Oxonmoot
Oxonmootis a conference andfan conventionorganized byThe Tolkien Societydevoted to celebrate and study the life and works ofJ. R. R. Tolkien.It takes place every year inOxford,England, around 22 September, the date ofBilboandFrodo Baggins's birthdays, also known asHobbit Day.[1]
History
[edit]
The idea of a Tolkien-related gathering in Oxford came from the multiple connections of the writer with the city, and was initially suggested by John Abbot in the fanzineNazgul.The first Oxonmoot took place over 13 to 15 September 1974, and was based in the former Welsh Pony pub inGeorge Street.Among other activities such as visiting theBodleian Libraryand lunching inThe Eagle and Childpub, attendants of this first meeting laid a wreath on Tolkien's grave, and recitedA Elbereth Gilthoniel.[2]During this first Oxonmoot an American student and member of theMythopoeic Societyjoined the original group.[2]The 1992 Oxonmoot, at the centenary of Tolkien's birth, was held together with the 23rd Mythopoeic Conference.[3]From 1991 Oxonmoot has been hosted in different colleges of theUniversity of Oxford,for example,Lady Margaret Hallfrom 2009 to 2014,[4][5]andSt Antony's Collegefrom 2015 to 2019.[6][7][8]
Oxonmoot has become the largest of the Tolkien Society's calendar of events, typically bringing about 200 fans from the UK and abroad.[9]The 2018 Oxonmoot was the largest with more than 300 attendees, coinciding with the popular Bodleian exhibitionTolkien: Maker of Middle-earth.[10]
Activities
[edit]
Oxonmoot takes place over a weekend and includes talks, art shows, reading circles, theatre performances,[11]workshops, and social events such as quizzes, a banquet and amasquerade.[12]The event closes with a remembrance ceremony calledEnyaliëat Tolkien's grave inWolvercote cemetery.[13]TheEnyaliëcontinues the tradition established during the first Oxonmoot of laying a wreath on the grave of Tolkien and his wifeEdith,and includes words by the Chairman of the Tolkien Society, a selected reading from Tolkien, and a recital of the poemNamárië.[14]
Oxonmoot is a forum for presentingTolkien research[15]in the form of seminar papers and books,[16]from academics such asJohn Garth,Tom Shippey,Verlyn Flieger,Michael D. C. Drout,andElizabeth Solopova.[17]
Due to the COVID pandemic, the 2020 Oxonmoot was held online,[18]and it included keynote talks byDimitra Fimi,about theUnfinished Tales,Wayne G. HammondandChristina Scull,about Tolkien as an illustrator, among others.[19]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Ffrench, Andrew (14 September 2012)."Hobbit fans gather to celebrate anniversary".Oxford Mail.Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2020.Retrieved11 November2020.
- ^ab"The Origins of Oxonmoot".The Tolkien Society.19 December 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 6 November 2020.Retrieved6 November2020.
- ^"The Mythopoeic Society - Mythopoeic Press, Proceedings of the J.R.R. Tolkien Centenary Conference 1992".Mythopoeic Society.Archivedfrom the original on 11 July 2020.Retrieved10 November2020.
- ^Little, Reg (12 August 2009)."The most dramatic battle yet?".Oxford Mail.Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2020.Retrieved11 November2020.
- ^Barbini, Francesca T. (29 July 2015)."The Tolkien Society's Oxonmoot - A Word with Elena Krysova".Sci-fi and Fantasy Network.Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2020.Retrieved11 November2020.
- ^"Hobbit fans in four-day Oxonmoot".Oxford Mail.12 September 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 10 November 2020.Retrieved11 November2020.
- ^"Oxonmoot 2017: Tolkien Society Annual Gathering, St Antony's College, Oxford, UK, Sept. 21-24 2017 | American Name Society".American Name Society.22 April 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2020.Retrieved11 November2020.
- ^Hall, Daniel (21 September 2018)."Tolkien fans visit Oxford to celebrate author".Cherwell.Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2020.Retrieved11 November2020.
- ^"Tolkien fans hold annual Oxonmoot in Oxford".BBC News.24 September 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 6 November 2020.Retrieved9 November2020.
- ^"Tolkien festival this weekend ties in with most-popular ever Bodleian summer show".Oxford Mail.21 September 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 6 November 2020.Retrieved6 November2020.
- ^Newton, Russell (2 October 2012)."Tolkien fans gather for the 38th Oxonmoot festival".Cherwell.Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2020.Retrieved11 November2020.
- ^Gale, Casey (31 October 2018)."Meeting in Middle-earth at the Tolkien Society Event".PCMA.Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2020.Retrieved11 November2020.
- ^Gordinier, Jeff (14 December 2001)."'The Lord of the Rings': Elvish Lives! ".Entertainment Weekly.Archivedfrom the original on 12 November 2020.Retrieved12 November2020.
- ^Gunner, Shaun (11 August 2015)."10 reasons why you should attend Oxonmoot".The Tolkien Society.Archivedfrom the original on 12 November 2020.Retrieved12 November2020.
- ^Goldhill, Olivia (12 December 2014)."The Hobbit: Welcome to the world of Tolkien mania".The Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2020.Retrieved11 November2020.
- ^Aubron-Bülles, Marcel (4 October 2014)."History of Tolkien's life at Exeter College published".thetolkienist.Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2020.Retrieved11 November2020.
- ^"Talks and courses".John Garth.Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2020.Retrieved11 November2020.
- ^Zama, Sarah (26 September 2020)."Tolkien, Oxonmoot and Living the Change Without Fear".Medium.Archivedfrom the original on 10 November 2020.Retrieved10 November2020.
- ^Gwath, Inia (29 September 2020)."Oxonmoot 2020: A Review and a Fellowship".Books From Fangorn.Archivedfrom the original on 10 November 2020.Retrieved10 November2020.
