Section 3 Abstracts of the Proceedings of the J.R.R. Tolkien Centenary Conference

Tolkien Society: 'a star shines on the hour of our meeting'

Tolkien Centenary Conference Proceedings Abstracts

Eating, Devouring, Sacrifice and Ultimate Just Desserts.: Bilbo's fear of being eaten is expanded in The Lord of the Rings to include the Dark Lord's "devouring". In both the nursery sense of being "eaten up" and in the more sophisticated sense of enslavement, Tolkien uses this theme to discuss selfhood and free will, and to separate those who serve from those who consume and possess.

Power and Knowledge in Tolkien: The Problem of Difference in "The Birthday Party".: It is not altogether clear from reading The Lord of the Rings for the first time how political the hobbits Bilbo and Frodo are, even in the introductory chapter "A Long-expected Party". For there exist power struggles among the different hobbit families in the Shire, absurd in some cases, significant in others. One mark of the ability of Bilbo and Frodo is their sensitivity to the politics of the Shire, a faculty born of nurture and nature that will enable Frodo's mission and attract followers. This paper will reveal how Tolkien's understanding of leadership rests upon what might be termed a Post-modernist relationship between power and knowledge.

The Moral Epiphanies in The Lord of the Rings.: The topic of this study is not entirely new - other critics have written about the visionary moments in The Lord of the Rings that show various types of insights - but the author is interested in a modern context for those which are most psychologically orientated, suggested by Ashton Nichols' Poetics of Epiphany, and also in their use in the genre of the prose romance.

"Less Noise and More Green": Tolkien's Ideology for England.: This essay explores Tolkien's work (especially The Lord of the Rings) in terms of what I identify as his three central concerns, described here as English culture, nature and ethics. I also defend the work against its detractors, especially cultural materialists. I am more concerned with the reception of the work (e.g. its contemporary meanings) than its production.

The Earthly Paradise in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.: Valinor, modelled on the Earthly Paradise, is described more fully in Tolkien's posthumously published works than in The Lord of the Rings. Yet the fleeting Valinorean images within the trilogy have a powerful impact, heightening and simultaneously providing consolation for the horrors of Mordor.

Tolkien as Reviser: A Case Study.: The publication of drafts of The Lord of the Rings allows scholars to assess Tolkien as a reviser. A comparison of the early presentations of Gondor in The History of The Lord of the Rings, with the finished scenes indicates the nature and direction of Tolkien's changes. This paper will discuss how the process of revision contributed to the overall effect of the work.

Open Minds, Closed Minds in The Lord of the Rings.: A study of prejudice and tolerance, from the insularity of the Hobbits of the Shire to the mistrust between the Elves and Dwarves and the very nationalistic outlook of Denethor. This paper will show how some characters grew and became more tolerant, and that Tolkien was sensible enough to realize that only small steps can be taken at a time. It will also consider the unwillingness of some to believe in anything not witnessed with their own senses, thus leading them to discard as legendary much of the wonder of Middle-earth.