MIRUVOR the Magazine of Taruithorn, the Oxford Tolkien Society
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MIRUVOR The magazine of Taruithorn, the Oxford Tolkien Society Hilary Term 2016 Contents 7 Cover a The Professor – Martha Buckley 32 k Oxonmoot 2015 – Eleanor 3 7 Contents Simmons 3 7 Editorial – Amrit Sidhu-Brar 34 d King Thingol’s Song – Eleanor 4 k Tolkien and (Neo)Paganism – Simmons Martha Buckley 36 a Hobbit-hole – Amrit Sidhu-Brar 10 k Bacon’s Folly – Joseph Bartram 38 l An Unexpected Meeting – Morgan 13 k “There is more to him than meets the Feldman eye”: Tolkien and Materialism – Cover a Éowyn – Martha Buckley Hebe Stanton 15 k Every Minstrel Hath his Tune: Six Albums inspired by the Lay of Leithian – Eleanor Simmons 19 k An Attempt at Computational Key: Analysis of Tolkien – Amrit d Poetry Sidhu-Brar l Creative prose 25 7 Lembas Recipes – Joseph Bartram k Non-fiction: essays, reviews, &c. 28 l The Not-So-Ruined Party – Morgan a Visual art Feldman 7 Other Editorial 7 Greetings, all! Welcome to Hilary most-for-Miruvor”. 2016’s issue of Miruvor. The second (and likely The Miruvor story has a few updates. Since last) issue of my editorship, and the first and the publication of the 25th Anniversary issue I’ve only non-“special” one (following the 25th been gradually posting the issues therein contained Anniversary issue last year) I’m happy to see it go to the Miruvor blog. In September I finally finished out to you voracious readers. This closing half of doing so. The blog got plenty of views, 2,697 in my tenure is taking place while I’m in exile in the 2015 to be exact, we got a couple of comments, Other Place – indeed you are holding an issue plenty of ‘likes’, and even a detailed (if rather nit- primarily composed in that enemy territory! picky) response to Joe’s calendar series on a forum! Admittedly, however, my planned (and planned In Society news, the new Facebook page and group to be very biased, obviously) comparing cross- seem to be going strong. Varsity Tolkienian practices never materialised, The most momentous occurrence to relate, primarily due to my failure to attend our rival though, is that, primarily thanks to Matthew’s Society. I have, however, managed to enter their monumental efforts, every single back issue Facebook group, so if anyone needs any covert of Miruvor known to exist is now available to operations carried out, I’m your Ranger. download as a PDF on the Back Issues page of the So, we’ve a nice set of articles, with cover Miruvor blog, so do have a browse! drawings from Martha, stories from Morgan, essays If this issue inspires you to write/draw/ from Hebe and I, and a wondrous genre-spanning compose/blabber incoherently, I’m always happy selection from Joe and Eleanor, reprising their to receive articles – send them in to the society apparent perpetual role as “people-who-write-the- account at [email protected] or the Miruvor 3 one at [email protected] and they should My thanks must go to all our contributors, such titles as Christopaganism; Neopaganism is becoming find their way to the current Editor. Do have a look and I hope you enjoy the issue, an inclusive path, and Christian stronger as a movement as it at the blog at http://taruithornmiruvor.wordpress. Amrit, Wicca: The Trinitarian tradition.3 recognises that ancient origins com, especially the newly filled Back Issue page! Miruvor Editor If the answer to establishing are not the be all and end all the validity of Neopaganism of spiritual legitimacy, and it is numbers, then the picture begins to own its more modern is heartening. The written characteristics. However, while Tolkien and (Neo)Paganism k responses to the ‘other religion’ Neopagans are largely happy option on the 2011 UK census to ‘borrow useful material from Martha Buckley Mornington Crescent Representative, 2013-present show that 57,000 identified sources rejected by mainstream as Pagan, 11,766 Wiccan, and scholarship’7 there is one aspect In some lights, Neopaganism could be Neopaganism, which is still a relative newcomer to 4,189 Druid.4 Easy access to of Neopagan inspiration which considered a spirituality with an identity crisis. the theological scene. The history of Neopaganism online material means that even the more relaxed can To many, what seems to be a polytheistic pick is not something that can be discussed here increasing numbers of people sometimes be a little embarrassed and mix appears to be on a search for legitimacy (indeed, it has taken several authors several books!), are finding access to information to raise… in the wider community. In this article, I hope but a quick sketch (with all the qualifiers it implies) about alternative spiritualties, to explore the thematic links between Tolkien’s is as follows, taking the example of the Druid and Neopaganism, particularly 2. Fantasy Literature work and contemporary Paganism. This isn’t an movement; 17th century revival Druidry begins as Wicca, continues to grow in – Neopaganism’s8 worst-kept article about whether Tolkien was a treehugger, a Christian mystery and charitable organisation popularity in the US. So much secret? but rather how and why Tolkien’s writing has (a little like modern Freemasonry), the Romantic for numbers. A quick straw poll; of the inspired so many Neopagans, and why it feels so movement builds on the awareness of beauty When it comes to history, things are eleven books explicitly concerning (Neo)Paganism comfortably familiar.1 and divinity in nature, and the Victorians borrow a lot more complicated. It is Neopaganism’s on my bookshelf, five mention fantasy literature I should assert at the outset that I am a meditation methods from Anglican and Buddhist insistence on the need for a longstanding history and three mention Tolkien significantly enough practicing Neopagan and a 16th century historian sources, solidifying reverence for nature, personal that has arguably been one of the biggest reasons that he gains a entry in the index. Considering by training. This is intended to be a pretty light- development, and historically inspired ritual. for its lack of widespread acceptance. In the wake that many of those are academic history works, hearted article, but I am happy to discuss its Follow this with the ‘New Age’ philosophies of of increasing scholarship on the modern Pagan it’s not a bad success rate! Fantasy9 literature is themes in more detail either here or in person. It the 60s, the deepening ecological crisis, and an movement and its antecedents, it has become often the elephant in the room when it comes to is impossible to address the multiplicity of modern increasing yearning for the seeming simplicity of an increasingly futile to protest the ancient origins of Neopagan inspirations, and the more advanced Pagan traditions here, but I attempt to define/ earlier age, and you’ve got the basis for a historically the current system. In sum; ‘in the last few decades Neopagan books become, the less likely they are to defend my use of common terms and theories in aware nature-based polytheistic belief system!2 Pagans have been reassessing their origin myths…the mention this awkward relative. One of the great the footnotes; please see the bibliography for more In current Neopagan writing, there is a old ‘facts’ included folkloric and early anthropological exceptions is Listening People, Speaking Earth, leads. Those readers with previous knowledge of pervading sense that the spirituality needs to define notions of the survival of the ancient religions in which has a whole section on fantasy literature and Neopaganism and its current zeitgeist (or who want itself in different ways than simply with reference popular practices…much of this is now rejected by paganism. It suggests that ‘Fantasy re-enchants the to get straight to the Tolkien!) may wish to skip to to ‘the other’; the monoliths of established world academics and Pagans alike’.5 In the words of the world for many people, allowing them to talk of elves… section 2. religions such as Christianity. “We are us because we ever-direct and tongue in cheek Isaac Bonewits talking-trees and magic’ as well as showing ‘different 1. The quest for identity – an overview. are not them” isn’t a strategy that can be sustained ‘over 90 percent of what is available in print about ways of relating to the world, the use and abuse of How can a spirituality or religious movement long-term, particularly in the face of theological and the Paleopagan druids is nonsense…when in doubt, power...and issues of race, gender and sexuality’.10 I gain validity both within and outside of its practical approaches which blend Neopaganism consult your nearest tree’!6 would argue that this is by far not the only or most own community? This is a pressing concern for with other majority belief systems, giving rise to 1 My excuse at this point is that while writing this I was moving job, house, and office. I realize that there is much I 4 http://visual.ons.gov.uk/2011-census-religion/. Wicca and Druidry are the two largest subgroups of the Neopagan have skated over, and hope that those looking for something else aren’t too disappointed! This needs a series rather than movement, with others including Shamanism and Heathenism an article. 5 Clifton, Chas S., ‘Nature Religion for Real’ 335-341, in Clifton and Harvey (eds.), The Paganism Reader (Routledge 2 A potted and rather unforgiving history can be found in Davies, Owen, Paganism: A Very Short Introduction (OUP 2004), p.335. 2011). I would balance this with the first part of McColman, Carl,The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Paganism (Alpha 6 Bonewits, p.298.