Oxonmoot 2021

Since Tolkien created his own myths for Middle-Earth and beyond, readers and fans can’t help comparing them to other legends. Since most folk-tales have certain common elements, this seems to be the case with Tolkien’s sub-creations as well. While many parallels with European myths can be found in Tolkien’s works, readers & scholars from other non-European countries can relate to many aspects of Tolkien’s myths as well.

In this Discussion Group we’ll be exploring how his readers from other continents can point out various elements of his Legendarium that are similar to mythic aspects of their own regions. These could consist of story structures, sub-plots, individuals/beings/entities/creatures, characterizations, character arcs, story arcs, archetypes, place descriptions, metaphorical or symbolic interpretations of events/conditions, or plot devices. Readers and fans are invited to pitch in, and to tell us about how they read/see Tolkien’s Legendarium from the mythic perspectives/lens of their own cultural background.