Hengest is the name of two characters the father of Ottor WÆfre (Eriol/Ælfwine), and later Eriol's son named after his father. They exist by way of mythology external yet connected to J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium (of a new mythology for England), affiliated with the story of Finn and Hengest. He also appears in Tolkien's rendition of Beowulf (trans. by J.R.R. Tolkien).
Within Tolkien's Middle-earth writings, Hengest only appears in tales included in The Book of Lost Tales Part One.
Ælfwine was intended to be the introductory voice adapting Middle-earth, and a number of other legends into his greater 'new mythology for England' concept. Hence his son Hengist also appears across other stories. This was a matter to which J.R.R. Tolkien gave much time and thought; he lectured on it at Oxford and developed certain original theories, especially in connection with the appearance of Hengest in Beowulf.[1]
References
- ↑ Tolkien, J.R.R.. The Book of Lost Tales, Part One: Part One: 1 (History of Middle-Earth) (p. 13). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition.