J. R. R. Tolkien, Ecology, and Education
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BURKHART, THAD A., Ph. D. J. R. R. Tolkien, Ecology, and Education. (2015) Directed by Dr. Glenn M. Hudak. 205 pp. John Ronald Reul Tolkien (1892-1973) was an Oxford trained philologist, professor (don) at Oxford, noted scholar, and author of high fantasy literature. His The Lord of the Rings trilogy (TLOR) has sold over 150 million copies worldwide making it the second bestselling work of fiction of all time (“The Lord of the Rings,” 2014). His popularity has resurged, though it never really waned, with Peter Jackson’s big screen adaptation of Tolkien’s most famous work The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003), also in trilogy form, winning multiple Oscar Awards, and grossing over 3 billion dollars worldwide (“The Lord of the Rings,” 2014). More recently, Jackson’s three part installments of the precursor to TLOR, The Hobbit (2012-2014), have also proved highly successful in movie format. As has been long noticed by fans and critics alike, Tolkien’s works, TLOR, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion (his legendarium of Middle-earth or Arda), and other lesser known works like The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (TATB) are permeated with ecological themes and tropes. According to Morgan (2010), Tolkien’s ecology is “[grounded in a] creation-centered ethic of stewardship . that holds the potential to re- enchant the world” (p. 383). Further, Morgan (2010) also says, that “The story . possesses significant pedagogical potential, albeit implicit in nature” (pp. 383-384). Obviously, at least to many, the Earth is in a state of ecological crisis. My dissertation investigates ecology through select high fantasy works of J. R. R. Tolkien. Specifically, I intend to address what can be construed by studying the enigmatic character of Tom Bombadil, while giving due consideration to other characters who represent or are a party to ecological concerns. This dissertation will prove that the study of Bombadil is a boon to ecological education in the forms of autodidacticism, ecopedagogy, and ecoliteracy by showing readers how the Earth should be treated and with regard to changing our current anthropocentric mindset to one that embraces a respect and reverence for nature; that is, biophilia. J. R. R. TOLKIEN, ECOLOGY, AND EDUCATION by Thad A. Burkhart A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate School at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Greensboro 2015 Approved by _______________________ Committee Chair To my Father and Mother, and my grandparents, Papa John and Granny, who taught me to love and respect nature. ii APPROVAL PAGE This dissertation written by THAD A. BURKHART has been approved by the following committee of the Faculty of The Graduate School at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Committee Chair_________________________ Committee Members _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ____________________________ Date of Acceptance by Committee _________________________ Date of Final Oral Examination iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge the Chair of my Committee, Dr. Glenn M. Hudak, and the Members of my Committee, Dr. Bettez, Dr. Shapiro, and Dr. Villaverde, for all of their assistance, advice, and patience in making this dissertation possible. I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Michael Parsons for his advice on ecological issues, and Dr. Dorothy Burkhart for being a patient and meticulous editor. iv PREFACE My reasons for choosing this dissertation’s subject matter stem from my love of nature, with its myriad species, the need to find a way to co-exist peacefully with them, and my love of J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantasy works which have enthralled me since I first read them long ago in my adolescence. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................1 Prolegomena ................................................................................................1 A Few Opening Words on Environmentalism .............................................2 The Problem with Capitalism ......................................................................7 A Few Words on Deep Ecology, Caring for the Earth, and Fellow Humankind ................................................................................11 Literature Review.......................................................................................16 Primary Tolkien Sources............................................................................16 Secondary Sources on Tolkien and his High Fantasy ................................19 Environmental Sources ..............................................................................23 Educational Sources ...................................................................................25 Methodology ..............................................................................................27 Problem Statement .....................................................................................30 II. TOLKIEN’S LIFE AND INFLUENCES ...........................................................33 Early Years .................................................................................................33 Oxford ........................................................................................................39 War Years ..................................................................................................43 Oxford Years as Professor .........................................................................47 Politics........................................................................................................52 Tolkien’s Fantasy World ............................................................................60 Final Years of Tolkien’s Life .....................................................................64 III. FANTASY LITERATURE ................................................................................ 66 Introduction ................................................................................................66 Terms Defined ...........................................................................................67 Tolkien on Fantasy Literature or “Fairy Stories” .....................................74 IV. TOM BOMBADIL ............................................................................................. 85 Introduction ................................................................................................85 What is Tom Bombadil? ............................................................................86 Tom Bombadil and Old Man Willow ........................................................95 vi Bombadil’s House ......................................................................................99 Tom to the Rescue, Again: the Barrow-downs ........................................106 The Adventures of Tom Bombadil ............................................................114 A Brief Comparison of Opposites: Bombadil and Saruman ....................148 V. CONCLUSION .................................................................................................153 Introduction ..............................................................................................153 Bombadil and his Multiple Intelligences .................................................154 The Problem with the Prevalent Anthropocentric Mindset .....................157 Autodidacticism .......................................................................................161 Ecopedagogy ............................................................................................166 Ecoliteracy ...............................................................................................172 A Few Final Thoughts .............................................................................179 VI. EPILOGUE ........................................................................................................183 REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................193 vii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Prolegomena John Ronald Reul Tolkien (1892-1973) was an Oxford trained philologist, professor (don) at Oxford, noted scholar, and author of high fantasy literature. His The Lord of the Rings trilogy (TLOR) has sold over 150 million copies worldwide making it the second bestselling work of fiction of all time (“The Lord of the Rings,” 2014). His popularity has resurged, though it never really waned, with Peter Jackson’s big screen adaptation of Tolkien’s most famous work The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003), also in trilogy form, winning multiple Oscar Awards and grossing over 3 billion dollars worldwide (“The Lord of the Rings,” 2014). More recently, Jackson’s three part installments of the precursor to TLOR, The Hobbit (2012-2014), have also proved highly successful in movie format. As has been long noticed by fans and critics alike, Tolkien’s works, TLOR, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion (his legendarium of Middle-earth or Arda), and other lesser known works like The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (TATB) are permeated with ecological themes and tropes. According to Morgan (2010), Tolkien’s ecology is “[grounded in a] creation-centered ethic of stewardship . that holds the potential to re- enchant the world” (p. 383). Further, Morgan (2010) also says, that “The story . possesses significant pedagogical potential,