Annotated Bibliography

Primary Sources

Nicola @ Thoughts on Fantasy. “Popular 1900s, 10s and 20s Fantasy Novels.” Thoughts on

Fantasy, November 6, 2018.

https://thoughtsonfantasy.com/2018/10/22/popular-1900s-10s-and-20s-fantasy-novels/.

This article gives background on fantasy novels right before The Hobbit was published.

This is useful when looking at what fantasy in literature looked like before Tolkien’s

work was published.

Nicola @ Thoughts on Fantasy. “Popular Pre-1900 Fantasy Novels.” Thoughts on Fantasy,

October 22, 2018.

https://thoughtsonfantasy.com/2018/10/09/popular-pre-1900-fantasy-novels/.

This article gives background on fantasy novels before The Hobbit was published. This is

useful when looking at what fantasy in literature looked like in another century.

Polomoshnova, Olga. “Five Accurate Reviews of The Hobbit Written 80 Years Ago.” Middle,

October 20, 2017.

https://middleearthreflections.com/2017/09/21/five-accurate-reviews-of-the-hobbit-writte

n-80-years-ago/.
 This is a collection of reviews on Tolkien’s book soon after it was published. This article

shows the impact on readers when The Hobbit was first published.

Sitterson, Aubrey. “The Origin of the Species: Orcs.” Geek.com, June 27, 2016.

https://www.geek.com/culture/the-origin-of-the-species-orcs-1659572/.

This article shows the evolution and creation of the orc species. It shows the impact of

Tolkien’s work on an entire species. This article is part of a series called “The Origin of

the Species,” highlighting many races in fantasy. Many of these articles show how

Tolkien’s work created a norm of sorts for certain races in fantasy, like dwarves, orcs,

and elves.

Young, Bryan. “The Cinema Behind Star Wars: The Lord of the Rings.” StarWars.com, March

14, 2016.

https://www.starwars.com/news/the-cinema-behind-star-wars-the-lord-of-the-rings.

This article contains information on JRR Tolkien’s work influencing the Star Wars

cinematic universe. It gives many specific examples of comparisons between

characters/storylines and provides evidence from their films/series. This article gives

direct information on the impact of LotR on Star Wars cinema.

“Timeline.” The Tolkien Society, August 15, 2019.

https://www.tolkiensociety.org/author/timeline/.
 This timeline gives useful information on JRR Tolkien’s life. It is broken up into sections

that each have highlighted milestones and big events. This is very useful when trying to

find particular dates on events and to see when things occurred in Tolkien’s lifetime.

Tolkien, J. R. R. ​The Hobbit​. Suffolk: Guild Pub., 1978.

The Hobbit is the start of Tolkien’s legendarium, his first big published work for Middle

Earth. A main evil theme throughout Tolkien’s finished works is Sauron. This figure and

his cause are representative of industrialized evil. The Hobbit gives little but useful

background to The Lord of the Rings, showing the starting journey of the ring and its

connections to Baggins’.

Tolkien, J. R. R., and Rob Inglis. ​The Lord of the Rings​. London: HarperCollins, 2002

This is the work of JRR Tolkien, showing the connection between Tolkien’s experience

in WWI and his writing. This connection is explained by Simon Tolkien in his interview

with BBC. His explanation helps tie JRR Tolkien’s fictional works to the real world. The

book dives deeper into the lore of Middle Earth, creating a journey that goes from place

to place from culture to culture.

Tolkien, Christopher, and JRR Tolkien. ​The Silmarillion​. London: Unwin Paperbacks, 1983.

The Silmarilllion gives more guidance and context to the history of Middle Earth. It is

full of tales about the Valar, a commonly known “god system” throughout Middle Earth,
 and how Middle Earth came to be up till The Fellowship of the Ring. This gives direct

examples of Tolkien creating more depth for Middle Earth, giving it a vast background.

Tolkien, Christopher., and Humphrey Carpenter. ​Letters: a Selection = Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien.​

London: Allen Unwin, 1981.

This is a compilation of letters of JRR Tolkien. These letters all contain varying amounts

of information on Tolkien’s process and struggles while writing. We get to read what the

creator needed to work on. We read struggles and influences from the source. It is edited

by his son and his biographer.

“Weta Workshop - History and Timeline " Weta Workshop.” Weta Workshop - History and

Timeline " Weta Workshop, n.d. https://www.wetaworkshop.com/about-us/history/.

This timeline shows the progress of Weta Workshops’ work in film. It is useful to see the

impact of the LotR and Hobbit trilogies on this company. These films won many awards

and accolades that brought attention to Weta Workshop and its achievements.
 Secondary Sources

Dou​glas, Michelle. “​A Mythology for England: Tolkien's Attempt to Create an English National

Myth​” ​Digital Commons​, 2014. https://digitalcommons.hollins.edu/ughonors/1/.

This thesis focuses on Tolkien’s view of England and its circumstances and how they

affected his writing. Douglas goes in depth on “​ identity and the ways this understanding

influenced his writing.” She explains that Tolkien displayed his opinion of Englishness

through his works, defending and arguing different aspects of it in his texts.

Dwyer, Shayne A. ​J.R.R. Tolkien: The Founder of Modern Day Fantasy World Building,​ May 2,

2016, 1–27.

This research paper argues that Robert Jordan’s world building in The Wheel of Time is

heavily inspired by Tolkien. It shows that Tolkien had a lasting impact on many people

and gives the specific example of Robert Jordan. Dwyer writes this under Dr. Lara

Crowley, head of English Department at NIU. She focuses on medieval english literature.

Foster, Robert. ​The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth.​ London: Unwin Paperbacks, 1978.

This book gives examples of the places, races, languages, and events that Tolkien

created. This adds to the long-term impact of his writing. Robert Foster has a Ph.D in

english/medieval studies. This is an updated version of “The Complete Guide to

Middle-Earth (1971),” which he added to after The Silmarillion was published by

 Christopher Tolkien. Foster collects excerpts from Tolkien’s work and letters to create a

reference book for Middle Earth.

H., Alina. “JRR Tolkien's Writing Credibility: The One Trait That Makes It All Believable -

Sci-Fi and Fantasy Network.” Scififantasy Network, February 19, 2016.

http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/jrr-tolkiens-writing-credibility-the-one-trait-that-ma

kes-it-all-believable/.

This article explains the writing styles of JRR Tolkien and how it impacts the reality of

Middle Earth. It explains how his writing style in LotR and The Silmarillion seems so

believable due to the style of writing. They read like a history textbook.

Kambury, Rachel. “ War Without Allegory: WWI, Tolkien, and The Lord of the Rings.” Home -

World War I Centennial, n.d.

https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/articles-posts/5502-war-not-allegory-w

wi-tolkien-and-the-lord-of-the-rings.html.

This article gives examples that compare LotR and WWI. It gives background to what

influenced Tolkien when he was writing. It gives direct comparisons between the two

things and specific examples from Tolkien’s time in the war.

“Notes from Middle-Earth.” VoVatia, January 31, 2015.

https://vovatia.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/notes-from-middle-earth/.
 This article compares the map of Middle Earth to modern day Britain and surrounding

European countries. It provides specific examples and interpretations of the two maps

together. It gives a brief background on the history of Middle Earth and uses that to tie

into its similarity to Britain.

Shippey, Tom A. ​The Road to Middle-Earth.​ London: HarperCollins, 2005.

This book shows why Tolkien wrote what he did. He originally wanted to create a new

mythology for England. At the time of writing the lore, England has no set god system or

mythology. Shippey, a professor of old/middle english literature, explains that Tolkien

tried to create one through Middle Earth.

Tolkien, Simon. “Culture - Tolkien's Grandson on How WW1 Inspired The Lord of the Rings.”

BBC. BBC, January 3, 2017.

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20161223-tolkiens-grandson-on-how-ww1-inspired-th

e-lord-of-the-rings.

This interview gives valuable background on the connection between WWI and Middle

Earth. Simon Tolkien, the grandson of JRR Tolkien, is interviewed about the inspirations

to Tolkien that are shown in his works. He gives specific examples from the texts and

connects them to historical and personal moments in his grandfather’s life.