8 episodes
West of Valinor Stephen Westbrook
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- Arts
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5.0 • 11 Ratings
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West of Valinor is an attempt to trace some of the origins of the mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien, and to spend some time talking about some of the theology, history, poetry, and philosophy that The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion bring up. It is a podcast for fans of Middle Earth by a fan of Middle Earth.
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An Older World
An examination of "Queer Lodgings" from The Hobbit. A look at Gandalf's playbook from the other side, and the historic power - but not malice - of bears. A look at how The Hobbit begins to intentionally imitate Anglo Saxon literature and tradition.
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Deus Ex
Looking at Chapter 6 of The Hobbit, "Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire," we meet wolves (or wargs) and eagles. So we look at the uses of wolves and eagles throughout myth and folklore, and we examine what it means for Bilbo and company to no longer be menaced by mythic, fairy tale creatures, but to be menaced by the wild itself, and saved by the wild itself.
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A Tale of Two Rings
The chapter where everything changes (between 1937 and 1951, that is). Gollum! and the Ring! Riddles and all of their history, and a look at the competing theologies of Comfort and Destruction.
All this, and More...
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The Deep Places of the World
A look at Giants and at Goblins as Bilbo and Company head up into and then under the mountains. A look at the song of the goblins and at the prophetic nature of dreams.
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Country Elves
Exploring chapter 3 of The Hobbit, including the mythic history of elves both within Tolkien's world and without, and how elves were used in Canterbury Tales, and how they came to be associated with Christmas.
We look at the song and poetry of the elves. And we explore the idea that "things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale."
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Working Class Trolls
In this episode we look at Chapter 2 of The Hobbit, "Roast Mutton." We talk about they mythic history of trolls and how the many incarnations they have had through the millennia. We talk about the opening stages of Bilbo's journey towards the Lonely Mountain, and how it looked when Tolkien first wrote it versus how he would have liked for it to look at the end of his life, we talk about Bilbo's incredible luck and we play with the idea that, by chapter 2, the story still really hasn't finished growing up yet.
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Customer Reviews
Excellent and approachable
Of all the academic, historic, and philological discussions of Prof. Tolkien’s work, this one is the most approachable one I’ve found. And I share the nostalgia for the original Rankin-Bass animated production with Glenn Yarbrough songs. Keep up the good work!
Good stuff
Thoroughly entertaining. Great insight. We’ll done.
So Far, So Great
I first read the Hobbit more than 50 years ago. I’ve enjoyed my time in Middle Earth since then, but this podcast is like a travel guide showing the connections between Middle Earth and the world we live in. Highly recommend.