Eledhwen
01-16-2005, 04:32 PM
This archived document (http://otherhands.com/archives/articles/13/new_middle_earth.html) inspired me to start this thread. It is an essay on how Tolkien translated The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, LotR and others from the original Elvish, and gives his MSS sources, adding to the illusion Tolkien himself tried to create of historical mythological sources for his work. It begins with an explanation in italics.
I think it is a well written, plausible piece of work, and without reading a good Tolkien biography it is difficult to ascertain whether he actually visited some of the places claimed or not. I really enjoyed reading it, and thought others might too. Here's a sample:...Certainly, modern translations of texts credited to Ælfwine were not made until after Tolkien's return to Oxford. However, the Old English manuscripts from which these translations were made probably came into Tolkien's possession during his time in Leeds. These 'Leeds MSS' contained Elven history and lore which Tolkien clearly considered more authoritative than his translations from the Oxford MSS. By 1926 he had abandoned the 'Book of Lost Tales' as originally conceived, and the later 'Silmarillion' texts (see below) all derive from Ælfwine. This is interesting, as the Oxford material was in an Elven tongue, and thus might be imagined the more accurate account. However, Tolkien (presumably) could not call upon the ylfe for assistance, as Ælfwine seems to have done.
I think it is a well written, plausible piece of work, and without reading a good Tolkien biography it is difficult to ascertain whether he actually visited some of the places claimed or not. I really enjoyed reading it, and thought others might too. Here's a sample:...Certainly, modern translations of texts credited to Ælfwine were not made until after Tolkien's return to Oxford. However, the Old English manuscripts from which these translations were made probably came into Tolkien's possession during his time in Leeds. These 'Leeds MSS' contained Elven history and lore which Tolkien clearly considered more authoritative than his translations from the Oxford MSS. By 1926 he had abandoned the 'Book of Lost Tales' as originally conceived, and the later 'Silmarillion' texts (see below) all derive from Ælfwine. This is interesting, as the Oxford material was in an Elven tongue, and thus might be imagined the more accurate account. However, Tolkien (presumably) could not call upon the ylfe for assistance, as Ælfwine seems to have done.