Join us this month for a discussion of Tolkien’s doors, exploring various door themes from literature with examples of each theme. First we’ll look at doors as boundaries between physical places, with examples of the Doors of Durin and the Door of Night. Next, we’ll talk about doors as places of transition between states of being, with examples of Bag End’s Green Door and the Closed Door. Finally, we’ll discuss doors as keepers of secrets, including the overly-hilarious Back Door and the mysterious Door under Dwimorberg. We hope to deepen your un-door-standing of Tolkien’s doors!
Citations:
The Book of Lost Tales, part 1
Tolkien, J. R. R. The Book of Lost Tales, Part I. Ed. Christopher Tolkien. The History of Middle-earth: Vol. 1. George Allen and Unwin, London, 1983. (Accessed 10/26/23)
Histories Volume 4
Tolkien, J. R. R. The Shaping of Middle-earth. Ed. Christopher Tolkien. The History of Middle-earth: Vol. 4. George Allen and Unwin, London, 1986.
The Hobbit
Tolkien, J. R. R. The Hobbit: or There and Back Again. HarperCollins E-Books. ISBN 978-0-00-732260. Apple Books edition. (Accessed 10/26/23)
The Lord of the Rings
Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of the Rings. HarperCollins e-books. Apple Books edition. (Accessed 10/26/23)
The Silmarillion
Tolkien, J. R. R. The Silmarillion. Edited by Christopher Tolkien. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Apple Books edition. (Accessed 10/26/23)
Tolkien Gateway entry for Back Door
https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Back_Door (Accessed 10/26/23)
Tolkien Gateway entry for Doors of Durin
https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Doors_of_Durin (Accessed 10/26/23)
Tolkien Gateway entry for Door of Night
https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Door_of_Night (Accessed 10/26/23)
Tolkien Gateway entry for Fen Hollen
https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Fen_Hollen (Accessed 10/26/23)
Tolkien Gateway entry for Paths of the Dead
https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Paths_of_the_Dead (Accessed 10/26/23)
Jude’s other podcast: The Babylon Podject, https://babylonpod.page/, @babylonpodject
In this episode Jude plugged DIE by Kieron Gillen: