"Tolkien’s Elvish Mirror: Language, Myth, and Europe’s Search for Self"

24 and 25 April, University of Malta 

24 April 18:00 hrs at the Faculty of Arts Library – Public Lecture by Prof. Thomas Honegger (Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena)

In this lecture, Prof. Honegger argues that landscape in J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium functions as a moral, cultural, and narrative agent rather than a neutral backdrop. Building on the maxim habitatio est omen (“like land, like people”), he demonstrates how Tolkien consistently aligns ethical orientation, cultural identity, and historical memory with specific environments in Middle-earth. Drawing on a wide range of primary texts from The Silmarillion to The Lord of the Rings, and engaging with recent scholarship on spatiality, ecology, and cultural memory, the study shows that places in Tolkien’s sub-created world both reflect and shape the moral character of their inhabitants. Landscapes bear memory, register corruption or harmony, and participate actively in the unfolding struggle between good and evil.

25 April 09:00 – 17:00 hrs at the Faculty of Theology Board Room - Roundtable

Roundtable rationale:

Europe is being threatened by fragmentation, both from internal and external forces, which reflects a broader identity crisis across the continent. In this context, J.R.R. Tolkien’s philosophy of language offers timely insights. For Tolkien, language was not merely a tool of communication but a container of cultural memory, myth and identity. Though not a philosopher in the narrow sense, Tolkien embodied his linguistic philosophy through his fictional works and invented languages, which prioritised aesthetic pleasure and art, over communicative efficiency.

Unlike other constructed languages of his time, Tolkien’s were integrated with rich narratives, creating a unique mutualism between story and language. This fusion achieved a kind of "unity in diversity," illustrating how linguistic plurality can foster cultural cohesion. The lasting cultural impact of Elvish in the world, far surpassing that of Novial or, arguably, even Esperanto, underscores this point.

Tolkien’s philosophy and spirituality encourage a more respectful view of minority languages and regional identities, emphasising depth, history, and imagination. In today’s Europe, caught between fragmentation and homogenisation, his work serves as a reminder of the spiritual and unifying power of language. Rather than reverting to past mythologies, Tolkien’s model suggests that new, culturally resonant myths may offer a path toward greater European unity than economic strategies alone.

We are particularly interested in contributions that engage with the topic from interdisciplinary, comparative, or innovative angles.

Format:

The round-table format will feature presentations (20 minutes) followed by an open and interactive discussion. This is an opportunity for speakers and attendees to present work-in-progress, provoke debate, and build networks with fellow experts.

Abstracts [PDF]
Programme [PDF]

Although the attendance in the Roundtable is by finalising the registration on April 25, before the start of the keynote presentation, it is highly recommended that an expression of interest be sent beforehand by email.

Kindly register on: tolkienroundtable@gmail.com since places are limited.

Suggested donation: 30 Euros (comprehensive of coffees and lunch breaks)

 Prof. Thomas Honegger, Bionote:

THOMAS HONEGGER holds a Ph.D. from the University of Zurich (Switzerland) where he taught Old and Middle English. He is the author of From Phoenix to Chauntecleer: Medieval English Animal Poetry (Francke, 1996), Introducing the Medieval Dragon (University of Wales Press, 2019), and Tweaking Things a Little. Essays on the Epic Fantasy of J.R.R. Tolkien and G.R.R. Martin (Walking Tree Publishers, 2023). Apart from his publications on animals (real and imaginary) and Tolkien, he has written about Chaucer, Shakespeare, and medieval romance. He is, since 2002, Professor for English Medieval Studies at the Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena (Germany). Homepage: https://www.iaa.uni-jena.de/mitarbeiter-innen/honegger-thomas

Organising and Scientific Team:
Rev. Prof. Charló Camilleri, O.Carm.
Rev. Robert Falzon, SDB
Mr. James Moffett
Mr James Bonnici

Hosted by: The Department of Moral Theology and the Department of English at UM

Contacts

tolkienroundtable@gmail.com
charlo.camilleri@um.edu.mt
robert.falzon.03@um.edu.mt
james.moffett.06@um.edu.mt