# Deconstructing the meaning of 'Into the West' w/Marilyn R. Pukkila - Into the West

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lorehounds-5638470/deconstructing-the-meaning-of-into-the-west-w-marilyn-r-pukkila-into-the-west
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lorehounds-5638470/deconstructing-the-meaning-of-into-the-west-w-marilyn-r-pukkila-into-the-west.md
Podcast: [The Lorehounds](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lorehounds-5638470)
Published: 2026-04-29T10:00:58+00:00
Episode link: https://thelorehounds.com
Audio file: https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/855b588b-9a9e-4578-91ae-355973053e96/stream.mp3
Processing state: processed
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-lorehounds-5638470/episodes/deconstructing-the-meaning-of-into-the-west-w-marilyn-r-pukkila-into-the-west
Duration seconds: 3954

## Resource

An exploration of the cultural and linguistic origins of the phrase 'going West' as a metaphor for death and transition. Tolkien scholar Marilyn R. Pukkila traces how ancient traditions and WWI trench warfare shaped the concept of the setting sun as a gateway to the afterlife.

## Highlights
- Main idea: The 'West' serves as a universal cultural metaphor for the transition from life to death and the realm of the hereafter
- Historical connection: The English idiom 'going West' was popularized by Celtic-speaking soldiers in the trenches of World War I
- Literary influence: Tolkien utilized themes from Longfellow's 'Song of Hiawatha' and personal wartime experiences to build his mythic geography
- Cultural parallels: From the Wabanaki 'people of the dawn' to ancient Egyptian and Greek beliefs, the setting sun represents a threshold for the soul
- Practical takeaway: Examining the legacies of deceased artists through storytelling provides a space for communal renewal and shared grief

## Topics

J.R.R. Tolkien, Etymology, Mythology, World War I, Cultural Anthropology, Grief and Memory, Literary Analysis, Folklore

## Chapters
- 1:00 — Introduction to Into the West: The hosts introduce their new memorial-focused podcast and the purpose of discussing mortality and legacy.
- 6:00 — The Purpose of Storytelling: A discussion on how media and community help process grief and facilitate renewal.
- 16:00 — Global Metaphors for Death: Examining how different cultures, including those in East Africa, use landscape and nature to frame the end of life.
- 21:00 — East-West Alignments in Tradition: Exploring the significance of solar alignment in Christian architecture and burial practices.
- 26:00 — Indigenous Perspectives: Discussing the Wabanaki Confederacy and the concept of being 'people of the dawn'.
- 35:00 — Tolkien and the WWI Influence: Marilyn Pukkila details how John Garth's research links Tolkien's 'West' to the linguistic shifts of WWI soldiers.
- 50:00 — The Role of the Storyteller: Reflecting on the human necessity for self-reflection and the preservation of legacy through narrative.

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## Transcript

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