Tolkien research

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Tolkien studies redirects here. For the journal, see Tolkien Studies

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The works of J. R. R. Tolkien have generated a body of academic research, studying different facets such as

Tolkien as a writer of fantasy literature
Tolkien's invented languages

1 Biography and letters
2 As a writer
3 Invented languages
4 Literature
5 External links

[edit] Biography and letters

[edit] As a writer

Splintered Light: Logos And Language In Tolkien's World Verlyn Flieger (1st Edition 1983, Revised Edition 2002)
The Keys of Middle-earth ed. Stuart D. Lee & Elizabeth Solopova (2005)
The Road to Middle-earth T. A. Shippey (1st Edition 1993, Revised and Expanded Edition 2003)
J. R. R. Tolkien: Author of the Century T. A. Shippey (2000)
Tolkien in the Land of Heroes : Discovering the Human Spirit ed. Anne C. Petty, J. Stein
Tolkien's Legendarium: Essays on The History of Middle Earth ed. Verlyn Flieger and Carl F. Hostetter (2000)
Tolkien Studies ed. Douglas A. Anderson, Michael D. C. Drout and Verlyn Flieger vols. 1-4 (2004-2007)

[edit] Invented languages

Further information: Languages of Middle-earth

Tolkien's invented languages, especially Quenya and Sindarin, the languages of Elves, have inspired extensive linguistic research in the form of academic newsletters and journals, such as Parma Eldalamberon and Vinyar Tengwar, published by the Elvish Linguistic Fellowship. These publications have published and discussed text fragments, notes, and essays by Tolkien that haven't been published elsewhere.

1989 Plotz Quenya Declensions (written 1966/1967) Beyond Bree newsletter, VT 6, p. 14
1991 Koivieneni Sentence (written ca. 1937) VT 14, p. 5–20, Mythlore 17, p. 23-30.
1992 New Tengwar Inscription (written ca. 1954) VT 21, p. 6
1992 Liège Tengwar Inscription (written 1954) VT 23, p. 16
1993 Two Trees Sentence (written ca. 1937) VT 27, p. 7–42
1993 Koivieneni Manuscript (written ca. 1937) VT 27, p. 7–42
1993 Bodleian Declensions (written ca. 1936) VT 28, p. 9–30
1994 The Entu Declension (written ca. 1924–1929) VT 36, p. 8–29
1995 Gnomish Lexicon (written ca. 1917) PE 11
1995 Rúmilian Document (written 1919) VT 37, p. 15–23
1998 Qenya Lexicon (written ca. 1915) PE 12
1998 Osanwe-kenta, Enquiry into the communication of thought (ed. Hostetter, composed in 1960) VT 39
1999 Narqelion (written 1915/1916) VT 12, p. 16–17, VT 40, p. 5–32

2000 Qenya Grammar Fragment (ca. 1924–1929) Elfling mailing list, digest nr. 34
2000 Etymological Notes — Osanwe-kenta (written 1959–1960) VT 41, p. 5–6
2000 From The Shibboleth of Fëanor (written ca. 1968) VT 41, p. 7–10 (A part of the Shibboleth of Fëanor was published in The Peoples of Middle-earth, p. 331–366)
2000 Notes on Óre (written ca. 1968) VT 41, p. 11–19
2000 Quenya Dedication (written 1968) Elfling mailing list, 11 May.
2000 Merin Sentence (written ca. 1937) TT 14, p. 32–35
2001 The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor (written 1967–1969) VT 42, p. 5–31 (Referred to in Unfinished Tales.)
2001 Essay on negation in Quenya (written ca. 1970) VT 42, p. 33–34
2001 Goldogrim Pronominal Prefixes (written ca. 1917) PE 13 p. 97
2001 Early Noldorin Grammar (written ca. 1920–1925) PE 13, p. 119–132
2001 Comparison of Adjectives (written after 1915) TT 16, p. 23–28
2002 Elvish translations of Catholic prayers (ed. Wynne, Smith, Hostetter), composed in the 1950s:

Ataremma versions (Quenya Pater Noster) versions I-VI, VT 43, 4–26, TT 18
Aia María (Quenya Ave Maria) versions I–IV, VT 43, 26–36, TT 18
Litany of Loreto in Quenya, VT 44, p. 11–20
Ortírielyanna (Quenya Sub tuum praesidium) VT 4, p. 5–11
Alcar i Ataren (Quenya Gloria Patri) VT 43, p. 36–38
Alcar mi tarmenel na Erun (Quenya Gloria in Excelsis Deo) VT 44, p. 31–38
Ae Adar Nín (Sindarin Pater Noster) VT 44, p. 21–30

2003 Early Qenya Fragments, edited Wynne and Gilson, PE 14
2003 Early Qenya Grammar, ed. Hostetter and Welden, PE 14
2003 "The Valmaric Scripts", ed. Smith, PE 14
2004 "Sí Qente Feanor and Other Elvish Writings", ed. Smith, Gilson, Wynne, and Welden, PE15
2006 "Pre-Fëanorian Alphabets", Part 1, ed. Smith, PE16
2006 "Early Elvish Poetry: Oilima Markirya, Nieninqe and Earendel", ed. Gilson, Welden, and Hostetter, PE16
2006 "Early Elvish Poetry: Oilima Markirya, Nieninqe and Earendel", ed. Gilson, Welden, and Hostetter, PE16
2006 "Qenya Declensions", "Qenya Conjugations", "Qenya Word-lists", ed. Gilson, Hostetter, Wynne, PE 16

The Vinyar Tengwar and Parma Eldalamberon material published at in increasing rate during the early 2000s is from the stock of linguistic material in the possession of the appointed team of editors (some 3000 pages according to them), consisting of photocopies sent them by Christopher Tolkien and notes taken in the Bodleian library around 1992. There is a mailing list called Tolklang which is dedicated to the languages of J. R. R. Tolkien. It was started on November 1, 1990.