tolkien and His Literary Resonances

J.R.R. Tolkien and His Literary Resonances PDF Author: George Clark
Publisher: Praeger
ISBN:
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 232

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Book Description
Analyzes Tolkien's works in relation to major literary movements from ancient times to the present day.

The King of Elfland's Daughter

The King of Elfland's Daughter PDF Author: Lord Dunsany
Publisher: Courier Dover Publications
ISBN: 0486846288
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 177

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Book Description
"In a class with the Tolkien books." — L. Sprague de Camp. One of fantasy literature's most influential works, this captivating tale of a young lord's quest for a fairy princess bride is the forerunner of modern sword and sorcery novels.

The Worm Ouroboros

The Worm Ouroboros PDF Author: Eric Rücker Eddison
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 468

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Book Description


The Fellowship of the Ring

The Fellowship of the Ring PDF Author: John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
Publisher: HarperCollins UK
ISBN: 0007203586
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 571

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Book Description
'The Fellowship of the Ring' is the first part of JRR Tolkien's epic masterpiece 'The Lord of the Rings'. This 50th anniversary edition features special packaging and includes the definitive edition of the text.|PB

J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien PDF Author: Tom Shippey
Publisher: HMH
ISBN: 0547524439
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 389

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Book Description
The definitive Tolkien companion—an indispensable guide to The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and more, from the author of The Road to Middle-earth. This “highly erudite celebration and exploration of Tolkien’s works [is] enormous fun,” declared the Houston Chronicle, and Tom Shippey, a prominent medievalist and scholar of fantasy, “deepens your understanding” without “making you forget your initial, purely instinctive response to Middle-earth and hobbits.” In a clear and accessible style, Shippey offers a new approach to Tolkien, to fantasy, and to the importance of language in literature. He breaks down The Lord of the Rings as a linguistic feast for the senses and as a response to the human instinct for myth. Elsewhere, he examines The Hobbit’s counterintuitive relationship to the heroic world of Middle-earth; demonstrates the significance of The Silmarillion to Tolkien’s canon; and takes an illuminating look at lesser-known works in connection with Tolkien’s life. Furthermore, he ties all these strands together in a continuing tradition that traces its roots back through Grimms’ Fairy Tales to Beowulf. “Shippey’s commentary is the best so far in elucidating Tolkien’s lovely myth,” wrote Harper’s Magazine. J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century is “a triumph” (Chicago Sun-Times) that not only gives readers a deeper understanding of Tolkien and his work, but also serves as an entertaining introduction to some of the most influential novels ever written.

Tolkien as a Literary Artist

Tolkien as a Literary Artist PDF Author: Thomas Kullmann
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 303069299X
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 324

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Book Description
This book takes a fresh look at Tolkien’s literary artistry from the points of view of both linguistics and literary history, with the aim of shedding light on the literary techniques used in The Lord of the Rings. The authors study Tolkien’s use of words, style, narrative techniques, rhetoric and symbolism to highlight his status as literary artist. Dirk Siepmann uses a corpus stylistic approach to analyse Tolkien’s vocabulary and syntax, while Thomas Kullmann uses discourse theory, literary history and concepts of intertextuality to explore Tolkien’s literary techniques, relating them to the history of English fiction and poetry. Issues discussed include point of view, speeches, story-telling, landscape descriptions, the poems inserted into the body of the narrative, and the role of language in the characterization of the novel’s protagonists. This book will be of particular interest to students and scholars of literature, corpus linguistics and stylistics, as well as Tolkien fans and specialists.

The Evolution of Tolkien's Mythology

The Evolution of Tolkien's Mythology PDF Author: Elizabeth A. Whittingham
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 1476611742
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 377

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Book Description
The History of Middle-earth traces the evolution of J.R.R. Tolkien's literary world, stories, and characters from their earliest written forms to the final revisions Tolkien penned shortly before his death in 1973. Published posthumously by Tolkien's son Christopher, the extensively detailed 12-volume work allows readers to follow the development of the texts that eventually became Tolkien's immensely popular The Hobbit, The Lord of The Rings, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales. This work provides a thorough study of Tolkien's life and influences through an analysis of The History of Middle-earth. The work begins with a brief biography and an analysis of the major influences in Tolkien's life. Following chapters deal with elements common to Tolkien's popular works, including the cosmogony, theogony, cosmology, metaphysics, and eschatology of Middle-earth. The study also reviews some of the myths with which Tolkien was most familiar--Greek, Roman, Finnish, and Norse--and reveals the often overlapping relationship between mythology, biblical stories, and Tolkien's popular works.

J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien PDF Author: Michael Coren
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 9780752261676
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 148

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Book Description
As the last millennium drew to a close all sorts of newspapers and organizations organized surveys to find out which was the most popular book of all time. The Lord of the Rings came first in all of them. This is a biography of its author, J.R.R Tolkien, aimed squarely at younger readers.

Languages, Myths and History

Languages, Myths and History PDF Author: Elizabeth Solopova
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780981660714
Category : Courage in literature
Languages : en
Pages : 107

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Book Description