(no subject)
Today in my Tolkien class, Professor Stacey gave a mini-bio of Tolkien's life. Very impressive guy - he become a professor (which is equivalent to the chair of the department here in the US) of Oxford at the old age of 33. However, his problem was that he devoted a lot more time to his own personal pursuits (writing languages and then creating stories around them) than he was at writing scholarly articles. In any case he was a brilliant linguist, who knew a dozen languages (including some that aren't in use any more), and that wasn't including the languages he made up. So anyway, as a sort of illustration on how Tolkien went about creating those stories, we got the names of places in/around Oxfordshire. We were given their meaning, and then we were to create a myth that connects the 5 placenames together. The 5 words my group got were:
[note: OE= Old English]
Wroxton: "buzzard stone" (OE wrocc; OE stan)
Wolvercote: "Wulfgar's Cottage" (OE Wulfgar means "Wolf-spear"; OE cote)
Fritwell: "divination spring" (OE freht, Old Anglian wella)
Great Haseley: "Great Hazel wood clearing" (OE haesel/ OE leah)
Witney: "Wittas Island" (OE Wita means "wise man, councilor"; Old Anglian eg)
Click on the link below to read what is partly my group's myth and also additions to it that I made to it. Please note that this is very rough as it only took me about 30 minutes I think. I might go back and change things and make it longer later, who knows? ^_^
Long ago, in a land quite unlike ours, there lived wolves. They ruled the land with an iron fist, and everyone feared them. For a long time no one dared to defy them. There would be small pockets of resistance from here and there, but they were all soundly defeated by the wolves. As so, the people lived in fear and tyranny.
One day, a whisper began among the commonfolk that there was a man, a stranger from far away places, who had come to town and had settled in the nearby woods. Who he was, and where he had come from was unknown. All they knew was his name - Witta. They talked among themselves, “Do you think he has come to deliver us?” for his name means “Wise man”.
The stranger Witta would come in and out of the town, buying supplies and then retreating back to the forest. The children, who were more curious than the adults, decided to follow him to see what he did in the woods. So one day, after Witta had purchased his goods and left to go to the forest, some of the children followed him. Deeper and deeper they went into the woods, until they came upon a small spring. In the middle of this spring was an island, and upon this island was a small cottage to which Witta was now entering. The children hid behind the trees, fearful of Witta and not sure what to do next. However, they did not have to decide as all of a sudden they hear a voice behind them say, “Well, what do you think of my humble abode?”
The children turned with a start. There was Witta, standing behind them when only moments before he was entering the cottage! “I knew you were following me,” he said, “But I thought I would surprise you.” He gave a hearty laugh.
The children were filled with awe and admiration. They knew from his teleportation that he must be a very powerful sorcerer, and because of his laugh they knew that they had nothing to fear from him. Witta then invited them in, and told them wonderful stories about his adventures in faraway lands, fighting demons and meeting faeries and the like. The children were captivated.
“You are a powerful wizard, why don’t you help us defeat the wolves?” said one of the children, whose name was Wulfgar.
“In due time, my son” replied Witta. “There is a time for everything, and the time for me to play my part has not yet come. However, it will soon. And your time will come when you shall have a part to play in this as well,” said Witta with a twinkle in his eyes.
“I already know that,” bragged Wulfgar. “My father told me my name means ‘Wolf-spear’ and I hope one day to be in the army that defeats the wolves.”
“Well, I am glad you have a focus in your life. But now you must go, I’m sure your parents are worried about your whereabouts.” Witta gently pushed them out the door. To their astonishment the sun was just about setting - they had been at Witta’s place all day! They quickly ran home so they would be in time for supper.
----------
Ten years passed, and still the wolves reigned the land. The people had given up hope on Witta; in fact, they grumbled among themselves about him. “Why has he come, if he is not to help us defeat the wolves?” cried the townspeople. Others even went as far as to say “He is an agent of the wolves, here to give us a sense of false hope.” One man listened to all of this and said nothing. It was Wulfgar, who now was no longer a boy but a man. He did not know what to say to the townsfolk. He still remembered his conversation with Witta as if it was that day, and he knew that Witta was not lying when he said he would help the town. However, Wulfgar had not seen Witta since that day and thought he would go pay the old man a visit.
So once again, like it was ten years ago, Wulfgar walked through the forest to Witney (the name of the island where Witta lived), except this time he was alone. Finally, he gets to Witney and sees Witta standing on the banks of the spring, and he appeared to be pouring something into the spring.
Witta turns around. “Ahh… I see you have come, perhaps for an explanation of why the wolves still reign?”
Wulfgar, thoroughly annoyed, exclaims “If only you knew what the people in town are saying about you! Everyone is wondering why you haven’t done anything about the wolves and just sit around in your cottage all day! Some even say that you are actually working for the wolves and you’re not here to help us at all!”
There was a slight pause. Then Witt asks Wulfgar, “Well, do you think I have come to help the town?”
“Yes, I believe you when you say that you are here to help us.”
“Well then now the time has come! Put your hand in this spring,” Witta said. Wulfgar hesitates for a moment, but then thrusts his hand into the water. When his hand reemerges from the water, he has a spear in his hands.
“It is time for you to fulfill your destiny” says Witta. “Together, we will fight the wolves. But let me tell you now, it will not be easy. The battle will be hard, and there will be sacrifices that need to be made. But never give up.” With that Witta mumbles an ancient rune, and a giant beam of light explodes from the spring and into the sky. All of a sudden a huge pack of wolves appear.
“Well, well. The signal to all wolves that we cannot resist. Why have you brought us here?” hissed one of the wolves, who turned out to be the king of the pack.
“We have called you here, because it is time for you to leave. You cannot reign here anymore!” Witta declared.
Laughter came from all around and filled the mighty forest. “You cannot defeat us,” said one of the wolves, “for we are too powerful and too numerous. However, if you do not wish to be ruled by us we will grant you your wish by tearing you apart limb by limb.” And with that the wolves lunged at Witta and Wulfgar. The battle had begun.
----------
Wolf after wolf came at Witta and Wulfgar, and wolf after wolf fell. Wulfgar was very skilled at using the spear and was very agile in avoiding the sharp teeth and claws of the wolves. Witta had his magic and would also use the water of Fritwell (the spring that surrounds Witney), of which was like poison to the wolves. Hours passed, and still both sides did not cease fighting. The bodies of the wolves became so numerous Witta and Wulfgar had to be very careful as to not trip over a carcass while they were fighting.
Humans are only humans, and after seven hours of fighting Wulfgar was getting very tired. He was less and less careful and one of the wolves was able to take a nice swipe at his arm, which caused Wulfgar to bleed considerably. He cried out to Witta for help. Witta looked at him, and then said “My son, it is time for this to end. I must bid farewell to you now, but know that I will always be here in spirit.” With that, Witta uttered another ancient rune, and his body exploded into a billion beams of lights. Wulfgar looked on in amazement as all the wolves who were touched by the light would fall over and perish on the spot. And it was not only the wolves that were affected by the light - what was once a forest was now a great clearing. Wulfgar could see all the way to town, where he could see the looks of the astonished townsfolk. Wulfgar, faint from exhaustion and the loss of blood from the wolf scratch, fainted.
----------
The battle was over. The townspeople were free from the tyranny of the wolves. There was much celebration in the town, but not for Wulfgar. He mourned the loss of the great wizard Witta. The first thing he did was take all the wolf carcasses and skin them. He then deposited the carcasses into the spring, where the powerful magic of Witta dissolved the bodies so they would be no more.
Next, he made a grave for Witta. There was no body, as he had exploded into a great light, so Wulfgar just placed a stone at the edge of the clearing. He named it Wroxton, for the buzzard was a symbol of the wise. He then took all the pelts (except for one, which he kept and wore around his neck) and placed them in front of Wroxton in memory of his wizard friend.
As a last testament to the great wizardry of Witta, Wulfgar planted a hazel plant in the clearing. He felt it was befitting as hazel is known to have great mystical powers, and right when he finished pushing the last bits of earth around the plant there sprung up all across the clearing thousands of hazel plants. They were so thick you could lay down on the ground and be supported by a thick layer of hazel. The townspeople were amazed and named the clearing Great Haseley.
As for Wulfgar, he took residence of Witta’s dwelling, renaming it Wolvercote. The townspeople heard about the Great Battle as it was known and were impressed by the valor and courage of Wulfgar. So they elected him their new leader, and he was a fair and just ruler. When he was too old to rule, he would sit in Wolvercote and retell the great story of Witta to all the children in the town. And everything was as it should be.
THE END
I would love any feedback on the story! I know there are a lot of holes, again hopefully I'll be able to go back and fix them.
This Tolkien class is going to rock.
<3 jen
[note: OE= Old English]
Wroxton: "buzzard stone" (OE wrocc; OE stan)
Wolvercote: "Wulfgar's Cottage" (OE Wulfgar means "Wolf-spear"; OE cote)
Fritwell: "divination spring" (OE freht, Old Anglian wella)
Great Haseley: "Great Hazel wood clearing" (OE haesel/ OE leah)
Witney: "Wittas Island" (OE Wita means "wise man, councilor"; Old Anglian eg)
Click on the link below to read what is partly my group's myth and also additions to it that I made to it. Please note that this is very rough as it only took me about 30 minutes I think. I might go back and change things and make it longer later, who knows? ^_^
Long ago, in a land quite unlike ours, there lived wolves. They ruled the land with an iron fist, and everyone feared them. For a long time no one dared to defy them. There would be small pockets of resistance from here and there, but they were all soundly defeated by the wolves. As so, the people lived in fear and tyranny.
One day, a whisper began among the commonfolk that there was a man, a stranger from far away places, who had come to town and had settled in the nearby woods. Who he was, and where he had come from was unknown. All they knew was his name - Witta. They talked among themselves, “Do you think he has come to deliver us?” for his name means “Wise man”.
The stranger Witta would come in and out of the town, buying supplies and then retreating back to the forest. The children, who were more curious than the adults, decided to follow him to see what he did in the woods. So one day, after Witta had purchased his goods and left to go to the forest, some of the children followed him. Deeper and deeper they went into the woods, until they came upon a small spring. In the middle of this spring was an island, and upon this island was a small cottage to which Witta was now entering. The children hid behind the trees, fearful of Witta and not sure what to do next. However, they did not have to decide as all of a sudden they hear a voice behind them say, “Well, what do you think of my humble abode?”
The children turned with a start. There was Witta, standing behind them when only moments before he was entering the cottage! “I knew you were following me,” he said, “But I thought I would surprise you.” He gave a hearty laugh.
The children were filled with awe and admiration. They knew from his teleportation that he must be a very powerful sorcerer, and because of his laugh they knew that they had nothing to fear from him. Witta then invited them in, and told them wonderful stories about his adventures in faraway lands, fighting demons and meeting faeries and the like. The children were captivated.
“You are a powerful wizard, why don’t you help us defeat the wolves?” said one of the children, whose name was Wulfgar.
“In due time, my son” replied Witta. “There is a time for everything, and the time for me to play my part has not yet come. However, it will soon. And your time will come when you shall have a part to play in this as well,” said Witta with a twinkle in his eyes.
“I already know that,” bragged Wulfgar. “My father told me my name means ‘Wolf-spear’ and I hope one day to be in the army that defeats the wolves.”
“Well, I am glad you have a focus in your life. But now you must go, I’m sure your parents are worried about your whereabouts.” Witta gently pushed them out the door. To their astonishment the sun was just about setting - they had been at Witta’s place all day! They quickly ran home so they would be in time for supper.
----------
Ten years passed, and still the wolves reigned the land. The people had given up hope on Witta; in fact, they grumbled among themselves about him. “Why has he come, if he is not to help us defeat the wolves?” cried the townspeople. Others even went as far as to say “He is an agent of the wolves, here to give us a sense of false hope.” One man listened to all of this and said nothing. It was Wulfgar, who now was no longer a boy but a man. He did not know what to say to the townsfolk. He still remembered his conversation with Witta as if it was that day, and he knew that Witta was not lying when he said he would help the town. However, Wulfgar had not seen Witta since that day and thought he would go pay the old man a visit.
So once again, like it was ten years ago, Wulfgar walked through the forest to Witney (the name of the island where Witta lived), except this time he was alone. Finally, he gets to Witney and sees Witta standing on the banks of the spring, and he appeared to be pouring something into the spring.
Witta turns around. “Ahh… I see you have come, perhaps for an explanation of why the wolves still reign?”
Wulfgar, thoroughly annoyed, exclaims “If only you knew what the people in town are saying about you! Everyone is wondering why you haven’t done anything about the wolves and just sit around in your cottage all day! Some even say that you are actually working for the wolves and you’re not here to help us at all!”
There was a slight pause. Then Witt asks Wulfgar, “Well, do you think I have come to help the town?”
“Yes, I believe you when you say that you are here to help us.”
“Well then now the time has come! Put your hand in this spring,” Witta said. Wulfgar hesitates for a moment, but then thrusts his hand into the water. When his hand reemerges from the water, he has a spear in his hands.
“It is time for you to fulfill your destiny” says Witta. “Together, we will fight the wolves. But let me tell you now, it will not be easy. The battle will be hard, and there will be sacrifices that need to be made. But never give up.” With that Witta mumbles an ancient rune, and a giant beam of light explodes from the spring and into the sky. All of a sudden a huge pack of wolves appear.
“Well, well. The signal to all wolves that we cannot resist. Why have you brought us here?” hissed one of the wolves, who turned out to be the king of the pack.
“We have called you here, because it is time for you to leave. You cannot reign here anymore!” Witta declared.
Laughter came from all around and filled the mighty forest. “You cannot defeat us,” said one of the wolves, “for we are too powerful and too numerous. However, if you do not wish to be ruled by us we will grant you your wish by tearing you apart limb by limb.” And with that the wolves lunged at Witta and Wulfgar. The battle had begun.
----------
Wolf after wolf came at Witta and Wulfgar, and wolf after wolf fell. Wulfgar was very skilled at using the spear and was very agile in avoiding the sharp teeth and claws of the wolves. Witta had his magic and would also use the water of Fritwell (the spring that surrounds Witney), of which was like poison to the wolves. Hours passed, and still both sides did not cease fighting. The bodies of the wolves became so numerous Witta and Wulfgar had to be very careful as to not trip over a carcass while they were fighting.
Humans are only humans, and after seven hours of fighting Wulfgar was getting very tired. He was less and less careful and one of the wolves was able to take a nice swipe at his arm, which caused Wulfgar to bleed considerably. He cried out to Witta for help. Witta looked at him, and then said “My son, it is time for this to end. I must bid farewell to you now, but know that I will always be here in spirit.” With that, Witta uttered another ancient rune, and his body exploded into a billion beams of lights. Wulfgar looked on in amazement as all the wolves who were touched by the light would fall over and perish on the spot. And it was not only the wolves that were affected by the light - what was once a forest was now a great clearing. Wulfgar could see all the way to town, where he could see the looks of the astonished townsfolk. Wulfgar, faint from exhaustion and the loss of blood from the wolf scratch, fainted.
----------
The battle was over. The townspeople were free from the tyranny of the wolves. There was much celebration in the town, but not for Wulfgar. He mourned the loss of the great wizard Witta. The first thing he did was take all the wolf carcasses and skin them. He then deposited the carcasses into the spring, where the powerful magic of Witta dissolved the bodies so they would be no more.
Next, he made a grave for Witta. There was no body, as he had exploded into a great light, so Wulfgar just placed a stone at the edge of the clearing. He named it Wroxton, for the buzzard was a symbol of the wise. He then took all the pelts (except for one, which he kept and wore around his neck) and placed them in front of Wroxton in memory of his wizard friend.
As a last testament to the great wizardry of Witta, Wulfgar planted a hazel plant in the clearing. He felt it was befitting as hazel is known to have great mystical powers, and right when he finished pushing the last bits of earth around the plant there sprung up all across the clearing thousands of hazel plants. They were so thick you could lay down on the ground and be supported by a thick layer of hazel. The townspeople were amazed and named the clearing Great Haseley.
As for Wulfgar, he took residence of Witta’s dwelling, renaming it Wolvercote. The townspeople heard about the Great Battle as it was known and were impressed by the valor and courage of Wulfgar. So they elected him their new leader, and he was a fair and just ruler. When he was too old to rule, he would sit in Wolvercote and retell the great story of Witta to all the children in the town. And everything was as it should be.
THE END
I would love any feedback on the story! I know there are a lot of holes, again hopefully I'll be able to go back and fix them.
This Tolkien class is going to rock.
<3 jen