Tolkien's Life

[Periantari Andruil]

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) was not only an extraordinary writer, but an interesting man. Not only was he the author of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and other great works, he was also Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford and a Fellow of Pembroke College. He was very interested in linguistics, therefore made up his own Elvish language. He served in World War I and witnessed many of his friends' death during this tragic time.

In this thread, let's talk about what he accomplished as the "Author of the Century" and also about anything that relates to him.

[Mirkgirl]

hmmm yeah... I always found very interesting the first languages Tolkien created/participated in their creation, esp the Animalic ("Dog nightingale woodpecker forty" heehee)... you can find more information about them (and if you actually read it, I didn't mean you lol) on Ardalambion... Animalic (http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/animalic.htm)

[Periantari Andruil]

it's really cool that he spent so much time inventing Elvish and all the other names that make up the geography of Middle-Earth..i really think he's some type of genius... it's amazing how many ppl his books touched... not to mention the point in the MAKING of the movie which is attracting so many fans and earning so much money... how much money do you think the whole LOTR enterprise earned?

[Periantari Andruil]

Ok...time to revive this thread about the Professor =)

Like Frodo, Tolkien was an orphan by the age of 14. Before his mom, Mabel Suffield died of complications from diabetes, he was home-schooled along with his brother. His mother taught them Latin, French, German, drawing, painting, and piano. HIs love for languages was partly because of his mother.
After his mother's death in 1904, he was cared for by Father Francis Xavier Morgan, a Roman Catholic priest to whom his widowed mother had entrusted his upbringing before her own death. This is a reason why Tolkien remains a devout Catholic all his life.

It is interesting to note that Tolkien met his "Luthien", Edith Bratt at age 16 but was forbidden by Father Francis to meet with her until he had finished his studies at 21 at Oxford University. (Kind of like Thingol not giving the hand of Luthien to Beren until he had proven himself worthy and like Aragorn needing to prove himself to Elrond for Arwen, eh?) =)

He married Edith Bratt right before going into WWI and after serving (in which certain war scenes seemed to have served as inspiration for him while writing LOTR), he returned to his wife and career.
He also worked on the New Oxford English Dictionary, which helped him in his understanding of the English language and its Germanic roots.
He wrote a lot in the following years and was appointed to head Professor jobs at two universities.

His earlier works before LOTR include Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo in 1925, Beowulf: THe Monster and the Critics and The Hobbit both in 1937, and Smith of Wooton Major & Famer Giles of Ham in 1949.

[Ludibunda]

I had not thought about how Tolkien lived through his fame during the 60s. He was already dead when I was reading Lords. But he had to enudure the Hippies (whom I understand he detested) and all sorts of criticism from those who dared. Groupies made life uncomfortable. At least the State-side folk had an ocean to deterr them. I bet some of our "veteran" posters in the UK were around to remember - anyone? Or do any young UK Ringers have parents who remeber those times?

[Periantari Andruil]

I remember reading about him being bombarded with fan mail and getting these calls in the middle of the night... he had to also turn away interviews and limit those who wanted to visit him...
When the popularity in America was sky-rocketing in the 60s, Tolkien did have to live with the constant praise and crazy things fans did in the States (like "Frodo Lives" pins and "Gandalf for President" =)
Humphrey Carpenter went to visit him in 1967 i think, and yes, that interview, i believe was timed as well =)

[HobbitFriend]

I have a question concerning the professor: I know he taught at Oxford University, but did he actual go to school there? If not, where did he go to college?

[Periantari Andruil]

I think he had attempted twice to get into Oxford, and he finally was successful at his second try..... In 1910 he was awarded an Open Classical Exhibition to Exeter Colelge. WIth some financial aid from the school and his guardian, Father Francis, it was possible for him to go to Oxford...
i'm not sure if Exeter is a part of Oxford or not.... so when it says that he went to Exeter... i think that's a part of Oxford too....
in the back of books, it's also mentioned that he was a fellow of Pembroke College, and a fellow of Merton College.... but i do not exactly know what that means =) :huh: (what's a fellow?)

[HobbitFriend]

Jeesh! It looks like he went all over to different colleges! :o
And "Fellow" ...well... usually, a fellow is another word for guy or young man lol I think they're just saying that he attended those colleges. I don't know how else they'd be saying that :p

[Mirkgirl]

I believe it means more... but lets see what the dictionary says:
Chiefly British.
An incorporated senior member of certain colleges and universities.
A member of the governing body of certain colleges and universities.

[Ludibunda]

Having just returned from UK to the States, I was most struck by how the vocabularies vary within the same language. Even the knowledge of common words differed since the visitors came from various career backgrounds. I must say it is humbling and heartwarming to see members on the board share their knowledge and make the asking easy. I'm sure Tolkien would have approved whole-heartedly!

[Periantari Andruil]

:thumbs: yes i'm glad that we have a Prof forum which encourages discussion and asking questions =)... Also good and appropriate to acknowledge his existence and aspects of his life for he was really the brains to all this...
Cheers to the Professor! entdraught

But i found out recently in regards to what college he went to... that Exeter College is part of Oxford University.... so basically he did go to Oxford... Exeter is just a name of one of the colleges in Oxford. =)

[Friend of Maglor]

yes, my uncle went to Oxford so I have heard of Exeter, it is my dream to go there one day, :drool: but probably not Exeter ;)