The Keys of Middle-earth

The Keys of Middle-earth: Discovering Medieval Literature through the Fiction of J.R.R. Tolkien is a scholarly book by Stuart D. Lee and Elizabeth Solopova, published in 2005. It aims to provide an understanding of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy writings in the context of medieval literature, including Old English, Middle English, and Old Norse.

The main body of the book offers short excerpts from fourteen medieval literary works in these languages. Each section consists of a plot summary of the relevant part of Tolkien's story; an introduction to the medieval text; a discussion of Tolkien's use of the text; and finally a text. The texts are facing-page (parallel) with new line-by-line translation if it's Old English or Old Norse, or no translation but plentiful notes for Middle English.

A second edition was published in 2015, adding several new texts and essays, with updated discussions in the light of more recent publications.

Throughout the book are some quotes from Tolkien's unpublished academic papers.

Contents
  • How to Use This Book
  • Introduction
    • Background
    • Medieval literature and language: the basics
    • Specific medieval languages and literatures
    • Thematic and technical parallels
  • The Editions
  • The Texts
    • Túrin Turambar – the Kalevala
    • Eärendil – Christ I
    • Gandalf and the Dwarves – Völuspá
    • Bilbo and Gollum's Riddle-Game – Solomon and Saturn II; Vafþrúðnismál; and two Old English riddles
    • Bilbo meets Smaug – Beowulf
    • The Elves at Rivendell – Sir Orfeo
    • Legolas's 'Lament of the Stones' – The Ruin
    • The Fight at Balin's Tomb – The Fight at Finnsburg and 'Cynewulf and Cyneheard'
    • The Crossing of the Nimrodel – Pearl
    • Boromir's Death – Beowulf
    • Treebeard's List – Maxims II
    • The Rohirrim – The Wanderer and Beowulf
    • The Battle of Pelennor Fields, the Death of Théoden, and the Arrival of the Mûmakil – The Battle of Maldon, Ælfric's Homily on the Maccabees, and Jordanes' Getica
    • The Landscape of Mordor – Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
    • The final journey – The Seafarer
  • Bibliography
  • Index
Publication history and gallery
The Keys of Middle-earth 2005.jpg
2015 second edition
2015 second edition
  • Palgrave Macmillan, hardcover (2005), pp. 284. ISBN 978-1403946720
  • Palgrave Macmillan, hardcover (2015), pp. 395. ISBN 978-1137454683
    • paperback (2015), ISBN 978-1137454690
Referencias

1. Esta ficha se ha importado inicialmente de TolkienGateway.net el día 30/05/2026.

Colaboran en la Tolkienpedia

Sociedad Tolkien Española