In 2003, I had the extraordinary honor and opportunity to author a For
Dummies book for Wiley Publishing about J.R.R. Tolkien's vision of Middle-earth
entitled The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For
Dummies. This book explores some of the mythological and etymological
origins of his fantasy world and also examines some of what I consider to
be its important themes.
To celebrate the publishing of this book and to help my readers use it, I
have put together an interactive Middle-earth glossary and Middle-earth
Word-Hoard. Both documents are in PDF format that you can view, save, and print
using the Adobe Reader. The Middle-earth glossary contains internal links to
cross-referenced items and external links to wonderful new Middle-earth maps
prepared by Melinda Bryant and a Middle-earth. To access these documents, click
the M-e Goodies button in the panel on the left.
The Origin of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies
Title: The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For
Dummies
Pub Date: September, 2003
Publisher: Wiley Publishing, Inc. ISBN:
0-7645-4186-2
Table of Contents at a Glance (click on any bullet to expand or
condense its Part):
 | Foreword |
| Introduction |
| Part
I: The Geography of Middle-earth
 | Chapter 1: The Worlds of Middle-earth |
| Chapter 2: The Lands of Middle-earth and Beyond |
|
| Part
II: The Beings of Middle-earth
| Chapter 3: The Divine Ainur |
| Chapter 4: The Fair Race of
Elves |
| Chapter 5: The Mortal Race of
Men |
| Chapter 6: The Hardy Race of Dwarves |
| Chapter 7: Those Homespun
Hobbits |
| Chapter 8: The Wily Wizards |
| Chapter 9: Beorn, Tom Bombadil, and Treebeard |
| Chapter 10: The Enemy and His Minions |
|
| Part
III: The History of Middle-earth
| Chapter 11: The Valarian
Ages |
| Chapter 12: The First Three Ages and Then Some |
|
| Part
IV: The Languages of Middle-earth
| Chapter 13: Tolkien and
Language |
| Chapter 14: The Tongues of
Tolkien |
|
| Part
V: The Themes and Mythology of Middle-earth
| Chapter 15: The Struggle Between Good and Evil |
| Chapter 16: Immortality and
Death |
| Chapter 17: The Heroic Quest |
| Chapter 18: Chivalry and True
Love |
| Chapter 19: Fate and Free
Will |
| Chapter 20: Faith and
Redemption |
| Chapter 21: Ring-related
Myths |
| Chapter 22: Ecological
Themes |
| Chapter 23: Sex and Gender |
|
| Part
VI: The Part of Tens
| Chapter 24: Top Ten Battles in the War of the
Ring |
| Chapter 25: Top Ten Online Middle-earth Resources |
| Chapter 26: Top Ten Ways the "Lord of the Rings"
Books Differ From the Movies |
|
| Index |
