tolkien thomas honegger [email protected]. poems & professors 1920-24 various poems with...

TolkienTolkien

Thomas HoneggerThomas Honegger

[email protected]@gmx.de

Poems & ProfessorsPoems & Professors

1920-24 various poems with 1920-24 various poems with mythological or Middle-earth mythological or Middle-earth associations.associations.

1924 becomes Professor of English 1924 becomes Professor of English Language at Leeds UniversityLanguage at Leeds University

1925 publication of edition of SGGK1925 publication of edition of SGGK 1925 appointed Rawlinson and 1925 appointed Rawlinson and

Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford (see Oxford (see LettersLetters p. 12f). p. 12f).

1926 meets C.S. Lewis1926 meets C.S. Lewis

Clive Staples ‘Jack’ Clive Staples ‘Jack’ LewisLewis

Friendship & Friendship & CompanionshipCompanionship

11 May 1926: Tolkien meet Lewis for 11 May 1926: Tolkien meet Lewis for the first time at a meeting of the the first time at a meeting of the English Faculty at Merton College. English Faculty at Merton College. Lewis was at that time 27 years old, Lewis was at that time 27 years old, heavily-built, wearing baggy clothes heavily-built, wearing baggy clothes and had recently been elected and had recently been elected Fellow and Tutor in English Fellow and Tutor in English Language and Literature at Language and Literature at Magdalen College.Magdalen College.

Common interestsCommon interests

good talk, good food, good drinkgood talk, good food, good drink literature & languageliterature & language ‘‘Northernness’Northernness’ search for God, the meaning of Life ….search for God, the meaning of Life …. 1931: crucial discussion about the 1931: crucial discussion about the

meaning of the myth of the dying god meaning of the myth of the dying god => Lewis develops from agnostic to => Lewis develops from agnostic to confessing Christianconfessing Christian

Lewis’ influenceLewis’ influence

The Inklings (and Lewis in The Inklings (and Lewis in particular) provided an appreciative, particular) provided an appreciative, congenial yet critical audience for congenial yet critical audience for each other’s writings.each other’s writings.

Lewis on Tolkien: “He has only two Lewis on Tolkien: “He has only two reactions to criticism. Either he reactions to criticism. Either he begins the whole work over again begins the whole work over again from the beginning of else takes no from the beginning of else takes no notice at all.” (Carpenter 149)notice at all.” (Carpenter 149)

The Tolkien Family 1The Tolkien Family 1

The Tolkien Family 2The Tolkien Family 2

A Day in the Life of A Day in the Life of Prof. J.R.R. TolkienProf. J.R.R. Tolkien

(Carpenter, (Carpenter, BiographyBiography, , 120-126)120-126)

Inspiration through Inspiration through wordswords

““On a blank leaf I scrawled On a blank leaf I scrawled ‘In a hole in the ground there ‘In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit’. I did not and lived a hobbit’. I did not and do not know why. I did do not know why. I did nothing about it, for a long nothing about it, for a long time, and for some years I got time, and for some years I got no further than the no further than the production of Thror’s Map.”production of Thror’s Map.”

Tolkien the Hobbit 1Tolkien the Hobbit 1

““I am in fact a hobbit in all but I am in fact a hobbit in all but size. I like gardens, trees, and size. I like gardens, trees, and unmechanized farmlands; I unmechanized farmlands; I smoke a pipe, and like good plain smoke a pipe, and like good plain food (unrefrigerated), but detest food (unrefrigerated), but detest French cooking;French cooking;

Good Plain FoodGood Plain Food

““They were washed and in the They were washed and in the middle of good deep mugs of beer middle of good deep mugs of beer […]. There was hot soup, cold […]. There was hot soup, cold meats, a blackberry tart, new loaves, meats, a blackberry tart, new loaves, slabs of butter, and half a ripe slabs of butter, and half a ripe cheese: good plain food, as good as cheese: good plain food, as good as the Shire could show, and homelike the Shire could show, and homelike enough to dispel the last of Sam’s enough to dispel the last of Sam’s misgivings (already much relieved misgivings (already much relieved by the excellence of the beer).”by the excellence of the beer).” (LotR 170)(LotR 170)

Tolkien the Hobbit 2Tolkien the Hobbit 2

I like, and even dare to wear in I like, and even dare to wear in these dull days, ornamental these dull days, ornamental waistcoats. I am fond of waistcoats. I am fond of mushrooms (out of a field); have mushrooms (out of a field); have a very simple sense of humour a very simple sense of humour […]; I go to bed late and get up […]; I go to bed late and get up late (when possible). I do not late (when possible). I do not travel much.”travel much.” (Carpenter 179f.) (Carpenter 179f.)

A Philologist ?A Philologist ? ““[…] he will tell you that he did not […] he will tell you that he did not

know that the herb you desire had any know that the herb you desire had any virtues, but that it is called virtues, but that it is called westmansweedwestmansweed by the vulgar, and by the vulgar, and galenasgalenas by the noble, and other names by the noble, and other names in other tongues more learned, and in other tongues more learned, and after adding a few half-forgotten after adding a few half-forgotten rhymes that he does not understand, he rhymes that he does not understand, he will regretfully inform you that there is will regretfully inform you that there is none in the House, and he will leave you none in the House, and he will leave you to reflect on the history of tongues.”to reflect on the history of tongues.” (RotK, HoH)(RotK, HoH)

‘‘hobbit’ before hobbit’ before The The HobbitHobbit::

The Denham Tracts 1The Denham Tracts 1 A series of pamphlets and A series of pamphlets and

jottings on folklore collected by jottings on folklore collected by Michael Denham, a Yorkshire Michael Denham, a Yorkshire tradesman, in the 1840s and tradesman, in the 1840s and 1850s. Re-edited by James Hardy 1850s. Re-edited by James Hardy for the Folklore Society in the for the Folklore Society in the 1890s. ‘hobbit’ appears in 1890s. ‘hobbit’ appears in Volume 2 (1895). Volume 2 (1895).

The Denham Tracts 2The Denham Tracts 2

List of 197 kinds of supernatural List of 197 kinds of supernatural creatures (p. 79): pigmies, creatures (p. 79): pigmies, chittifaces, nixies, Jinny-burnt-chittifaces, nixies, Jinny-burnt-tails, dudmen, hell-hounds, tails, dudmen, hell-hounds, dopple-gangers, boggleboes, dopple-gangers, boggleboes, bogies, redmen, portunes, grants, bogies, redmen, portunes, grants, hobbits, hobgoblinshobbits, hobgoblins

Item no. 154: hobbitsItem no. 154: hobbits Hardy (Index): ‘A class of spirits’Hardy (Index): ‘A class of spirits’

The Origin of GandalfThe Origin of Gandalf

The Origin of Gandalf 2The Origin of Gandalf 2

Picture by the German painter Josef Picture by the German painter Josef Madlener (after 1925).Madlener (after 1925).

hobbit 1hobbit 1

+ alive+ alive + sedentary+ sedentary + ‘in the ground’ dwelling+ ‘in the ground’ dwelling hobbit < Old English *hobbit < Old English *hol-bytlahol-bytla holhol = hole, cave = hole, cave bytlabytla (masc. noun) < (masc. noun) < bytlanbytlan = to = to

build (cf. Nobottle = New build (cf. Nobottle = New building)building)

hobbit = hole builderhobbit = hole builder

hobbit 2hobbit 2

‘‘In a hole in the ground there In a hole in the ground there lived a sedentary being that built lived a sedentary being that built holes.’holes.’

Völuspa (Poetic Edda): Völuspa (Poetic Edda): Dvergatal 1Dvergatal 1

dvergar, or iordvergar, or iorƒƒo, sem Durinn sago, sem Durinn sagƒƒi.i. Nyi oc NiNyi oc Niƒƒi, Nori, Norƒƒri oc Suri oc Suƒƒri,ri,

Austri oc Vestri, AlAustri oc Vestri, Alππiofr, Dvalinn,iofr, Dvalinn,Bivorr, Bavorr, Bomburr, Nori,Bivorr, Bavorr, Bomburr, Nori,An oc Anarr, Ai, MioAn oc Anarr, Ai, Mioƒƒvitnir.vitnir.

Veigr oc Gandalfr, Vindalfr, Veigr oc Gandalfr, Vindalfr, ∏∏rainn,rainn, ∏∏eccr oc eccr oc ∏∏orinn, orinn, ∏∏ror, Virtr oc Litr,ror, Virtr oc Litr,Nar oc NyraNar oc Nyraƒƒr – nu hefi ec dvergar – nu hefi ec dverga– Reginn oc Ra– Reginn oc Raƒƒsvisviƒƒr – rett um talr – rett um talƒƒa.a.


Fili, Kili, Fundinn, Nali,Fili, Kili, Fundinn, Nali,Hepti, Vili, Hanarr, Sviurr, Hepti, Vili, Hanarr, Sviurr, Frar, Hornbori, Fraegr oc Loni,Frar, Hornbori, Fraegr oc Loni,Aurvangr, Iari, Eikinscialdi.Aurvangr, Iari, Eikinscialdi.

Völuspa (Poetic Edda): Völuspa (Poetic Edda): Dvergatal transl.Dvergatal transl.

Many manlike figures they made,Many manlike figures they made,dwarfs from the earth, as Durin dwarfs from the earth, as Durin recountedrecounted

New-moon and Dark-of-moon, North New-moon and Dark-of-moon, North and South,and South,East and West, Master-thief, Delayer,East and West, Master-thief, Delayer,Bivor, Bavor, Bombur, and Nori,Bivor, Bavor, Bombur, and Nori,An and Anar, Great-grandfather and An and Anar, Great-grandfather and Mead-wolf.Mead-wolf.


Liquor and Staff-elf, Wind-elf and Liquor and Staff-elf, Wind-elf and Thrain,Thrain,Known and Thorin, Thror, Colour Known and Thorin, Thror, Colour and Wise,and Wise,Corpse and New-advice: now I have Corpse and New-advice: now I have rightly – Regin and Counsel-sharp –rightly – Regin and Counsel-sharp –reckoned up the dwarfs.reckoned up the dwarfs.


Fili and Kili, Foundling and Nali,Fili and Kili, Foundling and Nali,Haft and Vili, Hanar and Sviur,Haft and Vili, Hanar and Sviur,Frar and Hornborer, Fraeg and Sea-Frar and Hornborer, Fraeg and Sea-pool,pool,Loamfield, Iari, Oakenshield.Loamfield, Iari, Oakenshield.


dvergar, or iordvergar, or iorƒƒo, sem o, sem DurinnDurinn sag sagƒƒi.i.Nyi oc NiNyi oc Niƒƒi, Nori, Norƒƒri oc Suri oc Suƒƒri,ri,Austri oc Vestri, AlAustri oc Vestri, Alππiofr, iofr, DvalinnDvalinn,,BivorrBivorr, , BavorrBavorr, , BomburrBomburr, , NoriNori,,An oc Anarr, Ai, MioAn oc Anarr, Ai, Mioƒƒvitnir.vitnir.

Veigr oc Veigr oc GandalfrGandalfr, Vindalfr, , Vindalfr, ∏∏rainnrainn,, ∏∏eccr oc eccr oc ∏∏orinnorinn, , ∏∏rorror, Virtr oc Litr,, Virtr oc Litr,Nar oc NyraNar oc Nyraƒƒr – nu hefi ec dvergar – nu hefi ec dverga– Reginn oc Ra– Reginn oc Raƒƒsvisviƒƒr – rett um talr – rett um talƒƒa.a.


FiliFili, , KiliKili, , FundinnFundinn, , NaliNali,,Hepti, Vili, Hanarr, Sviurr, Hepti, Vili, Hanarr, Sviurr, Frar, Hornbori, Fraegr oc Loni,Frar, Hornbori, Fraegr oc Loni,Aurvangr, Iari, Aurvangr, Iari, EikinscialdiEikinscialdi..

The Tolkien FamilyThe Tolkien Family

The Two TraditionsThe Two Traditions LegendariumLegendarium Poems & stories Poems & stories

since ca. 1914 (=> since ca. 1914 (=> The SilmarillionThe Silmarillion 1977, The Book of 1977, The Book of Lost Tales 1983)Lost Tales 1983)

The HobbitThe Hobbit (2nd (2nd 1951 and 3rd 1951 and 3rd edition 1966)edition 1966)

The Lord of the The Lord of the RingsRings

Tom BombadilTom Bombadil

Stories & PoemsStories & Poems Father Xmas Letters Father Xmas Letters

(1920ff)(1920ff) RoverandomRoverandom (1925) (1925)

Mr Bliss Mr Bliss (1932)(1932) Tom BombadilTom Bombadil(1934)(1934) The HobbitThe Hobbit (1937) (1937) The New HobbitThe New Hobbit

(1938)(1938) Farmer Giles Farmer Giles (1938)(1938) Leaf by NiggleLeaf by Niggle Smith of Wootton M.Smith of Wootton M.

A Reader’s Report 1A Reader’s Report 1

““Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit who lived Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit who lived in his hobbit-hole and in his hobbit-hole and nevernever went for went for adventures, at last Gandalf the wizard adventures, at last Gandalf the wizard and his dwarves perswaded him to and his dwarves perswaded him to go. He had a very exiting time go. He had a very exiting time fighting goblins and wargs. at last fighting goblins and wargs. at last they got to the lonely mountain; they got to the lonely mountain; Smaug, the dragon who gawreds it is Smaug, the dragon who gawreds it is killed and after a terrible battle with killed and after a terrible battle with the goblins he returned home - rich!the goblins he returned home - rich!

A Reader’s Report 2A Reader’s Report 2

““This book, with the help of maps, This book, with the help of maps, does not need any illustrations it is does not need any illustrations it is good and should appeal to all good and should appeal to all children between the ages of 5 and children between the ages of 5 and 9.” 9.” (Rayner Unwin [10 years old] to his (Rayner Unwin [10 years old] to his father Sir Stanley Unwin, 10 August father Sir Stanley Unwin, 10 August 1936)1936)

Summary of the Plot 1Summary of the Plot 1

Hobbiton, Bag EndHobbiton, Bag End

Protagonists 1Protagonists 1

Bilbo BagginsBilbo Baggins occupation?occupation? cultural level?cultural level? postal service (morning letters), pipe, postal service (morning letters), pipe,

tobacco, potatoes, clocks, pocket-tobacco, potatoes, clocks, pocket-handkerchiefshandkerchiefs

a thoroughly ‘modern’/anachronistic a thoroughly ‘modern’/anachronistic character. Victorian upper-middle character. Victorian upper-middle class.class.


Bilbo Baggins vs. Lobelia Sackville-Bilbo Baggins vs. Lobelia Sackville-BagginsBaggins

Baggins = food you take along; Baggins = food you take along; afternoon tea in a substantial formafternoon tea in a substantial form

Bag End = dead endBag End = dead end Cul-de-sac (pseudo-French; correct: Cul-de-sac (pseudo-French; correct: impasseimpasse))

Sackville = Sackville = villeville/villa at the end of a /villa at the end of a cul-de-saccul-de-sac


a bourgeois burglara bourgeois burglar burhburh = town, fortified dwelling = town, fortified dwelling

Gandalf: ‘an old man with a Gandalf: ‘an old man with a staff’staff’


Thorin & CoThorin & Co

Summary of the Plot 2Summary of the Plot 2

TrollshawsTrollshaws

tolkien thomas honegger [email protected]. poems & professors 1920-24 various poems with...

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