Remembering JRR Tolkien
The famed author that still feeds the imagination of many
Remembering J.R.R Tolkien
Throughout Tolkien’s 81 years, the author would create some of the most iconic stories in popular culture, which are still celebrated and highly respected by millions around the world today. The English author is considered the father of modern fantasy, his imagination would create many lands and beloved characters which generated an empire with many of his books. “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” series would be adapted to film by Peter Jackson and become massive film franchises. His works go beyond fantasy literature and stretch into many cores of pop culture, an unexpected example would be in the rock music of the late 60’s and 70´s. Bands like Led Zeppelin would use some of its imagery and visual styles in its music and its lyrics. Although he passed away more than 50 years ago, the universe he created only seems to grow in popularity as the year’s pass
The English writer, poet, philologist, and academic J.R.R Tolkien, was born John Ronald Reuel Tolkien on January 3, 1892, in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Tolkien’s early life was marked by the loss of both parents. His father, Arthur Tolkien, died in 1896, prompting his mother, Mabel, to move with him and his younger brother to England. His mother passed away when he was 12, leaving Tolkien and his brother under the guardianship of a Catholic priest, Father Francis Morgan. This period significantly influenced Tolkien’s deep Catholic faith, which played an important role throughout his life.
Tolkien’s academic journey began at King Edward’s School in Birmingham, where he displayed a talent for languages. He later attended Exeter College, Oxford, where he studied English Language and Literature, graduating with first-class honors in 1915. Shortly thereafter, Tolkien served in World War I, an experience that profoundly influenced his writing, particularly his depiction of the horrors of war.
After the war, Tolkien returned to academic life, securing a position as a lexicographer on the “Oxford English Dictionary.” He later became a professor at the University of Leeds and then at Oxford, where he served as the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon and later as the Merton Professor of English Language and Literature.
Tolkien’s academic work focused on Old and Middle English literature, but he is best known for his fiction, particularly “The Hobbit” (1937) and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy (1954-1955). These works, set in the fictional world of Middle-earth, established Tolkien as the father of modern fantasy literature. His stories are deeply rooted in his knowledge of mythology, languages, and medieval literature, showcasing his scholarly background.
In his personal life, Tolkien was devoted to his family. He married Edith Bratt in 1916, and they had four children together. Their relationship, which began when they were both teenagers, was a source of deep inspiration for Tolkien, particularly reflected in the tale of Beren and Lúthien from “The Silmarillion.”
Tolkien retired from Oxford in 1959 and spent his later years living quietly in Bournemouth. He continued to work on his fictional universe, although many of his posthumously published works, such as “The Silmarillion” (1977), were edited and compiled by his son, Christopher Tolkien.
J.R.R. Tolkien passed away on September 2, 1973, at the age of 81. His legacy as a writer, scholar, and creator of one of the most detailed and beloved fictional worlds endures, making him one of the most influential authors of the 20th century. Watch Tolkien’s BBC TV interview in 1968
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