Amy Amendt-Raduege

Amy Amendt-Raduege is an Instructor in the English Department at Western Washington University's College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Her expertise spans medieval Global North literature (500-1100 CE), focusing on everyday people's experiences with death, burial customs, folklore, and belief systems. She is a noted Tolkien scholar, having published and presented internationally on his works. Her research also explores ghostlore evolution from corporeal medieval revenants to modern incorporeal conceptions.

Research interests include Old English and Old Norse languages, archaeology, and eschatology. She holds a PhD and has won the International Inklings Scholarship Prize for her book analyzing death themes in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Current projects involve a book on Tolkien’s legendarium’s afterlife development and a non-Tolkien study on ghostlore transitions.

• Awards: International Inklings Scholarship Prize (2020s)
• Key Themes: Medieval death practices, folklore evolution, Tolkien’s theological influences

Her interdisciplinary work bridges literature, archaeology, and religious studies, emphasizing marginalized voices in medieval narratives. Office hours require appointment scheduling via email.