Article on Tolkien and Old English

I found this article on Tolkien's use of Old English words. Notice that they don't only appear in the part of the book dealing with Rohan, but they are most concentrated there.

We're going to focus on the Riders of Rohan as a re-vision of the Anglo-Saxons. If you have a chance before class, skim over the start of Beowulf before class (I'll be handing it out in class as well).

Tolkien class Sept. 13: Class is cancelled. Get the 3 handouts from my office door or from Mr. Harden in class, and then go to the course blog for our “discussion” this week. I am requiring each of you to make at least one comment on this post. Take one of the following topics as your starting point (or ask your own interpretive question). I’d also really like it if you started responding to each other in the comments!

Read the textual handouts. One is from Tolkien’s translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the other is from a translations of Macrobius’ Dream of Scipio

SGGK:

• This is the description of the Green Knight, whom critics often say is supposed to be a “green man” or Nature figure.
• How does he compare to Tom Bombadill, Tolkien’s Nature figure? What do the differences suggest about the author’s attitudes toward the natural world? Are there any similarities between the Green Knight and Bombadill/Goldberry?

Dream of Scipio

• Macrobius was the medieval authority on dreams. As you read, list out for yourself the various types of dreams he explains (you can just do this in the margins).
• Notice all the dreams and visions that appear in this section of The Fellowship of the Ring (Frodo in Buckland, Frodo, Merry, and Pippin in Bombadill’s house, Merry outside the barrow, hobbits while Bombadill speaks, Frodo in Bree. . . ) How does Tolkien draw on Macrobius for his notions of what dreams can do? Where do you think he might differ from Macrobius? What do these differences (if any) signify?
  

And another Tolkien Book:

Kevin points out an edition / commentary on the Hobbit that gives original drafts, illustrations, and (I think) editorial apparatus.

It's a little pricey, so I may not be able to get it for our class reserve, and UTK doesn't have it. But if any of you want to collect some Tolkieniana, this might be a good book to get.

Great on-line reference

Wayne has pointed out to me the on-line "Encyclopedia of Arda." This site is a massive encyclopedia of Tolkien's world. This would be a great resource for any of you struggling to keep things straight as you read (and who doesn't at times?).

Have you all subscribed to the blog so you know when there's a new post? Please do in case I forget to announce something in class.