Who was J. R. R. Tolkien? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In January

Also Known As: John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Died At Age: 81

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Edith Bratt (1916–1971)

father: Arthur Reuel Tolkien, Arthur Tolkien

mother: Mabel, Mabel Tolkien

siblings: Hilary Arthur Reuel

children: Christopher John, Christopher Tolkien, John Francis, John Tolkien, Michael Hilary, Michael Tolkien, Priscilla Anne, Priscilla Tolkien

Born Country: South Africa

Poets Novelists

Height: 5'9" (175 cm), 5'9" Males

Died on: September 2, 1973

place of death: Bournemouth, England

Personality: INFP

Notable Alumni: Exeter College, Oxford

Cause of Death: Bleeding Ulcer And Chest Infection

epitaphs: Beren

More Facts

education: Exeter College, Oxford

awards: Prometheus Hall of Fame Award
1978 - Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel
- Mythopoeic Fantasy Award

- Gandalf Award for Book-Length Fantasy
- International Fantasy Award for Fiction

Recommended For You

1

What inspired J. R. R. Tolkien to create Middle-earth?

J. R. R. Tolkien's inspiration for creating Middle-earth came from his love of languages, mythology, and folklore, particularly Norse and Celtic legends.
2

What is the significance of the One Ring in Tolkien's works?

The One Ring is a central element in Tolkien's Middle-earth mythology, representing ultimate power and corruption. It plays a crucial role in "The Lord of the Rings" as the primary focus of the quest to destroy it.
3

What are the main themes explored in J. R. R. Tolkien's works?

Some of the main themes in Tolkien's works include the battle between good and evil, the importance of friendship and loyalty, the corrupting influence of power, and the idea of heroism and sacrifice.
4

How did J. R. R. Tolkien's experiences in World War I influence his writing?

Tolkien's experiences as a soldier in World War I, where he witnessed the horrors of war, influenced the themes of loss, despair, and heroism in his writing, particularly in "The Lord of the Rings."
5

What is the significance of the Ents in Tolkien's Middle-earth?

The Ents are tree-like creatures in Tolkien's mythology that symbolize nature, wisdom, and the importance of preserving the natural world. They play a key role in the events of "The Lord of the Rings" by aiding in the fight against Sauron.

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Childhood & Early Life

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892, in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State (modern-day South Africa), to Mabel Suffield and English bank manager Arthur Reuel Tolkien.

His father died of rheumatic fever when he was three, and hence, started living with his maternal grandparents in Kings Heath, Birmingham, along with his mother and younger brother, Hilary.

After initial education at home, he went to ‘King Edward’s School’ and later attended ‘St. Philip’s School.’ He returned to ‘King Edward’s School’ through a ‘Foundation Scholarship’ in 1903.

His mother died in 1904 due to acute diabetes. Thereafter, he was brought up by her friend, Fr. Francis Xavier Morgan of the ‘Birmingham Oratory.’

In 1911, he enrolled at ‘Exeter College,’ Oxford, to study classics but changed his course to study English language and literature in 1913. He graduated with first-class honors in 1915.

He penned his first poem ‘From the many-willow’d margin of the immemorial Thames’ in 1913, at ‘Exeter College.’ The poem was published in the college’s ‘Stapeldon Magazine.’

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Career

Around 1909, he composed ‘The Book of the Foxrook,’ a sixteen-page notebook.

He began to work on what he called ‘The Book of Lost Tales,’ beginning with ‘The Fall of Gondolin.’

He served as a second lieutenant in the ‘Lancashire Fusiliers’ in 1916 and fought in the ‘Battle of the Somme’ on the Western Front. He contracted trench fever, a typhus-like infection, due to which he was sent back to England.

On November 1920, he was demobilized and left the army, retaining his rank of lieutenant.

In 1918, he started working as an assistant lexicographer at ‘The Oxford English Dictionary.’ Subsequently, in 1920, he joined the ‘University of Leeds’ as a reader in English Language.

He produced ‘A Middle English Vocabulary’ and an edition of ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’ along with E.V. Gordon.

In 1925, he joined ‘Oxford University’ as Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon, where he published the philological essay ‘Nodens’ in 1932. The essay was based on the 1928 unearthing of a Roman Asclepeion by Sir Mortimer Wheeler at Lydney Park, Gloucestershire.

The first three volumes of his epic novel ‘The Lord of the Rings’ – ‘The Fellowship of the Ring,’ ‘The Two Towers,’ and ‘The Return of the King’ received mixed reviews from the readers.

His lecture on ‘Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics’ in 1936, based on the early medieval epic ‘Beowulf,’ was highly appreciated.

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During ‘World War II,’ he was assigned as a codebreaker in the cryptographic department of the Foreign Office in 1939. However, he never worked as a codebreaker due to non-requirement of his services.

He was hired by ‘Merton College,’ Oxford, in 1945 as a Professor of English Language and Literature, a position which he retained until his retirement in 1959.

He wrote numerous fantasy tales for children, which included ‘The Father Christmas Letters,’ ‘Mr. Bliss and Roverandom,’ ‘Tree and Leaf,’ ‘Smith of Wootton Major,’ ‘On Fairy-Stories,’ and ‘The Adventures of Tom Bombadil.’

During his retirement life, from 1959 until his death in 1973, Tolkien received public attention and literary fame. In 1961, his friend C. S. Lewis even nominated him for the prestigious ‘Nobel Prize in Literature.’

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British Novelists

Major Works

He translated the Old English epic poem ‘Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary’ in 1926. However, it was edited and published posthumously by his son in 2014.

He wrote the award-winning novel ‘The Hobbit’ – an interpretation of the history of Middle-earth in 1937. Supported by over 100 drawings, the novel became popular as a children’s book, though it was originally written for adults.

While writing a sequel to ‘The Hobbit,’ he produced the highly-successful book ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ which was completed over a period of ten years, with the first three parts published during 1954-55 as a trilogy.

Awards & Achievements

‘The National University of Ireland’ and ‘University of Liege’ presented him with an honorary degree in 1954.

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In 1972, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.

His work ‘The Silmarillion’ won the ‘Locus Award’ for ‘Best Fantasy novel’ in 1978.

In 2002, he was ranked number 92 on the list of ‘100 Greatest Britons’ by ‘BBC.’ In 2004, he was placed at number 35 on SABC3’s ‘Great South Africans.’

‘The Lord of the Rings’ was adjudged UK’s ‘best-loved novel’ in a survey conducted by ‘BBC’ in 2003. Australians voted the book as ‘My Favorite Book’ in a poll conducted by the ‘Australian ABC’ in 2004.

He was placed sixth on the list of ‘The 50 greatest British writers since 1945’ which was published by ‘The Times’ in 2008.

In 2009, he was named as the fifth top-earning ‘dead celebrity’ by ‘Forbes.’

Personal Life & Legacy

When he was 16, he got romantically involved with Edith Mary Bratt, but was asked not to see her until he turned 21 by his guardian, Father Morgen. At 21, he renewed his relationship with Edith and got engaged to her in 1913. He got married to her in 1916 at ‘St. Mary Immaculate Roman Catholic Church,’ Warwick.

The couple had four children – John Francis Reuel Tolkien (1917), Michael Hilary Reuel Tolkien (1920), Christopher John Reuel Tolkien (1924), and Priscilla Mary Anne Reuel Tolkien (1929).

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His wife Edith died in 1971 and was buried at ‘Wolvercote Cemetery,’ Oxford. He died 21 months later in 1973 and was put to rest in his wife’s grave.

Several of his works and stories were published posthumously by his son Christopher. Some of his works that were published posthumously include ‘The Silmarillion,’ ‘Mr. Bliss,’ ‘The Fall of Arthur,’ ‘Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth,’ and ‘The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún.’

‘The Lord of the Rings’ was adapted into an Oscar-winning film trilogy. The films were released from 2001 to 2003.

‘The Hobbit’ saw movie adaptations in three installments – ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ (2012), ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ (2013), and ‘The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies’ (2014).

‘Oxford University’ offers a professorship in his name, ‘J.R.R. Tolkien Professor of English Literature and Language,’ while ‘The Tolkien Society’ organizes ‘Tolkien Reading Day’ on March 25 every year in schools worldwide.

Seven blue plaques have been inducted across four cities in England to mark his association - Birmingham, Bournemouth, Leeds, and Oxford.

Facts About J. R. R. Tolkien

Tolkien created multiple languages for his fictional world of Middle-earth, including Elvish languages like Quenya and Sindarin, showcasing his passion for linguistics.

Tolkien was a close friend of fellow author C.S Lewis, and they were part of a literary group called the Inklings, where they would meet to discuss their works and share ideas.

Despite being known for his epic fantasy novels, Tolkien also wrote and illustrated whimsical letters to his children from Father Christmas, complete with elaborate backstories and illustrations.

Tolkien was a respected scholar of Old English and Norse literature, drawing inspiration from these ancient texts for his own works such as "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings".

In addition to his writing talents, Tolkien was also an accomplished artist, creating intricate sketches and maps to accompany his stories, adding depth and detail to the world of Middle-earth.

J. R. R. Tolkien Biography

You wanted to know

What inspired J. R. R. Tolkien to create Middle-earth?

What is the significance of the One Ring in Tolkien's works?

What are the main themes explored in J. R. R. Tolkien's works?

How did J. R. R. Tolkien's experiences in World War I influence his writing?

What is the significance of the Ents in Tolkien's Middle-earth?