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Literature

No. 6 (2024): Scientific journal of the Fergana State University ADDITIONAL COLLECTION (Social humanities sciences)

THE ROLE OF MYTHONYMS IN TOLKIEN’S WORKS AND THEIR LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS

Submitted
January 31, 2025
Published
2025-02-03

Abstract

Mythonyms, enriched with mythological, linguistic, and cultural significance, play a central role in J.R.R. Tolkien's works and his world. This article examines the origins, meanings, and functions of mythonyms in Tolkien's stories, as well as their contribution to world-building, character depiction, racial groups, and mythological landscapes. Using mixed methods, the study analyzes around 50 mythonyms mentioned in The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings. The results reveal that Tolkien's mythonyms harmonize the influences of Germanic, Old English, and Finnish mythologies, highlighting their role in evoking cultural memory and increasing reader engagement. Artistic imagery and semantic fields underscore the significance of mythonyms in enriching the mythopoetic structure. This study presents a linguopoetic description of myth.

References

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  3. Fisher, J. "Cultural Memory and Tolkien’s Mythopoesis." Journal of Fantasy Studies, 2020, pp. 45–67.
  4. Fimi, D. Tolkien, Race and Cultural History: From Fairies to Hobbits. Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.
  5. Kull, K. "Mnemonic Devices in Tolkien’s Mythonyms." Fantasy Studies Review, 2021, 12(3), pp. 45–60.
  6. Fisher, J. Tolkien’s Mythological World: Linguistic and Cultural Foundations. Oxford University Press, 2020.