J.R.R. TOLKIEN

By: Joshua Gorrie

EARLY LIFE

Born in South Africa where he lived for several years before father died.

Moved back to England with mother and brother.

Lived near Birmingham England till mother’s death.

Taken care of my Father Francis Morgan.

SCHOOL DAYS

Master of Linguistics: Greek, Latin, Gothic and Finnish.

Started and was a proud member of Scholars: T.C.B.S. (Tea Party, Barrovian Society)

Edith Bratt and Tolkien became closer ;)

THE WAR

Married Edith Bratt before he was sent off to France in 1916.

Was apart of the Somme Offensive where he contracted Trench Fever.

Began compiling his stories and thoughts together to begin forming Middle Earth.

Wrote the first line of The Hobbit in the trenches of WW1

PROFESSOR TOLKIEN

Returned to teach at Oxford after his service in WWI

Started the group at Oxford known as “The Inklings”

Gave many speeches and public critics of literature including his most famous one: “Beowulf, the Monsters and the Critics.

Met and befriended C.S. Lewis at this time, helped convert him back to Christianity.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS

Began his writings for years and years but only began putting them together years after WWI.

Created languages for the races of his novels by using his own linguistic backgrounds. Such as the Elvish languages which had a great deal of Welsh and Finnish uses.

The Hobbit was published as a children’s novel and 16 years later The Lord of the Rings as adult literature.

THE ENDING AND BEYOND

Edith Tolkien died in 1971. Tolkien had Luthien engraved on her tombstone.

Tolkien died 1973, the name Beren was engraved on his tombstone.

NOTE: The love story between Beren and Luthien (in the Silmarillion) was based on the love between himself and Edith.

Christopher Tolkien published more than 7 books that were based on the writings and notes of Tolkien.