The Evolution of Tolkien's Mythology: A Study of the History of Middle-earth

by Elizabeth A. Whittingham, Donald E. Palumbo (Editor), C.W. Sullivan III (Editor)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476611747
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	06/30/2017
Series:	Critical Explorations in Science Fiction and Fantasy , #7
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	232
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Elizabeth A. Whittingham teaches in the English department at SUNY College at Brockport in Brockport, New York.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii
Abbreviations xi
Preface 1
Introduction 5

1. Influences in Tolkien’s Life 13
2. Tolkien’s Mythology of Creation 37
3. Tolkien’s Mythology of Divine Beings 64
4. The Physical World of Middle-earth and of Eä 100
5. Death and Immortality among Elves and Men 123
6. The Last Days of Middle-earth 170
7. The Final Victory 192
Works Consulted 201
Index 205