This book opens up new perspectives on the English fantasy writer J.R.R. Tolkien, arguing that he was an influential thinker of utopianism in 20th-century fiction and that his scrutiny of utopias can be assessed through his dialogue with antiquity. Tolkien’s engagement with the ancient world often reflects an interest in retrotopianism: his fictional places – cities, forests, homes – draw on a rich (post-)classical narrative imagination of similar spaces. Importantly for Tolkien, such narratives entail ‘eutopian’ thought experiments: the decline and fall of distinctly ‘classical’ communities provide an utopian blueprint for future political restorations; the home as oikos becomes a space where an ideal ethical reciprocity between host and guest can be sought; the ‘ancient forest’ is an ambiguous, unsettling site where characters can experience necessary forms of awakening. From these perspectives, tokens of Platonic moderation, Augustan restoration, Homeric xenophilia, and the Ovidian material sublime are evident in Tolkien’s writing. Likewise, his retrotopianism also always entails a rewriting of ancient narratives in post-classical and modern terms. This study then explores how Tolkien’s use of the classical past can help us to align classical and utopian studies, and thus to reflect on the ranges and limits of utopianism in classical literature and thought.
Introduce a new generation of readers to the man who wrote the phenomenally beloved Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit. J. R. R. Tolkien for Kids takes young readers through the exciting life of the man who created amazing new worlds and helps kids discover how he could see them. Explore the personal experiences and subjects that inspired Tolkien's stories through hands-on activities, and learn how he influenced his contemporaries as well as later writers—like you! • Make a Shadowy Dragon Come to Life • Make a Batch of Marmalade • Rewrite an Ancient Tale • Invent a New Code • Paint an Enchanted Forest • Draw a Map for a Story • Make Mushroom Toast • Turn Your Friends into Heroes Discover who Tolkien was, not only as a writer, but also as a soldier, researcher, teacher, friend, husband, and father.
With a new introduction by the authorPeter Jackson's film version of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy - and the accompanying Rings-related paraphernalia and publicity - has played a unique role in the disemmination of Tolkien's imaginative creation to the masses. Yet, for most readers and viewers, the underlying meaning of Middle-earth has remained obscure. Bradley Birzer has remedied that with this fresh study. In J.R.R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth: Understanding Middle-earth, Birzer reveals the surprisingly specific religious symbolism that permeates Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He also explores the social and political views that motivated the Oxford don, ultimately situating Tolkien within the Christian humanist tradition represented by Thomas More and T.S. Eliot, Dante and C.S. Lewis. Birzer argues that through the genre of myth Tolkien created a world that is essentially truer than the one we think we see around us everyday, a world that transcends the colorless disenchantment of our postmodern age.
*Includes a biography of Tolkien that explains which real-life experiences inspired his most famous stories and characters. *Includes pictures of Tolkien and important people and places in his life. *Includes characters spotlights on the books' main characters, including Bilbo, Frodo, Gandalf, Aragorn and other important characters. *Explains the origins of Middle Earth, its creatures, and its magic. *Comprehensively covers the plot and themes of each book. "Nothing has astonished me more (and I think my publishers) than the welcome given to The Lord of the Rings. But it is, of course, a constant source of consolation and pleasure to me. And, I may say, a piece of singular good fortune, much envied by some of my contemporaries. Wonderful people still buy the book, and to a man 'retired' that is both grateful and comforting." - J.R.R. Tolkien For more than half a century, the name J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) has been synonymous with epic fantasy. Known across the world for his classic The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Tolkien both revived interest in fantasy literature and set the standard for the genre. Today he is widely acknowledged as the "Father" of modern fantasy and its most famous author. While Tolkien made Middle Earth famous and vice-versa, Tolkien's works were influenced by a lifetime of Tolkien's own personal experiences. His tales concern creatures of myth, yet the plot lines and characters are human at heart. Tolkien drew his inspiration from war, nature, history, love, and language, and through the lens of fantasy he examined bravery, loyalty and friendship. That essential "humanness" at the core of his writing, whether it was displayed by a man, hobbit, or even a tree, struck a chord with readers that continues to resonate today. "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." So starts one of Western literature's most epic journeys, The Hobbit, a fantasy novel that has delighted adults and children alike since it was published in 1937. Ostensibly, The Hobbit is an adventurous tale about hobbit Bilbo Baggins, who leaves the cozy comforts of his home to try to win a share of a treasure guarded by a dragon named Smaug. The novel follows Bilbo and an assorted cast of magical characters and creatures, including dwarves, the wizard Gandolf, giants, goblins, and the mysterious Gollum. Tolkien brings so many different characters to life and keeps the plot moving at a fast enough pace that readers of all kinds have been easily engrossed reading the novel over the last 75 years. The popularity of The Hobbit made Tolkien's publisher and audience want a follow-up involving his Middle Earth and hobbit creations. To say Tolkien eventually outdid himself in response would be a drastic understatement. What followed was the most famous trilogy of the fantasy genre, The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien drew upon his background and spent over a decade fashioning the history of his world and the characters, including some of the old (Gandalf and Bilbo) and a lot of the new (Frodo, Aragorn, Sam). Though Tolkien's epic fantasy was published more than 50 years ago, it remains a stalwart piece of writing today. More than 150 million copies have been sold in more than 30 languages, and the trilogy is among the top-selling novels of all time. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings is the perfect resource for understanding Tolkien's classic books. In addition to exploring Tolkien's life and experiences, this guide explains the background of each book, including its characters and plot, its major themes, and its influential and enduring legacy.
J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973), Philologe an der Universitat Oxford, ist den meisten Menschen durch seine Romanreihe Der Herr der Ringe bekannt. Weniger bekannt dagegen ist, dass der streng glaubige Katholik in seinem literarischen Wirken eine Art des religiosen Vollzugs sah, der nicht im Widerspruch zu seinem tiefen Glauben stand. Seinem Verstandnis nach fuhrte er als "Zweitschopfer" den biblischen Schopfungsauftrag fort, indem er einen von tiefer innerer Wahrheit gepragten Mythos erschuf. Den aufmerksamen Rezipienten ist schon sehr fruh aufgefallen, dass Tolkien Elemente unterschiedlicher religioser Traditionen mit Motiven aus verschiedenen Mythen verwebt, mit denen er sich im Rahmen seiner akademischen Tatigkeiten beschaftigte. Diese Arbeit zeigt, dass die religiose Rezeptionsgeschichte demnach sehr fruh beginnt und immer noch nicht abgeschlossen ist, wenngleich die religiosen Bildwelten heute vom Publikum nicht mehr automatisch als christliche bzw. religiose Bilder wahrgenommen werden.
Explore the extraordinary life of J.R.R. Tolkien, the legendary creator of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, in this captivating literary biography that celebrates the father of modern fantasy and his profound influence on fantasy literature and mythological storytelling.This captivating volume goes beyond the epic tales of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to explore J.R.R. Tolkien's incredible life and the experiences that shaped his legendary works. From his early days as a linguist to his passion for mythology and languages, this book provides fascinating insights into Tolkien's extraordinary mind. This beautifully curated book is both an inspiring biography and a celebration of literary brilliance. Whether you're a longtime admirer of Tolkien or just beginning your literary adventure, Pocket Portraits: J.R.R. Tolkien will leave you fascinated, inspired, and longing for more.
J.R.R. Tolkien är en av världens mest älskade författare. Som barn blev han föräldralös. Som ung man stred han i första världskriget. Ändå skrev han sagor som var fyllda av mod och hopp, hjältar och äventyr. I den här boken får läsaren veta mer om hans liv, men också om hans egna språk och fantasivärldar. J.R.R. Tolkien - Ett liv ingår i Viljas serie lättlästa biografier om personer som förändrat världen. Det är en rikligt illustrerad bok om språkforskaren och professorn vars böcker fyllda av språkglädje och fantasi än i dag lockar nya läsare. Boken är perfekt som utgångspunkt i undervisning om språk, berättande och fantasygenrens betydelse i litteraturhistorien. Innehållsförteckning och register gör det lätt att hitta. Boken är skriven av Eric Braun och översatt av Birgitta Melén.
"An admirable and thought-provoking consideration of the underlying themes of The Hobbit, following the there-and-back-again progress from its famous first line on through to Bilbo's return home at the story's end." -- Douglas A. Anderson, author of The Annotated Hobbit The Hobbit is one of the most widely read and best-loved books of the twentieth century. Now Corey Olsen takes readers deep within the text to uncover its secrets and delights.Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is a fun, thoughtful, and insightful companion volume designed to bring a thorough and original new reading of this great work to a general audience. Professor Corey Olsen takes readers on an in-depth journey through The Hobbit chapter by chapter, revealing the stories within the story: the dark desires of dwarves and the sublime laughter of elves, the nature of evil and its hopelessness, the mystery of divine providence and human choice, and, most of all, the transformation within the life of Bilbo Baggins. Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is a book that will make The Hobbit come alive for readers as never before.
