The Mirror Crack'd: Fear and Horror in J. R. R. Tolkien's Major Works

[Lalwendë]

I've just been reading that as part of their 'International Medieval Congress', Leeds University will include a 90 minute slot with papers on Tolkien. Quite interesting, having an Institute for Medieval Studies in the post-Stalinist landscape of Leeds....

The info on the papers is as follows:

Session Details
Session: 1515
Title: The Mirror Crack'd: Fear and Horror in J. R. R. Tolkien's Major Works
Date / Time: July 13, 2006 09.00-10.30

Sponsor: The Tolkien Society

Organiser: Lynn Forest-Hill, Tolkien Society, Southampton

Moderator: Patricia Reynolds, Department of Archaeology, University of York

Paper
1515-a: Barrows, Wights, and Ordinary People: The Unquiet Dead in The Lord of the Rings
(Language: English)
Amy Amendt-Raduege, Department of English, Marquette University, Wisconsin
Paper
1515-b: From Beowulf to the Balrogs: The Roots of Fantastic Horror in The Lord of the Rings
(Language: English)
Raffaella Benvenuto, Tolkien Society, Roma
Paper
1515-c: Evil Reputations?: Images of Wolves in Tolkien's Fiction
(Language: English)
Julie Pridmore, Unisa Medieval Association, University of South Africa, Pretoria

Abstract: Tolkien's medievalism includes his evocation of fear and horror by drawing on images of fear and horror that were traditional in early medieval northern European myth and folklore. The papers in this session variously address Tolkien's development of imagery associated with wolves, the undead, and the fear of entombment, from sources such as Norse Sagas, the Eddas, and Anglo-Saxon poetry (including Beowulf). The papers discuss humanity's continuing fascination with these ancient symbols of fear and horror as Tolkien presents them to new generations of readers in his major works, and their function in those works.

Here is the weblink. I can't find any indication of prices, or indeed if non-members can attend, though if anyone was in Leeds on July 13th it might be worth trying to sneak in at the back of the room.