Tolkien research

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

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

Contents 1 Biography and letters 2 As a writer 3 Constructed languages 4 Literature 4.1 Books 4.2 Journals 5 External links

Biography and letters

• J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography
• The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien

As a writer

• The Lord of the Rings and the Western Narrative Tradition Martin Simonson (2008)
• Master of Middle-Earth: The Fiction of J.R.R. Tolkien Paul Kocher (1977)
• 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 1982, 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)

Constructed languages

Tolkien's constructed languages, Quenya and Sindarin, the languages of Elves, have not inspired much serious linguistic research. Constructed languages are rarely studied by linguists. Parma Eldalamberon and Vinyar Tengwar are published by the Elvish Linguistic Fellowship of the Mythopoeic Society a non-profit organization. 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. An Internet mailing list dedicated to Tolkien's languages, called tolklang, has existed since November 1, 1990.

Tolkien's Legendarium: Essays on the History of Middle-Earth, a book edited by Verlyn Flieger and Carl F. Hostetter (London: Greenwood Press, 2000), contains a number of linguistic essays on topics such as the conceptual evolution of Sindarin or "The Growth of Grammar in the Elven Tongues."

In 2003, linguist and Fantasy author Helmut W. Pesch published a comprehensive book on Tolkien's elvish languages in German. It includes etymologies and grammar of Quenya and Sindarin as well as a dictionary for both languages.

A 2009 book by linguist Elizabeth Solopova, Languages, Myth and History: An Introduction to the Linguistic and Literary Background of J. R. R. Tolkien's Fiction (New York City: North Landing Books) gives an overview of the linguistic traits of the various languages invented by Tolkien and the history of their creation.

Literature

Books

• Drout, Michael D. C., ed (2006). J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment. New York City: Routledge. ISBN 0-415969425.. 
• Flieger, Verlyn; Carl F. Hostetter, ed (2000). Tolkien's Legendarium. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-30530-7. 
• Hammond, Wayne G.; Christina Scull (2005). The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion. 
• Hammond, Wayne; Scull, Christina (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: Reader's Guide, London: HarperCollins, ISBN 0-007-14918-2 
• Pesch, Helmut W. (2003) (in German). Elbisch – Grammatik, Schrift und Wörterbuch der Elben-Sprache J.R.R. Tolkiens. Bergisch Gladbach: Bastei-Lübbe. ISBN 3-404-20476-X. 
• Shippey, Tom. The Road to Middle-earth (revised 2003 ed.). 
• Solopova, Elizabeth (2009), Languages, Myths and History: An Introduction to the Linguistic and Literary Background of J.R.R. Tolkien's Fiction, New York City: North Landing Books, ISBN 0-9816607-1-1 

Journals

• Anderson, Douglas A.; Michael D. C. Drout, Verlyn Flieger, ed. Tolkien Studies (West Virginia University Press). ISSN 1547-3155. 

External links

• The home page of the Elvish Linguistic Fellowship, which publishes the journals Parma Eldalamberon, Vinyar Tengwar, and Tengwestie, and sponsors the discussion list, Lambengolmor (discussion list launched 29 May 2002, archives at lambengolmor-l).
• The web shop for Vinyar Tengwar, which contains a list of the contents of all issues of Vinyar Tengwar published to date.
• Mellonath Daeron, the language guild of the Stockholm Tolkien Society.
• Tolkien's Linguistic Writings and Drafts by Ryszard Derdzinski
• TolkienBooks.net Chronological Book Index - a comphrensive index of Tolkien Publications
• A List of Tolkien's Unpublished and Slightly Published Manuscripts by Lisa Star (concentrates on linguistic materials.
• Tolkien Studies at the Wheaton College, Massachusetts, USA
• Proceedings of the J.R.R. Tolkien Centenary Conference 1992 (out of print, although the web page does not make mention of this)
• Publications of the Tolkien Society (UK)
• Michael Drout's home page in Wheaton College, Massachusetts, USA
• Verlyn Flieger's home page (associated with the University of Maryland, College Park, USA)
• T. A. Shippey's home page in Saint Louis University, USA
• Omentielva is a European bi-yearly conference on research into Tolkien's Languages, Sweden
• Hither Shore is the German Tolkien Society's bilingual yearbook on modern fantasy literature, specialising in Tolkien
• Tolkienian courses by The Tolkien Society.

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien Volumes The Fellowship of the Ring The Two Towers The Return of the King Production and reception Composition Themes Influences Translations Reception Fandom Study Related works The Hobbit The Adventures of Tom Bombadil The Silmarillion Unfinished Tales The History of Middle-earth The History of The Lord of the Rings Bilbo's Last Song The Children of Húrin The History of The Hobbit The Road Goes Ever On Characters Frodo Sam Merry Pippin Bilbo Gandalf Aragorn Legolas Gimli Boromir Sauron Saruman Arwen Elrond Glorfindel Galadriel Celeborn Théoden Éomer Éowyn Wormtongue Faramir Denethor Beregond Gollum Witch-king Gothmog Treebeard Tom Bombadil   Adaptations and other derivative works Radio The Lord of the Rings (1955) The Lord of the Rings (1979) The Lord of the Rings (1981) Film J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (1978) The Return of the King (1980) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) The Hunt for Gollum (2009) Born of Hope (2009) Theatre The Lord of the Rings (2006, 2007) Video games Journey to Rivendell The Hobbit (1982) Game One Game Two: Shadows of Mordor War in Middle-earth Volume I J. R. R. Tolkien's Riders of Rohan Elendor MUME Volume II The Two Towers (MUD) The Fellowship of the Ring The Two Towers The Hobbit (2003) The Return of the King War of the Ring The Third Age The Third Age (GBA) The Battle for Middle-earth Tactics The Battle for Middle-earth II (The Rise of the Witch-king) The White Council Shadows of Angmar Mines of Moria Siege of Mirkwood Rise of Isengard Conquest Aragorn's Quest War in the North Other games Middle Earth board game Lord of the Rings board game The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game Middle-earth Collectible Card Game Middle-earth Role Playing