J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia

(Note: Introduction is taken from uncorrected proofs. Changes may be made prior to publication.)

Because of their beauty, richness and complexity, the works of J. R. R. Tolkien greatly reward close attention. Readers receive intense gratification from puzzling over difficult passages, linking together seemingly disparate observations, and connecting up Tolkien's creations with the wider realms of literature and history. Very few authors inspire readers to learn invented languages (or invent languages of their own), teach themselves new alphabets, or struggle to master the complexities of history and politics written as thousands of years' worth of annals. Very few authors drive students to learn Old English and Old Norse and Gothic and to study the fragments of literature left to us in these languages. And very few authors have so encouraged the formation of communities of so many kinds: communities of fans, gamers, scholars, collectors, writers, artists, musicians, scholars, teachers. Tolkien and his works-and the adaptations and development of those works, from stage to page to screen to game to song-have created communities and inspired individuals who want more understanding.
This encyclopedia is intended to be valuable to as many as possible of the varied and interconnected communities and individuals who are interested in Tolkien. Its contents are meant to bridge gaps and bring together separate branches of knowledge. Even within the specialization of Tolkien scholarship there is a significant divide between (to use John Ellison and Patricia Reynolds' terminology) "Tolkien Studies"-scholarship about Tolkien the author and his works of literature-and "Middle-earth Studies"-analysis of Tolkien's invented worlds, histories, languages, creatures, etc. But each field is impossible without the other. "Tolkien Studies" without "Middle-earth Studies" would make no sense: how could someone comment intelligently on Tolkien's views of immortality without understanding how exactly the Elves are immortal and the interconnection between their bodies and spirits? What kind of critical insights could a critic have about the madness and despair of Denethor without understanding what exactly it was that Denethor saw in the palantír? (Hint: this information must be ferreted out of the timelines in Appendix B). Likewise a "Middle-earth Studies" without "Tolkien Studies" is impoverished. How can the language of the Rohirrim be understood without knowing that it is Old English? Is not the texture and detail of Middle-earth made that much richer by seeing its possible interconnections with medieval history and culture? Why would an enthusiast of Middle-earth wish to know less about that world's sources and about Tolkien's inspirations? Why would someone inspired by Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films now want to catch further glimpses of the world that Tolkien created and Jackson interpreted?

Thus this encyclopedia seeks to be in both camps at once, drawing connections between the inside and the outside, showing how each type of study enriches the other. It is certainly not as comprehensive, in terms of "Middle-earth Studies," as Robert Foster's A Guide to Middle-earth, which gives almost complete coverage to everything that is fully within Tolkien's secondary world. But it is far more complete in gathering together discussions of Tolkien's life, scholarship, inspirations, cultural contexts and social effects. There are plenty of monsters, elves, dwarves, hobbits and heroes, and there are many entries on manuscripts, philology and language, but there are also explanations of gaming, fandom, collecting and even an entry on the features of the undersea landscape named after Tolkien's characters.

Unpicking the web that links one man to another, one idea to another, one text to another, is a task that has no real end. The book could easily have been five times as long and it still would not be completely comprehensive. Some limits had to be set, and I hope they are not capricious. In choosing which elements to discuss, therefore, I have focused on characters, places, artifacts and ideas that have connections outside of Middle-earth, things that could not be covered comprehensively entirely within the rubric of "Middle-earth Studies." Thus it was obvious that an entry on Rohan and the Rohirrim would have to discuss Anglo-Saxon history as much as it would have to clarify the migrations of the Rohirrim from the North to the Mark. Likewise the entry on the Haradrim not only discusses the Middle-earth history of this people, but also examines the possible connections with medieval history and literature. Most of the entries also go beyond internal explanation and external sources to talk about reception and significance. Thus the discussion of Éowyn mentions not only her deeds within The Lord of the Rings but also interpretations of her character (though feminist studies and other forms of contemporary criticism) and her possible parallels in twentieth-century culture.

Tolkien's own scholarship, and thus many of his sources, was highly advanced and is not always accessible or understandable to the lay reader. This Encyclopedia is the first resource, to my knowledge, that contains a complete evaluation of Tolkien's scholarly works written by experts in the individual specialities. For example, Professor Arne Zettersten, one of J. R. R. Tolkien's students, explains the significance of Tolkien's work on the Middle English Ancrene Wisse and the "AB Language" that Tolkien discovered, while Tom Shippey investigates the influence of scholars of medieval literature on Tolkien. Readers who do not have extensive training in medieval studies and philology (i.e., most of the readers of this Encyclopedia) will now be able to see how Tolkien's scholarship is in fact an integral part of both Tolkien the man and Tolkien the author. Medieval literature was not, for Tolkien, merely a quarry for interesting names or images; it was in fact the vineyard in which he labored every day and to which he devoted years of study and contemplation. Reading the entries on his scholarship will demonstrate his penetrating intellect and the range of his thought.
The interpretation of Tolkien's works and the analysis of his themes is also an important part of this Encyclopedia. I know that there is an impulse in a field as young as Tolkien Studies to get all the ducks in a row, to assemble all of the possibly relevant information and only then make judgments, but I think this is a mistake. It is of course possible, even probable, that time will supersede some of the views now put forth, but I have used two methods to hedge against setting down incorrect or merely trendy viewpoints as facts. First, contributors from various countries have written 550 entries for this volume, thus presenting the widest possible range of interpretations and angles of vision. Secondly, I asked contributors to approach disputed questions without tendentiousness and to attempt to explain the various sides of difficult issues. Contributors responded by explaining the conflicts, noting the objections, and presenting what I think is a remarkably fair and even-handed approach to the most contentious debates (sadly, we will still not determine whether or not the balrog has functional wings-that is a question beyond any resolution). For instance, entries on Christian approaches to Tolkien, or environmental readings, or political readings include caveats and point to contrasting views. Readers should therefore not only be able to see current consensus opinions but should also be able to recognize debatable propositions and unsettled cruces.

Tolkien was a part of a group of intellectual friends, The Inklings, who produced some of the most widely read books of the twentieth century, it was very difficult to know where to stop: this volume could very easily have become The Tolkien and C. S. Lewis Encyclopedia or The Inklings Encyclopedia. Readers will find that the entries on the Inklings (as individuals and as a group) and the Tolkien's Oxford milieu hang together quite well as a narrative of their own-most likely because they were written by some of the leading scholars of C. S. Lewis and the Inklings. Although he may have written most of his works late at night, the only one awake in his house, Tolkien was not the stereotypical lonely genius: he gathered with the other Inklings for fellowship and the exchange of ideas. Readers who work to fit him into this social and cultural context will be rewarded with a deeper understanding of how Tolkien's mind worked.

To appreciate him fully, Tolkien needs to be seen in the matrix of his historical period as well as within the specific contours of his own life. The Encyclopedia therefore contains a great deal of information about Tolkien's life and work in Oxford and other historical and cultural events of his country and century. From the great wars to artistic movements (such as Art Noveau and the Arts and Crafts movement), to trends in politics and literature, a picture of a century (and going back even further) can be developed from the entries. Likewise an examination of subsequent interpretations and adaptations of Tolkien's works-most visibly the Peter Jackson films, but also many other works of literature, art and film-cast light not only on Tolkien's work itself but also on the time periods and cultural contexts in which the adaptations were made. This is another place where the Encyclopedia could have grown exponentially and where I had to make difficult decisions about limiting the range of inquiry for the volume (Should there be entries on the hundreds of individual writers and artists influenced or inspired by Tolkien? How much Oxford history was necessary?) I have tried to err on the side of explanation, so that perhaps even the college system at Oxford might be made at least as clear as the kindreds and migrations of the elves.

A more open and expansive definition of literature and a slowly developing historical perspective is now allowing us to look back on the twentieth century and see that Tolkien was one of the most distinctive and influential writers of that time period. My own opinion is that he was a genius in the very old-fashioned sense of the word: the smartest individual in whatever room he was in, but also an inspired person, someone who had been to the top of the tower and seen the faraway sea. As readers of the Encyclopedia will see for themselves, the more you learn about Tolkien-both inside and outside his sub-created worlds-the more his genius stands out.

How to Use This Book

The entries in the J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia range from very short descriptions of people, places and things (both inside and outside of Middle-earth) to much longer analytical approaches to Tolkien's life, works and context. The entries are arranged in alphabetical order and are cross-referenced within the volume. Thus a reader who wants to know more about the Inklings can read not only that particular entry (indexed under I, of course), but also the entries on each individual member of the group given in the "See Also" section at the end of the entry. Necessary bibliography is included in each entry in the "References and Further Reading" section. There are also "Blind Entries" that direct readers to essays listed under another title. For example, since Balrogs are discussed under the more general heading of "Monsters," readers who look under "B" are sent to the "Monsters" entry. A thematic list of entries is also included to assist readers in gathering together multiple entries on similar subjects. Readers are also encouraged to use the Analytical Index.

Citations to Tolkien's works follow the conventions developed by the journal Tolkien Studies. Because there are so many editions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, citations are by volume, book (capital Roman numerals) and chapter (lower-case Roman numerals) as well as by page number (Arabic numerals, keyed to the editions listed on the Table of Abbreviations). Thus a citation from The Fellowship of the Ring, book two, chapter four, page 318 is written (FR, II, iv, 318). Readers should therefore be able to find quotations of interest regardless of which editions of the books they have. The word "Silmarillion" in quotations marks indicates the body of stories and poems developed over many years by Tolkien; The Silmarillion in italics indicates the volume first published in 1977.

Acknowledgments

I would first like to express my sincere gratitude to the many contributors who wrote entries. I may officially have been your editor, but in actuality I was your student. When I began this project I thought I knew quite a bit about Tolkien, his works and his influences. I have now been humbled in the face of the immense amount of learning, insight and expertise that have been displayed in the hundreds of entries I have read, and I am a much better scholar (and a much better-informed person) than I was, thanks to all of you.

I want to note one contributor in particular. Daniel Timmons, who wrote some of the most important and difficult entries in the Encyclopedia, passed away after a long illness in December 2005. Best known in Tolkien studies as the editor (with George Clark) of J. R. R. Tolkien and His Literary Resonances, Dan was an excellent scholar, a talented critic, and, most of all, a warm and generous person. His entries are testament to his excellent scholarship and, even more importantly, his essential fair-mindedness. The field will miss the many additional contributions he would have made over the years, but even more, we will miss him.

Marie-Claire Antoine at Routledge believed in this project from the beginning and guided me through all of the difficult initial steps. I would like to thank her for all of her help, and Marjorie Burns for suggesting me as the editor of the project. Jamie Ehrlich, my editor, has never failed to return an email or answer a question and has been exceedingly patient with me. She has also handled all of the incredibly complex logistics of the Encyclopedia so well that there have never been any problems on that front, and for this and her ability to project calmness in all circumstances, I am particularly grateful.
The Advisory Board, Douglas A. Anderson, Marjorie Burns, Verlyn Flieger and Tom Shippey worked with me to shape the Encyclopedia and have saved me from many mistakes. Even more importantly, they have continued to encourage me throughout the project and have provided excellent advice. Their own entries-some of the most difficult-have also contributed enormously to the book.

At Wheaton College, my student research partners, Stephanie Olsen and Melissa Smith-MacDonald, were instrumental in helping me to develop the original table of contents for the Encyclopedia. My colleagues in the English department and beyond have continued to support my work, and Marilyn Todesco has saved me from my own mistakes and generously provided the friendship and encouragement (as she always does) that allow me to work.

Finally, and most importantly, I want to thank my wife, Raquel M. D'Oyen, my daughter, Rhys Miranda Drout, and my son, Mitchell D. C. Drout, for their love and infinite patience. You three make all the work worthwhile.

Michael D. C. Drout
Dedham and Norton, MA, 2006