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1921

?1921 Tolkien writes the first of at least five texts of the Qenya poem ultimately titled *Nieninque.

?1921–?1924 Tolkien begins a typescript of his essay The Kalevala (*On ‘The Kalevala’ or Land of Heroes, read to Oxford societies in November 1914 and February 1915), but leaves it unfinished after nineteen pages, probably close to the end. He makes minor changes to the text throughout and reworks some sections. It is only in this typescript that, after referring to the Kalevala as ‘mythological ballads’ full of a ‘primitive undergrowth’ now cut away and reduced in other European literature, he adds: ‘I would that we had more of it left – something of the same sort that belonged to the English.’ He probably makes this typescript in preparation for still another reading of the paper, perhaps near Christmas: at one point he refers to ‘our present holiday mood’ (Tolkien Papers, Bodleian Library, Oxford).

?1921–summer 1924 Tolkien begins or continues work on the first version of *The Lay of the Children of Húrin, the story of Túrin Turambar, a long work in alliterative verse (cf. entry for Summer–autumn 1919). He begins a first version in manuscript and emends it; he also makes and emends a typescript, possibly in stages as the manuscript progresses. The manuscript has no title, but the typescript is called The Golden Dragon, changed to Túrin Son of Húrin & Glórund the Dragon. By summer 1924 Tolkien will have written 2201 lines but covered only half the story of Túrin. – During this period he also writes an index of names in the poem (*‘Index of Names for The Lay of the Children of Húrin’).

After 3 January 1921 Tolkien draws up a synoptic table of the varieties of the Alphabet of Rúmil he has used in his diary. During January he will also draw up another table of this alphabet, with the title ‘Gondolic Script’.

8 January 1921 By now, Tolkien has been consulted regarding a proposed series of Middle English texts designed for teaching. He is strongly in favour of normalization of texts, that is, making them consistent in spelling, etc., while Kenneth Sisam and David Nichol Smith are just as strongly opposed.

11 January 1921 Term begins at Leeds.

18 January 1921 Kenneth Sisam suggests to the authorities of the Oxford University Press that an edition of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight for students is badly needed.

End of January 1921 Tolkien is offered the De Beers Chair in Cape Town. He decides not to accept because Edith and baby Michael are not fit to travel, and he does not want to be separated from his family.

12 February 1921 Tolkien hands over to John Johnson, Assistant Secretary to the Delegates of the Oxford University Press, material for A Middle English Vocabulary. Johnson asks his opinion of a report made by Kenneth Sisam which argues firmly against normalization in the proposed Middle English text series.

14 February 1921 Tolkien writes to John Johnson from St Michael’s Road, Leeds, enclosing a revised slip for the glossary. Although he could write an essay on the ethics and objects of normalization, which he supports at least for the sake of students whose approach to a text is literary, Tolkien feels that ‘before even poking my nose into other matters I must knock down this molehill glossary (grown into a mountain by accumulated domestic distractions)’. He remarks however, surely with his own glossary for Fourteenth Century Verse & Prose in mind, that in non-normalized texts most of the trouble ‘then falls on the “glossarist”, who spends endless time (and space) recording forms that could be eliminated and still leave the printed text perfectly Middle English (and intelligible to the scribes and editors if resuscitated)’ (Oxford University Press archives). But by mid-August he will have agreed that normalization of the text of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is ill-advised.

March 1921 Tolkien finds furnished rooms to let for himself, Edith, and their sons at 5 Holly Bank, Leeds, into which they will move in April. The property is owned by a Miss Moseley, a niece of Cardinal Newman. See note.

16 March 1921 Tolkien is appointed a member of the Board of the Faculty of Arts at Leeds.

23 March 1921 Term ends at Leeds.

21 April 1921 Term begins at Leeds.

?Late April 1921 Following the Leeds spring vacation, Tolkien and his family move into 5 Holly Bank. Jennie Grove moves to Birmingham.

Early May 1921 Oxford University Press sends Tolkien corrected page proofs of Fourteenth Century Verse & Prose.

25 May 1921 Tolkien attends a meeting of the Board of the Faculty of Arts at Leeds.

2 July 1921 Term ends at Leeds.

?August 1921–1925 Tolkien continues to work on his invented languages. He begins a new Gnomish or Noldorin grammar entitled Lam i·Ngolthor (changed to Lam na·NGoluith), mainly in manuscript (*‘Early Noldorin Grammar’). He also types lists of Noldorin words and names taken from The Book of Lost Tales and the Noldorin grammar (*‘Noldorin Word-Lists’). These are not all made at the same time and are extensively emended.

16 August 1921 C.T. Onions writes that he hopes to see Tolkien and Edith on 19 August when they come to Oxford, apparently to complete business regarding their move to Leeds. By now, Onions has suggested to Tolkien in correspondence that the latter should prepare, or help to prepare, an edition of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and agrees with Tolkien that normalization is not desirable for that work.

Late August 1921 Tolkien and his family move to a leased house at 11 St Mark’s Terrace, Woodhouse Lane, in Leeds near the University. John and Priscilla Tolkien will later remark, regarding the pollution then common in Leeds, that ‘chemicals in the air rotted the curtains within six months, and baby Michael was covered in smuts if he was left outside in his pram for any length of time; and Ronald found that he had to change his collar three times a day!’ (The Tolkien Family Album, p. 45, with a photograph).

3 October 1921 Term begins at Leeds.

Leeds academic year 1921–1922 The University of Leeds Calendar for 1921–1922 lists several lectures or classes to take place during the year for which Tolkien may have responsibility: History of the English Language to the Close of the Fourteenth Century, and the special study of West Saxon Texts and of the Language of Chaucer, on Mondays and Fridays at 3.00 p.m.; Old English Verse with a special study of Beowulf, The Fight at Finnesburg, Widsith, Waldere, Deor’s Lament on Mondays at 10.00 a.m.; The History of English on Wednesdays at 10.00 a.m.; Old and Middle English Texts on Mondays at 12.00 noon; Old and Middle English Dialects, fortnightly on Fridays at 12.00 noon; Introduction to Germanic Philology, with special reference to Old English, on Wednesdays at 11.00 a.m.; Gothic on Tuesdays at 2.00 p.m.; Early English Literature on Thursdays at 11.00 a.m.; and Chaucer, weekly at an hour to be arranged. A Third Year Essay Class is also offered, involving discussions following upon papers read by students to the class, and chiefly concerned with Early English Literature and Civilization, fortnightly on Fridays at 12.00 noon; and there are weekly tutorial groups.

16 October 1921 Tolkien draws up a table of ‘Rúmil’s Alphabet’.

18 October 1921 Tolkien attends a meeting of the Board of the Faculty of Arts at Leeds.

21 October 1921 Tolkien hears that Fourteenth Century Verse & Prose has been published, without his glossary which is still not finished. – He makes revisions to his table ‘Rúmil’s Alphabet’. During this month he will also begin another table of the alphabet, which he will complete in December.

26 October 1921 Tolkien remarks in his diary that he has ‘practically done nothing but slave at the Glossary since last Friday’ (quoted by Christopher Tolkien in private correspondence).

29 October 1921 George S. Gordon writes to David Nichol Smith to ask his opinion of *E.V. Gordon, a B.Litt. student Tolkien has recommended to fill one of two staff positions Gordon hopes to add to the Leeds English School.

15 November 1921 Tolkien attends a meeting of the Board of the Faculty of Arts at Leeds.

22 December 1921 Term ends at Leeds.