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Fathoming the Mathom-house: Museums and Material Heritage in Tolkien’s Legendarium
No full textAs a renowned author and philologist, J.R.R. Tolkien has long been associated with the processes of literary transmission performed by libraries and archives. His engagement with the comparable cultural institution of the museum is less evident. By charting the gradual integration of the Michel Delving Mathom-house into Middle-Earth, this paper considers Tolkien’s fictional interpretation of a contemporary museum and how it served to enrich his legendarium. It first traces the textual history of this collecting institution from its marginal addition in the drafts of The Hobbit to its considered treatment in The Lord of the Rings. A pivotal development in this process was the linguistic transition from ‘museum’ to ‘mathom-house’, an expression of Tolkien’s deep affinity with Germanic languages and his unwavering pursuit of internal consistency. The significance of the humble mathom and its institutional home was reinforced by their centrality to the philological underpinnings and translation conceit of Tolkien’s frame narrative. The expository role of the Mathom-house culminated in its position as a unique marker of Hobbit society, showcasing its comparative modernity and cultural proximity. Tolkien thereby harnessed the familiarity of museums to make Hobbits relatable to a contemporary audience, as a means of better acclimatizing readers to the more archaic aspects of his secondary world. This paper ultimately demonstrates that even a modest narrative device like the Mathom-house could make a significant contribution to the realization of Middle-earth
Literary Tributaries: Classical and Romantic Influences in \u3ci\u3eThe Wind in the Willows\u3c/i\u3e
No full textSome interpreters of The Wind in the Willows have suggested that Ratty’s beloved river should be understood as a symbol of the imagination. Whether this is true or not, we may benefit from thinking of Grahame’s own imagination as a river that derives much of its force from both Classical and Romantic tributaries. In what follows, I will explore the lower reaches of these tributaries, not only to contextualize and illuminate The Wind in the Willows, but also to address several persistent questions about its composition and reception. I turn first to the Classical tributary, which flows with the imaginings of ancient Greek and Roman authors, especially Aesop, Homer, and various others who have offered perspectives on the figure of Pan. After that, I will turn to the Romantic tributary, which flows with the imaginings of many modern poets, though Coleridge and Wordsworth merit special attention
But I Made You Look: Mysticism, Desire, and the Refusal of the Literal
No full textIn response to the review of her edited collection in Mythlore #142, the author elucidates her decision to provide only a vague description of a controversial piece of art
The Liberty to Bind Oneself: Chesterton and The Oath of Fëanor
Get PDFThis paper does two things. First, it reads the oath of Fëanor in The Silmarillion through the lens of Chesterton’s philosophy of oaths, and suggests that Tolkien was speculatively influenced by Chesterton on this topic. It accomplishes this by an exposition of Chesterton’s philosophy of vows followed by an in-depth exposition of the oath of Fëanor throughout The Silmarillion. Its thesis is that the oath of Fëanor works according to the mode of Chesterton’s philosophy of oaths, that is, the oath compels the oath-taker to act. Viewing the oath of Fëanor through the framework of Chesterton’s philosophy of oath helps to make it explicit to the reader how the oath drives the sons of Fëanor to commit many evil acts. Secondly, this paper responds to a claim regarding the oath of Fëanor made by Alexander Bruce. This shows one practical benefit of reading the oath of Fëanor through the lens of Chesterton’s philosophy of oaths by highlighting the diminished freedom of the sons of Fëanor
\u3ci\u3eMimetic Theory & Middle-Earth: Untangling Desire in Tolkien’s Legendarium\u3c/i\u3e by Matthew J. Distefano
Get PDFMatthew Distefano’s friendly volume extends considerably the conversation about resonances between two twentieth-century literary giants, J. R. R. Tolkien and René Girard. Distefano not only clarifies essential aspects of Tolkien’s work by reading it through the lens of Girard’s mimetic theory but also, through his particular interest in how Hobbits provide models of positive mimetic desire, highlights, extends, and one might even say enacts aspects of Girard’s theory that are easily overlooked
\u3ci\u3ePotterversity: Essays Exploring the World of Harry Potter\u3c/i\u3e edited by Kathryn McDaniel and Emily Strand, and \u3ci\u3eThe Ivory Tower, Harry Potter, and Beyond: More Essays on the Works of J.K. Rowling\u3c/i\u3e edited by Lana Whited
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54. Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Survival of Pancreatic Cancer Cells under Metabolic Stress
No full textPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy with a median survival time of 10-12 months. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying PDAC initiation and progression. Metabolic stress occurs in various cancer types, including PDAC, due to the limited availability of nutrients and high metabolic demands. The present study aims to investigate the possible survival molecular mechanisms of cancer cells under metabolic stress conditions. Using nutrient starvation models, immunoblotting, and gene expression analysis, we are investigating how cancer cells respond to glycometabolic stress. Our preliminary data indicate cancer cells compensate by going into cell cycle arrest and inducing autophagy. In addition, we are exploring the role of lactate in the epigenetic reprogramming of cancer cells. PDAC manifests a high rate of glucose metabolism and is characterized by an increase in lactate production (Warburg effect). We hypothesize that lactate can serve as a vital metabolic regulator of gene expression. Our preliminary findings indicate that cancer cells utilize lactate as a regulatory molecule, modifying histones and potentially altering transcriptional programs and protein production to enhance survival. Understanding the functional significance of lactylation in cancer cells could provide new insights into tumor adaptation mechanisms and reveal potential therapeutic targets.https://dc.swosu.edu/rf_2025/1041/thumbnail.jp
Graduation Rates 200 2024-25
Get PDFWelcome to the IPEDS Graduation Rates 200 (GR200) survey component. The GR200 component is a further extension of the traditional Graduation Rates (GR) component which carries forward 100% and 150% graduation rates data previously reported in the GR component and requests information on any additional completers and exclusions from the cohort between 151% and 200% of normal time for students to complete all requirements of their program of study. This information is collected to assist institutions with complying with the requirements of the Higher Education Act, as amended
Academic Libraries 2024-25
Get PDFWelcome to the IPEDS Academic Libraries (AL) survey component. The purpose of the AL component of IPEDS is to collect information on library collections, library staff, library expenses, and library services for libraries in degree-granting post secondary institutions