Lord Of The Rings – A Study Of Essay, Research Paper
Lord of The Rings – A Study of Tolkien’s Mythology
O, it is excellent
To have a giant’s strength, but it is tyrannous
To use it like a giant” -William Shakespeare
Tolkien’s famous book, “The Lord of the Rings”, has been repudiated as one of the best fantasies ever written. Tolkien creates a very deep intimacy between the book and the reader, he captures the reader’s attention and lures him into the story. One of the ways how this cathartic relationship is created is through the use of reality of the situation in the story. Tolkien has conjured up a fantasy language, to show the actuality this novel may present. Some quotations of this language are:
“eleventy-first birthday”
“The invitation were limited to twelve-dozen (a number also called a Gross by the hobbits)”
“Many young hobbits were included and present by parental permission for hobbits were easy going with their children in the matter of sitting up late.”
“What may you be wanting?”
“It was a cheerless land”
“The hobbits were merrymaking happily.”
Not only does the language create a land but it may also add a bit of humor. This humor can also express the merriness of the people that have been written about. The language, in English is not exactly incorrect but it is odd, strange, and different, which matches the theme and plot.
Tolkien, like mostly every other author has one main, specific goal during the exposition of the story, which is to capture the reader’s attention. In the beginning of “The Lord of the Rings,” Tolkien presents events of happiness, mystery, tales of power, chase, by evil riders, battles, and strange encounters. Through this process, Tolkien has created a grasp upon the reader’s attention, although, in the beginning, there is not much of a sort or understanding of the condition and the state of the tale. Later on in the story, in the “Council of Ehond,” Tolkien regains control of the story and presents the understanding. At that time, the reader understands the story, and is also eager to read on. Tolkien thought of it better to catch the attention and then promote the comprehension of the tale.
The Lord of the Rings is indeed a fantastic book with times of happiness, war, mystery, conflict, and passion. In order to create the full cathartic effect of presenting and expressing the magnitude of the potential of each feeling, emphasis must be exercised. If emphasis was not used, the essence of “The Lord of the Rings” could not be how it is; it would be a monotonous tale without any events of objects with great importance. There are two ways of how Tolkien expressed the dynamics. One way was the use of capitalizing common nouns, making the level of the word’s recognition increased. Some of the quotations of such words are:
“…and was drawing near to the astonishing Disappearance.”
“There is lie until the End.”
“The ring itself might tell if it were the One.”
“A new Power is rising.”
The other way of emphasis is personification: a figure of speech in which a lifeless thing or quality is spoken of as if alive, or to play the role of another thing. This can imply more importance into a less-important thing. The use of this emphasis is shown in these quotations.
“My news is evil.”
“We shall need your help, and the help of all
things that will give it.”
“The Elder Days are gone. The Middle Days are
passing. The Younger Days are beginning. The time of elves is over, but our time is at hand.”
“The Ring grows in Power and deserves destruction.”
This figurative language promotes increase of importance of things that must be emphasized.
The story presents a very easy to believe story that can be witnessed in the setting. The setting is a fantastic world of beauty threatened by an evil overlord and a wizard. The world contains man odd creatures to create the fill effect of fantasy. Something in which Tolkien added to this tale to create not only more emotion but also supporting edition to the tale’s reality. He’s added rhymes and ’songs’ in which some of the characters chant in the time of boredom. A quote from such a song is: “Gil-galad was an Elven-king. Of him the harpers sadly sing: the last whose realm was fair and free between the Mountains and the Sea.”
“His sword was long, his lance was keen,
his shining helm afar was seen!”
This use of rhymes transmits a feeling that is sent by the character singing the song to the reader. This is an effective use of catharsis. In a story like “The Lord of the Rings”, catharsis is very important and essential.
Throughout the whole book, there is one minor weakness. Due to the many names of all the different characters in the story, each of them can be easily confused with, causing the reader to be perplexed, and thereforelosing his or interest in the novel. Many of the names sound the same. Oncea name is introduced, many others follow. And then it builds up into a very long list of jumbled names. Some of the confusing ones are:
Aragorn, Arathorn, Arwen, Athdas, Bolger, Bomladil, Bombur, Boromir,
Eldar, Elendil, Elessar, Eomer, Eru, Galadrid, Galadrim, Gildor, Gil-galad, Gimli, Glorfindel, Minas Morgul, and Minas Firith.
Overall, “The Lord of the Rings” is an incredible, fantastic book. It was fairly difficult to read at some parts of the book which had “Boring” written all over the page, but it was definitely worth all that time. There is absolutely no doubt about the potential of excellence this book can generate. Tolkien has written an outstanding book and has proven many things and has shown many aspects. When Tolkien set out writing this book, he aimed for a best-seller. When it was completed, he re-defined the words, “A Masterpiece…”