What was J.R.R. Tolkien’s first published scholarly article about?

J.R.R. Tolkien’s first published scholarly article was about “The Devil’s Coach Horses.” The article, published in 1920, examined the phrase’s linguistic history and usage.

The expression refers to the devil’s coach horse beetle, a large black rove beetle associated in folklore with the devil. Tolkien’s article explored the relationship between the insect’s name and the broader phrase, demonstrating the kind of historical word study that characterized his academic work.

At the time, Tolkien was beginning his professional career as a language scholar. He later became known for major work on Old and Middle English, including his influential 1936 lecture on Beowulf.

Because Beowulf is so strongly associated with Tolkien’s scholarship, it is sometimes incorrectly identified as his first scholarly publication. His early article on “The Devil’s Coach Horses” came well before his most famous literary and academic achievements.