A Companion to J. R. R. Tolkien
Blackwell Companions to Literature and Culture
2. Edition September 2022
592 Pages, Hardcover
Handbook/Reference Book
Further versions
The new edition of the definitive academic companion to Tolkien's life and literature
A Companion to J. R. R. Tolkien provides readers with an in-depth examination of the author's life and works, covering Tolkien's fiction and mythology, his academic writing, and his continuing impact on contemporary literature and culture. Presenting forty-one essays by a panel of leading scholars, the Companion analyzes prevailing themes found in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, posthumous publications such as The Silmarillion and The Fall of Arthur, lesser-known fiction and poetry, literary essays, and more.
This second edition of the Companion remains the most complete and up-to-date resource of its kind, encompassing new Tolkien publications, original scholarship, The Hobbit film adaptations, and the biographical drama Tolkien. Five entirely new essays discuss the history of fantasy literature, the influence of classical mythology on Tolkien, folklore and fairytales, diversity, and Tolkien fandom. This Companion also:
* Explores Tolkien's impact on art, film, music, gaming, and later generations of fantasy fiction writers
* Discusses themes such as mythmaking, medieval languages, nature, war, religion, and the defeat of evil
* Presents a detailed overview of Tolkien's legendarium, including Middle-earth mythology and invented languages and writing systems
* Includes a brief chronology of Tolkien's works and life, further reading suggestions, and end-of-chapter bibliographies
A Companion to J. R. R. Tolkien, Second Edition is essential reading for anyone formally studying or teaching Tolkien in academic settings, and an invaluable resource for general readers with interest in Tolkien's works or fans of the films wanting to discover more.
Notes on Contributors xi
Editorial Practices and Abbreviations xviii
Bibliography xix
Abbreviations xx
Brief Chronology of the Life and Works of J.R.R. Tolkien xxii
Introduction to the Second Edition xxxiv
Part I: Life 1
1 A Brief Biography 3
John Garth
Part II: The Academic 19
2 Academic Writings 21
Thomas Honegger
3 Tolkien as Editor 34
Tom Shippey
4 Manuscripts: Use and Using 48
Stuart D. Lee
Part III: The Legendarium 65
5 Myth-making, Sub-creation, and World-building 67
Carl Phelpstead
6 Middle-earth Mythology: An Overview 79
Leslie A. Donovan
7 The Silmarillion: Tolkien's Theory of Myth, Text, and Culture 93
Gergely Nagy
8 The Hobbit: A Turning Point 104
John D. Rateliff
9 The Lord of the Rings 116
John R. Holmes
10 Unfinished Tales and the History of Middle-earth: A Lifetime of Imagination 127
Elizabeth A. Whittingham
11 "The Lost Road" and "The Notion Club Papers": Myth, History, and Time-travel 140
Verlyn Flieger
12 Poetry 152
Corey Olsen
13 "Minor" Works 166
Maria Artamonova
14 Invented Languages and Writing Systems 177
Arden R. Smith
Part IV: Context 189
15 Fantasy: An Introduction 191
Edward James
16 Classical Literature 203
Hamish Williams
17 "On Fairy-stories" and Folktale Research 214
Juliette Wood
18 Old English 224
Mark Atherton
19 Middle English 235
Elizabeth Solopova
20 Old Norse 247
Tom Birkett
21 Finnish: The Land and Language of Heroes 260
Leena Kahlas-Tarkka
22 Celtic: "Celtic Things" and "Things Celtic" - Identity, Language, and Mythology 271
J. S. Lyman-Thomas
23 The English Literary Tradition: Shakespeare to the Gothic 283
Nick Groom
24 Earlier Fantasy Fiction: Morris, Dunsany, and Lindsay 297
Rachel Falconer
25 The Inklings and Others: Tolkien and His Contemporaries 309
David Bratman
26 Later Fantasy Fiction: Tolkien's Legacy 324
Dimitra Fimi
27 Periodizing Tolkien: The Romantic Modern 337
Anna Vaninskaya
Part V: Critical Approaches 353
28 The Critical Response to Tolkien's Fiction 355
Patrick Curry
29 Style and Intertextual Echoes 374
Allan Turner
30 The Hero's Journey 386
Anna Caughey
31 Evil 399
Christopher Garbowski
32 Nature 410
Liam Campbell
33 Religion: An Implicit Catholicism 424
Pat Pinsent
34 War 437
Janet Brennan Croft
35 Women 448
Adam Roberts
36 Difference and Otherness 460
Christopher Vaccaro
37 Art 472
Christopher Tuthill
38 Music 485
Bradford Lee Eden
39 Film Adaptations: Theatrical and Television Versions 497
Kristin Thompson
40 Games: Playable Arda 511
Péter Kristóf Makai
41 Fandom 525
Cait Coker General Bibliography 535
Index 544
