Nature in Tolkiens Writing Essays - 2154 Words

While reading any of J. R. R. Tolkien’s major works, be it The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, or The Lord of the Rings, one cannot help but notice the amount of attention that is given to nature. There are numerous details given to describe each location, each character, even each tree. Tolkien did not claim to be an environmentalist, but by spending so much time in his books explaining the importance of nature, it is hard to say that he did not care about it. About the fantasy world that Tolkien recreated, Sherry Turkle argues, â€Å"The question is whether that prepares us to live in a world thats complex, where we need to be able to work in a structure where there are no rules and where we have to be really attentive to other peoples cultures†¦show more content†¦Sauron, on the other hand, resides in Mordor, a barren wasteland that is dark, and full of evil creatures, such as Orcs and Trolls. Tolkien developed the inhabitants to mirror their homeland: the Hobbits, bein g simple and provincial, living in a quiet town on the outskirts of everything to Sauron, being dark and evil, living in a black, volcanic land. My goal in this paper is to explore the character of Frodo Baggins, and I will show how Tolkien incorporated ecological qualities into this character. I. An Introduction to Frodo Baggins Frodo Baggins is probably one of the most recognizable names from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He is a hobbit from The Shire, a land on the edge of Middle-earth. Tolkien was interested in the etymology of words, so he put great thought into the naming of each of the characters and locations; Frodo is no exception. Frodo’s name comes from the Old English form of Frà ³da. Tolkien states in one of his letters â€Å"its obvious connexion is with the old word frà ³d meaning entomologically ‘wise by experience’, but it had mythological connexions with legends of the Golden Age in the North† (168). This name was perfect for Frodo because at the beginning of his quest, he was young, inexperienced, and had never before left The Shire. His name can be seen as a type of foreshadowing. To have a name that means ‘wise byShow MoreRelatedThe Lord Of The Ring1455 Words   |  6 Pagesand she grew into a horrible creature towe ring over Frodo, but fought the ring’s strong temptation, and finally decreasing back to her normal self and declined the powerful ring. Both Tom and Galadriel, in The Lord of the Ring, portray Tolkien’s respect for nature and strong spirituality, because they are powerful creatures, yet able to live a balanced life. Tom Bombadil was the master of the forest he lived in, and Frodo’s magic ring had no effect on him. Lady Galadriel was an Elf ruler and wasRead MoreEssay on Tolkien: A Racist, Sexist, or Not?1665 Words   |  7 Pagesvisit to England; however, before his father, Arthur, could join them in England, Arthur had died from rheumatic fever. Without an income, Mabel took her children to live with her in Kings Heath with her parents. Mabel sparked John Ronald Reuel Tolkien’s interests in botany, drawing, and fantasy stories. Eventually, type I diabetes caught up with Mabel and at the age of 34 she died. As Tolkien became older, he began to write literary essays about middle-earth. He also is the author of the LordRead MoreDark and Light Imagery Within the Hobbit1605 Words   |  7 Pageslives. Tolkien uses a large amount of imagery in his writing which can been seen through settings in The Hobbit. The imagery is usually either dark or light, depending on Bilbos mood and contrast of his surroundings. J.R.R Tolkien uses dark and light imagery in The Hobbit to effectively set an eerie and mysterious mood and to foreshadow events such as Bilbos journey in Mirkwood and his adventure in the Mountain. To understand Tolkiens use of imagery, one must understand imagery as a conceptRead MoreFan Fiction And Character Appropriation882 Words   |  4 PagesFan fiction and character appropriation Fan Fiction is a transformative practice of writing fiction created by fans based on existing source work or consists of elements copied from a story world, character or setting, the original source of the work being expanded can include any qualified material such as novels, films, comics or games. Legal implications arise due to the contemplation whether it is an infringement of copyright as a ‘derivative work’. Authors generally have a varied opinion onRead MoreThe Lord Of The Rings1383 Words   |  6 Pages Also according to Charters, When the writer locates the narrative in a physical setting, the reader is moved along step by step toward acceptance of the fiction (Charters 1008). Tolkien’s setting gives the reader a sense of goodness or malevolence. Unlike an environment that is removed from the work, Tolkien’s setting sometimes is the story. Possibly the setting could even tell the story if there were no characters. For example, in the house of Elrond of the elves, Frodo s experience is definedRead MoreThe Lord Of The Rings2072 Words   |  9 PagesThe Lord of the Rings series is arguably John Ronald Reuel Tolkien’s (aka J.R.R. Tolkien) most notable work. J.R.R. Tolkien’s story was impactful due to his creation of rich, profound mythological worlds. His religious and moral beliefs are carefully crafted into the narrative by representation of Christian-inspired themes such as sin, salvation, redemption, etc. The series’ influence expanded past the written work into a film trilogy written by Peter Jackson. The films further explored the story’sRead MoreDark And Light Imagery Within The Hobbit Essay example1677 Words   |  7 Pageslives. Tolkien uses a large amount of imagery in his writing which can been seen through settings in The Hobbit. The imagery is usually either dark or light, depending on Bilbos mood and contrast of his surroundings. J.R.R Tolkien uses dark and light imagery in The Hobbit to effectively set an eerie and mysterious mood and to foreshadow events such as Bilbos journey in Mirkwood and his adventure in the Mountain. To understand Tolkiens use of imagery, one must understand imagery as a conceptRead MoreHow Tolkiens Life Influenced His Works3900 Words   |  16 PagesHow Tolkien’s Life Influenced His Writings Thesis: John Ronald Reule Tolkien’s life experiences influenced his writing, beginning as a student, then a soldier, lexigrapher, professor, and then a writer to his own children; Tolkien’s life created the place known to most as Middle-Earth. Introduction Childhood South Africa Baboon Spider Lack of Greenery only sand and rock Early family life Early love of language and Anglo-Saxon literature Early adult life Edith and Tolkien Beren and Luthien Read MoreJRR Tolkien and the Twentieth Century Essay2135 Words   |  9 Pageswas at Oxford or through his time in the trenches in direct combat. As a dedicated academic, however, Tolkien never abandoned his passion for languages and mythology but used his experiences to bolster his own writings and creative pursuits. One of the largest influences on Tolkien’s life was through his experiences at Oxford. There, he met his closest friends who would stay with him throughout his life, classes that encouraged his interest in languages and mythology, and professors who challengedRead MoreEssay about J.R.R. Tolkiens The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings2310 Words   |  10 PagesHobbit and The Lord of the Rings J.R.R. Tolkien uses balanced style, intriguing symbolism, and basic motifs to tell an endearing story about human nature that all people can enjoy. One of the most fundamental concepts of human nature is balance, which Tolkien achieves using contrast and parallelism in his writing style. Every level of his writing, from the syntax to the story elements, reflects this idea. For instance, as one literary analyst comments, hisâ€Å"heavy usage of a coordinating conjunction