The Keys of Middle-earth

[TolkienJRR]

Has anyone read The keys of Middle-earth by S.Lee and Elizabeth Solopova? i was wondering what kinds of sources are used [is it only the Icelandic sagas etc] and what kind of comparisons are made between Tolkiens world and those sources. Is it "inspirations" taking of names etc

[N.E. Brigand]

Here is the table of contents (page numbers in parentheses):

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Acknowledgements (ix)

Abbreviations (x)

1. How to Use This Book (1)

2. Introduction (2)
--2.1 Background (2)
----2.1.1 Why another book about Tolkien? (2)
----2.1.2 This is not a source book (3)
----2.1.3 Tolkien's career (4)
----2.1.4 Tolkien's fiction and medieval literature (7)
----2.1.5 Medieval sources (11)
--2.2 Medieval literature (12)
----2.2.1 Old English (16)
----2.2.2 Middle English (20)
----2.2.3 Old Norse (23)
--2.3 Thematic and technical parallels (25)
----2.3.1 The theme of the quest (25)
----2.3.2 The epic (28)
----2.3.3 The runes (31)
----2.3.4 Alliterative verse and Tolkien's verse (38)
----2.3.5 The names (50)

3. The Editions (54)

4. The Texts (57)
The Hobbit (59)
--4.1 Gandalf and the Dwarves -- Völuspá, stanzas 9-16 (TH, 'An Unexpected Party') (59)
--4.2 Bilbo and Gollum's Riddle-Game -- Vafþrúðnismál and Solomon and Saturn II, ll.47-68 and 104-23 (TH, 'Riddles in the Dark') (73)
--4.3 Bilbo meets Smaug -- Beowulf, ll. 2207-311 (TH, 'Inside Information') (106)
The Lord of the Rings (123)
--4.4 The Elves at Rivendell -- Sir Orfeo, ll. 107-94 (FR, 'Many Meetings'; TH, 'A Short Rest' and 'Flies and Spiders') (123)
--4.5 Legolas's 'Lament of the Stones' -- The Ruin (FR, 'The Ring Goes South') (133)
--4.6 The Fight at Balin's Tomb -- The Fight at Finnsburg and 'Cynewulf and Cyneheard' (FR, 'The Bridge of Khazâd-dûm') (146)
--4.7 The Crossing of the Nimrodel -- Pearl, ll. 61-276 (FR, 'Lothlórien') (164)
--4.8 Boromir's Death -- Beowulf, ll. 26-52 (TT, 'The Departure of Boromir') (177)
--4.9 Treebeard's List -- Maxims II (TT, 'Treebeard') (183)
--4.10 The Rohirrim -- The Wanderer and Beowulf, ll. 306-70 (TT, 'The King of the Golden Hall') (194)
--4.11 The Death of Théoden and the Arrival of the Mûmakil -- The Battle of Maldon, ll. 111-84 and Ælfric's Homily on the Maccabees, ll. 499-519 (RK, 'The Battle of the Pelennor Fields') (217)
--4.12 The Landscape of Mordor -- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, ll. 713-63 and Beowulf, ll. 1345-82 (RK, 'The Land of Shadow') (235)
--4.13 The Final Journey -- The Seafarer (RK, 'The Grey Havens') (250)

Bibliography (266)

Index (277)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I hope that helps!

[Jude]

Those titles look interesting. Have you read the book?

[TolkienJRR]

Here is the table of contents (page numbers in parentheses):

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Acknowledgements (ix)

Abbreviations (x)

1. How to Use This Book (1)

2. Introduction (2)
--2.1 Background (2)
----2.1.1 Why another book about Tolkien? (2)
----2.1.2 This is not a source book (3)
----2.1.3 Tolkien's career (4)
----2.1.4 Tolkien's fiction and medieval literature (7)
----2.1.5 Medieval sources (11)
--2.2 Medieval literature (12)
----2.2.1 Old English (16)
----2.2.2 Middle English (20)
----2.2.3 Old Norse (23)
--2.3 Thematic and technical parallels (25)
----2.3.1 The theme of the quest (25)
----2.3.2 The epic (28)
----2.3.3 The runes (31)
----2.3.4 Alliterative verse and Tolkien's verse (38)
----2.3.5 The names (50)

3. The Editions (54)

4. The Texts (57)
The Hobbit (59)
--4.1 Gandalf and the Dwarves -- Völuspá, stanzas 9-16 (TH, 'An Unexpected Party') (59)
--4.2 Bilbo and Gollum's Riddle-Game -- Vafþrúðnismál and Solomon and Saturn II, ll.47-68 and 104-23 (TH, 'Riddles in the Dark') (73)
--4.3 Bilbo meets Smaug -- Beowulf, ll. 2207-311 (TH, 'Inside Information') (106)
The Lord of the Rings (123)
--4.4 The Elves at Rivendell -- Sir Orfeo, ll. 107-94 (FR, 'Many Meetings'; TH, 'A Short Rest' and 'Flies and Spiders') (123)
--4.5 Legolas's 'Lament of the Stones' -- The Ruin (FR, 'The Ring Goes South') (133)
--4.6 The Fight at Balin's Tomb -- The Fight at Finnsburg and 'Cynewulf and Cyneheard' (FR, 'The Bridge of Khazâd-dûm') (146)
--4.7 The Crossing of the Nimrodel -- Pearl, ll. 61-276 (FR, 'Lothlórien') (164)
--4.8 Boromir's Death -- Beowulf, ll. 26-52 (TT, 'The Departure of Boromir') (177)
--4.9 Treebeard's List -- Maxims II (TT, 'Treebeard') (183)
--4.10 The Rohirrim -- The Wanderer and Beowulf, ll. 306-70 (TT, 'The King of the Golden Hall') (194)
--4.11 The Death of Théoden and the Arrival of the Mûmakil -- The Battle of Maldon, ll. 111-84 and Ælfric's Homily on the Maccabees, ll. 499-519 (RK, 'The Battle of the Pelennor Fields') (217)
--4.12 The Landscape of Mordor -- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, ll. 713-63 and Beowulf, ll. 1345-82 (RK, 'The Land of Shadow') (235)
--4.13 The Final Journey -- The Seafarer (RK, 'The Grey Havens') (250)

Bibliography (266)

Index (277)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I hope that helps!

perfect, thanks so much. The bad news, know I have to buy it

[TolkienJRR]

Those titles look interesting. Have you read the book?

I have not, but now I must.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

I think Jude was asking whether N.E.B. had read the book. It was pretty clear that you had not, since you were the one who asked about it!

I also have not read this book, but it has gotten good reports and reviews.

[Jude]

But if either of you do get the book, I'd be very interested to hear your impressions.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

It's not high on my list at this time, but I'll certainly be interested in other's opinions.

[TolkienJRR]

Here is the table of contents (page numbers in parentheses):

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Acknowledgements (ix)

Abbreviations (x)

1. How to Use This Book (1)

2. Introduction (2)
--2.1 Background (2)
----2.1.1 Why another book about Tolkien? (2)
----2.1.2 This is not a source book (3)
----2.1.3 Tolkien's career (4)
----2.1.4 Tolkien's fiction and medieval literature (7)
----2.1.5 Medieval sources (11)
--2.2 Medieval literature (12)
----2.2.1 Old English (16)
----2.2.2 Middle English (20)
----2.2.3 Old Norse (23)
--2.3 Thematic and technical parallels (25)
----2.3.1 The theme of the quest (25)
----2.3.2 The epic (28)
----2.3.3 The runes (31)
----2.3.4 Alliterative verse and Tolkien's verse (38)
----2.3.5 The names (50)

3. The Editions (54)

4. The Texts (57)
The Hobbit (59)
--4.1 Gandalf and the Dwarves -- Völuspá, stanzas 9-16 (TH, 'An Unexpected Party') (59)
--4.2 Bilbo and Gollum's Riddle-Game -- Vafþrúðnismál and Solomon and Saturn II, ll.47-68 and 104-23 (TH, 'Riddles in the Dark') (73)
--4.3 Bilbo meets Smaug -- Beowulf, ll. 2207-311 (TH, 'Inside Information') (106)
The Lord of the Rings (123)
--4.4 The Elves at Rivendell -- Sir Orfeo, ll. 107-94 (FR, 'Many Meetings'; TH, 'A Short Rest' and 'Flies and Spiders') (123)
--4.5 Legolas's 'Lament of the Stones' -- The Ruin (FR, 'The Ring Goes South') (133)
--4.6 The Fight at Balin's Tomb -- The Fight at Finnsburg and 'Cynewulf and Cyneheard' (FR, 'The Bridge of Khazâd-dûm') (146)
--4.7 The Crossing of the Nimrodel -- Pearl, ll. 61-276 (FR, 'Lothlórien') (164)
--4.8 Boromir's Death -- Beowulf, ll. 26-52 (TT, 'The Departure of Boromir') (177)
--4.9 Treebeard's List -- Maxims II (TT, 'Treebeard') (183)
--4.10 The Rohirrim -- The Wanderer and Beowulf, ll. 306-70 (TT, 'The King of the Golden Hall') (194)
--4.11 The Death of Théoden and the Arrival of the Mûmakil -- The Battle of Maldon, ll. 111-84 and Ælfric's Homily on the Maccabees, ll. 499-519 (RK, 'The Battle of the Pelennor Fields') (217)
--4.12 The Landscape of Mordor -- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, ll. 713-63 and Beowulf, ll. 1345-82 (RK, 'The Land of Shadow') (235)
--4.13 The Final Journey -- The Seafarer (RK, 'The Grey Havens') (250)

Bibliography (266)

Index (277)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I hope that helps!

Just ordered it thanks.

[TolkienJRR]

My copy arrived along with my new illustrated edition of lost tales. I must haste through ROTK so I can start.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

I assume you mean Unfinished Tales, not "lost tales." Though I would love an illustrated version of The Book of Lost Tales (which I am currently rereading as part of an effort to read the entirety of HoMe consecutively in preparation for reviewing the upcoming book The Nature of Middle-earth for the Journal of Tolkien Research), I don't believe that such a thing exists.

The illustrated edition of Unfinished Tales is quite beautiful. Having works from Naismith, Howe and Lee in one book is quite a treat. I am sure that you will enjoy that. I'll be curious to hear what you think of Lee's book.

[TolkienJRR]

I assume you mean Unfinished Tales, not "lost tales." Though I would love an illustrated version of The Book of Lost Tales (which I am currently rereading as part of an effort to read the entirety of HoMe consecutively in preparation for reviewing the upcoming book The Nature of Middle-earth for the Journal of Tolkien Research), I don't believe that such a thing exists.

The illustrated edition of Unfinished Tales is quite beautiful. Having works from Naismith, Howe and Lee in one book is quite a treat. I am sure that you will enjoy that. I'll be curious to hear what you think of Lee's book.

Indeed. Thanks for the correction.

I would love to read your review in the journal, please provide a link when it is published. I am also excited about [and preordered] The Nature of Middle-earth. Like you I am running through much of Tolkien's work however I am hitting everything but the HOME, unless the unofficial nature of middle-earth is considered among them. Part of the reason I ordered the illustrated edition of UT is to encourage me to reread every word once more. It is my treat to myself for doing my homework. Every time I reread Tolkien's works I discover new hidden gems.

Oh, and Lee, Howe, and Naismith are my favorite artists. I remind my kids every chance I get that the anniversary illustrated edition of LOTR by Lee I hold to be more valuable than their lives.