Friends, I am sorry to leave such an announcement so late, but I am here to say that there will be no post for last week, nor regular postings in the weeks ahead. I had begun a very absorbing article on what I am learning about the historical King Arthur, but I was forced to … Continue reading A Wee Note of Explanation
A Glossary for Howard Pyle
Wordstapas registration for the fall is now open! You can read all the details by visiting the main Wordstapas page in the header, or by clicking here. If you feel inspired to share the news on your blog or social media, you can right click and select “Save image as” on the graphic below. ~*~ … Continue reading A Glossary for Howard Pyle
The Elegies of the Exeter Book
Welcome to an (slightly) updated Remembered Lore! It was time for a refresh. I have revised the About page and made a couple adjustments to the sidebar. More minor tweaks will be coming. The Wordstapas will get a new page as well in a couple weeks in preparation for the Fall semester---I’ll let you know … Continue reading The Elegies of the Exeter Book
“Influence”: Tolkien’s Guide to Non-Plagiarism
In glancing over the posts I have published over the last five months, it appears I have accidentally written a series on specific elements of mythology that Tolkien incorporated into his work. No doubt there will be more of these in future (the material is vast), but I have paused to articulate how he manages … Continue reading “Influence”: Tolkien’s Guide to Non-Plagiarism
Tolkien & The Wanderer
Back in November I shared the “Lament for the Rohirrim,” by J.R.R. Tolkien on Remembrance Day. Tolkien was a gifted poet, but because much of his poetry as we know it is contained in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, it tends to be overshadowed by his substantial prose. However, a decade spent … Continue reading Tolkien & The Wanderer
Eärendil the Sky-Mariner
The Wordstapas are currently reading The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien. In the latest meeting we spoke briefly of Eärendil the Mariner, and his origin in the Old English poem Christ. As we had little time left in the meeting to discuss this at length, and lack of resources at hand, I have taken the opportunity … Continue reading Eärendil the Sky-Mariner
Embarking on the “Matter of Britain”
I have begun to journey into the “Matter of Britain”: the extensive collection of lore pertaining to King Arthur. I am beginning with Howard Pyle’s venerable writings, although I am aware it is not the original version. I have had some misgivings about this, especially after poking my nose into Sir Thomas Malory’s reasonably sized … Continue reading Embarking on the “Matter of Britain”
Why “The Wordstapas”?
It was in October 2021 that I announced the creation of The Tolkien Club. At that time I expressed my hesitation to name the society “The Tolkien Club,” for I knew we would not be reading much of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, but rather focusing on ancient mythology (albeit of the kind that Tolkien read). So … Continue reading Why “The Wordstapas”?
Some Parallels Pertaining to Ravens (and Other Beasts of Battle)
Ravens appear in several places across western mythology. They are present in folklore, such as the tale of The Seven Ravens, and in Greek myth, where they are associated with Apollo. Ravens are prominent symbols in Norse and Germanic mythology and in Anglo-Saxon poetry, and J.R.R. Tolkien uses them for similar purposes in The Hobbit. … Continue reading Some Parallels Pertaining to Ravens (and Other Beasts of Battle)
“Reusing”: An Anglo-Saxon Guide to Plagiarism
Long ago, before stealing another’s work for your own was blighted with the poisonous multisyllabic Latinate word plagiarism, Anglo-Saxon writers were streamlining their historical documents by pasting paragraphs from previous writers into their own work. Later historians would exchange silent, shocked glances when they learned that their ancestors participated freely in this scandalous art. But … Continue reading “Reusing”: An Anglo-Saxon Guide to Plagiarism
Remembered Lore 