Rochester Scholar Explores Young Readers' Perceptions of 'The Lord of the Rings'
Luke Shelton, a Rochester scholar and editor-in-chief for the peer-reviewed journal of the Tolkien Society, 'Mallorn,' has conducted doctoral research on how young readers aged 8-18 perceive J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings.' Shelton's study aimed to understand interpretations that might differ from established Tolkien scholarship, noting a gap in academic literature regarding young readers' perspectives. He found that less than half of his study participants classified 'The Lord of the Rings' as 'fantasy,' often choosing alternative terms to describe the story. Shelton, who earned his doctorate from The University of Glasgow's Centre for Fantasy and the Fantastic, emphasizes that his personal engagement with Tolkien's works has been lifelong, finding new insights with each reread. He continues to bridge the gap between academic and fan communities through initiatives like the Tolkien Experience Project and Podcast, and is co-editing the 'Oxford Handbook of J.R.R. Tolkien,' expected to be a foundati...
