Tolkien and the Invention of Myth: A Reader

by Jane Chance Nitzsche (Editor)

At what stage in J.R.R. Tolkien's reading of other literatures and mythologies did he conceive of the fantastic mythology of Middle-earth that has become so deeply entrenched in contemporary culture? At what point did medieval epic and legend spark Tolkienian myth? The eighteen essays in Tolkien and the Invention of Myth examine the ancient Greek, Latin, Old Norse, Old English, and Finnish sources from which Tolkien appropriated the concepts, images, characterizations, contexts, and theories that inform his own fictional narratives The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion . Understanding his invented mythologies requires a rediscovery of those tales of larger-than-life gods and heroes found in northern myths. A well-rounded and essential reader for any Tolkien lover, the book includes several essays that provide background and context, explaining Tolkien's literary aesthetic and his interest in folklore, his love of philology, and the philosophical and religious underpinnings of his narratives. Among the contributors are well-known medievalists and Tolkien scholars Marjorie Burns, Michael Drout, Verlyn Flieger, David Lyle Jeffrey, Tom Shippey, and Richard West. Tolkien and the Invention of Myth identifies the various medieval mythologies woven into the elaborate tapestry of Tolkien's work, making it a vital contribution to the study of one of the twentieth century's most influential authors.

Genres: Fantasy, Literary Criticism, Mythology, Literature, Essays

360 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2004

Reviews

[Kris]

Footnoted by McGrath.

[Stanley Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essays on Tolkien

Impressive body of work. This series of scholarly essays is for the serious devotees of Tolkien's writings. I believe they have all captured the essence of the genius of the man. Each essay reflects careful thought and a deep dive into the background and inspiration for that particular component of his offerings. His writing is in some sense straight forward and even simple yet these essays help unravel and expose a much more complex narrative that is under girding everything. A very satisfying and informative read for me. I enjoed it thoroughly and recommend it highly.

[Sami Eerola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very useful and easy to read.

The only problem is that one source was miswritten so i had to Google it to find out where it was from.

[kennygsreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

and now i have to write a paper :))))))))))))))))))

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Tolkien and Middle Earth and want to get into the meat of what he created, this group of essays is wonderful. I initially checked this book out of the library because I wanted to read the essay by Michael D.C. Drout that marries so beautifully Tolkien's Anglo-Saxon scholarly studies to his creation of the Middle Earth mythology. But I got sucked into some of the other essays as well. This is a fascinating read if you want to follow the path of a true scholar (which Tolkien was) as well as an incredible writer and creator. Man, do I ever wish I could sit down and have a chat with Mr. Tolkien!

[Andrea Hickman Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

To the surprise of absolutely no-one, I really enjoyed this. While I know a fair bit about Tolkien and what influenced him, I don't really know anything about the things that influenced him. This gave me some familiarity with the Norse and Finnish myths that influenced his writings, as well as a variety of other things I didn't know.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

great selection of essays on the various sources & traditions that inspired tolkien

[KR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found a lot of helpful articles in this book when I was writing my undergraduate capstone paper.