Lord of the Rings Homeschooling Art Projects
Crafty Activity Ideas for Children Based on JRR Tolkien's Novels
As accomplished an artist as an author, JRR Tolkien filled his copies of The Lord of the Rings with drawings, maps and decorative text. Tolkien even designed the original book covers, indicating how seriously he took the look of the work. Studying the art of LOTR is a great way to introduce homeschoolers to another facet of the famous author, as well as a way to capitalise on the enthusiasm many children show for Tolkien's books.
Maps of Middle-Earth
Younger homeschooled children may enjoy ageing paper with tea or coffee dyes and using simple black markers to draw Middle-Earth-style maps. For older children, copying Tolkien’s maps is a way to develop accuracy and precision. The maps may also help clarify the complex plot of the books; some children might enjoy tracing the journeys of the Fellowship, pinpointing the location of the battles and marking the places of important events in the book.
Current editions of The Lord of the Rings often contain maps drawn by Christopher Tolkien. The maps from Peter Jackson’s film version of LOTR may also provide inspiration.
Tolkien’s Heraldic Devices
While writing The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, Tolkien used to doodle heraldic devices for his characters on scraps of paper. Like all of Tolkien’s creations, these devices adhere to a logical system: for example, devices for males, females and houses were placed respectively within lozenges, circles and squares. The designs themselves were usually symbolic – for example, Tolkien drew Gil-Galad’s device as a field of stars, reflecting his name “Radiant star”. Tolkien also used common themes in his devices to indicate family connections, frequently using similar colours or patterns within a family line.
Studying and copying these designs is a worthwhile project in itself; however, children might like to adapt Tolkien’s heraldic principles to develop their own family device or to create devices for other LOTR characters. Homeschoolers may enjoy considering the meaning of their names, their interests and their family connections in designing a unique motif. For students who are especially interested, actual medieval heraldry may be the basis for an interesting spinoff project.
Tolkien’s Tengwar (Elvish Script) and Runes
Tolkien’s hobbit runes are in fact nearly identical to Anglo-Saxon runes. Easy to master and write, these are a good introduction to Tolkien’s decorative texts. Dwarf-runes are more complex, but their key can be found in the Appendices of LOTR.
Tengwar – the flowing Elvish script shown on the One Ring and the gates of Moria – is somewhat more difficult to pick up from the Appendices. Several online sources have helpfully laid out the key to Tengwar, which can be used in various modes to write English as well as Elvish words.
Tengwar looks particularly beautiful executed in calligraphy; a student may like to write out a page or poem from LOTR in tengwar font as a project.
Tolkien’s Artwork
Despite being chiefly famous for his writing, world-building and linguistic talents, Tolkien was also an accomplished artist in his own right. JRR Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator edited by Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond [Mariner Books, 2000] reproduces an excellent selection of Tolkien’s drawings and paintings, along with critical commentary and biographical notes. Many of his drawings lend themselves well to copying and study.
Project and Essay Questions for Homeschoolers About Tolkien’s Art
- Copy a passage from LOTR first in English, then in hobbit runes and finally in tengwar.
- Discuss how the differences between hobbit and dwarven runes and tengwar reflect the differences in culture and technology between the peoples.
- Research some of the famous Tolkien-inspired artists – Alan Lee, John Howe, Ted Nasmith, Pauline Baynes and the Brothers Hildebrant are among the most famous. Notice how the various works emphasise various aspects of Tolkien’s world, from the homely to the grotesque.
- Illustrate a favourite scene from the books.
- Tolkien is famous for his detailed descriptions of landscape. Read one of these passages and try to recreate the landscape in any artistic medium.
- Tolkien’s artwork was inspired partly by Art Nouveau. Examine this movement and discuss why it reflects Tolkien’s views on Elvish culture.
While many of these projects are geared to older homeschoolers, the concepts can be adapted for younger children. These ideas are related to the writings and art of Tolkien himself; for homeschooling project ideas based on the Peter Jackson film, see LOTR Art Project Ideas for Homeschoolers.
Map of Middle Earth at the End of the Third Age
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