153. The Christmas Eucatastrophe (and is The Lord of the Rings a Christmas movie?)

153. The Christmas Eucatastrophe (and is The Lord of the Rings a Christmas movie?)

We turn our attention from The Hobbit to a long-hidden Tolkien gem: his 1936 Christmas poem, “Noel.” We take a look at the history of the poem’s rediscovery, its deep-rooted Tolkien-esque imagery, and why its message of hope stands uniquely in Tolkien’s literary career.

We discuss:

  • The surprising 2013 rediscovery of “Noel” and how Tolkien scholars tracked it down through forgotten school annuals and convent archives.
  • The poem’s Nordic and Middle-earth flavor in the early stanzas—and the “eucatastrophic” shift when a child is born.
  • Song and music as markers of Tolkien’s poetic voice, the emphasis on Mary’s song, and what it means for the joy of the world.
  • Why “Noel” is a rare example of Tolkien writing an explicitly Christ-centered poem, and how it stands apart from his other work.
  • The unmistakable hope and gladness that “Noel” brings to the weary, gray world.
  • The craft and subtlety Tolkien brings, never over-explaining the mystery—just inviting us to imagine, wonder, and rejoice.

In our extended episode (available for EVERYONE this week! :D. Merry Christmas! Become a member or a patron!), we tackle one of the greatest Christmas questions… is Lord of the Rings a Christmas film!?

  • Does simply watching a film at Christmas imbue it with holiday status, or must its core message embody the “eucatastrophe” of the season?
  • The surprisingly non-Christmas nature of Die Hard and Gremlins.
  • Our favorite Christmas movies, from It’s a Wonderful Life to Home Alone, and what really makes a story Christmas-worthy.

🔗 Episode Links
Noel – Tolkien’s Lost Christmas Poem (YouTube)
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🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion

The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

Episoder(162)

113. Looking at the War of the Rohirrim Trailer (and Rings of Power clips)

113. Looking at the War of the Rohirrim Trailer (and Rings of Power clips)

We discuss the the latest visions of Middle-earth by Amazon and Warner Bros… we’ll get back to The Hobbit soon! This week we: * React to The War of the Rohirrim trailer * Take a look at how The Rings ...

27 Aug 202457min

112. Are these Really the Same Elves from The Lord of the Rings? : The Hobbit #8

112. Are these Really the Same Elves from The Lord of the Rings? : The Hobbit #8

In Chapter 3, A Short Rest, for the first time we meet the elves of Rivendell… and they certainly seem different than the same characters in The Lord of the Rings. In this episode, we look at: How El...

20 Aug 20240s

111. This is why Tolkien SHOULD have rewritten The Hobbit  : The Hobbit #7

111. This is why Tolkien SHOULD have rewritten The Hobbit : The Hobbit #7

We weren’t huge fans of Tolkien’s changes to chapter 1 of The Hobbit in his abandoned 1960 rewrite–but chapter 2 surprised us with it’s pitch-perfect changes! Some of the things we discuss are: Want ...

13 Aug 20241h 1min

110. A Brave Burglar and Deficient Dwarves : The Hobbit #6

110. A Brave Burglar and Deficient Dwarves : The Hobbit #6

Join our Free Discord Channel! It’s not that the trolls aren’t scary… or are they? Did Tolkien mean for them to be frightening? In this episode we get into how the trolls find a balance, of sorts, bet...

5 Aug 202448min

109. Gandalf Gets Pushy : The Hobbit #5

109. Gandalf Gets Pushy : The Hobbit #5

Join our Free Discord Channel! We make our way through the first 1/2 of Chapter 2, Roast Mutton… First, though, we reveal a Hobbit fact that makes one big connection between The Hobbit and The Silmari...

30 Jul 202430min

108. What Went Wrong with Tolkien’s 1960 Hobbit Rewrite : The Hobbit #4

108. What Went Wrong with Tolkien’s 1960 Hobbit Rewrite : The Hobbit #4

Join our Free Discord Channel! When Tolkien set out to rewrite The Hobbit in 1960, much was lost, but much was gained… Do the gains outweigh the losses? We review his rewritten 1st chapter of The Hobb...

23 Jul 20241h 1min

107. How the Baggins Side of Bilbo Lost : The Hobbit #3

107. How the Baggins Side of Bilbo Lost : The Hobbit #3

Join our Free Discord Channel! Bilbo loses the comfort of his home and finds that the Tookish side of his mind is starting to overcome the Baggins side We discuss: * The three things that pushed Bilbo...

16 Jul 202453min

106. The Hobbit was NOT Originally in Middle-earth : The Hobbit #2

106. The Hobbit was NOT Originally in Middle-earth : The Hobbit #2

Join our Free Discord Channel! As we get into the first chapter of The Hobbit, we discuss how coming at The Hobbit from a how does this fit into the Middle-earth cosmology perspective is probably not ...

9 Jul 202455min

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