The nine contributions to Reconsidering Tolkien approach Tolkien's work from a variety of theoretical viewpoints. Marion Gymnich, Eduardo Segura and Guillermo Peris discuss the importance of Language and languages for Tolkien's narrative work, while Thomas Honegger and Paul E. Kerry focus on the historical sources and the historicising framework respectively. The essays by Natasa Tucev and Jean-Christophe Dufau investigate the archetypal and mythic dimensions. Dirk Vanderbeke, then, takes a critical look at Tolkien's presentation of knowledge, and Martin Simonson discusses the influence of World War I and Tolkien's relationship with writers of 'high modernism'. Connie Veugen, finally, examines the adaptation of the figure of Aragorn in different media.
The majority of the essays of this volume was presented at the ESSE (European Society for the Study of English) 7 session on 'Reconsidering Tolkien' held at Zaragoza in September 2004. The remaining contributions resulted from an additional call for papers and were selected for inclusion by the board of editors.