University of Leeds: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Leeds University.jpg|thumb|right|300px|University of Leeds]] | [[Image:Leeds University.jpg|thumb|right|300px|University of Leeds]] | ||
The '''University of Leeds''' is a centre for learning in the city of [[wikipedia:Leeds|Leeds]] in Yorkshire, England. [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] | The '''University of Leeds''' is a centre for learning in the city of [[wikipedia:Leeds|Leeds]] in Yorkshire, England. [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] taught there between [[1920]] and [[1925]]; first as Reader but later a full Professor. | ||
== | ==Tolkien at Leeds== | ||
The University was Tolkien's second post-[[World War I|war]] employer. After the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary|New English Dictionary]]'' and a year of tutoring students in [[Oxford]], Tolkien decided to apply for a post at the University of Leeds. Tolkien had an interview with George S. Gordon, the University's Professor of English, in June 1920.<ref name="Interlude">[[Humphrey Carpenter]], ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]'', "Oxford Interlude"</ref> It was a fruitful job interview: Tolkien was appointed a Reader in English Language in October of the same year, with a free commission to develop the linguistic side of a large and growing School of English Studies.<ref name="L7">{{L|7}}</ref> | The University was Tolkien's second post-[[World War I|war]] employer. After the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary|New English Dictionary]]'' and a year of tutoring students in [[Oxford]], Tolkien decided to apply for a post at the University of Leeds. Tolkien had an interview with George S. Gordon, the University's Professor of English, in June 1920.<ref name="Interlude">[[Humphrey Carpenter]], ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]'', "Oxford Interlude"</ref> It was a fruitful job interview: Tolkien was appointed a Reader in English Language in October of the same year, with a free commission to develop the linguistic side of a large and growing School of English Studies.<ref name="L7">{{L|7}}</ref> | ||
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Under Gordon, Tolkien began focusing on philology, and taught various courses, such as "History of English", "Middle English texts", "Old and Middle English philology", "introductory Germanic philology", the second-year course "Old Icelandic" and "Medieval Welsh".<ref name="L7"/> He might even have continued to fret on some of his hardest assignments of his time at the ''OED''; several notes of his time show his added thoughts on "''walrus''" and "''walnut''" in Leeds notebooks.<ref>[[Peter Gilliver]], [[Jeremy Marshall]], [[Edmund Weiner]], ''[[The Ring of Words]]'', page 23</ref> The post of Reader was changed into a Professorship,<ref name= "L46"/> and in [[1922]], Tolkien was joined by [[E.V. Gordon]].<ref name= "Venture"/> Together, they started work on ''[[Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (edition)|Sir Gawain and the Green Knight]]'', and Tolkien continued to work on his ''[[A Middle English Vocabulary]]''.<ref>[[Wayne G. Hammond]], [[Douglas A. Anderson]], ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography]]'', "A: Books by J.R.R. Tolkien"</ref> A year later, they would be joined by [[Lascelles Abercrombie]].<ref name="L46"/> | Under Gordon, Tolkien began focusing on philology, and taught various courses, such as "History of English", "Middle English texts", "Old and Middle English philology", "introductory Germanic philology", the second-year course "Old Icelandic" and "Medieval Welsh".<ref name="L7"/> He might even have continued to fret on some of his hardest assignments of his time at the ''OED''; several notes of his time show his added thoughts on "''walrus''" and "''walnut''" in Leeds notebooks.<ref>[[Peter Gilliver]], [[Jeremy Marshall]], [[Edmund Weiner]], ''[[The Ring of Words]]'', page 23</ref> The post of Reader was changed into a Professorship,<ref name= "L46"/> and in [[1922]], Tolkien was joined by [[E.V. Gordon]].<ref name= "Venture"/> Together, they started work on ''[[Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (edition)|Sir Gawain and the Green Knight]]'', and Tolkien continued to work on his ''[[A Middle English Vocabulary]]''.<ref>[[Wayne G. Hammond]], [[Douglas A. Anderson]], ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography]]'', "A: Books by J.R.R. Tolkien"</ref> A year later, they would be joined by [[Lascelles Abercrombie]].<ref name="L46"/> | ||
Tolkien left Leeds [[Letter 8|somewhat abruptly]] in 1925 when he was elected to the [[Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon|Rawlinson and Bosworth Professorship of Anglo-Saxon]] at [[University of Oxford|Oxford]], so that he actually occupied both posts simultaneously for the duration of 1926.<ref name="L46" /> Reflecting on his time at Leeds in a later letter, Tolkien refuted the idea that he did not enjoy his time there: | |||
{{blockquote|I was devoted to the University of Leeds, which was very good to me, and to the students, whom I left with regret. The present students are among my most attentive readers...<ref name="L229">{{L|229}}</ref>}} | |||
==Publications== | ==Publications== | ||
Tolkien contributed several poems to ''[[The Gryphon]]'', ''[[Yorkshire Poetry]]'', ''[[A Northern Venture]]'' and ''[[Leeds University Verse]]''. He also finished stories that would later become ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part 1|The Book of Lost Tales]]''.<ref name="Venture"/> | Tolkien contributed several poems to ''[[The Gryphon]]'', ''[[Yorkshire Poetry]]'', ''[[A Northern Venture]]'' and ''[[Leeds University Verse]]''. He also finished stories that would later become ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part 1|The Book of Lost Tales]]''.<ref name="Venture"/> | ||
{{references}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* {{WP|{{PAGENAME}}}} | |||
* '''[http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ Official website]''' | * '''[http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ Official website]''' | ||
[[Category:Academic institutions]] | [[Category:Academic institutions]] | ||
[[Category:Academic instituitions in England]] | [[Category:Academic instituitions in England]] |
Revision as of 09:56, 15 August 2010
The University of Leeds is a centre for learning in the city of Leeds in Yorkshire, England. J.R.R. Tolkien taught there between 1920 and 1925; first as Reader but later a full Professor.
Tolkien at Leeds
The University was Tolkien's second post-war employer. After the New English Dictionary and a year of tutoring students in Oxford, Tolkien decided to apply for a post at the University of Leeds. Tolkien had an interview with George S. Gordon, the University's Professor of English, in June 1920.[1] It was a fruitful job interview: Tolkien was appointed a Reader in English Language in October of the same year, with a free commission to develop the linguistic side of a large and growing School of English Studies.[2]
The start was rough: though Gordon found Tolkien a room in Leeds,[3] Edith and young John still lived in Oxford. In weekends, Tolkien would go to his family - now expanded with the birth of Michael. Not until 1921 did Tolkien get full housing for his family at 11 St. Mark's Terrace,[4] after a short stay in rooms. Later, they moved to 2 Darnley Road.[5]
Under Gordon, Tolkien began focusing on philology, and taught various courses, such as "History of English", "Middle English texts", "Old and Middle English philology", "introductory Germanic philology", the second-year course "Old Icelandic" and "Medieval Welsh".[2] He might even have continued to fret on some of his hardest assignments of his time at the OED; several notes of his time show his added thoughts on "walrus" and "walnut" in Leeds notebooks.[6] The post of Reader was changed into a Professorship,[3] and in 1922, Tolkien was joined by E.V. Gordon.[4] Together, they started work on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and Tolkien continued to work on his A Middle English Vocabulary.[7] A year later, they would be joined by Lascelles Abercrombie.[3]
Tolkien left Leeds somewhat abruptly in 1925 when he was elected to the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professorship of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford, so that he actually occupied both posts simultaneously for the duration of 1926.[3] Reflecting on his time at Leeds in a later letter, Tolkien refuted the idea that he did not enjoy his time there:
I was devoted to the University of Leeds, which was very good to me, and to the students, whom I left with regret. The present students are among my most attentive readers...[8]
Publications
Tolkien contributed several poems to The Gryphon, Yorkshire Poetry, A Northern Venture and Leeds University Verse. He also finished stories that would later become The Book of Lost Tales.[4]
References
- ↑ Humphrey Carpenter, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography, "Oxford Interlude"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 7, (dated 27 June 1935)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 46, (dated 26 November 1941)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Humphrey Carpenter, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography, "Northern venture"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Baillie Tolkien (ed.), Letters from Father Christmas
- ↑ Peter Gilliver, Jeremy Marshall, Edmund Weiner, The Ring of Words, page 23
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond, Douglas A. Anderson, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography, "A: Books by J.R.R. Tolkien"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 229, (dated 23 February 1961)