Tolkien's Medievalism in Ruins - The Function of Relics and Ruins in Middle-earth

The structural and symbolic purposes of ruins in literary texts have a long history, yet few scholars explore their importance within J. R. R. Tolkien''s legendarium. From the ruins of Erebor and the relics of Gondolin appearing in The Hobbit to the various images of Amon Sul, Moria, and Osgiliath in The Lord of the Rings , Tolkien constructs a distinct mood-one that captures characters'' awareness of the glories of the past and a desire to emulate them. The scholars who do engage Tolkien''s relics and ruins tend to limit the scope to Tolkien''s debt to the Middle Ages. While such scholarship begins important conversations, the full story of Tolkien''s relics and ruins is left untold. Tolkien''s Medievalism in Ruins takes corrective action and expands this historical and critical literary scope. This collection seeks to promote a more comprehensive approach to Tolkien''s legendarium.

Product details

• Authors: Nick Katsiadas, Carl Sell
• Assisted by: Nick Katsiadas (Editor), Carl Sell (Editor)
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 08.01.2026
• EAN: 9781666971484
• ISBN: 978-1-66697-148-4
• No. of pages: 268
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; LITERARY CRITICISM / Medieval, LITERARY CRITICISM / Comparative Literature, Comparative Literature, Literature & literary studies, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, Literature: history & criticism, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval