Mapping Middle-earth

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In this innovative study of Tolkien's often overlooked maps, Anahit Behrooz explores the connection between cartography and power dynamics. These maps serve not merely as visual aids but as essential tools for understanding the complex relationships between humans and their political and environmental contexts within Tolkien's legendarium. Through a diegetic literary analysis, Behrooz uncovers a tradition of cartography that reveals the interactions between mapmaker, map reader, and the mapped landscape, as well as the human/nonhuman dichotomy reflecting humanity's dominance over nature. The work argues that Tolkien presents cartography as a political act, embodying a quest for control over the depicted realms. It also critiques contemporary land engagements, addressing issues like environmental degradation, human-induced geological changes, and the repercussions of political violence and imperialism. Employing historical, eco-critical, and postcolonial perspectives alongside theorists such as Michel Foucault, Donna Haraway, and Edward Said, this analysis delves into Tolkien's use of medievalism, fantasy, and the relationship between image and text, highlighting and challenging the socio-political realities of his time and their detrimental impact on the world.