...fantasy, lore, adventure and mayhem. Lend me your ear as we unravel the mythical inspirations behind one of the greatest, epic movie trilogies of all time: The Lord of the Rings! We learned in our first lesson together that studying myths introduces other cultures to us and provides us with different perspectives through which to view our own (Myth & Knowing, page 2). The Lord of the Rings trilogy truly introduced us to culture of a mythical proportions and allowed us to perhaps see our own world's history in a different light. Let us begin with a quote from the author J.R.R. Tolkein, "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us" (Tolkien, page 3). So let's make the best of it shall we! As a professor at Oxford, Tolkien, while grading papers, one of the students left this phrase on a blank page of his answer book. "In a hole in the ground there lives a hobbit (Tolkien Society, 2002.)" Curiosity got the best of Tolkien as he set out to discover what a hobbit was. Answers to his discoveries were revealed in stories he told his children, stories he embellished and those stories manifested themselves into the book called the Hobbit and eventually The Lord of Rings. The Lord of the Rings stories were inspired by many myths but none more prevalent than the Germanic poem called Beowulf. Tolkien explained to his editors that "Beowulf is among my most valued sources (Colbert page 21). Many similarities exist between Beowulf and the Lord of the Rings. For...
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...English 12 24 April 2013 The Fantasy Appeal in the Hobbit Fantasy is a type of genre that allows the reader to experience a place or world unlike any they have before. Fantasy lifts all our ideas of reality, and allows us to be a part of experiences that we would otherwise have no chance of taking part in. One of the first genres to be used in literary fiction was romance and this genre embraced fantasy by creating princesses and princes fighting an epic battle and mythical creatures such as dragons, Vampires and Ghost. In this paper I will explain how J.R.R Tolkien “The Hobbit” fits the genre of fantasy. This is important because every writer has there own writing style and there favorite genre. The novel “The Hobbit” by J.R.R Tolkien fits the characteristics of the fantasy genre because it has everything a fantasy book would have such as mythical creatures, wizards and an epic hero. J.R.R Tolkien was a scholar of English language and was a professor at oxford. He Specialized in Anglo Saxon and medieval literature. Tolkien being writing fantasy novels in 1976 and has said “No other Genre can put you in such a magical state expect fantasy”(A Short History of fantasy pg.123). J.R.R Tolkien has explained that his love for fantasy goes back to his childhood and when he would read books and forget about everything and everyone around him. J.R.R Tolkien has used every aspect of fantasy in his book “The Hobbit”. The majority of fantasy is based in a medieval-type...
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...THE HOBBIT WEBSITE SCAVENGER HUNT: WHO WILL BE THE WINNER? Go to: http://www.tolkien-online.com/index.html Home Page: What have scholars debated about, regarding his novels? Scholars have debated true greatness of these popular novels. “Tolkien creates out of the void a complete and fully-realized world. He weaves his spell around us, suspends all disbelief, and gives us our own modern day adventure and discovery quest.” The Hobbit: Date of first publication? It was published in 1937, and it remains Tolkiens' first published book and the one of the best books of the 20th century. What sentence has become one of the most recognizable in English literature? “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” What knowledge did Tolkien draw from to write The Hobbit’s characters and plot? ancient mythology, primarily northern (Norse) mythology. Middle-Earth: Why did Tolkien first begin writing his imagined world? ________________________________________________________________________ “Tolkien’s Middle-earth is a fully-formed world with its own _______________, ______________, ________________, ‘_____________’, a _______________ story, a Fall, grief, joy, and all of those many things that our own world has.” Middle-Earth: Tolkien and Language Which languages did Tolkien have an affinity for? ______________________________ Tolkien created _______ languages for Middle-earth’s various races, and in many respects these languages...
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...Question 1: What was your most memorable moment? My most memorable moment in The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien was when the Dwarves came to Bilbo’s house and asked him to join the journey to defeat Smaug and he accepts to go on the journey. I liked this moment mainly because Bilbo had shown lot of valiantry in this moment. Bilbo showed bravery because he did not want people to think of him as a scared person even though Hobbits are not supposed to live a treacherous and adventurous life but, Bilbo had known that he could be different. This can relate to my life when I had gone to an Adventure park. The Adventure park had many obstacles and zip lines. I was a little bit scared at first because the course seemed intimidating but I was brave and...
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...Tolkien’s Christian Connections By Candace Browning I. Introduction II. Truth thru Myth III. Providence IV. Hope and Faith V. Pity and Mercy VI. Similarities to the Bible A. Various B. Creation and the Fall C. Christ D. The Virgin Mary VII. Conclusion I. Introduction For thousands of years, humanity has turned to the Bible to answer questions of how and why we are here. At the dawn of a new millenium, popular culture has shifted away from ancient stories like those in the Bible. Thankfully, more recent tales influenced by the Gospels have emerged to fulfill this craven desire. J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is one such book. It offers a mythological explanation of the apparent chaos, pain, disappointment, horror and violence of the world in terms of the struggle between good and evil. Taking this into consideration, a closer look at the The Lord of the Rings reveals grim and glorious lessons that can be learned. The works of Tolkien have been almost universally embraced by literate Christians who have long recognized the richness and beauty of Tolkien’s Middle-earth as well as the profound influence of his Christian faith upon the shape of his imaginary world. On the other hand, it may be read and enjoyed without reference to any theology whatsoever. It succeeds mainly as an exciting tale, but a full appreciation of Tolkien’s accomplishment requires some sense of what lies behind the book. It...
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...Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring, directed by Peter Jackson, is a movie based on the novel written by J.R.R.Tolkien. My goal in this paper is to review the heroics of the fictional protagonist Frodo Baggins, describe how his experiences are universal to the humankind, and how Frodo is considered a model by which people can comprehend their experience and cope with enormous and often mysterious task of being human. Hobbits are usually not considered humans; however they are known to be relatives of the human race of men. They are very timid creatures, and never considered to have great courage to perform amazing achievements under any appropriate situations; however, the heroics demonstrated by the good- hearted Frodo Baggins, the hobbit is remarkable, who ventures out of the Shire for the first time in his life along with his friend Sam, and takes up the responsibility to carry the mystical ring to the fire pits of Mordor and destroy it and its magical powers, on his perilous quest to save the middle earth from Sauron, the Dark Lord. Though, Frodo being a hobbit, and without any mystic powers, he is gifted to withstand the power of the ring better than others. Frodo takes up the initiative and volunteers for the quest that forms the fellowship of the ring. Frodo and the fellowship of heroes encounter many death threatening obstacles during their quest to Mordor; Frodo exhibits his patience and the willingness to face all the problems as he is determined to do away with the ring...
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...“Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost” Steph Johnson ENG 155 January 23rd, 2012 Professor Jan Ward Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost A long, white beard and curious eyes peering from underneath a largely pointed hat often leave an imprinted image in mind. A scholarly grin and archaic tobacco pipe complete the picture formed. The faint imagery of what a wizard is can only be complete when thinking of Gandalf the Grey. A magic staff and a knowledgeable mind are cause for the quest that Gandalf sets out on in the novel “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien. He can overcome adversity and aid his fellowship of 14 unlikely creatures in their attempt to regain their long-lost home. Gandalf is a venerable wizard and exemplifies a mythological hero throughout his entire written history. Gandalf always seems to be in the right place at the right time with a sort of grace about him, as if always waiting for the perfect moment. His knowledge of Middle Earth is inexplicable; he rarely misses a beat. Although he is not on a personal quest, he is quick to help those he sees fit. Several times over the fellowship found themselves in a sticky situation, and Gandalf appeared only just in time. Knowledge, a keen eye, the desire to do what is right, and also a grain of mystery are all characteristics residing in Gandalf the Grey. According to "Tolkien-Online" (2007), “Tolkien was likely heavily influenced by one of the tales found in the Elder Edda which tells of the Norse god Odin traveling...
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...Mythology What are myths? Myths are traditional stories in which may describe the origins of the world and of a people. Myths are an attempt to explain mysteries, supernatural events, and cultural traditions. Sometimes sacred in nature, a myth can involve gods or other creatures. And, a myth represents reality in dramatic ways. Many cultures have their versions of common myths. “Myths... attempt to answer the enduring and fundamental human questions: How did the universe and the world come to be? How did we come to be here? Who are we? What are our proper, necessary, or inescapable roles as we relate to one another and the world at large? What should our values be? How should we behave? How should we not behave? What are the consequences of behaving and not acting in such ways?” (Leonard & McClure, 2004, para 3). The English word “myth” comes from the Greek word mythos and has been esteemed from the Greek word logos, both terms translates into English as word or story (Leonard & McClure, 2004,para 7). People have long wondered how the world came into being. They have answered the question with stories that describe the origin of the universe or the world and usually of human life as well. Myths express people's understanding of the world and their place in it. The world's mythologies and religions offer an immense variety of stories. Scholars have discovered that the different cultures fall into broad categories and contain many shared themes. Myths grant continuity and stability...
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...J.R.R Tolkien’s novel The Hobbit follows the journey of one central hero, Bilbo Baggins, and his company of dwarves as they embark to Erebor to retake the dwarves’ homeland. This epic tale can be analyzed using a mythological, biographical, or historical critic’s point of view. There are also a few themes seen throughout the novel, including greed and the journey. From a mythological standpoint, one could mention the works of literature that Tolkien himself said has influenced his fantasies about the fabled land of Middle-earth: Iceland’s Poetic Edda and Beowulf. Some tales in Norse mythology can also be analyzed to apply to Tolkien’s novel. Based on a biographically and historically opinion, one might talk about the World Wars’ effect on Tolkien and his novels. Another approach that could be taken is one based on the archetypes seen in The Hobbit; the hero, Bilbo Baggins, and the villain, the dragon Smaug. One could connect the archetypes and events of The Hobbit to those of Beowulf. The Hobbit could also be seen as a novel of the genre bildungsroman, which means “coming-of-age” and focuses on the emotional and physical development of the main character. The use of mythological criticism in the analysis of J.R.R Tolkien’s first novel The Hobbit is by far the most popular among renowned literature critics – one of whom was CS Lewis, an author of children’s fantasy novels himself. It is easy to explain the story from a mythological point of view; many ancient texts have themes...
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...J.R.R. Tolkien was an influence on many through his renowned fantasy novels, including The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. His work has inspired many and millions of copies of his work have been sold across the world. There were many aspects in Tolkien’s life that guided him in writing fantasy pieces for all ages. J.R.R. (John Ronald Reuel) Tolkien was born on January 3rd, 1892 in present-day South Africa. Both of Tolkien’s parents died of disease when he was just a child, and he was forced to live with another family member. He started taking courses in language, and soon enlisted in the Army and served in World War I. While fighting in the war, Tolkien caught trench fever, a deadly disease that killed many. While he was...
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...The Masters of Fantasy Fiction Long ago, in a little house on Northmoor Road, there lived a jolly Englishman. With a pipe in his mouth and ungraded papers at his desk, he nonchalantly scribed the sentence "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit" (Collins 76). A little longer after that during a time tensioned by the exposition of World War II there lived another Englishman. Housing a family of young refugees during the blitz, he crafted a story about four young children and a magic wardrobe (Tolson 4). Though only rudimentary concepts at their formation, the ideas that these two men had at the time would eventually morph into some of the most popular stories of our age and shape the way people think about life. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, two of the most brilliant authors to ever impact the world of fantasy literature, share several defining qualities in their early lives, careers, ideas, and lasting impacts. J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis lived fairly similar yet individual childhoods. The two young authors started out in comparatively alike situations. On January 3rd, 1892, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa (Collins 10), and six years later on November 29th Clive Staples Lewis was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland (Davenport 21). Both boys’ families included British parents and brothers; John's brother Arthur was two years younger (Collins 12) while Clive's brother Warren was three years older (Davenport 21). However, Tolkien seemed...
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...Lord of the Rings and Modern Day Epic? Epic adventures are one of the oldest and most celebrated works of literature. These adventures paint pictures of larger-than-life heroes, terrifying battle scenes, and heroic triumphs. Most epics served the purpose of transmitting culture and history, as well as entertaining readers. Among classical epics are the well-known Epic of Gilgamesh, The Iliad, and The Odyssey. However, is the epic adventure a dying breed of literature? Is it possible that epic stories have sustained the test of time and evolved over the centuries? The Lord of the Rings trilogy, including The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, is one of the greatest examples of a modern day epic. What do The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Epic of Gilgamesh, and The Lord of the Rings all have in common? They all share typical characteristics of epic adventures in some form or another. Though the motives and reasons may differ, the theme of journeying is common to all epic adventures. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, King Gilgamesh sets out on a perilous adventure with his closest friend Enkidu in order to find enduring fame and glory. In The Odyssey, the main character Odysseus embarks on a 10 year-long journey through trials and tests to find his way back home to his wife and son. Epic hero Achilles, of The Iliad, sets out to fight in the legendary Trojan War. Similarly, Frodo Baggins, unassuming hero of The Lord of the Rings, sets out from his home and...
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... and enjoy. Autobiography/Memoir Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X Black Boy by Richard Wright The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank Having Our Say by Sarah L. and Elizabeth Delany The Heroic Slave by Frederick Douglass I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing by Maya Angelou Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi Coming of Age The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros A Separate Peace by John Knowles Detective/Thriller Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries The “A is for…” series by Sue Grafton The Client by John Grisham Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle The Shining by Stephen King Watcher by Dean R. Koontz Fantasy The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony Any Harry Potter book by J.K. Rowling Historical/Social Issues The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel The Color Purple by Alice Walker The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Lord of the Flies by William Golding Of Mice and Men and The Grapes ofWrath by John Steinbeck Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd White Teeth by Zadie Smith Inspirational/Spiritual Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For by Rick Warren A Simple...
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...When he was ten years old, his mother died which deeply affected him. His mother’s death also brought him closer to his older brother, with whom he would play and imagine different worlds to escape his life and pass the time. One of these imaginary worlds that the two created was named Boxen, a world with talking mice and animals. Lewis would write down his ideas for Boxen with great detail, according to Mark Bane’s essay, Myth Made Truth: The Origins of The Chronicles of Narnia, “he even plotted out his nation's steamship routes and railway timetables” (Bane). It was from these childhood story makings that Narnia would later come to...
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...For Katniss it’s when the President changed back the rules of the game and said only one person can win; Katniss had to decide whether to sacrifice herself or her partner. Her reward was when they defeat the game by being able to both win. Katniss returns to her district with her rewards after completing the previous steps. With the research of the hero’s journey there are also critics who have their point of view on the journey. “perspectives on Campbell in that he most often focuses attention on male myths. Also, the female in Campbell's Heroic Cycle is defined as the hero's feminine side rather than as a full entity unto herself” (Grebe, 1991). Grebe believes that the hero’s journey concept was based on male archetypes and didn’t include female archetypes, instead during the hero’s journey female would be seen as the feminine side of the male character. This can be compared to Carl Jung’s archetypes of anima which is the feminine side of the males psyche (Luna,2015). The Hobbit (novel), Alice in wonderland (animated film) and The Hunger games (motion picture film), the characters of these narratives all go through an archetypal hero’s journey. Each character is called to an adventure from their ordinary world and it’s up to them whether to accept it or not. However, going on an adventure is never easy; each character experienced a refusal to call where they may have had doubts or didn’t realize they were on the adventure yet. To help each characters journey they all had their...
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