The Influence of William Morris

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Now that's downright fascinating, Elempi! It really does sound as if Morris could be a model for Bilbo, and the Icelandic houses for hobbit holes. I wouldn't be surprised if JRRT was familiar with that text and influenced by it. It may well have become part of the "leaf-mould" which fertilized his imagination.

As I'm particularly interested in the Arts and Crafts movement, founded by William Morris, I know more about the artistic background that influenced Tolkien. Many of Tolkien's paintings show Arts and Crafts/Art Nouveau designs*; there is some information on that in Hammond and Scull's book J.R.R. Tolkien, Artist & Illustrator.

That Tolkien took note of such designs, and that they were a lasting inspiration to him, is clear in works as widely separated in time as his 'Trees of Amalion' ... and the elaborate ornamental patterns he drew in his later years... It seems clear, too, that he agreed with the underlying philosophy of Morris and his followers, which looked back to a much earlier time: that the 'lesser' arts of handicraft embodied truth and beauty no less than the 'fine' arts of painting and sculpture.

They go on to note the many references to crafts in Tolkien's written works - in Smith of Wootton Major, for example, and in the Elves of Middle-earth.

There is also a painting, The Wood at the World's End, that does not illustrate Middle-earth, at least not expressly so, which combines titles of two of Morris' works: The Wood beyond the World and The Well at the World's End.

Those are the direct references I found in that book - perhaps someone who already has the newest Tolkien Guide reference book can add more. (Alas, my order is still being processed somewhere...)


*This was picked up by the artists who designed the movie sets and props; Rivendell especially is strongly influenced by Art Nouveau! In my opinion, very appropriately so; the combination of natural subjects and stylized design seems very Elf-like to me.