| Description |
1 online resource (xii, 225 pages) |
| Contents |
Introduction -- Two norths and their English blend -- Skin-changing in more than one sense: the complexity of Beorn -- Bridges, gates, and doors -- Iceland and Middle-Earth: two who loved the north -- Spiders and evil red eyes: the shadow sides of Gandalf and Galadriel -- Wisewomen, shieldmaidens, nymphs, and goddesses -- Eating, devouring, sacrifice, and ultimate just deserts (why elves are vegetarian and the unrefined are not) -- Three questions by way of conclusion |
| Summary |
"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."--Publisher description |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 201-207) and index |
| Notes |
Print version record |
| Subject |
Tolkien, J. R. R. (John Ronald Reuel), 1892-1973 -- Criticism and interpretation
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Tolkien, J. R. R. (John Ronald Reuel), 1892-1973 -- Knowledge -- Mythology
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Tolkien, J. R. R. (John Ronald Reuel), 1892-1973 -- Language
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| SUBJECT |
Tolkien, J. R. R. (John Ronald Reuel), 1892-1973 fast |
| Subject |
Mythology, Norse, in literature.
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Mythology, Celtic, in literature.
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Middle Earth (Imaginary place)
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LITERARY CRITICISM -- European -- English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh.
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Language and languages
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Middle Earth (Imaginary place)
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Mythology
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Mythology, Celtic, in literature
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Mythology, Norse, in literature
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| Genre/Form |
Criticism, interpretation, etc.
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| Form |
Electronic book
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| ISBN |
9781442627253 |
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1442627255 |
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