Often Smeagol is considered evil, but what is not thought of most often is who Smeagol was when he had the One Ring, also when the One Ring was not with him. Smeagol couldn’t have been evil when he didn’t even know of the One Ring. In the book The Fellowship Of The Ring Smeagol is a hobbit that was curious and liked shiny things. “The most inquisitive and curious-minded of that family was called Smeagol” (Tolkien 57).
When Aragorn and the others find Boromir, he confesses, “I tried to take the Ring from Frodo….the orcs have taken them,” (512). Boromir, like Gollum, was tempted by the Ring, and he also, again like Gollum, gave in to the pressure by trying to steal the Ring. After Sam and Frodo are attacked by Shelob, “he [Sam] was aware dimly of Frodo’s face, and stubbornly he fought to master himself and to drag himself out of the swoon that was upon him,” (907). Sam, invigorated by seeing his master whom he would die for in trouble, fights beyond his known limits to possibly save Frodo. Even though he was being attacked by an enormous spider, he did not pity himself, but instead fought harder for the sake of others.
Controlled by Temptation “Do not tempt me! I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe, unused.” (95) This statement sets the tone for the remainder of the book, The Fellowship of The Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien. In this story the keeper of the ring has a great responsibility to keep it safe, while also dealing with the consequences of its custody.
Bryce’s book talk project on, “Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers” by J.R.R. Tolkien demonstrates an understanding of the elements in a narrative. His work was organized and he was able
J. R. R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is a classic tale of adventure, conflict, and conquest. Hope and resilience is an outstanding theme that is intertwined throughout the entire trilogy. The characters in the story face seemingly impossible challenges, and yet they continue to persevere, fueled by their sustained hope for a better future. From the smallest hobbit to the most powerful wizard, the characters display the power of hope and resilience, inspiring readers to find strength in even the grisliest of times.
In the Hobbit, Bilbo and the dwarves visit Rivendell and while there Gandalf finds a place for them to stay with elves. Bilbo loves the place they are staying but the dwarves traveling with Bilbo don’t agree with him. Elrond, an elf they met during their stay, feels a certain way about the dwarves´ love of gold and wickedness of a dragon. He also feels ready for the adventure. The elves standards of values that are important to them.
Scarlett Kramer Mrs. Raynor English 10 Honors 18 January 2023 The Downfall of the Selfish Connection with others is seen as the opposite of addiction, for reliance on unhealthy substances tears at the bonds between people. Characters in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, which includes a diverse cast of creatures set in a magical land called Middle-earth, act similarly as they succumb to their desire for ancestral treasure and in doing so, destroy relationships. As Tolkien illustrates the destructive qualities of greed, both alone and in groups, he proves that cooperation counteracts materialistic deeds. Tokien introduces the characters Smaug and Thorin to prove that, in their similarities, greed will only lead to destruction.
“The Fellowship of the Ring is like lightning from a clear sky; as sharply different, as unpredictable in our age as William Blake’s Songs of Innocence were in theirs.” These were the words spoken by C.S. Lewis for The Lord of the Rings series. Tolkien was a close friend of the writer of The Chronicles of Narnia- C.S. Lewis. They both were part of the informal literary discussion group known as the Inklings. In the early years of their life, Lewis and Tolkien realized that such stories are now counted in Children’s literature and they wanted to create an adult readership for books that teach us about who we really are and what the world is about.
J.R.R. Tolkien has claimed numerous times that The Lord of The Rings and his fantasy in general was not intended as an allegory for Christian theology. In a letter to a Jesuit friend, he stated that while not originally intended to be a religious and Catholic work, it was most definitely intended to be so in the revision. He has even gone so far as to say that the reason that he has not put in any reference to religious practices in his imaginary world is because “the religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism” (Letter to Robert Murray, S.J., 1953). With this understanding, we move forward in confusion as there are many aspects of the story that do not make much sense without being viewed through the lens of biblical myth.
Aaron Davis January 18, 2017 English-11 Ms. Metzker The Devil and Tom Walker The overall theme of this story is greed. The narrator uses the description of the swamp and other things to suggest this theme and establish the tone for the story. The devil, in the story, guards the treasure not to protect it, but to use it in tempting people to live lives of sin and mainly greed.
The Lord of the Rings is a novel by J.R.R. Tolkien that tells the story of Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who is tasked with destroying the One Ring, a powerful artifact created by the evil Sauron. The characters in The Lord of the Rings are also experiencing internal conflicts in various ways. Frodo, the main character, is struggling with the burden of carrying the ring and the responsibility of saving Middle Earth. He is torn between his desire to fulfill his mission and his fear of the dangers that lie ahead. The novel explores themes of power, corruption, and the nature of good and evil, as well as the importance of friendship, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Tolkien’s highly intricate imagery of malignance makes apparent the uncertainty encircling the company and sets the frightful mood over which Bilbo’s courage must prevail. His ominous description of Mirkwood Forest explains the hesitation in the company to pass onto the realm where “The entrance to the path was like a sort of arch leading into a gloomy tunnel”(153). The imagery evoked by “Trees … too old and strangled with ivy… to bear more than a few blackened leaves” (153) places the reader in the foreboding atmosphere in which the company is presently ensnarled, and effectively forewarns of sorcery, monsters and misery at play. Days into the forest, constant hunger gnaws at the company, leading them to disperse round and round in an entranced dream-like state. Then, somewhere in the pitch-dark night, Bilbo strikes dead a most nefarious enemy.
Beowulf, the oldest surviving epic poem, has been recognized as one of the most important works of Old English literature. It deals with battles, warrior culture, and redemption in a Germanic society. Many writers have analyzed the relationship between Christianity and Paganism in Beowulf, and how these were a depiction of an early medieval Scandinavian society. J. R. R. Tolkien, renowned author of the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series, presented his view on the Pagan and Christian elements found in early medieval societies, as shown in the poem Beowulf. Tolkien explained that the poem shows “the nearness of a pagan time,” and with it “the shadow of its despair, as an intense emotion of regret” is conveyed throughout the poem (Tolkien).
When considering this unit in the context of the trilogy, one must understand the primary and sole purpose of the creation of the Fellowship- to rid the evil present in society by destroying the One Ring in the fiery pits of Mount Doom in Mordor. The Nine Walkers band together to stop the evil brewing in Mordor, and in Isengard when it comes to their attention, to save all races from impending doom. It is because of the nature of this grave situation that these nine individuals take on such critical responsibilities; especially Frodo, who becomes the Ring Bearer and has to bear the evil of Sauron first hand. At first, the hobbits have little experience in responsibility. Merry and Pippin are well known pranksters and troublemakers in the
Using the fellowship introduction scene, Tolkien shows the differences between each character, showing their balance of good and evil, remarking that everyone that’s part of the fellowship is affected by the ring and that no one isn’t. As they go through each character, the idea is presented by Boromir to use the power of the ring to defeat Sauron but as they claim, “you cannot fight the enemy with his own ring without turning into an enemy”(Book 2, Chapter 2, pg 282). Tolkien provides more evidence using this opportunity that although the Fellowship has good intentions, there’s still a chance for their desire to destroy the ring and corrupt them. This helps Tolkien challenge Plato’s theory of good and evil being equal parts within us by conveying that either good or evil dominates a being while the side left over is a small fraction that can come
