The Professor and the Student - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lalaith · 01-24-2003, 04:11 PM

Having just read and enjoyed the Letters thread, I remembered a lovely story I read a long time ago. It doesn't really belong with Letters though, so I thought I'd better start a seperate topic. Maybe it doesn't belong in the Books section at all, I don't know...
In the late Sixties, while Tolkien was still teaching at Oxford, he and a colleague were walking across the quad of the college, academic gowns flowing. Suddenly Tolkien stopped and started talking to a very long-haired, grubby-looking undergraduate. The colleague was surprised that the eminent academic should bother with such an unprepossessing specimen of student.
"Harrumph," snorted the Professor. "You do realise the lad speaks fluent Elvish?"
All Oxford undergraduates, while they are living in college, have their names inscribed on wooden name-plates at the foot of the corridor where they live. This particular student, apparently, had his done in Feanorian characters...I wonder what happened to him?

[ January 24, 2003: Message edited by: Lalaith ]

Carrûn · 01-24-2003, 10:41 PM

Never heard the story but I like it. I'm sure there are probably more like it since Tolkien taught for a while and he probably imparted a good bit of his own languages into his students.

eleanor_niphredil · 01-25-2003, 04:16 PM

Wouldnt it have been wonderful to have been taught by tolkien? i bet his studants had no idea who he would become .

Lalaith · 01-25-2003, 04:35 PM

It would indeed have been wonderful. But he was actually wellknown throughout a good deal of his academic career - the Hobbit was published in the 1930s and the LotR in the 1950s...

Vardadurwen · 01-25-2003, 05:49 PM

That's a really interesting story. Thanks for sharing. It would really have been interesting to have been taught by Tolkien. Obviously he had a very vivid imagination that has clearly inspired many people in terms of art, film, and writing.

There's a class offered at the University in the city where I live that is called "Selected Authors". It's offered every other semester and the last semester featured....JRR Tolkien! My brother's friend took the class and absolutely loved it.

Are there classes like this where you guys live?

01-24-2003, 04:11 PM	#1
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	The Professor and the Student Having just read and enjoyed the Letters thread, I remembered a lovely story I read a long time ago. It doesn't really belong with Letters though, so I thought I'd better start a seperate topic. Maybe it doesn't belong in the Books section at all, I don't know... In the late Sixties, while Tolkien was still teaching at Oxford, he and a colleague were walking across the quad of the college, academic gowns flowing. Suddenly Tolkien stopped and started talking to a very long-haired, grubby-looking undergraduate. The colleague was surprised that the eminent academic should bother with such an unprepossessing specimen of student. "Harrumph," snorted the Professor. "You do realise the lad speaks fluent Elvish?" All Oxford undergraduates, while they are living in college, have their names inscribed on wooden name-plates at the foot of the corridor where they live. This particular student, apparently, had his done in Feanorian characters...I wonder what happened to him? [ January 24, 2003: Message edited by: Lalaith ] __________________ Out went the candle, and we were left darkling

01-24-2003, 10:41 PM	#2
Carrûn Wight Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Behind you, counting to 3 Posts: 234	Never heard the story but I like it. I'm sure there are probably more like it since Tolkien taught for a while and he probably imparted a good bit of his own languages into his students. __________________ "Dic, hospes, Spartae, nos te hic vidisse iacentes dum sanctis patriae legibus obsequimur."

01-25-2003, 04:16 PM	#3
eleanor_niphredil Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: england Posts: 805	Wouldnt it have been wonderful to have been taught by tolkien? i bet his studants had no idea who he would become . __________________ Here I am, brain the size of a planet, and they ask me to spend my time on this forum. And by the way, for any of you turning into a penguin, stop it. ~* I am Pippin took in the Female Fellowship*~

01-25-2003, 04:35 PM	#4
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	It would indeed have been wonderful. But he was actually wellknown throughout a good deal of his academic career - the Hobbit was published in the 1930s and the LotR in the 1950s... __________________ Out went the candle, and we were left darkling

01-25-2003, 05:49 PM	#5
Vardadurwen Wight Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 102	That's a really interesting story. Thanks for sharing. It would really have been interesting to have been taught by Tolkien. Obviously he had a very vivid imagination that has clearly inspired many people in terms of art, film, and writing. There's a class offered at the University in the city where I live that is called "Selected Authors". It's offered every other semester and the last semester featured....JRR Tolkien! My brother's friend took the class and absolutely loved it. Are there classes like this where you guys live? __________________ 'In this phial,' she said, 'is caught the light of Earendil's star....May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out...' - Galadriel 'Now there's an eye-opener and no mistake!' - Samwise Gamgee