Beyond The Lord of the Rings: Getting to Know Tolkien through his Shorter Works
While The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings stand out as his most influential works, there is so much more to Tolkien than hobbits, dwarves, and elves! His lesser-known shorter works, including letters, essays, poetry, and short stories, offer a unique glimpse into the way he understood myth, faith, literature, and life. Many of these can be read over the course of an afternoon, and all are thoroughly delightful. If you’re interested in reading more by Tolkien, but don’t have the time to settle into The Lord of the Rings — consider picking up one of these.
On Tolkien’s Shorter Works
Smith of Wootton Major
Published in 1967, “Smith” is the last work Tolkien published before his death. “Smith of Wootton Major” fits all the requirements of a fairy-story as laid out in his essay, “On Fairy-Stories”, which makes it an absolute delight. The story is short and simple, and yet it is quite deep! In 2015, a hardcover edition of “Smith of Wootton Major” was published which includes a letter written by Tolkien himself concerning the meaning behind the story.
On Fairy-Stories
Tolkien presented this essay in the spring of 1939 at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. In it, Tolkien addresses three questions primarily: What are fairy stories? What are their origins? And what is the use of them? It is also in “On Fairy-Stories” that we first see the word Eucatastrophe, a term coined by Tolkien himself, which refers to the ‘happy turn’ of events. “On Fairy- Stories” can be read online for free here, or in print in The Monsters and the Critics or Tree and Leaf. This is one of the most important works to read when studying Tolkien; if you’re unsure of which on this list to read first, choose this one!
Roverandom
Roverandom is a children’s tale originally written by Tolkien for his son Michael about a dog who is turned into a toy by a wizard. The story follows the dog on his quest to find the wizard again and be returned to his original size. Fun fact: Tolkien originally submitted Roverandom for publication in 1937, but unfortunately it was not published until 1998. This story was published as its own book, but it can also be found within Tales from the Perilous Realm.
Leaf by Niggle
“Leaf by Niggle” tells of the life and passing of an artist named Niggle. Perhaps one of the most allegorical of Tolkien’s works, “Leaf by Niggle” reflects Tolkien’s thoughts on purgatory and heaven. On episode 22 of the Tea with Tolkien podcast, we were joined by Father Dan Bedel to discuss “Leaf by Niggle” — you can listen to it here. “Leaf by Niggle” is included in two compilations: Tree and Leaf, and On the Monsters and the Critics.
Farmer Giles of Ham
“Farmer Giles of Ham” is set in a fantastical Britain of long ago and tells the story of Farmer Giles and a dragon named Chrysophylax. This delightful story was published in its own hardcover edition in 2001, but it can also be found in Tales from the Perilous Realm.
Mythopoeia
“Mythopoeia” is a poem written by Tolkien after a conversation with C.S. Lewis in which the two discussed truth and myth. Lewis had argued that myths were “lies breathed through silver”, which inspired Tolkien to write this poem in defense of the truths reflected in mythology. It can be found in Tree and Leaf.
Compilations
Tree and Leaf
Perhaps the handiest of all Tolkien compilations, Tree and Leaf includes: “On Fairy-Stories”, “Leaf by Niggle”, “Mythopoeia”, and “The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth”. If you’re considering which compilation book to purchase, I’d go with this one because “On Fairy-Stories” and “Mythopoeia” are quite important and good starting points when studying Tolkien.
Tales from the Perilous Realm
Tales from the Perilous Realm is actually a compilation of several shorter works by Tolkien, which is nice because you only need to purchase and carry around one book. The book includes: “Farmer Giles of Ham”, “Leaf by Niggle”, “The Adventures of Tom Bombadil”, “Smith of Wootton Major”, and “On Fairy-Stories”.
On the Monsters and the Critics
The Monsters and the Critics is a compilation of essays written by Tolkien. This book includes: two essays on Beowulf (“Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics” and “On Translating Beowulf”), “English and Welsh”, “On Fairy- Stories”, “A Secret Vice”, “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”, and “Valedictory Address”.
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil
This book is a collection of 16 fairy tale poems, only two of which include Tom Bombadil—so don’t be fooled by the title. Unlike many of Tolkien’s other short works, this book does concern Middle-Earth so that makes it quite a fun read!
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Over three hundred of Tolkien’s letters can be found in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, compiled and edited by Humphrey Carpenter. This collection offers an unparalleled look into Tolkien’s writing process, his relationship with his children, and the influence of his faith on his works. Six of these letters have also been published on the Tolkien Estate website and can be read for free here.
Recommended Letters
Letter 54 to Christopher Tolkien | In this short letter, Tolkien reminds his son of his guardian angel and instructs him to “make a habit of the ‘praises’” in prayer.
Letter 64 to Christopher Tolkien | This letter begins with a lament of the horrors of war, followed by a bit about the parts of The Lord of the Rings Tolkien is currently working through, and ends with a few words of encouragement for his son.
“All we do know, and that to a large extent by direct experience, is that evil labours with vast power and perpetual success–in vain: preparing always only the soil for unexpected good to sprout in.”
Letter 89 to Christopher Tolkien | Tolkien introduces the term Eucatastrophe, stating that the Resurrection was the greatest eucatastrophe possible.
Letter 131 to Milton Waldman | Tolkien attempts to explain the connections between The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, which he is hoping to publish. This is one of the longest letters included in this collection, and it provides a huge amount of detail regarding the history of Middle-Earth.
Letter 142 to Fr. Robert Murray, SJ | In a response to a letter from Robert Murray, a Jesuit priest and close friend of the Tolkien family, Tolkien writes about the order of Grace. It is also in this letter that Tolkien calls The Lord of the Rings a “fundamentally religious and Catholic work.”
“The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision. That is why I have not put in, or have cut out, practically all references to anything like ‘religion’, to cults or practices, in the imaginary world. For the religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism.”
Letter 163 to W.H. Auden | Tolkien shares a good deal about himself and his life at the request of Auden who is giving a talk about The Lord of the Rings on the BBC; this letter could be called a mini-autobiography.
Letter 213 to Deborah Webster |Tolkien provides several facts about himself at Deborah’s request, famously calling himself “a hobbit (in all but size)”. On the Tea with Tolkien podcast, we talked about this letter in Episode 13.
