Echoes of Medieval Timekeeping in Middle-earth and Valinor

Authors

• Kristine Larsen, Central Connecticut State UniversityFollow

Abstract

Throughout his six-plus decades of work spent tinkering with his invented world and its mythology, Tolkien experimented with numerous calendars and timekeeping schemes, some relying upon direct pre-telescopic observations of the heavens and others mathematical calculations. This paper investigates medieval resonances and echoes in a sample of his various schemes, demonstrating how Tolkien’s use of medievalist timekeeping is consistent with, and greatly adds to, his creation of a self-consistent invented world

Comments

Expanded from a paper presented at the July 2026 International Medieval Congress, University of Leeds (UK).

Recommended Citation

Larsen, Kristine (2026) "Echoes of Medieval Timekeeping in Middle-earth and Valinor," Journal of Tolkien Research: Vol. 24: Iss. 2, Article 9.
Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol24/iss2/9