Tolkien Fandom - Tolkienology

Tolkienology is a term used by Tolkien fans to describe the study of the works of J. R. R. Tolkien treating Middle-earth as a real ancient history, conducting research from an "in-universe" perspective. This differs from Tolkien studies in that it ignores the real-world history of composition by the author, and necessarily needs to assume an underlying internally consistent canon.

"Tolkienology" may include:

• Tolkienian linguistics: Study of the most complete languages Tolkien designed for Middle-earth, (usually Quenya and Sindarin), study of the writing systems, the most known being the Tengwar, and possible reconstruction for everyday use.
• debate on the "true" nature of Tom Bombadil, of balrogs etc. and debate on the "real" motivations of characters in the stories
• Genealogies of Hobbit families and kings
• The accuracy of Tolkien's calendars and how can they be used today
• Reconstruction of history (of Elven kingdoms, Arnor and Gondor, Rohan or the more unknown lands)
• Morality issues such as whether an omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent Ilúvatar (God) would destroy Númenor, if the 'bad' Dunlendings had any right rivalling the 'good' Rohirrim and if Gondor committed genocides.
• Possible census of population about each race.
• Astronomic descriptions in the books (moon phases, positions of stars), and what can be inferred about Middle-earth geography from them.
• Strategies of wars and battles, if they were right and what alternatives might have been
• Possible folkloric impressions Hobbits had about places of the Shire and other whereabouts, determined by translating placenames.