1. Tolkien Thomas Honegger t.m.honegger@gmx.de

2. http://www. db-thueringen.de/ content/top/ index.xml www. db-thueringen.de/www. db-thueringen.de/

3. J.R.R. Tolkien

4. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien Tolkien the Philologist/Medievalist Tolkien the Philologist/Medievalist Tolkien the Catholic Tolkien the Catholic Tolkien the Poet and Storyteller Tolkien the Poet and Storyteller Tolkien the Artist and Illustrator Tolkien the Artist and Illustrator Tolkien the Family Man Tolkien the Family Man Tolkien the Soldier Tolkien the Soldier Tolkien the Icon of Popular Culture Tolkien the Icon of Popular Culture etc. etc.

5. Why a biographical approach? the traditional literary critical tool-kit seems inadequate for dealing with Tolkien’s work the traditional literary critical tool-kit seems inadequate for dealing with Tolkien’s work Tolkien’s literary works are ‘by- products’ of his passion for languages Tolkien’s literary works are ‘by- products’ of his passion for languages Tolkien did not see himself as an author of fiction Tolkien did not see himself as an author of fiction Tolkien’s primary motivation for writing was personal pleasure (and that of his children and friends) Tolkien’s primary motivation for writing was personal pleasure (and that of his children and friends)

6. Main Works of Fiction The Hobbit (1937) The Hobbit (1937) The Lord of the Rings (1954-55) The Lord of the Rings (1954-55) The Silmarillion (1977) The Silmarillion (1977)

7. Main Works of Tolkien Criticism J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter (1977) J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter (1977) The Road to Middle-earth by Tom A. Shippey (1992, 3rd edition 2003) The Road to Middle-earth by Tom A. Shippey (1992, 3rd edition 2003)

8. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien Born 3 January 1892 in Bloemfontein (Orange Free State, South Africa) Born 3 January 1892 in Bloemfontein (Orange Free State, South Africa) Dies 2 September 1973 in Bournmouth (GB) Dies 2 September 1973 in Bournmouth (GB)

10. The Tolkien Brothers (John Ronald & Hilary *1894)

11. Tolkien’s Childhood born 1892 in Bloemfontein born 1892 in Bloemfontein return to England in Spring 1895; father Arthur remains in South Africa return to England in Spring 1895; father Arthur remains in South Africa 1896 Arthur Tolkien dies 1896 Arthur Tolkien dies 1896-1900: Sarehole Mill (Birmingham) 1896-1900: Sarehole Mill (Birmingham)

12. Early Influences being bitten by a tarantula in SA being bitten by a tarantula in SA Mabel Tolkien (neé Suffield) knows Latin, French, German and could paint, draw, and play the piano. Mabel Tolkien (neé Suffield) knows Latin, French, German and could paint, draw, and play the piano. gamgee-tissue = a surgical tissue made from cotton wool (ater Dr Gamgee) gamgee-tissue = a surgical tissue made from cotton wool (ater Dr Gamgee) reads Andrew Lang’s Fairy Tale Books: story of Sigurd who slew the dragon Fafnir reads Andrew Lang’s Fairy Tale Books: story of Sigurd who slew the dragon Fafnir

15. Early Influences 2 being chased by a farmer for picking mushrooms being chased by a farmer for picking mushrooms Atlantis dream: a great wave towering up and advancing ineluctably over the trees and green fields => drowning of Númenor Atlantis dream: a great wave towering up and advancing ineluctably over the trees and green fields => drowning of Númenor the unspoilt and pre-industrial landscape of Sarehole Mill => partial inspiration for The Shire the unspoilt and pre-industrial landscape of Sarehole Mill => partial inspiration for The Shire

16. The Idyll of Sarehole Mill

17. Early Influences 3 1900 Mabel Tolkien is received into the Catholic Church. 1900 Mabel Tolkien is received into the Catholic Church. Moving house to Moseley, a Birmingham suburb. Moving house to Moseley, a Birmingham suburb. Ronald begins to attend King Edward’s School Ronald begins to attend King Edward’s School 1901 Move to King’s Heath. Names on coal-trucks: Natyglo, Senghenydd, Blaen-Rhondda => Ronald discovers Welsh 1901 Move to King’s Heath. Names on coal-trucks: Natyglo, Senghenydd, Blaen-Rhondda => Ronald discovers Welsh

18. Early Influences 4 1902 Move to Edgbaston 1902 Move to Edgbaston St. Philip’s Grammar School St. Philip’s Grammar School Birmingham Oratory; friendship with Father Francis Xavier Morgan Birmingham Oratory; friendship with Father Francis Xavier Morgan 1903 Ronald back to King Edward’s School => Greek, Shakespeare (Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill), Chaucer (Middle English) 1903 Ronald back to King Edward’s School => Greek, Shakespeare (Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill), Chaucer (Middle English)

19. Father Francis Morgan

20. Early Influences 5 1904 Mabel Tolkien is discovered to have diabetes; dies aged 34 => Ronald and Hilary left full orphans 1904 Mabel Tolkien is discovered to have diabetes; dies aged 34 => Ronald and Hilary left full orphans 1905 the boys move to their Aunt Beatrice’s house. Father Francis Morgan is their guardian. 1905 the boys move to their Aunt Beatrice’s house. Father Francis Morgan is their guardian. teachers: Robert Cary Gilson & medievalist Brewerton teachers: Robert Cary Gilson & medievalist Brewerton

21. Early Influences 6 Old English (Anglo-Saxon) and Old Norse Old English (Anglo-Saxon) and Old Norse Gothic Gothic

23. Gothic BAGME BLOMA BAGME BLOMA Brunaim bairiπ Bairka bogum laubans liubans liudanei, gilwagroni, glitmunjandei, fagrafahsa, liπulinπi, fraujinodei fairguni. Brunaim bairiπ Bairka bogum laubans liubans liudanei, gilwagroni, glitmunjandei, fagrafahsa, liπulinπi, fraujinodei fairguni.

24. Gothic FLOWER OF THE TREES FLOWER OF THE TREES The birch bears fine leaves on shining boughs, it grows pale green and glittering, the flower of the trees in bloom, fair-haired and supple-limbed, the ruler of the mountain. The birch bears fine leaves on shining boughs, it grows pale green and glittering, the flower of the trees in bloom, fair-haired and supple-limbed, the ruler of the mountain.

26. Early Influences 7 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and other Middle English poems Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and other Middle English poems

27. Early Influences 8 1908 Tolkien brothers move to Mrs Faulkner’s house. Ronald meets Edith Bratt. 1908 Tolkien brothers move to Mrs Faulkner’s house. Ronald meets Edith Bratt.

28. Edith Bratt (*1889)

29. Edith Bratt (c. 1916)

30. Influences 9 1909 Ronald and Edith decided that they were in love. 1909 Ronald and Edith decided that they were in love. Autumn 1909: romance discovered by Father Francis Morgan. Further contact forbidden. They continue to see each other in secret. Autumn 1909: romance discovered by Father Francis Morgan. Further contact forbidden. They continue to see each other in secret. Ronald fails to attain a scholarship for Oxford Ronald fails to attain a scholarship for Oxford

31. Father Francis Morgan

32. Influences 10 1910 Ronald and Hilary move to new lodgings. Secret meetings discovered. Ban on all contact. 1910 Ronald and Hilary move to new lodgings. Secret meetings discovered. Ban on all contact. Edith Bratt moves to Cheltenham. Edith Bratt moves to Cheltenham. December: Ronald wins scholarship at Exeter College, Oxford. December: Ronald wins scholarship at Exeter College, Oxford.

33. J.R.R. Tolkien 1911

36. Ronald and Edith 1910 - 3 January 1913: Tolkien respects Father Francis ban on all communication with Edith. 1910 - 3 January 1913: Tolkien respects Father Francis ban on all communication with Edith. 3 January 1913: Ronald writes to Edith and asks her to marry him. 3 January 1913: Ronald writes to Edith and asks her to marry him. 1914 Ronald and Edith engaged. 1914 Ronald and Edith engaged. 1916 22 March Ronald and Edith are married. 1916 22 March Ronald and Edith are married.

42. Device of Luthien

43. Device of Beren

44. Device of Melian

45. Device of Thingol

46. Ronald & Edith / Beren & Luthien (Silmarillion) age-difference (Ronald 16, Edith 19) difference in religion difference in social background age-difference (Ronald 16, Edith 19) difference in religion difference in social background father figure (Father Francis) opposed to union father figure (Father Francis) opposed to union separation separation ‘task’ to achieve ‘task’ to achieve age/racial difference (Beren mortal human, Luthien immortal elf) father (Thingol) opposed to union separation task to achieve

47. Another ‘Patient’ Couple

48. Influences 11 1911 T.C.B.S. (Tea Club Barrovian Society < friends who meet at Barrow’s Stores) 1911 T.C.B.S. (Tea Club Barrovian Society < friends who meet at Barrow’s Stores) Visit to Switzerland => Redhorn Pass Visit to Switzerland => Redhorn Pass

50. Tolkien at Oxford 1 Autumn 1911-Summer 1915 Autumn 1911-Summer 1915 reads Classics, later switches to Germanic languages (Honours School of English Language and Literature) reads Classics, later switches to Germanic languages (Honours School of English Language and Literature) extensive ‘club’ life extensive ‘club’ life The Battle of the Eastern Field The Battle of the Eastern Field Summer 1912: trains with a cavalry regiment => Tolkien was a good horseman Summer 1912: trains with a cavalry regiment => Tolkien was a good horseman

51. Tolkien at Oxford 2 philology (Joe Wright) philology (Joe Wright) linguistic aesthetics cellar door linguistic aesthetics cellar door ancient texts, words and languages windows into the past ancient texts, words and languages windows into the past abandons neo-Gothic abandons neo-Gothic develops a new language based largely on Finnish ???? develops a new language based largely on Finnish ???? => origins of Quenya => origins of Quenya

52. Tolkien at Oxford 3 1912 discovers the Kalevala 1912 discovers the Kalevala 1913 reads the Edda 1913 reads the Edda 1914 reads William Morris House of the Wolfings => archaic language 1914 reads William Morris House of the Wolfings => archaic language develops his skills as painter develops his skills as painter

58. Tolkien at Oxford 4 Summer 1915: he is awarded First Class Honours in his final examination => could be confident to get an academic post after war Summer 1915: he is awarded First Class Honours in his final examination => could be confident to get an academic post after war

59. Tolkien the Soldier (1915-18)

60. War and Middle-earth 1 Summer 1915: Tolkien is commissioned to the Lancashire Fusiliers, he begins training in Bedford and Staffordshire Summer 1915: Tolkien is commissioned to the Lancashire Fusiliers, he begins training in Bedford and Staffordshire publication of the poem Goblin Feet publication of the poem Goblin Feet

61. Goblin Feet (1915) I am off down the road Where the fairy lanterns glowed And where the little pretty flittermice are flying: A slender band of grey It runs creepily away And the hedges and the grasses are a-sighing. I am off down the road Where the fairy lanterns glowed And where the little pretty flittermice are flying: A slender band of grey It runs creepily away And the hedges and the grasses are a-sighing.

62. Goblin Feet (1915) The air is full of wings, And of blunderning beetle-things That warn you with their whirring and their humming. O! I hear the tiny horns Of enchanted leprechauns And the padding feet of many gnomes a-coming! […] The air is full of wings, And of blunderning beetle-things That warn you with their whirring and their humming. O! I hear the tiny horns Of enchanted leprechauns And the padding feet of many gnomes a-coming! […]

63. War and Middle-earth 2 Ai lintulinda Lasselanta Pilingeve suyer nalla ganta Kuluvi ya karnevalinar V’ematte singi Eldamar. (November 1915/ March 1916)

64. War and Middle-earth 3 June 1916: Tolkien at the Somme; serves as Battalion Signalling Officer June 1916: Tolkien at the Somme; serves as Battalion Signalling Officer November 1916: Tolkien back in England suffering from ‘trench fever’ November 1916: Tolkien back in England suffering from ‘trench fever’

65. War and Middle-earth 4 January & February 1917: begins to write The Book of Lost Tales while convalescing January & February 1917: begins to write The Book of Lost Tales while convalescing Earendil the Mariner < Eala Earendel engla beorhtast ofer middangeard monnum sended (Christ I, l. 104f) Earendil the Mariner < Eala Earendel engla beorhtast ofer middangeard monnum sended (Christ I, l. 104f)