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[[Image:William Morris.jpg|frame|William Morris in the late 19th century]]
{{author infobox
'''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.
| image=[[Image:William Morris.jpg|250px]]
| name=William Morris
| born=[[24 March]] [[1834]]
| died=[[3 October]] [[1896]]
| education=
| occupation=Author
| location=England
| website=
}}
 
'''William Morris''' 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 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>, 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>
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>


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]])<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>{{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> It is known that Tolkien owned a copy of Morris' lecture ''Some Hints on Pattern Designing'' (1899).<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20753/lot/355/|articlename=Lot 355. Tolkien, William Morris and Exeter College|dated=12 Nov 2013|website=Bonhams|accessed=19 April 2021}}</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>[[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>.


==Bibliography, selected==
==Bibliography, selected==
 
===Fiction===
*1888: ''[[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]]''
*1889: ''[[The Roots of the Mountains]]''
*[[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]]''


==See also==
===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)


==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:Authors]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:People by name]]
[[Category:People by name]]

Revision as of 19:30, 19 April 2021

William Morris.jpg
William Morris
Biographical information
Born24 March 1834
Died3 October 1896
OccupationAuthor
LocationEngland

William Morris 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] It is known that Tolkien owned a copy of Morris' lecture Some Hints on Pattern Designing (1899).[8]

Bibliography, selected

Fiction

Translations

External links

References