The Hobbit and Tolkien's Mythology
| The Hobbit and Tolkien's Mythology Essays on Revisions and Influences | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Editor | Bradford Lee Eden |
| Illustrator | Tom Loback (cover art) |
| Publisher | McFarland |
| Released | 30 October 2014 |
| Format | Paperback |
| Pages | 244 |
| ISBN | 978-0-7864-7960-3 |
The Hobbit and Tolkien's Mythology: Essays on Revisions and Influences is a collection of essays edited by Bradford Lee Eden examining how The Hobbit fits into - and influenced - J.R.R. Tolkien's wider legendarium. It features contributions from John D. Rateliff and Verlyn Flieger, amongst others.
Contents[edit | edit source]
- "Introduction" by Bradford Lee Eden
- Part I - The Evolution of the Dwarven Race
- "Anchoring the Myth: The Impact of The Hobbit on Tolkien's Legendarium" by John D. Rateliff
- "From Nauglath to Durin's Folk: The Hobbit and Tolkien's Dwarves" by Gerard Hynes
- Part II - Durin's Day
- "'It passes our skill in these days': Primary World Influences on the Evolution of Durin's Day" by Kristine Larsen
- "A Scientific Examination of Durin's Day" by Sumner Gary Hunnewell
- Part III - Themes
- "Tolkien's French Connection" by Verlyn Flieger
- "Tolkien’s Hybrid Mythology: The Hobbit as Old Norse 'Fairy-Story'" by Jane Chance
- "From 'The Silmarillion' to The Hobbit and Back Again: An Onomastic Foray" by Damien Bador
- "Civilized Goblins and Talking Animals: How The Hobbit Created Problems of Sentience for Tolkien" by Gregory Hartley
- "Seeing in the Dark, Seeing by the Dark: How Bilbo's Invisibility Defined Tolkien’s Vision" by Michael A. Wodzak
- "A Victorian in Valhalla: Bilbo Baggins as the Link Between England and Middle-earth" by William Christian Klarner
- "Beorn and Bombadil: Mythology, Place and Landscape in Middle-earth" by Justin T. Noetzel
- "Travel, Redemption and Peacemaking: Hobbits, Dwarves and Elves and the Transformative Power of Pilgrimage" by Vickie L. Holtz-Wodzak
- "A Baggins Back Yard: Environmentalism, Authorship and the Elves in Tolkien's Legendarium" by David Thiessen
- "Polytemporalith and Epic Characterization in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Reflecting The Lord of the Rings's Modernism and Medievalism" by Judy Ann Ford and Robin Anne Reid
- "The Wisdom of the Crowd: Internet Memes and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" by Michelle Markey Butler
From the publisher[edit | edit source]
At the 2013 "Celebrating The Hobbit" conference at Valparaiso University - marking the 75th anniversary of the book's publication and the first installment of Peter Jackson's Hobbit movies - two plenary papers were presented: "Anchoring the Myth: The Impact of The Hobbit on Tolkien's Legendarium" by John D. Rateliff provided numerous examples of The Hobbit's influence on Tolkien's legendarium; and "Tolkien's French connections” by Verlyn Flieger discussed French influences on the development of Bilbo Baggins and his adventures. In discussions with the plenary speakers and other presenters, it became apparent that a book focusing on how The Hobbit influenced the subsequent development of Tolkien's legendarium; was sorely needed.
This collection of essays fills that need. With Rateliff's and Flieger's papers included, the book presents two chapters on the Evolution of the Dwarven Race, two chapters on Durin's Day examining the Dwarven lunar calendar, and 11 chapters on themes exploring various topics on influences and revisions between The Hobbit.
