Leiden University Student Repository

Lench, Jonathan (2020)

Migration in the Myth: The Role of Migration in Tolkien's Fiction

Master thesis | Literary Studies (MA)

This project examines Tolkien's utilisation of migration in his fantasy world-building. Firstly, it explores the utilisation of Medieval tropes, themes and imagery in Middle-Earth, and how this creates the basis for believable fictional societies. Following this, it shows how the interactions between Tolkien's societies and characters contribute to the development of Middle-Earth as a fantasy world. Finally, these insights become a lens through which to view the theme of race in Tolkien's fantasy, and show a particular conception of racial issues that repeats itself throughout Tolkien's fiction.

Tolkien

Race

Migration

Feigned history

Fantasy

Medieval

Author

Lench, Jonathan

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

English literature and Culture

Supervisors

Porck, Thijs

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en