An overview of the book and author

Born 1882, South Africa Moved to Britain as a

boy Developed an interest in

fantasy, fairy tales, and languages

Became a professor of Anglo-Saxon and English Language and Literature at Oxford University

Fell in love at 16, but had to wait until he was done with school to pursue the relationship

Married Edith Mary Bratt

Served in WWI; became ill with trench fever

First real job: definitions for the OED

Became a professor at Oxford

Wrote stories for his 4 children

Member of the Inklings Friend of C.S. Lewis &

W.H. Auden

During exams: “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”

Published in 1937• Designed early covers and maps

Possible influences:• World War I • Anglo-Saxons• Beowulf• Norse mythology

Quickly became a bestseller Tolkien’s publisher asked for a sequel Tolkien submits The Silmarillion The publisher asks for more hobbit

stories Tolkien pens The Lord of the Rings

series Tolkien edits The Hobbit

In 1951, Tolkien adjusted the outcome of a riddle game in the book

Tolkien uses a preface to explain the change as dishonesty on the part of Bilbo, a hobbit

In 1966, a 3rd edition of the book is released with edited narration

Translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, from Old English to contemporary English

“Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics”, a lecture on Beowulf

The Lord of the Rings trilogy

As a child, Tolkien was bitten by a baboon spider, a type of tarantula

When his wife Edith died in 1971, he had “Luthien” added after her name on their gravestone. It means “blossom”

He had “Beren”, meaning “brave”, added after his name. Tolkien died in 1973, age 81.

In Tolkien’s legendarium, Beren is a warrior who falls in love with the elf Luthien.

1977: animated 78-minute production• Made many changes from

the text• Criticized by many for “poor

animation” Peter Jackson’s version

• Two-part film• December 2010, December

2011