Tolkien and the Study of His Sources: Critical Essays

by Jason Fisher (Editor)

Source criticism--analysis of a writer's source material--has emerged as one of the most popular approaches in exploring the work of J.R.R. Tolkien. Since Tolkien drew from many disparate sources, an understanding of these sources, as well as how and why he incorporated them, can enhance readers' appreciation. This set of new essays by leading Tolkien scholars describes the theory and methodology for proper source criticism and provides practical demonstrations of the approach.

Genres: Nonfiction

228 pages, Paperback

First published July 22, 2011

Reviews

[Julian Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had two fears before starting this collection. The first, always a risk with source criticism, was that instead of illuminating the Lord of the Rings, any value would be obscured by wobbly coincidences and spurious connections drawn between Tolkien’s work and other texts he may have read. My second fear was that vivisecting stories that I love would damage them. To expose and examine the innards of a loved one is unlikely to make you love them more.
I need not have worried. The research is thorough and subtly expressed throughout. Rather than trumpeting conjecture as fact, a wealth of possible sources are offered as possible matter for what Tolkien called ‘the leaf mould of the mind’, made up of, ‘all that has been seen or thought or read, that has long ago been forgotten, descending into the deeps’.
Peeling back the skin of Tolkien’s works illuminated the stories, revealing a new depth of meaning in the characters, locations and events of the Lord of the Rings. To add to that joy, I also learnt about Byzantium, 20th century spy novels, Anglo-Saxons, medieval Christian myth, philology and Tolkien himself.
This is a strong collection of essays recommended for anyone wanting a richer understanding of Middle Earth.

[Adam Balshan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars [Literary]
(W: 3, U: 2, T: 2.88)
Exact rating: 2.63

A composite rating, for a series of essays made into a book. If Fisher, Larsen, Honegger, and Rateliff alone had contributed, it would have rated much higher. Essays were rated individually, and are listed below.

1. Shippey. [10 pages]. 3.5 (W: 3.5, T: 3.5)
2. Risden. [12]. 1.75 (W: 2.5[2-3], T: 2; -1/2 for off topic)
3. Fisher. [16]. 3.75 (W: 4, T: 3.5)
4. Birns. [24]. 2.32 (W: 2.63[2.25-3], T: 2[1.5 for demythologizing, 1.5 for reaching, 3])
5. Larsen. [15]. 3.5 (W: 3.5, T: 3.5)
6. Librán-Moreno. [32]. 2.75 (W: 2.75[2.5, w/3.5 Intro and Finale], T: 2.75)
7. Honegger. [17]. 4 (W: 4, T: 4)
8. Ford. [12]. 2.5 (W: 2.5, T: 2.5)
9. Rateliff. [17]. 3.25 (W: 3, T: 3.5)
10. Hooker. [31]. 2.5 (W: 2.5, T: 2.5)
11. Glyer; Long. [22]. 3 (W: 3, T: 3)

[Andrew Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read book for all lovers of Tolkien and related literature and studies. I am working on a larger review of this book which I will post. Jason Fisher has put together a book that is not only an excellent study of the types of source materials Tolkien used to cook his "soup" but also has given us a "how to" manual on how to work with source materials and how they may have or not influenced Tolkien. This is a book I will refer to many times and have already read some of the chapters twice The insights by such leading Tolkien scholars as Tom Shippey, Thomas Honegger, John Rateliff, Mark Hooker and Jason Fisher himself are invaluable and this book fills a gap in Tolkienian scholarship that is much needed. Would recommend very highly to all!!!

[Mitch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some occasionally-interesting ideas cannot save this book. The theses are often vague, the supporting arguments are paper thin and never fleshed out, and I often felt like many of these authors were just flat-out wrong in their assertions (with the John Buchan paper being the most egregious one of all). I gained very little insight into Tolkien's sources after reading this, so I would recommend skipping this book.

[Rossrn Nunamaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is comprised of critical essays as the title notes about Tolkien and his sources.

As a fan, not an academic, it was interesting to read and learn about many potential sources that I was previously unaware of.

Serious fans will enjoy it, but not for the casual fan.

[D J Rout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dauntingly good scholarship.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm skipping around these essays, enjoying the thoughts of several of the authors we have studied in my Mythgard Institute classes. Jason Fisher (the overall editor and compiler, Tom Shippey, E.L. Risden, Nicholas Birns, Kristine Larsen, Miryam Libran-Moreno, Thomas Honegger, J.A. Ford, John D. Rateliff, Mark T. Hooker, and Diana P. Glyler with Josh Long are the authors contributing to these essays.

The careful introduction by Tom Shippey on source criticism, so frequently dismissed by Tolkien himself in letters and interviews (along with allegory, historicity, and biographical studies of authorship), is a reasoned defense for the methods of source criticism used in the book. He posits that, 60 years on, we may need some cultural background of Tolkien's milieu. Using Tolkien's own metaphor of the Cauldron of Story, Shippey suggests that one who would seriously study Tolkien's works needs to understand something of the 'bones of the ox' that went into the 'soup'* to better appreciate the soup and to gain insight into the intentions of the master chef.

Two further chapters present source criticism itself as a field of literary criticism (related to but separate from textural, philological, biographical, and historical criticism), and how defined methods can inform our reading of Tolkien's works in particular.

I started to skip ahead to Rateliff's essay on *She* and Tolkien Revisited, but realized I need to read the four H. Rider Haggard books on Ayesha to appreciate the essay, so put this one off.

Let me say that the 'Biography as Source: Niggles & Notions' by Diana Glyler is some lovely forbidden fruit for students of Prof. Corey Olsen.

*Although "On Fairy-Stories" clearly warns a reader away from 'examining the bones' and commends reading the story as story.

[Beth Withers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since Tolkien didn’t care for source criticism, or people spending hours trying to decide where he got his ideas, it seems strange that this book should come together. The author makes it clear from the beginning that there is indeed value in wondering what influences might have been present when Tolkien wrote his most famous work. One of the most valid reasons to me is that the time period has changed, education has changed, and the world has changed. We aren’t as familiar today with the literature of Tolkien’s lifetime as he was, for example. If for no other reason than this one, it is worthwhile considering source criticism. With that in mind, I set off to read this book. Some of the essays are better than others. A couple of them are little more than endless comparisons between various works of Tolkien and obscure writers that may have been familiar to Tolkien. It is interesting in one respect: these writers are unknown to most of us today, so I suppose there is value in learning a little about them. The last essay, "Biography as Source", is the one that I enjoyed the most. These essays are not light reads; I suspect they are geared more for the Tolkien scholar rather than those of us who enjoy Tolkien's work for what it is. But, if I am understanding Tolkien correctly, he intended only that we enjoy Middle Earth and not try to second-guess how it came into being.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tolkien and a Study of His Sources" is a collection of essays written by current Tolkien scholars, reflecting on different works and authors who may have influenced Tolkien. Three introductory chapters (written by Tom Shippey, E. Risden and Jason Fisher) address source criticism itself, to give the reader a better understanding of the topic. Included among the Tolkien topics addressed are: Biblical and Mesopotamian sources, ancient Greek myths and stories, Byzantium and Gondor, Anglo-Saxons and the Rohirrim, William Caxton's "ring" stories, the influence of H. Rider Haggard and John Buchan on Tolkien's writing. Each chapter is meticulously footnoted and contains a list of sources, for those seeking more information.

Tolkien is one of my favourite authors and I enjoyed learning more about sources which possibly influenced him.

[Lief · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this collection of essays provides a wealth of insight and information for anyone looking to learn more about how Tolkien approached writing, and especially how he worked source materials into his works. As always, source study requires the caution not to miss the forest for the trees--Tolkien's works ought to be studied for the beauty and the art they provide in and of themselves. Still, a deeper appreciation for his craft can be gained by a study of his sources. My primary complaint with this particular collection of essays is that there are a couple essays that I feel make too tenuous of claims to justify the correlation between Tolkien's writings and the "sources"the authors discuss. However, considering that is only two essays out of 11, the volume is indeed useful for a deeper study of JRR Tolkien.

[Sem · Rating 4 out of 5]

The essays vary in quality but the best are very good - and also useful.

[Leaflet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good essays.

[Janice Liedl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much a useful read for the Tolkien scholar, particularly those who want to get up to speed on literary approaches to his work.