Tolkien's tribute to England and its roots in Beowulf
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Karen Knudson
Project Type
Honors Program project
Scholarship Domain(s)
Scholarship of Discovery
Presentation Type
Presentation
Abstract
This article endeavors to explore the connections between J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and its predecessor, the famous medieval text Beowulf. Though Tolkien seldom talked about his own use of Beowulf, his fascination with the text is obvious in his writings and lectures. Thus, this research article uses his own writings as well as the scholarly writings of others to explore his integration of tropes and themes from Beowulf. A case is simultaneously made for the impact that the integration of Beowulf has on Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Arguably, Tolkien’s utilization of medieval stories helps to root his own fiction in the very foundations of English culture. This research article attempts to reveal the ways in which Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, through its use of Beowulf, has become a tribute to the culture and history of the country of England.
Permission Type
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Tolkien's tribute to England and its roots in Beowulf
Reed 330
This article endeavors to explore the connections between J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and its predecessor, the famous medieval text Beowulf. Though Tolkien seldom talked about his own use of Beowulf, his fascination with the text is obvious in his writings and lectures. Thus, this research article uses his own writings as well as the scholarly writings of others to explore his integration of tropes and themes from Beowulf. A case is simultaneously made for the impact that the integration of Beowulf has on Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Arguably, Tolkien’s utilization of medieval stories helps to root his own fiction in the very foundations of English culture. This research article attempts to reveal the ways in which Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, through its use of Beowulf, has become a tribute to the culture and history of the country of England.