Tolkien's Grave

On September 2, 1973, J.R.R. Tolkien passed away. Subsequently, he was buried in the same grave as his wife, Edith Tolkien. The grave site lies in Wolvercote Cemetery alongside more than 15,000 others. The inscription on the Tolkiens’s grave includes inscriptions for Beren and Luthien. Luthien, an elf, was the fairest of all the denizens of middle earth, while Beren was the human hero for whom she sacrificed her immortality and for whom she would later call on the valar to restore his life. The inscription indicates the love Tolkien held for Edith after their long union of fifty five years.

Tolkien's Grave, A Reflection

There is a small sign that states, “J.R.R. Tolkien, Author” and has an arrow pointing down one of the many paths that crisscross through the small graveyard. There are a few more, leading one past large conifers and willows to the outer edge, where two rows before the graveyard ends, there is a small gravestone, three to the left of the path. Here, the author and his beloved lay in rest under their names that of the fabled Beren and Luthien.

It was a sunny, warm and pleasant day when we arrived, and the grave was decorated with flowers and pages from his books, notes and even an eight sided die. Mementos left by the fans who had made their pilgrimage to this hallowed site. It was a beautiful green place, one that Tolkien would have liked; he did choose it, after all. Edith was buried here before him, and I could imagine the somberness of his footsteps as he made his way to her burial.

But also, one can imagine the peace he had made with himself there, that Tolkien would one day be reunited with his Luthien, here in this peaceful place. Their grave is covered in forget-me-nots and overgrown roses; probably just as he would have liked them.

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