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[[Image:William Morris.jpg|frame|William Morris in the late 19th century]]
'''William Morris''' ([[March 24|24 March]] 1834 – [[October 3|3 October]] [[1896]]) was an English artist and author, who wrote and published poetry, fiction, and translations of ancient and medieval texts throughout his life. [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] was influenced by both the artistic and literary work of Morris.
'''William Morris''' ([[24 March]] [[1834]] – [[3 October]] [[1896]]) was an English artist and author, who wrote and published poetry, fiction, and translations of ancient and medieval texts throughout his life. [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] was influenced by both the artistic and literary work of Morris.


==Literary influence==
==Literary influence==


Literary works by Morris, which Tolkien explicitly stated to have had an impact on his writing, are his novel ''[[The House of the Wolfings]]'' and his translation of the ''[[Völsunga Saga]]''.<ref name=CGMorris>[[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]] (2006), ''[[The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide]]: Reader's Guide'', "Morris, William", pp. 598-604</ref> Tolkien also said in an early letter to [[Edith Tolkien|Edith]] that he tried to use some of Morris's literary techniques when writing "[[The Story of Kullervo]]".<ref>{{L|1}}</ref></ref>[[Michael W. Perry]], "Morris, Williams", in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]]''</ref>
Literary works by Morris, which Tolkien explicitly stated to have had an impact on his writing, are his translation of the ''[[List of books in Tolkien's library#Völsunga Saga|Völsunga Saga]]'',<ref name=CGMorris>{{CG|RG}}, "Morris, William", pp. 598-604</ref>, and his novels ''[[The House of the Wolfings]]'' and ''[[The Roots of the Mountains]]''. Tolkien also said in an early letter to [[Edith Tolkien|Edith]] that he tried to use some of Morris's literary techniques when writing "[[The Story of Kullervo]]".<ref>{{L|1}}</ref><ref>Michael W. Perry, "Morris, Williams", in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]]''</ref>


Scholars have deduced influences from several others of Morris's works: ''The Earthly Paradise'' (for ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'')<ref name=CGMorris/>, ''The Roots of the Mountains'' (for [[Gollum]])<ref name=TS>[[Tom Shippey]], "Introduction", in ''The Wood beyond the World'' (Oxford, 1980)</ref>, ''The Wood beyond the World'' (for [[Lothlórien]] and [[Fangorn]])<ref name=TS/>, and his translation of ''The Saga of Gunnlaug the Worm-tongue'' (for [[Gríma Wormtongue]])<ref>[[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]] (HarperCollins''Publishers'' 2008), ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'', p. 400</ref>.
Furthermore, scholars have deduced possible implicit influences from these and several others of Morris's works: ''The Earthly Paradise'' (for ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''),<ref name=CGMorris/> ''The Roots of the Mountains'' (for [[Gollum]]),<ref name=TS>[[Tom Shippey]], "Introduction", in ''The Wood beyond the World'' (Oxford, 1980)</ref> ''The Wood beyond the World'' (for [[Lothlórien]] and [[Fangorn Forest|Fangorn]]),<ref name=TS/> and his translation of ''The Saga of Gunnlaug the Worm-tongue'' (for [[Gríma|Gríma Wormtongue]]).<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 400</ref>


==Artistic influence==
==Artistic influence==


In several illustrations, Tolkien was clearly inspired by the decorative style found in the [[wikipedia:Arts and Crafts Movement|Arts and Crafts Movement]] (of which Morris was the central figure and one of the founders) and the related [[wikipedia:Art Nouveau|Art Nouveau]]. The design philosophy of Morris was to re-introduce traditional craftsmanship by using simple forms and patterns and often medieval, romantic or folk styles of decoration (in reaction to early to the early modern industrial design), a theme which can be seen in some of Tolkien's illustrations from the late 1920s (see, e.g., '[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Tol Sirion (Colored by H.E. Riddett).jpg|Tol Sirion]]'), some of his paintings for ''[[The Hobbit]]'', the ornamental patterns drawn in later years,<ref>[[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]] (HarperCollins, 2004), ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator|J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist & Illustrator]]'', pp. 9-10</ref><ref name=CGMorris/> and his hand-drawn maps of [[Middle-earth]]<ref>[[Alice Campbell]], "Maps", in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]]''</ref>.
In several illustrations, Tolkien was clearly inspired by the decorative style found in the [[wikipedia:Arts and Crafts Movement|Arts and Crafts Movement]] (of which Morris was the central figure and one of the founders) and the related [[wikipedia:Art Nouveau|Art Nouveau]]. The design philosophy of Morris was to re-introduce traditional craftsmanship by using simple forms and patterns and often medieval, romantic or folk styles of decoration (in reaction to early to the early modern industrial design), a theme which can be seen in some of Tolkien's illustrations from the late 1920s (see, e.g., '[[:File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Tol Sirion (Colored by H.E. Riddett).jpg|Tol Sirion]]'), some of his paintings for ''[[The Hobbit]]'', the ornamental patterns drawn in later years,<ref>{{HM|AI}}, pp. 9-10</ref><ref name=CGMorris/> and his hand-drawn maps of [[Middle-earth]].<ref>Alice Campbell, "Maps", in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]]''</ref>


==Bibliography, selected==
==Bibliography, selected==
 
===Fiction===
*1888: ''[[A Tale of the House of the Wolfings]]''
*1867: ''[[List of books in Tolkien's library#The Life and Death of Jason|The Life and Death of Jason]]''
*[[1888]]: ''[[The House of the Wolfings]]''
*[[1889]]: ''[[The Roots of the Mountains]]''
*[[1896]]: ''[[The Well at the World's End]]''
*[[1896]]: ''[[The Well at the World's End]]''
===Translations===
*1870: [[List of books in Tolkien's library#Völsunga Saga|''Völsung Saga: The Story of the Volsungs and Niblungs, with Certain Songs from the Elder Edda'']] (with Eiríkr Magnússon)


==See also==
==External links==


*{{WP|William Morris}}
*{{WP|William Morris}}
*[http://www.crisismagazine.com/2013/william-morris-as-inspiration-for-tolkiens-literary-art William Morris as Inspiration for Tolkien’s Literary Art] by Tom Riley


{{references}}
{{references}}
{{inspirations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, William}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, William}}
[[CATEGORY:British people]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[CATEGORY:Authors]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[CATEGORY:People by name]]
[[Category:People by name]]

Revision as of 15:42, 27 June 2017

William Morris in the late 19th century

William Morris (24 March 18343 October 1896) was an English artist and author, who wrote and published poetry, fiction, and translations of ancient and medieval texts throughout his life. J.R.R. Tolkien was influenced by both the artistic and literary work of Morris.

Literary influence

Literary works by Morris, which Tolkien explicitly stated to have had an impact on his writing, are his translation of the Völsunga Saga,[1], and his novels The House of the Wolfings and The Roots of the Mountains. Tolkien also said in an early letter to Edith that he tried to use some of Morris's literary techniques when writing "The Story of Kullervo".[2][3]

Furthermore, scholars have deduced possible implicit influences from these and several others of Morris's works: The Earthly Paradise (for The Book of Lost Tales),[1] The Roots of the Mountains (for Gollum),[4] The Wood beyond the World (for Lothlórien and Fangorn),[4] and his translation of The Saga of Gunnlaug the Worm-tongue (for Gríma Wormtongue).[5]

Artistic influence

In several illustrations, Tolkien was clearly inspired by the decorative style found in the Arts and Crafts Movement (of which Morris was the central figure and one of the founders) and the related Art Nouveau. The design philosophy of Morris was to re-introduce traditional craftsmanship by using simple forms and patterns and often medieval, romantic or folk styles of decoration (in reaction to early to the early modern industrial design), a theme which can be seen in some of Tolkien's illustrations from the late 1920s (see, e.g., 'Tol Sirion'), some of his paintings for The Hobbit, the ornamental patterns drawn in later years,[6][1] and his hand-drawn maps of Middle-earth.[7]

Bibliography, selected

Fiction

Translations

External links

References