About the Author
Nicole is a writer, scholar, and thinker. Her primary interest lies in the roots of stories and words, and in connecting them to contemporary literature and language. Her background in Classical literature and J.R.R. Tolkien, and her introduction to Beowulf in 2017, sealed her appreciation for early European story-telling. After studying Latin and the Great Books for three years, she went on to read Old English literature with the University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education before beginning to conduct her own research. In 2021 she founded The Wordstapas, a literary society for the reading and discussion of myth, poetry, and the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. She is now pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at Tyndale University in Toronto, Canada.
Nicole is currently on a methodical, self-guided journey through the legends of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table, known collectively as the “Matter of Britain.” Generally speaking, she prefers the Old to the New—excepting a few special cases, such as BBC Sherlock, and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. She fuels her love of literature and history by frequent wanders across Europe, is an (very) amateur poet and artist, and a hearty supporter of tartan-wearing.
I sometimes think that we stand at the sunset…It may be that night will close over us in the end, but I believe that morning will come again. Morning always grows again out of the darkness, though maybe not for the people who saw the sun go down. We are the Lantern Bearers my friend; for us to keep something burning, to carry what light we can forward into the darkness and the wind.
Rosemary Sutcliff
About this Blog
This is an invitation to remember. To hear again the ancient tales and reawake appreciation for their depth and intricacy.
Remembered Lore is an attempt to examine—in general and in detail—the threads that form the Tapestry of Story. It is by no means exhaustive, and focuses primarily (but not exclusively) on threads pertaining to Norse, Anglo-Saxon, and Celtic mythology, with some deviations into “contemporary literature” (circa 1800-), poetry, and frequent scampers down etymological rabbit trails.
The aim of the content herein is to be approachable and instructive while remaining properly researched. Arguments and ideas are cited, and links to sources included where possible. The Resources page lists recommended books and websites for those who are interested.
Let wonder not be lost, but regained!
Places to start:
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The Wordstapas
Read many books and hear many tales,
but know which you should believe.
Old English Proverb
The Wordstapas (“word-steppers”) is an online literary society focused on breathing new life into old tales, reawakening appreciation for timeless story-telling, and bringing notice to the mythological tradition that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien.
Photograph by S. Koehn – British Museum, London
Remembered Lore