Tolkiens Influence on the Medievalism of Names in Fantasy Literature - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Tolkien’s Influence on the ‘Medievalism’ of Names in Fantasy Literature

Sara L. Uckelman @SaraLUckelman @thedmnes

Durham University

25th International Medieval Congress 03 July 2018, Leeds, England

Sara L. Uckelman (Durham) 03 July 2018 1 / 6

The ‘grandfathers’ of modern fantasy literature

William Morris (1834–1896) and J.R.R. Tolkien (1892–1973) Both steeped medieval European culture and literature.

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The influence of medieval studies on names in Morris, and

• f Morris on Tolkien

Morris’s books are written in the style of medieval romances. Many of Morris’s characters have ordinary medieval names, either English (Ralph, Ursula, Blaise, and Richard) or Scandinavian (Morfinn and Gandolf). Morris influenced Tolkien in both literary style/genre and names. Note similar names in Morris/Tolkien, e.g., Gandolf/Gandalf.

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Medieval names in Tolkien

Genuine medieval names: Gandalf, Thorin, Frodo, Theodred, Peregrine. Constructed along medieval (often Old English) lines: Eowyn, Eomer, Samwise, Hamfast. Distinctly non-medieval names: names in Sindarin, Quenya, Khuzdul, etc.

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How medieval are fantasy names?

Generic fantasy names often generic medieval names (with respellings!) Fantasy-fantasy names are explicitly distinguished.

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The problem (and a solution)

Problem: “Names which are not fantasy-fantasy must be medieval.”

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The problem (and a solution)

Problem: “Names which are not fantasy-fantasy must be medieval.” NO

Sara L. Uckelman (Durham) 03 July 2018 6 / 6

The problem (and a solution)

Problem: “Names which are not fantasy-fantasy must be medieval.” NO A solution Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources http://dmnes.org

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