The Plants of Middle-Earth: Botany And Sub-creation

by Hazell, Dinah

• ISBN13: 9780873388832
• ISBN10: 0873388836
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-11-30
• Publisher: Kent State Univ Pr

Summary

"Rather than inventing an alien world into which human and familiar characters are introduced, as in science fiction, Tolkien created a natural environment that is also home to 'supernatural' beings and elements, as in medieval works like Beowulf. The Shire is always the touchstone to which the hobbits return mentally and against which they (and we) measure the rest of Middle-earth. By creating a sense of familiarity and belonging early and then in each of the cultures encountered, we can meet 'others' without feeling estranged." Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	1
1 Hobbit Names	7
2 From Shire to Mordor: A Botanical Tour of Middle-earth	27
3 Ithilien: The Garden of Gondor	47
4 Forests and Trees	65
5 Restoration and Recovery	91
Appendix A: About Plant Lore	97
Appendix B: List of Plants	103
Notes	107
Bibliography	115
The Illustrators	119
Index	120