This is meeting quite in fairy-land:
an Intersectional Seminar Concerning Austen and Tolkien
Call for Papers
The Regency-era drawing rooms and sly social maneuvering of Jane Austen's novels may seem worlds away from the mythic antiquity and epic conflicts of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, but a closer look reveals striking thematic parallels between the two authors. Both share a keen interest in human nature, social expectations, and the complexities of interactions between people: leaders and followers, loyal friends and duplicitous foes. Although their typical focuses differ, with Austen attending to interpersonal relationships and societal nuance through a socially and geographically specific lens and Tolkien working on a more epic scale, the two authors often engage with similar themes and motifs. The concepts they have in common include humankind's relationship to nature, the passage of time, the power of legacy, and a generational trend towards decline.
But with the exception of a brief mention in a 1944 letter to his son Christopher about the "manners" of Austen's time as depicted in her work, the elder Tolkien's opinions on Austen are largely unknown, inviting questions about those opinions within the larger context of Tolkien’s views on Romantic-era literature and women's writing.
This conference invites participants to explore the rich opportunities for comparative study of Tolkien and Austen by submitting papers, panels, and discussions examining the relationship between these two authors including:
Tolkien’s Views on Austen and the English Novel, as discussed in Letter 329
Deception and Disguise: From Saruman to Henry Crawford, what leads characters to deception, and what consequences await them?
Character Studies & Coming of Age: What does Catherine Morland have to do with Peregrin Took?
Nature, Decline, and the Passage of Time
Reception, Adaptation & Popular Culture: What common characteristics have led to the enduring popularity and ongoing adaptation of both authors' work?
Submission Guidelines
Deadline: Monday, April 7 @ 11:59p EST
Proposals: Please include a summary or abstract when submitting a proposal for your presentation. If you’re submitting a panel proposal, please include the names of all participants on the panel (all must register to attend the event).
Presentations:
Presentations should be around 20 minutes and allow 5-7 minutes for questions and discussion afterwards.
Panel presentations can either take 20 minutes with 5-7 minutes for questions and discussion or 45 minutes with 10-13 minutes for questions and discussion.
Bio: Please include a short bio with your proposal submission (100 words or so).
Conference Details
Format: Online (Zoom)
Registration: $15 for all attendees
Join us in exploring the unexpected but compelling literary connections between Austen and Tolkien—two authors whose works continue to shape and inspire readers across generations.