Perilous Realms: Celtic And Norse in Tolkien's Middle-Earth

Book Description

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) is increasingly recognized as the most influential writer of the twentieth century. Sales of his books remain exceptionally high, and Middle-earth fan clubs flourish around the world. The massive success of the film versions made of The Lord of the Rings, and released between 2001 and 2003, have only added to his popularity.

Throughout his life, Tolkien was acutely aware of the power of myth in shaping society; so much so, that one of his earliest ambitions as a writer was to create a mythology for England. The Middle-earth of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit was to serve as a stand-in for Britain and North-western Europe and is strongly based on a variety of influential literatures and beliefs, particularly the Celtic and Norse. Perilous Realms is the first book to focus consistently on the ways in which Tolkien balances these two ancient cultures and unites them in a single literature. Renowned Tolkien scholar Marjorie Burns also investigates the ways Tolkien reconciled other oppositions, including paganism and Christianity, good and evil, home and wayside, war and peace, embellishment and simplicity, hierarchy and the common man.

Even those who do not know Beowulf or the Arthurian tales or northern European mythology come away from The Lord of the Rings with a feeling for Britain's historical and literary past. Those who recognize the sources behind Tolkien - and the skill with which he combines these sources - gain far more. Perilous Realms gives this advantage to all readers and provides new discoveries, including material from obscure, little-known Celtic texts and a likely new source for the name `hobbit.' It is truly essential reading for Tolkien fans.

Customer Reviews:

HIGHLY recommended book - PERILOUS REALMS.......2007-07-31

Here's a book any serious reader of Tolkien ought to read. What Burns does better than other critics is to show how Tolkien has a double way of looking at things. Her main topic is how Tolkien combines Norse and Celtic mythology in his fiction to make a mythology for England, but Burns also show how Tolkien maintains a balance between several other beliefs or viewpoints: war and peace, high ranking people and humble Hobbits, or the attractions of home and the appeal of the road.

Two chapters I particularly liked are "Iceland and Middle-earth" and "Eating, Devouring and Sacrifice." The first is an original study of how William Morris influenced Tolkien, especially in The Hobbit. The second shows how Tolkien uses the metaphor of eating throughout his fiction.

I do not understand how the other reader/critic of this book could possibly construe any PERILOUS REALMS as a rehash. They must not have read the same book. I found this book to be full of new information, new connections.

I HIGHLY recommend this book.

Rehash.......2007-04-26

If you know don't know anything about Norse or Celtic literature, then do not bother to read this book, because you have heard or can deduce nearly everything that this book contains.

I picked it up when trying to write a paper about Tolkien and Norse literature, and it basically says everything other earlier critics (Jane Chance, Tom Shippey, Heather O'Donahue, to name but a few) have written before. I must say that Tolkien's ties to Celtic literature in particular are tenuous, if just because there aren't many surviving Celtic poems/stories. The Norse connections are obvious ones like Gandalf = Odinn, which any student of medieval literature knows (or should know).

Again, if you do not know the difference between Grendel and Garm, then you will like this book. If you do, don't bother reading it.

WITHOUT APOLOGY.......2006-05-19

One of the finest characteristics of Tolkien's work is that it is easily as enjoyable to think about as it is to read. And despite the completeness, volume and excruciating detail of his literature, his work in particular exhibits a singular ability to create the desire for even more among his readers. Given the depth and range of Tolkien's legendarium connections and inferences fly in all directions and the concentration required in tracking them down and relating them to the work is obviously why they call it Tolkien Scholarship. Consequently, there is almost no shortage of books, critical and scholarly works available to those interested in making the kind of connections capable of greatly expanding their appreciation and comprehension of Middle-earth, its sources, intricacies, meaning, philosophy, structure and context. And "Perilous Realms" is one of the finest.

Marjorie Burns has accomplished something a bit rare for readers of Tolkien. This is a book that remains inviting and accessible without sacrificing any intellectual weight. Her focus on linking narrative sources of "The Silmarillion", "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" to Celtic and Norse mythologies does not narrow the field -- this approach proves more than adequate to the task of bringing the vastness of her subject within reach.

But there remains a nagging sense of Apologia, especially in her chapter on the technique Tolkien uses to add dimension to his principal characters. Here, as with the work of Shippey and others, the reader can't help but get the sense that there's some element geared at the appeasement of mainstream literature and literary critics who so often dismiss Tolkien's work, in many cases unread. Burns' critical insights are strong enough without the seemingly obligatory nod to those literati who choose, simply on the basis of their personal preference, to remain blind and deaf to Tolkien. Such critics' denial of the worth of this work isn't based on literary criteria anyway. So it's safe to assume they'll remain unswayed, whether they become aware of the intricacy and depth of these works or not. With or without them, Tolkien's work is hardly short of either advocates or legitimacy.

That said, Burns' language remains concise, her presentation remains linear even through the often less-than-linear ambles that make much of Tolkien so compelling. Her writing favors clarity over the overtly technical. And, perhaps most importantly, her insights actually highly original, their exposition extremely convincing. This book complements and informs the content of many other works on Tolkien rather than merely burnishing already familiar ideas. Her ability to illuminate both the far-reaching and fundamental concepts within the literature makes this one of the most enjoyable and informative critical books you'll read on Tolkien's work.

Excellent book! A must read for Tolkien fans!.......2006-01-11

Much of the mythology that Tolkien created for England, in his novels, comes from the two backgrounds of Celtic and Norse. Burns' Perilous Realms, the first book of its kind, studies the ways in which the Norse and the Celtic influenced Tolkien's writings - a heck of a lot, mind you. Additionally, Burns brings together and discusses the many dualities that Tolkien shifted back and forth from throughout his novels (peace and war, pagan and Christianity, home and road, among a great many others). After reading this book, I appreciated the Lord of the Rings author all the more. And, in turn, reading this book made me really appreciate Burns as an author with her detailed, scholarly, yet friendly approach in Perilous Realms. I enthusiastically recommend this book. It's an essential read for any Tolkien fan. Fascinating and highly informative.

Average customer rating:

this is a great little book
Great Expectations, Low Linquistics!
The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-Earth
A student of the Elven
According to a friend

The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-Earth
Ruth S. Noel , and J.R.R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0395291305

Book Description

This is the book on all of Tolkien's invented languages, spoken by hobbits, elves, and men of Middle-earth -- a dicitonary of fourteen languages, an English-Elvish glossary, all the runes and alphabets, and material on Tolkien the linguist.

Customer Reviews:

this is a great little book.......2007-07-22

even though this book is now said to be obsolete.. i still enjoy using it to write little notes in tolkiens lanquages. i used this book to translate a tolkien passage into a tattoo. its worth it considering you can get it for like four dollars. it has the basic descriptions of the languages.

Great Expectations, Low Linquistics!.......2007-06-05

Well written and accurate, but is NOT 14 concise dictionaries.

It is a map of runes & symbols, and quite lame with a singular dictionary not of all 14 languages - but simply all [foreign] words from Tolkien's books (before Christopher went in-depth). Truely disappointing!

Now that I am bored to tears, I will be translating the New Testament into Quenya. :)

The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-Earth.......2007-01-10

Well written. It should continue to be a good reference book.

A student of the Elven.......2006-05-06

I've been using this book for years. It is well worth the purchase for anyone interested in a book on Tolkien's Languages, particularly Elven.

According to a friend.......2006-03-04

I gave this to a friend as a birthday gift, and she said she loved it. It was awesome and helped her out immencely. It will be a great read if you're wanting to learn Elvish and other languages!

An Introduction to Elvish, Other Tongues, Proper Names and Writing Systems of the Third Age of the Western Lands of Middle-Earth as Set Forth in the Published Writings of Professor John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Average customer rating:

Originally good, now outdated
Non-Tolkien scholars or non-linguists need not apply!
has dated badly, but still the best available

An Introduction to Elvish, Other Tongues, Proper Names and Writing Systems of the Third Age of the Western Lands of Middle-Earth as Set Forth in the Published Writings of Professor John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Manufacturer: Bran's Head Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0905220102

Customer Reviews:

Originally good, now outdated.......2002-05-12

I don't really know how many stars to give this book. When it was originally published, it would have deserved four or five stars. Now, to be frank, it only deserves one star if you are interested in Tolkien's languages as such. Well, let's make it two stars, shall we?
When this book appeared in the late seventies, it was about as good as it could be. The authors were competent and tried to analyze the entire available corpus. However, TONS of new material about Tolkien's languages would be published in the eighties and the nineties. Why, this book even predates the Silmarillion!
The real revolution in Tolkienian linguistics occurred in 1987, about a decade after _Introduction_ was published. Then Christopher Tolkien published the all-important source document "The Etymologies", his late father's main listing of Elvish vocabulary, in the History of Middle-earth book _The Lost Road_. Almost every analysis of Tolkien's languages predating this publication was rendered instantly obsolete.However good and plausible the theories set out in _Introduction_ were when this book first appeared, almost everything has now been obsoleted. Even in the cases where the theories actually turned out to be correct, a present-day student would want to know that this info is indeed "Tolkien fact" and not post-Tolkien speculation. At least 80 % of what we now know about Tolkien's invented languages was quite unknown when _Introduction_ was written and published. I maintain a Tolkien-linguistic web-site, Ardalambion, attempting to present more up-to-date analyses. But even now, very much of Tolkien's linguistic material remains unpublished, and it will probably be decades before all the sources are available and any "definite" presentation of Tolkien's languages can be attempted. I, for one, would be very hesitant to publish anything on paper in the meantime.
Just about the only part of _Introduction_ that has not been hopelessly outdated is the discussion of the two main writing systems, the Tengwar and the Cirth. Yet the info in this section is merely a rather more readable presentation of the very dense descriptions provided by Tolkien in Appendix E of the _Lord of the Rings_ itself. Even this section of _Introduction_ is no longer a "complete" discussion, since much material about yet another Elvish writing system -- the Sarati of Rúmil -- was published only this year (2002).

Non-Tolkien scholars or non-linguists need not apply!.......1998-11-02

this text is very interesting. it covers the linguistics of the languages of tolkien very well, and is trade-paper published. i like it a lot. however, as the other reviewer pointed out, it predates silmarillion and needs to be updated drastically.

has dated badly, but still the best available.......1998-05-04

Not for the general reader, this is a collection of essays written by American linguists on the languages of Middle-earth and their history, as can be deuced from TLOTR. It's often degree-level stuff and will go right over the head of anyone without a keen interest in philology. Although it's truly astounding how much detail is uncovered and the standard of scholarship is always rigorous (even despite the odd nutter insisting that TLOTR is actual, literal history), it predates the Silmarillion and all the subsequent books so an update or a new work is desperately needed. Anyone?

El Hobbit: The Hobbit (El Hobbit)(3rd Edition)/ Spanish Edition

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El Hobbit: The Hobbit (El Hobbit)(3rd Edition)/ Spanish Edition
J. R. R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Public Square Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1594970718

Book Description

The enchanting prelude to The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit is the story of Bilbo Baggins, a quiet and contented hobbit whose life is turned upside down when he joins the wizard Gandalf and thirteen dwarves on their quest to reclaim stolen treasure. It is a journey fraught with danger and in the end it is Bilbo Baggins alone who must face the guardian of this treasure, the most dreaded dragon in all Middle-earth. A flawless masterpiece --Times of London One of the best children's stories of this century --New York Times Book Review

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The languages of Middle-Earth
Ruth S Noel
Manufacturer: Mirage Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 0883580217

Literary Companion Series - J.R.R. Tolkein (paperback edition) (Literary Companion Series)

Average customer rating:

A compilation of old, mediocre articles & excerpts
Good but not very current

Literary Companion Series - J.R.R. Tolkein (paperback edition) (Literary Companion Series)

Manufacturer: Greenhaven Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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Book Description

Noted critics explore Tolkein's heroic epics, including The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Considered masterpieces of the fantasy genre, Tolkein's stories center around creatures that inhabit the world of Middle Earth and their struggles with the forces around them.

Customer Reviews:

A compilation of old, mediocre articles & excerpts.......2001-12-27

Like Harold Bloom's "Lord of the Rings: Modern Critical Perspectives", De Koster's "Readings on J.R.R. Tolkien" is a compilation of previously printed articles and book excerpts about Tolkien-- and about Lord of the Rings (LotR) in particular. Also like Bloom's book, it's nothing to get excited about. Most of its contents are old and whiskered, filled with passe comments and observations. A few articles are a half-century old book reviews written when LotR first appeared. Many of the older articles (like Auden's and Wilson's) have also been reprinted many, many times before in other compilations. (Strangely, though, a lot of the older articles have had their names changed from the original...)

There are also articles here that were penned more recently... mostly from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, but, to be perfectly honest, only a few of these are genuinely insightful... and many of those insights are, in fact, based on critical methods that are no longer current (e.g. psychoanalytical readings). Only one article was written in the 90s, a defense of Tolkien against charges of racism, taken straight from Patrick "Defending Middle-Earth" by Patrick Curry. Curry's defense is passionate and polemical, but he's preaching to the choir on this point, and this excerpted article is not a particularly good example of Tolkien scholarship in the past decade.

On the whole, it's tough to see what value this book has for either a Tolkien fan or scholar. So much of its content is outdated, and a lot of it just isn't all that substantive to begin with. Moreover, the fact is that all of the stuff included here can easily be found (in full, not excerpted) in any good public library or half-decent research library, and de Koster doesn't really add anything in the way of editorial comment or organization to make this edition any better than the sum of its parts.

I can't, however, say the book is wholly without merit, as a few articles, like Shippey's are decent (although folks should just go and read his books, rather than the brief excerpt here), and the old reviews are of importance to those interested in the history of Tolkien criticism) Still, I'd recommend that folks avoid this collection of old and mediocre material and instead take a gander at some of more insightful (and more current) Tolkien criticism and scholarship that's out there...

Good but not very current.......2000-11-14

While this slim volume is definitely superior to Harold Bloom's recent collection of 30-year-old essays that most Tolkien students are already familiar with, nevertheless, "Readings" disappoints in much the same way. There is only one short piece written recently (the one on whether LOTR is racist); the rest are all retreads (important ones, to be sure) from previous volumes and periodicals. Any student seriously considering LOTR for a thesis or paper will be dismayed. All but one of these essays were written before 1983 (i.e., before today's crop of college freshmen were even born).

Book Description

Series Editor: Robert Lecker, McGill University

Written in an easy-to-read, accessible style by teachers with years of classroom experience, Masterwork Studies are guides to the literary works most frequently studied in high school. Presenting ideas that spark imaginations, these books help students to gain background knowledge on great literature useful for papers and exams. The goal of each study is to encourage creative thinking by presenting engaging information about each work and its author. This approach allows students to arrive at sound analyses of their own, based on in-depth studies of popular literature. Each volume:

Illuminates themes and concepts of a classic text
Uses clear, conversational language
Is an accessible, manageable length from 140 to 170 pages
Includes a chronology of the author's life and era
Provides an overview of the historical context
Offers a summary of its critical reception
Lists primary and secondary sources and index

Customer Reviews:

Well he did at least read the book.......2003-02-04

Green approaches the Hobbit as serious literature and undertakes to apply archetypal analysis along with some of the tools of physcological criticism. Not much help for a casual reader, but if you have a background in literaty critical theory an interesting explanation of the symbolism of the work.

Book Description

The three books making up J.R.R Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy were among the most popular of the twentieth century and remain widely acclaimed classics of modern literature. This enlightening study begins with an overview of Tolkien's life and works, then examines his writing of the trilogy. Also included are a synopsis of the plot, profiles of the main characters, an analysis of major themes, and commentaries by literary critics.

Customer Reviews:

Don't Bother!.......2003-12-29

Short version: There were so many inaccuracies about the story The Lord of the Rings itself, that credibility for this entire book is undermined.

I was curious to see what information had been gleaned and distilled for this short little book. In my local library, the book is categorized as part of the "Adult Literacy" collection: easy-to-read material with instructional or classic value. As a fan of Lord of the Rings, I expected to find no facts that were new to me, but I was hoping for a concise overview that I could recommend to others. What I found was an appalling collection of both explicit and implicit misinformation.

I won't attempt to evaluate the chapters on "Tolkien's Life and Works," "Influences and Sources of the Ring Trilogy," or "Major Themes Explored in the Trilogy" as I do not have the time to do research and fact-checking for these. But I will address the chapter that I DO know something about---"The Major Characters and Races."

As a former teacher, if a student had handed me a book report on LOTR with as many inaccuracies as the author included in this one chapter, I would have immediately questioned whether the student had even bothered to read the book. I don't think even a Cliff's Notes version would have made these mistakes. No one who knows LOTR would declare that "Aragorn . . . hailed from the kingdom of Gondor" or that it was Aragorn who had "fulfilled the promise of destroying the One Ring." Only someone who had seen Peter Jackson's film The Two Towers but had never read Tolkien would write that "During the War of the ring, Elrond sends his elves to fight against Sauron's evil hordes." And only someone who had never read the story of Gollum nor yet seen it on screen would suggest that Smeagol "eventually" [yes, that is the word used in this book!] murdered Deagol.

Those are only four of many misstatements in this one chapter. So if the author and publisher allowed so many inaccuracies about the story and characters in LOTR, how many more errors were included in the background information and discussion of the work?

I regret that I have to be so negative, but frankly, I'm even going to recommend that my library eliminate this book from their collection.

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