Classical Studies Home                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Last updated: 9/26/02			J. R. R. Tolkien (1892-1973) [a.k.a. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien], Author of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy J. R. R. Tolkien studied Latin and Greek in two Birmingham schools, then later took a first-class degree in Classics at Oxford University (Exeter College, 1911-15). In college, Tolkien also studied a variety of other languages, such as Old English, Gothic and other Germanic languages, Finnish, and Welsh. While Tolkien was writing his Lord of the Rings trilogy, he worked for a time as an Assistant Lexikographer with the Oxford English Dictionary project, contributing, e.g., the articles "walrus" and "wasp". In 1920, he started a career as an English professor. In 1959, he retired as the Merton Professor of English Language and Literature at Oxford University. Click here for a detailed biography of J.R.R. Tolkien. Back to Classics VIPs   For corrections or additions, please contact oknorrATwillamette.edu.

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