Table of contents.
Foreword. 7
1. Introduction. 9
1.1. J.R.R. Tolkien. 9
1.1.1. Tolkien, Old English and Philology. 12
1.1.2. Tolkien and alliterative poetry. 14
1.1.2.1. As a student and a linguist. 14
1.1.2.2. As a translator. 16
1.1.2.3. As an author. 18
1.2. Why write alliterative poetry ? 19
1.2.1. Challenge. 20
1.2.2. Creating an English Mythology. 21
1.3. What is alliterative poetry ? 24
1.3.1. Is all of Tolkien’s poetry alliterative ? 24
1.3.2. Single-line occurrences. 29
1.3.3. System and lineation. 30
1.4. Choice of corpus. 30
1.4.1. Exclusion of translations. 30
1.4.2. Classification. 31
2. Analysis of the corpus. 34
2.1. Method and goal. 34
2.2. The shorter poems. 35
2.2.1. Published works. 35
2.2.1.1. The Nameless Land. 35
2.2.1.2. The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun. 44
2.2.1.3. Songs for the Philologists. 44
2.2.1.4. Learn now the Lore of Living Creatures. 46
2.2.1.5. Arise, now, arise, Riders of Théoden. 48
2.2.1.6. Over the land there lies a long shadow. 50
2.2.1.7. From dark Dunharrow in the dim morning… 50
2.2.1.8. Mourn not overmuch. 52
2.2.1.9. Out of doubt, out of dark, to the day’s rising… 52
2.2.1.10. We heard of the horns in the hills ringing. 53
-Conclusion on Rohirric poetry. 55
2.2.1.11. The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth… 56
2.2.2. Posthumously published works. 62
2.2.2.1. The Lay of Eärendel. 62
2.2.2.2. The Flight of the Noldoli. 63
2.2.2.3. The Fall of Arthur. 67
2.2.2.4. King Sheave. 67
2.2.2.5. Wilt thou learn the lore… 71
2.2.3. Old English poetry. 72
2.2.3.1. Þá cóm of Mistóran… 72
2.2.3.2. Hwæt ! we Inclinga… 73
2.2.3.3. The Song of Ælfwine. 74
2.2.3.4. Monað modes lust… 75
2.2.3.5. Hwæt ! Éadweard cyning… 77
2.2.3.6. Westra lage… and other fragments. 79
2.2.3.7. For W.H.A. 80
3. Conclusion. 81
APPENDIX A.
Poems. A3
The Nameless Land / The Song of Ælfwine. A3
Bagme Bloma. A4
Éadig béo þu. A5
Arise, now, arise, Riders of Théoden. A6
Over the land there lies a long shadow. A6
From dark Dunharrow in the dim morning… A7
Mourn not overmuch. A7
Out of doubt, out of dark, to the day’s rising… A7
We heard of the horns in the hills ringing. A8
The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, Beorhthelm’s son. A9
The Lay of Eärendel. A23
The Flight of the Noldoli from Valinor. A24
The fall of Arthur. A28
King Sheave. A28
Wilt thou learn the lore… A32
Þá cóm of Mistóran… A32
The Song of Ælfwine A32
Monað modes lust A33
For W.H.A. A33
APPENDIX B.
Bibliography. A35
I. Works by J.R.R. Tolkien. A35
II. Recordings by J.R.R. Tolkien A36
III. Works about J.R.R. Tolkien. A37
IV. Reference Books. A37
V. Prospective bibliography. A38
A. Works by J.R.R. Tolkien. A38
B. Works on J.R.R. Tolkien. A39
C. Other works. A39