Newest References

Fact, Interpretation and the Hard Business of Proof by darthfingon

Deciding what constitutes canon for the purpose of making fanworks relies partly on the words of the texts but also on the geographical and temporal vastness and diversity of Tolkien's world.

Published on 10 October 2010.

Not Just the Son of That Guy: Creating Effective Names for Original Characters by darthfingon

So you need an Elvish name for your OC? This article gives tips and strategies for coming up with believable names that sound good.

Published on 1 March 2010.

Elven Holidays and Festivals: What do we have to work with in the First Age? by darthfingon

A rundown of the holidays we know existed in the First Age, as well as tips on how to design your own holiday.

Published on 1 January 2010.

Everyday Elves and What They Do by darthfingon

Not every Elf was a prince or a smith. The word lists give insight into some of the more unglamorous professions available to everyday Elves.

Published on 9 November 2009.

'Sindarin' is a Quenya Word: how the clan names make Elvish more confusing by darthfingon

The clans of the Elves are almost always named in Quenya, and this month's column demystifies how various Elven people would have referred to themselves in their own languages.

Published on 1 October 2009.

Sindarin vs Quenya: RELEVANCE FIGHT! by darthfingon

So you're working on a fanfiction ... what Elvish language should you use for names and snippets of dialogue? Here is a handy guide to choosing between Quenya and Sindarin.

Published on 1 September 2009.

Elvish Fanons and Canon Contradictions by darthfingon

The early word lists provide many refutes to the most common claims of "Elves would never ..." Here are four of the most salient.

Published on 1 August 2009.

Elven Families and What They Wore by darthfingon

This column uses old word lists to tackle two questions: Did the Elvish languages provide specific terms for relatives, or is everyone just kinsman? And what are the words for various items of clothing?

Published on 1 June 2009.

Twenty-Two Words You Never Thought Tolkien Would Provide by darthfingon

Some of Tolkien's earliest word lists include terms for words that provide sometimes surprising insights into the habits and cultures of the Elves.

Published on 1 May 2009.

Answers from Old Sources: Elven Food by darthfingon

Tolkien's early Elvish word lists reveal details about what Elves ate.

Published on 1 April 2009.

Plato in Númenor by Angelica

History of the Atlantis myth that inspired Tolkien's Númenor.

Published on 1 August 2009.

"I Desired Dragons" by Angelica

History of dragons in world myth.

Published on 1 November 2009.

Beowulf in Beleriand by Angelica

Basic historical background on the Anglo-Saxon people that Tolkien studied.

Published on 1 June 2009.

Samwise Gardner's Birthday by Lindariel

A two-part series about holidays celebrated on April 6, these articles discuss canonical foods that might have been used to celebrate Sam's birthday, investigates their history, and offers recipes to try at home.

Table of Contents

Published on 1 August 2020.

Nost-na-Lothion by Lindariel

The first edition of our new column explores the Gondolindrim Festival of Flowers, its connections to the Beltane festival, and the foodways of Gondolin and possible recipes for this celebration.

Published on 1 May 2020.

Women Find a Room of Their Own in Tolkien Fanfiction by oshun

As a genre belonging almost exclusively to women, fanfiction creates a "room of their own," apart from mainstream publishing that is often hostile to women, for women authors to critically and creatively explore ideas in popular texts and, in the style of Tolkien, create new mythologies that appeal to them.

Published on 17 May 2018.

The Tolkienian War on Science by Dr. Joan Bushwell

Biochemist and long-time Tolkien fan, Doc Bushwell argues that the events and ideas expressed in Tolkien's works often demonstrate a strong disdain for science and technology.

Published on 26 April 2007.

The Textual Ghosts Project by Elleth

The Textual Ghosts Project is a list of the women who must have existed by inference, acting on the assumption that all characters (excepting the Ainur and the first-awakened Elves at Cuiviénen) must have had mothers and those with offspring also must have had wives.

Published on 12 December 2020.

Seafaring Heroes and Villains: The Role of the Sea in Tolkien's Legendarium by oshun

Tolkien's seafarers and shipbuilders explore, challenge, define, and reframe his world throughout its fictional history, and Tolkien's use of the sea and sea-longing in particular hearkens to Germanic themes of exile and longing.

Published on 17 May 2018.

Masculinity in Tolkien by Esteliel

Tolkien is often criticized for his simplistic, knight-in-shining-armor heroes. This essay argues that heroism and masculinity in Tolkien's works are not premised on this, but on love and loyalty.

Published on 19 June 2011.

The Stars That Varda Made by Kitt Otter

Varda kindled the stars and set them into patterns. Many of these stars the Professor named in Elvish, but which real-life stars was he referring to?

Published on 1 May 2009.

The Perfect Girl: An Exploration of the Hidden and Dynamic World of Fan Fiction by Nikara

An analysis of the fan fiction phenomenon of "Mary Sue" and readers' reactions to this controversial fanfic archetype.

Published on 23 April 2007.

Name Calling: Group Identity and the Other among First Age Elves by Angelica

As the names used by the early Elves to identify themselves and others evolved according the essay Quendi and Eldar (HoMe 11), relationships between the different cultures are revealed.

Published on 14 September 2007.

How to Review by JunoMagic

This comprehensive essay discusses how to write balanced and effective fiction critiques with a special emphasis on Tolkien fan fiction.

Table of Contents

Published on 31 March 2007.

Exile, Wyrd and the Anglo-Saxon Warrior Ideal in The Wanderer and Tolkien's Quenta Silmarillion by Esteliel

As a professor of Anglo-Saxon, Tolkien's stories are undeniably influenced by the literature of this early people. This essay considers how exile, fate, the warrior ideal, and masculinity in the Quenta Silmarillion were influenced by the Anglo-Saxon poem The Wanderer.

Published on 1 August 2009.