Tolkien’s Elves

Long before hobbits set food in the Shire, Elves stood at the heart of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic tales of Middle-earth. From Lúthien of The Silmarillion to Legolas of The Lord of the Rings, they have continued to enchant readers for more than fifty years since Tolkien’s death.

In this illuminating talk, acclaimed Tolkien scholar John Garth explores the mythic origins of the Elves, drawing on sources that inspired Tolkien – from Norse mythology and Northern European folklore, to his own wartime experiences. We will trace their journey across the ages of Middle-earth, and discover the timeless themes they embody: immortality and loss, pride and redemption, and the mirror they hold up to our human lives.

You’ll also pick up a few practical tips on how to speak Elvish!

**Speaker bio:**

*John Garth is a journalist and author of the acclaimed biographical Tolkien and the Great War, winner of the Mythopoeic Award for Scholarship 2004, and was a Fellow in Humanistic Studies for 2015–16 at the Black Mountain Institute, University of Las Vegas, Nevada. Other writings include the definitive study of Tolkien's undergraduate life, Tolkien at Exeter College, nominated for the same award in 2015. He speaks regularly on Tolkien and related topics, in person and on air. John has also taught full-length and short courses on Tolkien for Oxford University’s Department for Continuing Education, for UNLV, and online for the Mythgard Institute at Signum University.*

Presented by Seed Talks

This is an 18+ event