Revisiting Tolkien’s Lost ‘Noel’ Poem

Revisiting Tolkien’s Lost ‘Noel’ Poem

This poem, Noel, was written by J.R.R. Tolkien before The Hobbit was published, and only just discovered in 2013. Here’s how that happened!

In 2013, Tolkien scholars Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull found something they didn’t expect.

While researching a 1936 edition of The Tablet (a Catholic journal), they found mention of 2 Tolkien poems published in the Abingdon Annual of Our Lady’s School — a still active school in Abingdon!

The school directed them where to find the 80 year-old publication. In it, they found an early version of Tolkien’s poem The Shadow Bride (here titled The Shadow Man) and this poem, Noel!

There is distinct beauty in the images Tolkien creates; it resonates profoundly with the winter season’s cold and desolate landscape… but the heavens and earth are overwhelmed with joy by the eucatastrophe (as Tolkien would put it) of Christ’s birth

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of our podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for on Patreon!

🔗 Episode Links
Noel, a Christmas Poem on Youtube (with imagery)
Our Extended Discussion on Noel
A Letter From Father Christmas
Tolkien’s North Pole Mythology

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 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(165)

124. Miserable Riddles in the Dark : The Hobbit #13

124. Miserable Riddles in the Dark : The Hobbit #13

“Riddles in the Dark” is not only the most memorable event from all of Middle-earth — it’s also the turning point that ultimately led to The Lord of the Rings.  In this episode we look at: Tolkien’s ...

26 Nov 202451min

123. Nightmare in Moria : The Hobbit #12

123. Nightmare in Moria : The Hobbit #12

The goblins of Moria grab the dwarves (and Hobbit) who decided to camp out on their “front porch”, leading to some real terrifying moments! Does Gandalf use gunpowder? How Tolkien subcreates his worl...

19 Nov 202446min

122. The Real Misty Mountains : The Hobbit #11

122. The Real Misty Mountains : The Hobbit #11

The first part of Chapter 4, Over Hill and Under Hill, is unique for it’s direct correlation with Tolkien’s own past.  We discuss: Tolkien’s hiking experience and how it influenced this section of Th...

12 Nov 20240s

121. Tolkien Gave Up on Fixing The Hobbit : The Hobbit #10

121. Tolkien Gave Up on Fixing The Hobbit : The Hobbit #10

When Tolkien attempted to rewrite the Hobbit in 1960, he just gave up halfway through Chapter 3. In this episode we look at: Changes in time and distance Changes in Prose and style Why he gave up His...

5 Nov 202445min

120. Where the Children’s Story Ends and the Epic Story Begins : The Hobbit #9

120. Where the Children’s Story Ends and the Epic Story Begins : The Hobbit #9

In the second half of Chapter 3, A Short Rest, Tolkien seems to start a shift from a children’s story to more of an epic quest.  What prompted this change?  We have our thoughts, including: How Elron...

29 Okt 202442min

119. The Rings of Power Leaves us with Dwarf Politics and Randomly Shouting Elves

119. The Rings of Power Leaves us with Dwarf Politics and Randomly Shouting Elves

We did it!  And this time we wrangled Dan in to give us his BIG THOUGHT again! 🙂 In this final episode of Season 2, one dwarf delved too deep (and then we find out the real problem there–political in...

8 Okt 20242h 8min

118. Yes.  Elrond kissed Galadriel.

118. Yes. Elrond kissed Galadriel.

Yeah.  They kissed. We also get the worst battle in the history of Middle-earth, the greatest smith of Eregion acceds to Sauron willingly, the dwarves turn back and entire army to face one person, and...

1 Okt 20242h 15min

117. Clueless Elves, Big Beasts, and Bombadil Inverts Tolkien’s Words

117. Clueless Elves, Big Beasts, and Bombadil Inverts Tolkien’s Words

Michael is back as we examine how wrong The Rings of Power treats the elves (as simple imbeciles), how the Númenoreans are now deciding rulers based on what big animals do, and how Tom Bombadil invert...

24 Sep 20240s

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
forklart
stopp-verden
popradet
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
fotballpodden-2
rss-gukild-johaug
det-store-bildet
dine-penger-pengeradet
nokon-ma-ga
hanna-de-heldige
rss-ness
aftenbla-bla
e24-podden
rss-utenrikskomiteen-med-bogen-og-grasvik
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
rss-espen-lee-usensurert
frokostshowet-pa-p5