Das Irrlicht, by Arnold Böcklin, 1882 Will-o’-the-wisps are little dancing lights sometimes seen on bogs and moorlands, and occasionally in forests. Some have been reported to retreat from the viewer if followed, thus giving the impression that it was leading the viewer somewhere. Unfortunately, because will-o’-the-wisps were often seen on bogs and marshes, people who … Continue reading “Tricksy lights”: Will-o’-the-Wisps in Folklore & J.R.R. Tolkien
Tag: J.R.R. Tolkien
Tor, Brae, How, & Other Hill-ish Words
I began to discover different words for “hill” as I travelled through England and Scotland. In Canada, places are often named after people or after towns in the old country. In Britain, place-names often reflect the landscape. If, in the days of the Celts and Anglo-Saxons, one’s village was built near a hill, it was … Continue reading Tor, Brae, How, & Other Hill-ish Words
Why I Will Not Be Writing About “The Rings of Power”
Amazon has now fully released the first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. This is the first cinematic portrayal of J.R.R. Tolkien’s mythology since the release of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies in 2014. The series has unleashed a torment of reviews, both fiercely positive and … Continue reading Why I Will Not Be Writing About “The Rings of Power”
The Poet’s Song, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
The Poet’s Songby Alfred, Lord Tennyson The rain had fallen, the Poet arose, He passed by the town and out of the street,A bright wind blew from the gates of the sun, And waves of wind went over the wheat,And he sat him down in a lonely place, And chanted a melody loud and sweet,That … Continue reading The Poet’s Song, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
“Are you going my way, Starbrow?”
Are you going my way, Starbrow?Smith of Wootton Major, by J.R.R. Tolkien September 24th marked the second anniversary of Remembered Lore. I celebrated quietly, with a cup of tea and a silent toast. It is an honour to be writing here. You may have noticed the subtle shift in content from literature in general to … Continue reading “Are you going my way, Starbrow?”
Newest Additions to My Library (and Fall Academic Plans)
I am a story-lover. Perhaps that is obvious. I am also a bibliophile. Perhaps that also is obvious. But I am a slow, discerning bibliophile. Perhaps that is not obvious. My library grows one book at a time. Rarely will you see me emerge from a bookshop with more than two under my arm. But … Continue reading Newest Additions to My Library (and Fall Academic Plans)
“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
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”?
Remembered Lore 