What was J.R.R. Tolkien’s first academic post at Oxford University?

J.R.R. Tolkien’s first academic post at Oxford University was the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professorship of Anglo-Saxon.

Tolkien held the position at Pembroke College, Oxford, from 1925 until 1945. The post focused on Old English language and literature, subjects that strongly influenced his creative work. His expertise included Beowulf, medieval languages, and the history of English vocabulary.

In 1945, Tolkien moved to Merton College and became Merton Professor of English Language and Literature. That later chair is often better known because he held it for many years, but it was not his first Oxford professorship.

Tolkien’s academic career and fiction were closely connected. His study of Old English, Norse, Welsh, Finnish, and other languages helped shape the names, languages, poetry, and histories of Middle-earth.