Bushell (2020) 6 Mapping Worlds: Tolkien's Cartographic Imagination

Mapping in Fantasy Literature

• Maps are intrinsic to fantasy literature, offering a sense of control in an unfamiliar world.

• The map often lacks practical information (e.g., scale) but serves to authenticate the fictional world.

The Role of Maps

• Maps indicate secondary world creation, necessary for enhancing the reader’s experience of the narrative.

• They embody a contradiction: while they fix the landscape for the reader, they also stimulate imaginative engagement.

Tolkien’s Contribution

• J.R.R. Tolkien’s maps set a standard for fantasy mapping, influencing the genre significantly.

• He created a self-sufficient secondary world, establishing high fantasy and introducing the necessity of maps.

Map vs. Narrative

• Writers often create maps as part of their writing process, intertwining narrative and geography.

• Tolkien viewed maps as essential before storytelling; his statements reflect struggles with depicting his world accurately.

Mapping Process

• The creation of maps is vital in developing places and events in Tolkien’s works, showing the interplay between map creation and narrative evolution.

• Tolkien employed both visual and verbal creativity in illustrating places like Minas Tirith, indicating the importance of mapping in his writing process.

Reader Engagement

• The reader uses maps presented in the texts to navigate the journey alongside characters.

• Different maps serve distinct purposes, each corresponding to a section of the narrative (e.g., The Shire, General Map).

Post-Authorial Re-mapping

• Tolkien’s maps have inspired a variety of post-authorial interpretations, including adaptations for different media (e.g., films).

• Maps in adaptations evoke real landscapes, influencing tourist experiences and cultural perceptions of Middle-Earth.