Tolkien, Self and Other: "This Queer Creature"

by Jane Chance Nitzsche

This book examines key points of J. R. R. Tolkien’s life and writing career in relation to his views on humanism and feminism, particularly his sympathy for and toleration of those who are different, deemed unimportant, or marginalized—namely, the Other. Jane Chance argues such empathy derived from a variety of causes ranging from the loss of his parents during his early life to a consciousness of the injustice and violence in both World Wars. As a result of his obligation to research and publish in his field and propelled by his sense of abjection and diminution of self, Tolkien concealed aspects of the personal in relatively consistent ways in his medieval adaptations, lectures, essays, and translations, many only recently published. These scholarly writings blend with and relate to his fictional writings in various ways depending on the moment at which he began teaching, translating, or editing a specific medieval work and, simultaneously, composing a specific poem, fantasy, or fairy-story. What Tolkien read and studied from the time before and during his college days at Exeter and continued researching until he died opens a door into understanding how he uniquely interpreted and repurposed the medieval in constructing fantasy.

322 pages, Paperback

First published November 24, 2016

Reviews

[Andrew Higgins]

A brilliant book. For an excellent review of it by Dr. Kristine Larsen please see here http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftol.... This important volume in Tolkien studies has given me much to think about - thank you Jane Chance. Highly recommend

[Julie Bozza]

Well, this was fascinating! Chance looks at the content of Tolkien's creative work over the decades, in conjunction with the academic work he was pursuing at the same time, and in the context of his own life. He always felt like an outsider, and a forlorn and abject one at that. This gave him great sympathy for the quieter, self-effacing, humble sort.

I read this partly to explore the notion of "queer" in relation to Tolkien's work, and partly to consider issues of race, especially in relation to my favourite of his works, The Lord of the Rings. (I admit I skimmed Chapters 3 and 4 as I was eager to get into the LOTR stuff, but I'll come and pick them up later.)

The chapter on Tolkien's loathing of apartheid is fascinating in this regard. In LOTR he shows a keen eye for race, class, language differences - and he describes what he sees. This doesn't mean he condones what he sees. On the contrary, based on this and the following two chapters, it seems clear that LOTR presents the failure of segregation and separation, and the failure of masculinity. Where there is suspicion, estrangement and prejudice between groups defined by race, class, language or gender - where masculinity is at its most toxic, as with the Orcs - then only evil, war, and killing result.

In contrast, all the good things in LOTR result from an increase in respect, goodwill, and fellowship. Women are essential partners in this better world. And the true heroes turn out to be the most humble of characters.

It's a message made intrinsic to the world Tolkien has created, and it's not flagged. It's shown, not told. In this it reminds me of Austen and her critique of a good marriage (that beautiful but rare thing!) being the only useful or bearable option for a woman in the society of her time.

Highly recommended.

[Clare Moore]

An interesting analysis of the integration of Tolkien’s fiction, academic work, and personal life, but it didn’t have a lot to do with queer theory, feminism, or any significant engagement with the concept of “the other” other than to mention it.