The Gift of Death: Mortality in Middle-earth and Beyond
Signum University invites you to join us on Saturday, 11 April for TexMoot 2026. This hybrid event will take place at the Hampton Inn & Suites Houston Heights I-10 in Houston, TX, USA. As we return to the Lone Star State we invite you to join us to contemplate “The Gift of Death: Mortality in Middle-earth and Beyond”.
Register Here for TexMoot!
- $50.00 USD for In-Person Attendance
- $25.00 USD for Remote Attendance
At the heart of Tolkien’s sub-created world lies a fundamental and defining mystery: the Doom of Men. In the Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, Tolkien explores the central theological divergence of his legendarium. To the Elves, immortality is their nature, yet it becomes a burden of memory and grief within a marred world. To Humankind, however, Eru Ilúvatar granted the “Gift of Men”, death: the release from the confines of Arda and a destiny beyond the knowledge of the Elves and Valar.
TexMoot seeks to explore the multifaceted concept of mortality as a “gift” throughout Tolkien’s writings. We invite presentations that examine how this core philosophical and theological idea shapes narrative, character, culture, and the very moral fabric of Middle-earth and beyond. The theme invites a deep interrogation of what it means to be mortal in a world shared with the immortal, and how the shadow of death gives meaning to life, love, and sacrifice. From the tragic refusal of the Gift by the Númenóreans to the sacrificial deaths of characters like Boromir and Théoden, we will examine how the acceptance or denial of mortality defines heroes, shapes cultures, and drives the very narrative of Middle-earth. Join us as we contemplate the beauty, sorrow, and ultimate hope found in the Gift of Death.
Submit Your Presentation Proposal Here!
The TexMoot Team is accepting proposals for creative presentations, academic papers, workshops, or discussion panels on our 2026 theme. We invite presentations in person at the event and from remote attendees. Our Call for Proposals closes on 11 March.
Please note that a conference theme helps tie the day together and optimize fun, and we welcome anyone to respond to the Call for Proposals. Our moots are supportive environments for practicing or developing your presentation skills regardless of your experience.
Please read our Regional Moot Recording and Privacy Notice. You will be required to agree to its contents in our registration system before completing your ticket purchase.
