Download or read book Tolkien and Sanskrit second Expanded Edition written by Mark T. Hooker and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2016-11-22 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is "The Director''s Cut," as a cinematographically minded wag termed it. This study is based on the observation that Tolkien calqued the names of the Sapta Sindhavah (Seven Rivers) from the Rig Veda as the Seven Rivers of Ossiriand. In other words, Tolkien created seven Elvish river names that mean the same thing as the river names of the Sapta Sindhavah. Much has been said of Tolkien''s use of Welsh, Old English, Gothic, Icelandic, Russian, Greek, and Latin. Little, however, has been said about Tolkien''s use of Sanskrit (Refined Speech), the great-great-...grandfather of all the languages above. Sanskrit was spoken in the second millennium B.C. in the valley of the River Indus, the river that put the "Indo" in the name Proto-Indo-European, a linguistic term for the *reconstructed common ancestor of the European languages. All indications to the contrary (C&G ii, 461), there is little doubt about Tolkien''s knowledge of Sanskrit from the point of view of a linguist. It is de rigueur for any serious philologist interested in etymologies like Tolkien. Tolkien was on the Language side of the English School at Oxford, where he took Comparative Philology as a special subject for Honour Moderations. (G&G ii, 758) In a certain sense, Tolkien''s The Silmarillion can be considered a veiled member of the genre of Raj Literature. The names of The Silmarillion say that in the same way that the names in Tolkien''s poem "The Mewlips" are masks that hide the fact that it is a poem about World War I. As the present study shows, the names of The Silmarillion say that the locus of Tolkien''s "Mythology for England" (C&G ii, 244-248) is the India of the British Raj. A literary analysis of Tolkien''s place in Raj Literature is, however, much more speculative than the linguistic analysis that makes up the core of this study, which stands on solid philological ground. The literary analysis will, therefore, be left to another time and place. While the basis of Tolkien''s calque of the names of the Seven Rivers as Ossiriand is Vedic in concept, the superstructure that Tolkien builds upon this foundation is non-Vedic. Some elements of the superstructure are more readily attributable to historical sources, like the history of the India Campaign of Alexander the Great, and the history of the British Raj in India, both of which were a part of the school curriculum when Tolkien was growing up. While the analysis of some of the words | names in this study would not be believable in stand-alone articles, in the context of the coherent structure of words and names presented here, they are worthy of serious consideration. The discovery presented here has the potential to more clearly define the linguistic and philosophical cradle of Tolkien''s ''Mythology for England,'' which was always The Silmarillion, and never The Lord of the Rings. It is Proto-Indo-European in the same way that the English language stems from Proto-Indo-European. That does not, however, mean that there is no gap between Proto-Indo-European language and culture, and the language and culture of The Shire. The analysis that follows is not a rehash of the discredited ideas of The Shores of Middle-earth (1981). It is instead, a completely new, linguistic approach to Tolkien''s Silmarillion nomenclature. Also from this author: Tolkien Through Russian Eyes (Walking Tree Publishers, 2003), published simultaneously in Russian. "Frodo''s Batman," Tolkien Studies, No. 1 (2004) A Tolkienian Mathomium (Llyfrawr, 2006) The Hobbitonian Anthology (Llyfrawr, 2009) "Reading John Buchan in Search of Tolkien," Tolkien and the Study of His Sources, Jason Fisher (ed.). (McFarland, 2011) Tolkien and Welsh (Llyfrawr, 2012) The Tolkienaeum (Llyfrawr, 2014) Iter Tolkienensis (Llyfrawr, 2016)
Download or read book Tolkien and Sanskrit written by Mark Hooker and published by . This book was released on 2016-06-14 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study is based on the observation that Tolkien calqued the names of the Sapta Sindhavah (Seven Rivers) from the Rig Veda as the Seven Rivers of Ossiriand. In other words, Tolkien created seven Elvish river names that mean the same thing as the river names of the Sapta Sindhavah. Much has been said of Tolkien's use of Welsh, Old English, Gothic, Icelandic, Russian, Greek, and Latin. Little, however, has been said about Tolkien's use of Sanskrit (Refined Speech), the great-great-...grandfather of all the languages above. Sanskrit was spoken in the second millennium B.C. in the valley of the River Indus, the river that put the "Indo" in the name Proto-Indo-European, a linguistic term for the *reconstructed common ancestor of the European languages. All indications to the contrary (C&G ii, 461), there is little doubt about Tolkien's knowledge of Sanskrit from the point of view of a linguist. It is de rigueur for any serious philologist interested in etymologies like Tolkien. Tolkien was on the Language side of the English School at Oxford, where he took Comparative Philology as a special subject for Honour Moderations. (G&G ii, 758) In a certain sense, Tolkien's The Silmarillion can be considered a veiled member of the genre of Raj Literature. The names of The Silmarillion say that in the same way that the names in Tolkien's poem "The Mewlips" are masks that hide the fact that it is a poem about World War I. As the present study shows, the names of The Silmarillion say that the locus of Tolkien's "Mythology for England" (C&G ii, 244-248) is the India of the British Raj. A literary analysis of Tolkien's place in Raj Literature is, however, much more speculative than the linguistic analysis that makes up the core of this study, which stands on solid philological ground. The literary analysis will, therefore, be left to another time and place. While the basis of Tolkien's calque of the names of the Seven Rivers as Ossiriand is Vedic in concept, the superstructure that Tolkien builds upon this foundation is non-Vedic. Some elements of the superstructure are more readily attributable to historical sources, like the history of the India Campaign of Alexander the Great, and the history of the British Raj in India, both of which were a part of the school curriculum when Tolkien was growing up. While the analysis of some of the words | names in this study would not be believable in stand-alone articles, in the context of the coherent structure of words and names presented here, they are worthy of serious consideration. The discovery presented here has the potential to more clearly define the linguistic and philosophical cradle of Tolkien's 'Mythology for England,' which was always The Silmarillion, and never The Lord of the Rings. It is Proto-Indo-European in the same way that the English language stems from Proto-Indo-European. That does not, however, mean that there is no gap between Proto-Indo-European language and culture, and the language and culture of The Shire. The analysis that follows is not a rehash of the discredited ideas of The Shores of Middle-earth (1981). It is instead, a completely new, linguistic approach to Tolkien's Silmarillion nomenclature. Also from this author: Tolkien Through Russian Eyes (Walking Tree Publishers, 2003), published simultaneously in Russian. "Frodo's Batman," Tolkien Studies, No. 1 (2004) A Tolkienian Mathomium (Llyfrawr, 2006) The Hobbitonian Anthology (Llyfrawr, 2009) "Reading John Buchan in Search of Tolkien," Tolkien and the Study of His Sources, Jason Fisher (ed.). (McFarland, 2011) Tolkien and Welsh (Llyfrawr, 2012) The Tolkienaeum (Llyfrawr, 2014) Iter Tolkienensis (Llyfrawr, 2016)
Download or read book J R R Tolkien Encyclopedia written by Michael D. C. Drout and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2007 with total page 810 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A detailed work of reference and scholarship, this one volume Encyclopedia includes discussions of all the fundamental issues in Tolkien scholarship written by the leading scholars in the field. Coverage not only presents the most recent scholarship on J.R.R. Tolkien, but also introduces and explores the author and scholar's life and work within their historical and cultural contexts. Tolkien's fiction and his sources of influence are examined along with his artistic and academic achievements - including his translations of medieval texts - teaching posts, linguistic works, and the languages he created. The 550 alphabetically arranged entries fall within the following categories of topics: adaptations art and illustrations characters in Tolkien's work critical history and scholarship influence of Tolkien languages biography literary sources literature creatures and peoples of Middle-earth objects in Tolkien's work places in Tolkien's work reception of Tolkien medieval scholars scholarship by Tolkien medieval literature stylistic elements themes in Tolkien's works theological/ philosophical concepts and philosophers Tolkien's contemporary history and culture works of literature
Download or read book Tolkien and the Great War written by John Garth and published by HMH. This book was released on 2013-06-11 with total page 419 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How the First World War influenced the author of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy: “Very much the best book about J.R.R. Tolkien that has yet been written.” —A. N. Wilson As Europe plunged into World War I, J. R. R. Tolkien was a student at Oxford and part of a cohort of literary-minded friends who had wide-ranging conversations in their Tea Club and Barrovian Society. After finishing his degree, Tolkien experienced the horrors of the Great War as a signal officer in the Battle of the Somme, where two of those school friends died. All the while, he was hard at work on an original mythology that would become the basis of his literary masterpiece, the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In this biographical study, drawn in part from Tolkien’s personal wartime papers, John Garth traces the development of the author’s work during this critical period. He shows how the deaths of two comrades compelled Tolkien to pursue the dream they had shared, and argues that the young man used his imagination not to escape from reality—but to transform the cataclysm of his generation. While Tolkien’s contemporaries surrendered to disillusionment, he kept enchantment alive, reshaping an entire literary tradition into a form that resonates to this day. “Garth’s fine study should have a major audience among serious students of Tolkien.” —Publishers Weekly “A highly intelligent book . . . Garth displays impressive skills both as researcher and writer.” —Max Hastings, author of The Secret War “Somewhere, I think, Tolkien is nodding in appreciation.” —San Jose Mercury News “A labour of love in which journalist Garth combines a newsman’s nose for a good story with a scholar’s scrupulous attention to detail . . . Brilliantly argued.” —Daily Mail (UK) “Gripping from start to finish and offers important new insights.” —Library Journal “Insight into how a writer turned academia into art, how deeply friendship supports and wounds us, and how the death and disillusionment that characterized World War I inspired Tolkien’s lush saga.” —Detroit Free Press
Download or read book The Tolkienotheca Studies in Tolkiennymy written by Mark T. Hooker and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 307 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Gallant Edith Bratt written by Bunting Nancy and published by . This book was released on 2021-08-15 with total page 286 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Edith Bratt's story reveals a gallant heroine suffering under "The Shadow of the Past." New research finds a independent and strong woman who was John Ronald's equal, muse, anchor of stability in the present, and hope for the future.
Download or read book The Tolkiennymicon written by Mark T. Hooker and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-01-31 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Part I of this volume (Linguistic Masques) looks at Tolkien's 'speaking names.' These names do more than just identify the character to whom they are attached; they say something about them as well. Here, the reader will learn more about the names Strider (who has a Celtic Theonym as an antecedent), Míriel, Finwë, & Fëanor (whose names show the power of lenition as a story telling device), The Black Breath & Kingsfoil (a pun, the disease, and the cure), and Gong (a pejorative name for Orcs that only a philologist could dig up). Part II (The Story Behind the Name) explores the myths and literary baggage of such names as those of the Sun Maiden, the Horned Moon, the full moon, the Man in the Moon, the Walls of the World, the concept of white, the Divine Mannus, and how Homo Loquens found a home in Middle-earth. Part III (Bones of the Oxen in Tolkien's Linguistic Soup) looks more closely at Tolkien's linguistic creations from a linguistic perspective. On the one hand, Tolkien complained that commentators analyzing his names normally had no idea how a philologist would go about creating them, adding that the "source, if there was one," for his names only provided the sound silhouette of the name, "and its purport in the source is totally irrelevant, except in the case of Earendil." (L.380) On the other hand, a number of commentators with a knowledge of philology, including both Christopher and the senior Tolkien, have pointed out many more exceptions than just Earendil. This volume is, therefore, an excursion into the 'leaf-mould' of Tolkien's mind, to see how Tolkien recut and repolished old words to make them new. Includes bibliographic references and index. B&W illustrations. Also from this author: Tolkien Through Russian Eyes (Walking Tree Publishers, 2003), published simultaneously in Russian "Frodo's Batman," Tolkien Studies, No. 1 (2004) The Hobbitonian Anthology (Llyfrawr, 2009) "Reading John Buchan in Search of Tolkien," Tolkien and the Study of His Sources, Jason Fisher (ed.). (McFarland, 2011) Tolkien and Welsh (Llyfrawr, 2012) The Tolkienaeum (Llyfrawr, 2014) Iter Tolkienensis (Llyfrawr, 2016) Tolkien and Sanskrit (Llyfrawr, 2016) An American Forger in Wales (Llyfrawr, 2017) The Tolkiennymicon (Llyfrawr, 2018)
Download or read book Tolkien and Welsh Tolkien a Chymraeg written by Mark T. Hooker and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tolkien and Welsh provides an overview of J.R.R.Tolkien's use of Welsh in his Legendarium, ranging from the obvious (Gwynfa-the Welsh word for Paradise), to the apparent (Took-a Welsh surname), to the veiled (Gerontius-the Latinizaton of a royal Welsh name), to the hidden (Goldberry-the English calque of a Welsh theonym). Though it is a book by a linguist, it was written for the non-linguist with the goal of making the topic accessible. The unavoidable jargon is explained in a glossary, and the narrative presents an overview of how Welsh influenced Tolkien's story line, as well as his synthetic languages Quenya and Sindarin. The study is based on specific examples of attested names, placed in the context of their linguistic and cultural background, while highlighting the peculiar features of Welsh, "the senior language of the men of Britain" (MC 189), that Tolkien found so intriguing. It supplements, rather than competes with Carl Phelpstead's excellent Tolkien and Wales, which sidestepped the topic of the Celtic linguistics behind Tolkien's work. Learn the story behind Lithe, Buckland, Anduin, and Baranduin. Pagination: xxx + 274, B&W illustrations by James Dunning, maps, Index, Trade Paper Jason Fisher--the editor of Tolkien and the Study of His Sources (McFarland, 2011), and the host of the blog 'Lingwë: Musings of a Fish' -- says: Tolkien and Welsh "should be pretty accessible to most readers." Mark gets "into some of the particulars of Welsh (and Sindarin) phonology--especially on the matter of mutation, a prominent feature of both languages--but Mark writes primarily for the lay person." Where Carl Phelpstead's book Tolkien and Wales "presents a broad survey of the forest as a whole, Mark's book is down at the level of the trees within it, even single leaves, grappling with individual words and names. If you are familiar with his previous books, it is much like those, but with the driving thread being the influence of Welsh on Tolkien's nomenclature and storytelling. I think Mark's book and Carl's complement each other and could be profitably read together." Tolkien and Welsh has been invited to enter the 2013 Competition for the Literature Wales Book of the Year Award. Participation is by invitation only. Despite the fact that the "Preface" explicitly advises the reader that: "The focus is on sources that were current at the time in which Tolkien lived and wrote. Modern theories may have supplanted the theories of Tolkien's time, but that is irrelevant. This volume explores the question of what Tolkien thought, not what we think we know now." some reviewers surprisingly fault Tolkien and Welsh for citing sources that present views that might not be supported by modern scholarship.
Download or read book The Hobbitonian Anthology written by Mark T. Hooker and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a second volume of articles by Mark T. Hooker that picks up where A Tolkienian Mathomium left off. Hooker's analysis is from a linguistic perspective similar to Tolkien's. "If you liked the last one, you're going to like this one," says the Foreword. Beyond Bree and Hither Shore said that there is "something [in A Tolkienian Mathomium] for everyone with even a passing interest in Tolkien. All of the articles are well researched, insightful, and highly informative." Tolkien Studies said that it is a "pleasantly eccentric volume ... Hooker has a wide variety of things to say that have not been heard before." Tolkien Collector's Guide said A Tolkienian Mathomium "is one of the most unique sets of essays on Tolkien I have read in the past 10 years." An early review by The Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza of the analysis of the origin of the name Tom Bombadil appearing in The Hobbitonian Anthology ranks it as "the best explanation yet of how the name Tom Bombadil came into being."
Download or read book A Sanskrit Treasury written by Camillo Alessio Formigatti and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This beautiful collection brings together passages from the renowned stories, poems, dramas and myths of South Asian literature, including the Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyaṇa. Drawing on the translations published by the Clay Sanskrit Library, the book presents episodes from the adventures of young Krishna, the life of Prince Rāma and Hindu foundational myths, the life of the Buddha, as well as Buddhist and Jaina birth stories.Pairing key excerpts from these wonderful Sanskrit texts with exquisite illustrations from the Bodleian Library's rich manuscript collections, the book includes images of birch-bark and palm-leaf manuscripts, vibrant Mughal miniatures, early printed books, sculptures, watercolour paintings and even early photograph albums.Each extract is presented in both English translation and Sanskrit in Devanāgarī script, and is accompanied by a commentary on the literature and related books and artworks. The collection is organised by geographical region and includes sections on the Himalayas, North India, Central and South India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia, Tibet, Inner and East Asia, and the Middle East and Europe.This is the perfect introduction for anyone interested in Sanskrit literature and the manuscript art of South Asia - and beyond.
Download or read book The Hobbits of Tolkien written by David Day and published by Pyramid. This book was released on 2019-10-03 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An entire race was born when J.R.R. Tolkien scrawled on a leaf, 'In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.' From the invention of that single word (hobbit) Tolkien became the explorer and chronicler of the character, their race and their significant role in his fantastical world, Middle-earth. Here in his latest book, Tolkien expert David Day unpicks the myriad of riddles, puns and mystical meanings in Tolkien's works; The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. This work is unofficial and is not authorized by the Tolkien Estate or HarperCollins Publishers.
Download or read book Tolkien in the New Century written by John Wm. Houghton and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2014-07-08 with total page 269 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Widely considered one of the leading experts on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Thomas Alan Shippey has informed and enlightened a generation of Tolkien scholars and fans. In this collection, friends and colleagues honor Shippey with 15 essays that reflect their mentor's research interests, methods of literary criticism and attention to Tolkien's shorter works. In a wide-ranging consideration of Tolkien's oeuvre, the contributors explore the influence of 19th and 20th century book illustrations on Tolkien's work; utopia and fantasy in Tolkien's Middle-earth; the Silmarils, the Arkenstone, and the One Ring as thematic vehicles; the pattern of decline in Middle-earth as reflected in the diminishing power of language; Tolkien's interest in medieval genres; the heroism of secondary characters; and numerous other topics. Also included are brief memoirs by Shippey's colleagues and friends in academia and fandom and a bibliography of Shippey's work.
Download or read book A Tolkienian Mathomium written by Mark T. Hooker and published by . This book was released on 2008-07-01 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This monograph is a collection of analytic articles on J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit," written by Tolkien scholar and Comparative Translationist Mark T. Hooker, most famous, perhaps, for his application of Comparative Translation to the study of Tolkien in his book "Tolkien Through Russian Eyes". All of the articles in the book have been reviewed and revised to take into consideration the materials newly made available in "The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion.""Beyond Bree" says that there is "something here for everyone with even a passing interest in Tolkien. All of the articles are well researched, insightful, and highly informative.""Amon Hen" (September 2006) says: "Highly recommendable.""Tolkien Studies" (No. 4) says: a "pleasantly eccentric volume" . . . "Hooker has a wide variety of things to say that have not been heard before."Includes bibliographic references and index. B&W illustrations.
Download or read book Tolkien and the Study of His Sources written by Jason Fisher and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2011-09-07 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Source criticism--analysis of a writer's source material--has emerged as one of the most popular approaches in exploring the work of J.R.R. Tolkien. Since Tolkien drew from many disparate sources, an understanding of these sources, as well as how and why he incorporated them, can enhance readers' appreciation. This set of new essays by leading Tolkien scholars describes the theory and methodology for proper source criticism and provides practical demonstrations of the approach.
Download or read book The Evolution of Tolkien s Mythology written by Elizabeth A. Whittingham and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2017-06-30 with total page 377 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The History of Middle-earth traces the evolution of J.R.R. Tolkien's literary world, stories, and characters from their earliest written forms to the final revisions Tolkien penned shortly before his death in 1973. Published posthumously by Tolkien's son Christopher, the extensively detailed 12-volume work allows readers to follow the development of the texts that eventually became Tolkien's immensely popular The Hobbit, The Lord of The Rings, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales. This work provides a thorough study of Tolkien's life and influences through an analysis of The History of Middle-earth. The work begins with a brief biography and an analysis of the major influences in Tolkien's life. Following chapters deal with elements common to Tolkien's popular works, including the cosmogony, theogony, cosmology, metaphysics, and eschatology of Middle-earth. The study also reviews some of the myths with which Tolkien was most familiar--Greek, Roman, Finnish, and Norse--and reveals the often overlapping relationship between mythology, biblical stories, and Tolkien's popular works.
Download or read book Words of Westernesse written by Codex Regius and published by XinXii. This book was released on 2021-12-30 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book compiles the updated and illustrated essays on grammar and vocabulary of Adûnaic and Westron previously published on Lalaith's Middle-earth Science Pages. Lovers of J.R.R.Tolkien's invented languages have mostly disregarded the tongues spoken by the men of Númenor and Middle-earth. The known vocabulary is small in comparison to the much better documented languages of the Elves, the grammar is only rudimentary described and relationships between words are difficult to identify.Yet it is possible to enjoy J.R.R. Tolkien's creativity in the ‘lesser’ languages of Middle-earth as well. This book takes a light-hearted view on the grammar, analyses the ‘Lament of Atalantë’, the only poem Tolkien has written in the language of the sunken island of Númenor, and tries to reconstruct the development of the words used by men (and hobbits!) of Middle-earth from the Second to the Third Age under the sun. 3nd and updated edition.
Download or read book The Origins of Tolkien s Middle earth For Dummies written by Greg Harvey and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2011-04-27 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: J.R.R. Tolkien's novels of Middle-earth – The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and The Silmarillian – have become some of the most famous, and most beloved, literary works of the twentieth century. And the Lord of the Rings films by director Peter Jackson have re-ignited interest in Tolkien and his works, as well as introduced his stories to a new generation of fans. Even if you've never read the novels and have only seen the films, you know that the world of Middle-earth is a complicated one. Tolkien took great care in representing this world, from creating new languages to including very particular cultural details that add to the richness of the world's fabric. Many other books have been written about Tolkien and his works, but none have come close to providing the kind of reference needed to comprehend the world of Middle-earth. That's what veteran Dummies author and unabashed Tolkien fan Greg Harvey attempts to do in The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies. As the author says in his introduction to the book, this is not an encyclopedia or quick guide to all the diverse beings, languages, and history that make up Tolkien's Middle-earth. Nor is it a set of plot outlines for the novels. Rather, what you'll find in The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies is a basic guide to some of the possible linguistic and mythological origins of Middle-earth, plus a rudimentary analysis of its many themes and lessons for our world. This book can help enrich your reading (or re-reading) of Tolkien's novels, and it will challenge you to think about the themes inherent in Tolkien's Middle-earth and their implications in your own life. Here's just a sampling of the topics you'll find covered in The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies: Exploring the main themes in Tolkien's works, including immortality and death; the heroic quest; love; fate and free will; and faith and redemption Investigating the diverse lands of Middle-earth – including the Shire, Gondor, and Mordor – and their significance Examining the different cultures of Middle-earth, such as Hobbits, Elves, Men, and those wily Wizards Touring the history of Middle-earth Understanding Tolkien's creation of new languages to enrich the story of Middle-earth Top Ten lists on the battles in the War of the Ring, online resources, and the ways the films differ from the novels So, whether you're reading Tolkien's novels or watching the films for the first time, or you've been a fan for many years and are looking for a new take on Tolkien's works, The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies can help you enhance your reading or viewing experience for years to come.
