What do you think?
Rate this book
The Proverbs of Middle-earth
An Arabic proverb says, "Before you shoot the arrow truth, dip in in honey." The works of JRR Tolkien are unique in English Literature, as they are filled with hundreds of original proverbs. ‘Not all those who wander are lost,’ ‘Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens,’ and ‘Never laugh at live dragons’ are all poetic, wise, and convincingly real-sounding, but they are also a lens, through which more can be seen. These proverbs belong to entirely invented wisdom traditions and reflect the culture, the philosophical worldview, and the history of those who use them. In "The Proverbs of Middle-earth," David Rowe discovers and investigates the degree to which the ‘soul’ of each of these fictional civilizations can be understood through the lens of their proverbs. What is revealed enriches the reader’s experience of and delight in Middle-earth, as well as illuminating the astounding depth and detail of creativity behind it. Arrows dipped in honey abound!
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 16, 2017
126 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
David Rowe
1 book11 followersDavid is a US-based Englishman (and erstwhile resident of New Zealand, Zimbabwe, and Scotland, before he married a Lebanese-American) who first read The Lord of the Rings at the age of seven and has been re-reading it ever since. He is a farmer-cum-teacher-cum-musician, cuts his own hair, and is a committed utiliser of the Oxford Comma.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 5, 2018
The Proverbs of Middle-earth turned out to be a delightful surprise. What I thought would be merely a compendium of wise sayings from J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium turned out to be so much more! The Proverbs of Middle-earth is in fact an extended and detailed discussion of the origins and cultural context of the unique wisdom traditions of the various Free Peoples of Middle-earth. The nations and races covered include Hobbits, the Breelanders, Wizards, the Half-elven, Elves, Dwarves, the Rohirrim, Ents, and the Men of Gondor. There are also chapters devoted to singular individuals such as Tom Bombadil & Goldberry, and Aragorn. The philosophy and worldview underpinning the proverbs and oral traditions of each race/nation are discussed. To cite just a few examples: the stoicism of the Ents, the Rohirrim's Kantian sense of duty, the exceptionalist & nationalistic ethic of Gondor. Also discussed are nuances such as class distinctions (e.g. between rustic hobbits and their patrician "gentlehobbit" neighbors) and ethnic differences (e.g. contrasting Gondor's ruling minority of High Numenorians with the varied ethnicity of the majority of their subjects). Any fan of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will find immense enjoyment in this wonderful little book. Highly recommended.
November 9, 2021
Beautiful and insightful. This is no random collection of Tolkien quotes with chatty commentary. This is a profound exploration of the cultures of Middle-earth through their proverbs. The overwhelming conclusion I came away with is how genius Tolkien truly was, crafting characters and nations with consistent (and compelling) personalities, failures, and wisdom.
Rowe himself is a lapidary writer with many gorgeous turns of phrase; you can't skim him or you'll miss the magic. I especially loved his analysis of Boromir ("Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it") and Faramir ("Faced with the same temptation that corrupted Boromir, Faramir is moved not to ambition and assault but to pity and sorrow").
This book is also an uncomfortable mirror of the self. A wise friend recently told me that I should "be more Entish," and the fact that the Ents have historically frustrated me tells you how badly I needed this wisdom! Hence my motivation to read a book that studied the Ents (and beyond).
This study will reveal all the embarrassing ways in which you are nothing like Tolkien's heroes, and all the embarrassing ways in which you are. I discovered I am more awkwardly dwarfish than I cared to admit, that Denethor's nationalistic pride makes a scary amount of sense, that Eowyn's nihilistic darkness is close to my heart, and that Faramir's gentle pity for her (which I would have once scorned) is just the thing a stubborn girl needs.
An amazing, enlightening book. Bind it on your heart; tie it around your neck.
Rowe himself is a lapidary writer with many gorgeous turns of phrase; you can't skim him or you'll miss the magic. I especially loved his analysis of Boromir ("Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it") and Faramir ("Faced with the same temptation that corrupted Boromir, Faramir is moved not to ambition and assault but to pity and sorrow").
This book is also an uncomfortable mirror of the self. A wise friend recently told me that I should "be more Entish," and the fact that the Ents have historically frustrated me tells you how badly I needed this wisdom! Hence my motivation to read a book that studied the Ents (and beyond).
This study will reveal all the embarrassing ways in which you are nothing like Tolkien's heroes, and all the embarrassing ways in which you are. I discovered I am more awkwardly dwarfish than I cared to admit, that Denethor's nationalistic pride makes a scary amount of sense, that Eowyn's nihilistic darkness is close to my heart, and that Faramir's gentle pity for her (which I would have once scorned) is just the thing a stubborn girl needs.
An amazing, enlightening book. Bind it on your heart; tie it around your neck.
November 20, 2018
I really enjoyed this exploration of the many proverbs found in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and what they tell us about the peoples, cultures and languages of Middle-earth. A brilliant analysis with some very interesting insights and some excellent appendices summarizing the proverbs by type and which peoples spoke them. Think my fav remains Faramir’s Do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory… Love only that which they defend. Highly recommend
January 29, 2019
Wow, I expected just a brief list of proverbs from different characters in Tolkien’s Legendarium. This book is actually a deep dive into the cultures of Middle Earth, analyzing their wisdom and making connections to real world philosophies. It’s definitely a must read for any Tolkien fan. The only negative is that the two appendices, which are lists of the proverbs, should have been in the body of the book. Throwing them at the end, after the footnotes, was disappointing. It would have been much cooler to begin or end each chapter with the listing of proverbs from the people/character discussed in that chapter. That aside, it’s a pretty great book.
May 21, 2017
This delightful book pulls one thread--proverbs--out of Tolkien's woven Middle-Earth and explores their significance both for Tolkien's canon and for us as its appreciators. I wouldn't recommend this to those who don't love Tolkien, but for devotees, this is a must read. Rowe writes with care and love for the tradition, but with an eye to teach us from a carefully constructed series of fictional wisdom traditions. Thoughtful, thorough, insightful, and deeply moving. I'll be back to reread it again.
October 19, 2024
A simple yet elegant edition, this book proposes an insightful new layer of understanding both to those knowledgeable with the world of Tolkien, and to the neophytes who haven't yet dwelled into it.
Through proverbs, ways of saying, and rhymes, Rowe shows us glimpses of the different philosophies and worldviews of the heterogeneous mix of people's and races in Middle earth, while offering splendid insights about each group's lore and culture. Beyond that, the author also offers linkages with real world's schools of thought, such as the Exceptionalism of Gondorians, the Hobbits' subtle Epicureanism or the Nihilism of most Elvenfolk.
The author softly invites the readers to get in touch with their own way of thinking, and pushes them to "get wise by starting to get wisdom".
What better stepstone to do so, than Tolkien's timeless masterpieces?
For all that we have to be concerned about is simply to decide what to do with the time that is given to us.
Through proverbs, ways of saying, and rhymes, Rowe shows us glimpses of the different philosophies and worldviews of the heterogeneous mix of people's and races in Middle earth, while offering splendid insights about each group's lore and culture. Beyond that, the author also offers linkages with real world's schools of thought, such as the Exceptionalism of Gondorians, the Hobbits' subtle Epicureanism or the Nihilism of most Elvenfolk.
The author softly invites the readers to get in touch with their own way of thinking, and pushes them to "get wise by starting to get wisdom".
What better stepstone to do so, than Tolkien's timeless masterpieces?
For all that we have to be concerned about is simply to decide what to do with the time that is given to us.
April 19, 2024
Took my time reading this one as it’s rather dense due to its proverbial content. However slowly you may go, the journey is worth your trouble! Fascinating insights into the culture and wisdom tradition of each race, including several prominent characters. The context given for the chosen proverbs will help all readers develop a greater appreciation for many scenes and sayings. And now, to leave you with perhaps the most famous (and my favorite): “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
Appreciated the afterword on the nature of Good vs Evil in Middle Earth for its nuanced complexity as well!
Appreciated the afterword on the nature of Good vs Evil in Middle Earth for its nuanced complexity as well!
May 26, 2022
In "The Proverbs of Middle-earth," David Rowe discovers and investigates the degree to which each of Tolkien’s fictional characters can be understood through the lens of their proverbs. The book focuses on the major races and characters of Middle-earth and their use of proverbs which at the same time provides very useful summaries of those races and characters, including key quotes from Tolkien.
For Tolkien fans this is an excellent book, it is both accessible, engaging and well written. Each section is short enough to be dipped in out. It offers a fresh and insightful look into the cultural, historical, and racial complexities of Middle Earth.
At the end of the book, there is an exhaustive list of the different types of proverbs from, Axioms, Ellipsis and Epigrams, to Idioms, Maxims, Truisms and Twin Formulae from each major character. This is a highly recommended if you are a Tolkien fan.
For Tolkien fans this is an excellent book, it is both accessible, engaging and well written. Each section is short enough to be dipped in out. It offers a fresh and insightful look into the cultural, historical, and racial complexities of Middle Earth.
At the end of the book, there is an exhaustive list of the different types of proverbs from, Axioms, Ellipsis and Epigrams, to Idioms, Maxims, Truisms and Twin Formulae from each major character. This is a highly recommended if you are a Tolkien fan.
Read
March 12, 20175 stars from Jason, read the full review at FANTASY LITERATURE
Disclaimer: just so you know, some of the books we review are received free from publishers
The Proverbs of Middle-Earth is a smart, readable literary analysis of J.R.R. Tolkien’s use of proverbs in his worlds of Middle-Earth, including The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and (less so) The Silmarillion. If you’re a passionate fan of Tolkien, you’ll absolutely adore this book. Period. If you love the Peter Jackson films, this book will provide an enjoyable layer of depth to your understanding of the story and the meaning behind the memorable phrases.
Tolkien’s use of this often-poetic linguistic form sheds light on the characterizations of the different cultures and races within Middle-Earth. The cross-pollination of perspectives of the characters, representing very genuine cultures that are easy to find represented in the real world outside of Middle-Earth, adds to the believability and realism amongst events that are sometimes relatable and sometimes rather fantastical....5 stars from Jason, read the full review at FANTASY LITERATURE
Disclaimer: just so you know, some of the books we review are received free from publishers
The Proverbs of Middle-Earth is a smart, readable literary analysis of J.R.R. Tolkien’s use of proverbs in his worlds of Middle-Earth, including The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and (less so) The Silmarillion. If you’re a passionate fan of Tolkien, you’ll absolutely adore this book. Period. If you love the Peter Jackson films, this book will provide an enjoyable layer of depth to your understanding of the story and the meaning behind the memorable phrases.
Tolkien’s use of this often-poetic linguistic form sheds light on the characterizations of the different cultures and races within Middle-Earth. The cross-pollination of perspectives of the characters, representing very genuine cultures that are easy to find represented in the real world outside of Middle-Earth, adds to the believability and realism amongst events that are sometimes relatable and sometimes rather fantastical....5 stars from Jason, read the full review at FANTASY LITERATURE
January 26, 2019
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.", and this was time well spent. Not only it is nice collection of proverbs and quotes that you might have missed while reading, it also provides insight into how different peoples of Middle earth though, based (also) on their proverbs, showing the immense depth and creativity of Tolkien's world-building.
It was a bit harder reading, this thing could have been a thesis, but while "Advice is a dangerous gift", I think that it is nonetheless great read for every Tolkien fan, because even though the characters and story might be fictional, the wisdom is not :)
Maybe one thing that I would like to see is inclusion of proverbs from other books than The Hobbit and LOTR. While Silmarillion and other books were mentioned and referenced, proverbs from them were not included, if they were, maybe just briefly, but not in appendices listing all proverbs chronologically and also by people group.
So, I am looking forward to the second book, or second enhanced edition of this one, I hope it will be written eventually!
It was a bit harder reading, this thing could have been a thesis, but while "Advice is a dangerous gift", I think that it is nonetheless great read for every Tolkien fan, because even though the characters and story might be fictional, the wisdom is not :)
Maybe one thing that I would like to see is inclusion of proverbs from other books than The Hobbit and LOTR. While Silmarillion and other books were mentioned and referenced, proverbs from them were not included, if they were, maybe just briefly, but not in appendices listing all proverbs chronologically and also by people group.
So, I am looking forward to the second book, or second enhanced edition of this one, I hope it will be written eventually!
December 27, 2019
David Rowe explores the cultures and people of Middle Earth through their wise sayings. If you aren’t a big Tolkien/LOTR geek, this book probably isn’t for you, but for those of us obsessed with Middle earth it’s fantastic!
Rowe picks out dozens of instances of proverbial wisdom woven into the speech of Tolkien’s characters and shows what they reveal about the speakers and their culture. As with any literary analysis there is some speculation involved. Occasionally it is debatable whether what he picks out are genuine proverbs or just high-sounding wise speech, and a few of this inferences may be a bit of a stretch. However, he makes many astute observations and points out a number of connections that enrich the story.
For me, the fact that you can analyze Tolkien’s world to this extent shows what an amazing “sub-creator” he was. Highly recommended for those who want a deeper understanding of Middle Earth.
Rowe picks out dozens of instances of proverbial wisdom woven into the speech of Tolkien’s characters and shows what they reveal about the speakers and their culture. As with any literary analysis there is some speculation involved. Occasionally it is debatable whether what he picks out are genuine proverbs or just high-sounding wise speech, and a few of this inferences may be a bit of a stretch. However, he makes many astute observations and points out a number of connections that enrich the story.
For me, the fact that you can analyze Tolkien’s world to this extent shows what an amazing “sub-creator” he was. Highly recommended for those who want a deeper understanding of Middle Earth.
January 11, 2019
Initially I did not like this book and I thought it was being a little bit too much tongue-in-cheek. However, the more I read the more I realized that this book is extremely insightful and the author has done a wonderfully detailed job of explaining both the cultures and languages that appear within Tolkien's writing.
I found myself, time-after-time, struck with some deep insight or revealing character-development that I never saw in my first 10 readings of LotR and it forces me to realize that even after knowing the story and characters so well, I have missed so much of the larger picture (as well as many of the background elements and cultural tidbits).
Such a fantastic book not only deserves a re-reading, but demands a closer reading of the text upon which is is based (LotR).
Well done, sir! Well done indeed!
I found myself, time-after-time, struck with some deep insight or revealing character-development that I never saw in my first 10 readings of LotR and it forces me to realize that even after knowing the story and characters so well, I have missed so much of the larger picture (as well as many of the background elements and cultural tidbits).
Such a fantastic book not only deserves a re-reading, but demands a closer reading of the text upon which is is based (LotR).
Well done, sir! Well done indeed!
November 9, 2022
Really enjoyed this journey back to Middle-earth. Really liked the approach David used to explore the different cultures through their Proverbs. Very insightful book that will enhance my reading of the books the next time I re-read them.
February 28, 2017
I learned a lot about Middle Earth and the characters that I didn't know before, in addition to enjoying the proverbs themselves.
January 12, 2022
What a delightful and helpful book! I was expecting a book with a collection of proverbs with some descriptions...what I found was much deeper and more beneficial. The author has gone through the Hobbit and LOTR and pulled out likely proverbs from various cultures of Middle Earth (Hobbits, Breelanders, Bombadil, Istari (Wizards), Dwarfs, Elves, Half-Elven, Bombardier, Ents, and People of Gondor - including a chapter just on Aragorn), and woven them into rich, concise, but not overly detailed reviews of the peoples' history, culture, and philosophy. It's a reminder of how comprehensive and nuanced a world Tolkien created, and how much of this "fiction" speaks to the real world. I am particularly thankful for the appendices (of course it had appendices!) which provide more info, and helpful listings of the proverbs in case you want to find/reference quickly. A truly rewarding experience for anyone who is fond of Tolkien.
April 21, 2024
What an incredible book. It is insightful on so many levels, bringing us to reflect on language, the creative process, virtue and vice, and intercultural relations and communications. Those who, like Tolkien, view humans as sub-creators to reflect the goodness of the original Creator, will find special layers of significance in this perceptive little book. With each chapter, we are led to ponder not only Tolkien's incredible imagined world, but also the connections to our own. As we reflect on the sayings, the philosophy, and ethics of Ents, Elves, Hobbits, Men of Rohan, and more, we reflect on our own philosophy and ethics and are drawn deeper into the enchantment of Middle Earth while simultaneously feeling the call to meaningfully engage with our own world.
April 9, 2025
I've been looking forward to reading this book for a while and I'm so glad I finally got around to it. It was even better than I expected! I was largely anticipating an annotated list of all of these great proverbs, and I believe I would have enjoyed it if that's all it was. But the author goes far beyond that, organizing the proverbs by what race or people group said them, and using that to provide insight into each group. I felt like I was drawn even deeper into Tolkien's magical world, while increasing my admiration for The Professor & his work, as well as gaining some wisdom for my own life. The appendices in the back (both chronological and by people group) were a helpful bonus.
March 6, 2018
Once I have developed deeper interest in Middle-Earth, I started to look for books touching the subject. Reading other people's interpretations and perceptions can make my own more detailed and complex. And this book is a great example of what I've been looking for.
Even if you don't notice all character's behaviour's reasons, this book will in clear (and enjoyable) way explain complexity of characters we know from both "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings". As an example which should prove the book can change your views on your feelings towards characters is that after reading this title, I actually started to like Faramir (while I was rather negative towards him before). It proves that Tolkien’s Middle Earth isn’t just black and white, that the world is complex, characters having completely different mindsets and reasons for their actions. The book made me admiring Tolkien’s masterpieces even more and I believe it is a great read not only for those deeply into the universe, but for everyone who liked “The Hobbit” and/or “The Lord of the Rings” (although it’s better to read those two before reading this title to avoid spoilers). Surely I’ll look at everything a bit differently while coming back to Tolkien's world!
(I published the same review on amazon.)
Even if you don't notice all character's behaviour's reasons, this book will in clear (and enjoyable) way explain complexity of characters we know from both "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings". As an example which should prove the book can change your views on your feelings towards characters is that after reading this title, I actually started to like Faramir (while I was rather negative towards him before). It proves that Tolkien’s Middle Earth isn’t just black and white, that the world is complex, characters having completely different mindsets and reasons for their actions. The book made me admiring Tolkien’s masterpieces even more and I believe it is a great read not only for those deeply into the universe, but for everyone who liked “The Hobbit” and/or “The Lord of the Rings” (although it’s better to read those two before reading this title to avoid spoilers). Surely I’ll look at everything a bit differently while coming back to Tolkien's world!
(I published the same review on amazon.)
November 18, 2022
When I requested this as a Christmas gift, I thought it was "just" a collection of proverbs, similar to a small book I have of Aesop's Fables ~~ just a rendering of many items.
this is SO much more! Delving into each of the people groups of Middle Earth, the different strata of their societies, the types and usage of proverbs in each ~~ this is just a wonderful compendium of history, lore, and insight into many of the main characters, as well as a sampling and discussion of their proverbs.
I highly recommend this for anyone who loves Middle Earth!
this is SO much more! Delving into each of the people groups of Middle Earth, the different strata of their societies, the types and usage of proverbs in each ~~ this is just a wonderful compendium of history, lore, and insight into many of the main characters, as well as a sampling and discussion of their proverbs.
I highly recommend this for anyone who loves Middle Earth!
July 26, 2020
I started this book mainly because I thought it would offer me insight into the characters and their motives as well as looking at the vast complexities of Tolkien’s work. And wow did this book deliver and offer so much more! Not only does Rose bring together philosophy, language, and character development together in a beautiful way, he manages to leave nuggets of wisdom from his own mind. If you’re looking for a way to enrich your experience with Tolkien then this book is a must have.
January 26, 2022
Great Content, slightly clunky execution but worth a read
Rather an odd manner in which the book is put together, once you figure it out, there is a lot insight into Tolkien’s world here. The author covers all types of messages, from all different angles. It might take you a bit to get used to how they are presented but it is worth your time to maneuver.
Rather an odd manner in which the book is put together, once you figure it out, there is a lot insight into Tolkien’s world here. The author covers all types of messages, from all different angles. It might take you a bit to get used to how they are presented but it is worth your time to maneuver.
February 14, 2023
Interesting study on the hundreds of proverbial sayings scattered across The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I had no idea how many there were! Professor Tolkien was a genius in this aspect of his writing too, as Rowe shows that he crafted each person's proverbs to fit the character or the character's people or purpose. It always amazes me how talented that man was!
July 8, 2024
Not what I hoped for.
A bit to much reusing old information about peoples, and a bit to much theorizing fuzzy about the proverb users.
Onepagers with one proverb in a simple bubble as "illustrations".
Not that fun to read.
At the end some simple lists of the proverbs.
Otherwise an excellent idea. I will give it another try in an while.
A bit to much reusing old information about peoples, and a bit to much theorizing fuzzy about the proverb users.
Onepagers with one proverb in a simple bubble as "illustrations".
Not that fun to read.
At the end some simple lists of the proverbs.
Otherwise an excellent idea. I will give it another try in an while.
February 3, 2019
Middle Earth's Ethos in Its Proverbs
This book will help you to understand Tolkien's writings and his cosmic viewpoint. Only serious and dedicated readers of Tolkien's work will fully appreciate this in depth look into the author's cosmic viewpoint that informed his writings.
This book will help you to understand Tolkien's writings and his cosmic viewpoint. Only serious and dedicated readers of Tolkien's work will fully appreciate this in depth look into the author's cosmic viewpoint that informed his writings.
February 19, 2020
Well worth the read, a in depth analysis of Tolkien's work not only in literature but also practical wisdom linguistics, considering tolkein life experiance as a soildier linguist and oxford professor it's worth a read.
March 19, 2020
What a fantastic book! Rowe uses the many proverbs and wise old sayings uttered and thought within The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to describe the many peoples and societies of Middle-Earth. Any Tolkien fan who wants to dive deeper into Middle-Earth would do well to start here.
July 21, 2020
A delightful book with some excellent insights into the nature of god and evil in Tolkien’s work, very relevant to today, especially the value of cultural diversity and of wisdom traditions that draw from a variety of voices.
February 14, 2021
It was a real pleasure reading this book. Going through the socio-cultural analysis of the different people of Middle Earth as well as going deep into the psychology of the main characters was really fun and enjoyable
January 26, 2018
Scholarly
Not for the average fan, this in-depth look at the proverbs that abound in Tolkiens writings could be a text book in a college course.
Not for the average fan, this in-depth look at the proverbs that abound in Tolkiens writings could be a text book in a college course.
May 14, 2020
If you love Tolkien
If you love Tolkien, you will love this book. The author takes you into Tolkien's world and helps you see it's winsome from the inside out.
If you love Tolkien, you will love this book. The author takes you into Tolkien's world and helps you see it's winsome from the inside out.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews