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Child of the 7th Age · 08-28-2002, 11:53 AM

Tolkien prepared scholarly translations of Sir Gawaine and the Green Knight, the Pearl poem, and Sir Orfeo during his life. Sir Gawain was even broadcast on the BBC in 1953. Some of the translations were done in consultation with other scholars. Tolkien hoped to add an extensive introduction and commentary, but, alas, like the Legendarium, this was never completely finished.

Christopher Tolkien went ahead and prepared these manuscripts for publication in 1975 within a single volume after his father's death. He left them pretty much "as is" using the pieces of introduction and commentary that were extant and not trying to add anything else.

I am less familiar with Sir Orfeo, but Gawaine and Pearl are considered to be masterpieces of medieval literature. They are probably by the same author, and both are written in the dialect of the West Midlands, that part of England where Tolkien's heart was truly set.

Gawaine is a tale that puts forward a Christian ideal of knighthood and also rejects the concept of adulterous love. This latter point was no small thing, since the whole movement of "courtly love" which swept out from France over all of western Europe in the 12th century, actually embraced the concept of infidelity.

The Pearl poem is even more poignant. It is a father whose two-year old daughter has died. He has a dream in which he sees her among the elect of heaven. She rejects his overtures to return to earth, as she gently explains that he may rejoin her only through death, and this must come after he resigns himself to the will of God.

You can see from the themes in these poems, as well as their background in the West Midlands how they might have appealed deeply to Tolkien. Before Tolkien, philologists addressed their works almost solely to other philologists. Tolkien wanted to go beyond this. He felt that any educated person who had a background in literature or history should be able to appreciate medieval literature.

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

[ August 31, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

08-28-2002, 11:53 AM	#5
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Tolkien prepared scholarly translations of Sir Gawaine and the Green Knight, the Pearl poem, and Sir Orfeo during his life. Sir Gawain was even broadcast on the BBC in 1953. Some of the translations were done in consultation with other scholars. Tolkien hoped to add an extensive introduction and commentary, but, alas, like the Legendarium, this was never completely finished. Christopher Tolkien went ahead and prepared these manuscripts for publication in 1975 within a single volume after his father's death. He left them pretty much "as is" using the pieces of introduction and commentary that were extant and not trying to add anything else. I am less familiar with Sir Orfeo, but Gawaine and Pearl are considered to be masterpieces of medieval literature. They are probably by the same author, and both are written in the dialect of the West Midlands, that part of England where Tolkien's heart was truly set. Gawaine is a tale that puts forward a Christian ideal of knighthood and also rejects the concept of adulterous love. This latter point was no small thing, since the whole movement of "courtly love" which swept out from France over all of western Europe in the 12th century, actually embraced the concept of infidelity. The Pearl poem is even more poignant. It is a father whose two-year old daughter has died. He has a dream in which he sees her among the elect of heaven. She rejects his overtures to return to earth, as she gently explains that he may rejoin her only through death, and this must come after he resigns himself to the will of God. You can see from the themes in these poems, as well as their background in the West Midlands how they might have appealed deeply to Tolkien. Before Tolkien, philologists addressed their works almost solely to other philologists. Tolkien wanted to go beyond this. He felt that any educated person who had a background in literature or history should be able to appreciate medieval literature. sharon, the 7th age hobbit [ August 31, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.