Tolkien and the Classics
Dec 11, 2023•51 min
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Summary
Professor Giuseppe Pezzini delves into the increasing recognition of classical reception in Tolkien's works, highlighting his extensive classical education and the explicit and implicit echoes of ancient Greek and Roman literature. The lecture centers on the "narrative of decline," tracing its origins from Hesiod's Ages of Man and Plato's Atlantis myth, and showcasing how Tolkien adapted this universal motif. Pezzini explains Tolkien's approach to myth-making as "rewriting" rather than mere adaptation, creating new embodiments of archetypal themes, and ultimately presenting a nuanced perspective on decline through the focalization of his Elvish characters while holding a more progressive personal view.Episode description
A talk by Professor Giuseppe Pezzini on the influences of Classical Literature on Tolkien. [Audio only] A talk by Professor Giuseppe Pezzini, Faculty of Classics, Oxford, on the influences of Classical Literature on Tolkien.. Part of the series to mark the 50th anniversary of Tolkien's death organised and hosted by Exeter College and the Faculty of English.
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