University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2008 Recreating Beowulf’s “Pregnant Moment of Poise”: Pagan Doom and Christian Eucatastrophe Made Incarnate in the Dark Age Setting of The Lord of the Rings Scott Davis Howard The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Howard, Scott Davis, "Recreating Beowulf’s “Pregnant Moment of Poise”: Pagan Doom and Christian Eucatastrophe Made Incarnate in the Dark Age Setting of The Lord of the Rings" (2008). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 805. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/805 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. i RECREATING BEOWULF’S “PREGNANT MOMENT OF POISE”: PAGAN DOOM AND CHRISTIAN EUCATASTROPHE MADE INCARNATE IN THE DARK AGE SETTING OF THE LORD OF THE RINGS By Scott Davis Howard B.S., Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont, 2000 Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in English, Literature The University of Montana Missoula, MT Spring 2008 Approved by: Dr. David A. Strobel, Dean Graduate School Dr. John Hunt, Chair English Dr. Ashby M. Kinch English Dr. Eric Reimer English Dr. Paul Dietrich Liberal Studies ii Howard, Scott, M.A., May 2008 English Recreating Beowulf’s “Pregnant Moment of Poise”: Pagan Doom and Christian Eucatastrophe Made Incarnate in the Dark Age Setting of The Lord of the Rings Chairperson: John Hunt In The Lord of the Rings , Tolkien recreates the “pregnant moment of poise” that inspired him in his study of Beowulf .