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A Symbolic Study of Forests in Jrr Tolkien's Lord of the Rings

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A Symbolic Study of Forests in Jrr Tolkien's Lord of the Rings © 2019 JETIR March 2019, Volume 6, Issue 3 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162) INTERROGATING THE ABSTRACT AND THE CONCRETE: A SYMBOLIC STUDY OF FORESTS IN J R R TOLKIEN’S LORD OF THE RINGS CHINU JAMES Fairy lands and mythical creatures are the two things that exist only in literature. Lord of the Rings is a fantasy tale written in trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien. The British writer has created a whole new world of Middle earth. Elves, Wizards, Hobbits, dwarves, talking trees are all part of this mystical land. From his early childhood onwards he was a keen observer of nature. Like many epics Lord of the Rings is the story of a quest. Tolkien presents us with the story of Frodo Baggins. In Frodo’s journey Tolkien’s magical landscapes not only present us with a strong background where almost all the actions take place but also forms various symbols that has deep connections with the inner self of the hero as well as the writer. Frodo Baggins is a Hobbit. A hobbit is never heard of in literature until Tolkien introduces them in his work The Hobbit. “Hobbits are an unobtrusive but very ancient people, more numerous formerly than they are today; for they love peace and quiet and good tilled earth; a well- ordered and well-farmed countryside was their favorite haunt. They do not and did not understand machines more complicated than a forge- bellowers, a water- mill, or a hand-loom though they were skilful with tools.”(FOTR 1). Tolkien describes Hobbits as a peaceful people living in their peaceful land Shire. Shire depicts Tolkien’s love for English countryside. Hobbits leaving in Shire are not much found of machines. Hobbits represent the innocent country folk living in English countryside. Tolkien lived and wrote at a time when scientific prosperity was beginning to show its evil sides. Dark lord Sauron and his dark force represent industrialization. The peaceful atmosphere that prevailed in Shire is disturbed by the arrival of dark riders of Sauron in the same way as the English country side is overtaken by industrialization. Frodo Baggins along with his gardener Samwise Gamgee called Sam and two cousins, Meriadoc Brandybuck called Merry, and Peregrin Took, called Pippin leave for Rivendell. They are followed by dark riders. Gildor and his company of Elves save them. Elves are fairest, brightest and immortal. But unlike the myths Tolkien presents them as tallest and JETIRAG06073 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org 343 © 2019 JETIR March 2019, Volume 6, Issue 3 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162) beautiful creatures. They spend the night together in the “wood of the hills above woodhall” (FOTR79). The bower where in the middle of the woods is an enchanted place untouched by anything unnatural. The great hall in the middle is made of living trees, as are the beds in which the Hobbits sleep. Elves are so pure that they take their power from the natural world. Gildor says that he is leaving middle earth and going to the Great Sea like many of his friends. They are doing so because their age is coming to an end, regardless of what happens to the ring. Tolkien lived and wrote during an age that has seen the worst of progress in the form of two world wars. He believed that whatever is coming will bring more bad than good. Its results will be decline than progress of nature. The Hobbits leave for Crickhollow. It is a small house bought by Frodo. Crickhollow is in Buckland, the edge of Shire. It is unlike Hobbington or Bag End. Buckland is surrounded by The Old Forest and Brandywine River. At Crickhollow Frodo has a dream in which he hears the sound of animals, sniffing around looking for him. Then he is on a barren field. He hears the sound of the great sea, which he has never heard before. He smells the smell of salt. He sees a tall white tower before him and struggles to climb it. Then he sees a light and hears the sound of thunder. This dream has a huge significance in the events that will follow. But it also shows Frodo’s fear and anxiety. Tolkien has used nature as a source for showing the unconscious self of Frodo. Animals sniffing around are an example of how much he is afraid of the dark forces. The barren field represents Mordor. His inability to climb the tower shows the fear of death at Mordor. “The forest harbors all kinds of dangers and demons, enemies and diseases” (Zimmer in Cirlot 112). The next day they enter The Old Forest. They feel that the trees are watching them. They plan to head towards the northeast. They feel that the trees are blocking their way. Instead of northeast they head towards southeast. They are going deeper and deeper into the forest instead of going away from it. They turn left again and again. This shows the unconscious self of these hobbits. They are scared and there is no one to guide them. Their fear is making them vulnerable. They don’t want to leave the protection of Shire. Though they want to succeed they are unable to take a risk. Their fear of the unknown doesn’t let them leave. It is expressed in Frodo’s words “But where shall I find courage? That is what I chiefly need.”(FOTR83). In the forest, the Old Man Willow cast a spell on them which makes them drowsy and they all fall asleep except Sam who resists the temptation. Old Man Willow is a cunning and opportunistic willow. Here we can see that nature is presented as an active participant in the novel rather than a passive background. It has a will of its own to choose between good and evil. The Old Man Willow is not much concerned about the Great War between Sauron and Elves. JETIRAG06073 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org 344 © 2019 JETIR March 2019, Volume 6, Issue 3 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162) Again we see that Glorfindell rescues Frodo and his companions on their way to Rivendell from dark riders. Glorfindel is an Elf. He uses his Elvish powers to make the water of Bruinen flow heavily. The river floods and the dark riders had to flee. In the forthcoming parts where Gandalf tells the story of his rescue from the Orthanc tower of Saruman and the journey of fellowship, we find many instances where Tolkien uses nature as a source of both good and evil. Gwaihir, the Great Eagle rescues Gandalf from Orthanc Tower, a flock of birds are send by Saruman to spy on the Fellowship and heavy snowfall that prevents them from entering Cartharas are all examples that show that both good and evil are instilled in nature. Elven Smiths and Saruman are ensnarled by Sauron with the promise of great learning. Their greed for knowledge has corrupted them. Tolkien makes a reference to the story of Adam and Eve. They were corrupted by their greed. The Snake offered them the fruit from the tree of knowledge. They forgot what God had asked them to do. Their disobedience led them to the expulsion from Eden. Again we find that Legolas, the Elvish prince and Gimli, the dwarf become close friends though Elves and Dwarves are traditional enemies. Elves live in harmony with nature while Dwarves mine the earth for riches. They live in caves. Caves are as much part of the beautiful nature as forests are. Lothlorien is perhaps the most beautiful forest ever created in literatutre. Tolkien’s imagination has given birth to a wonderful mystical land. “Lorien” the name means land of gold and dream. “There lie the woods of Lothlorien! that is the fairest of all the dwellings of my people. There are no trees like the trees of that land. For in the autumn their leaves fall not, but turn to gold. Not till the spring comes and new green opens do they fall and then the boughs are laden with yellow flowers; and the floor of the wood is golden, and golden is the roof, and its pillars are of silver, for the bark of the trees is smooth and grey. So still our songs in Mirkwood say. My heart would be glad if I beneath the eaves of that wood, and it were springtime!” (FOTR326) These are the words of Legolas. He praises the forest for its beauty and purity. We find that Lothlorien is just the opposite of the Old Forest. Old Forest symbolized darkness. We don’t find many people residing in this forest. The trees there hurt more than they help. Old Forest increases the fear inside the Hobbits where as Lothlorien comes as a relief to a weary group of travelling fellowship. Its beauty enthralls them. It’s not only the Elves or Hobbits that are fascinated by the beauty of the forest but everyone who comes there. The Old man Willow attacks the Hobbits where as the Elves in Lothlorien try to help them. Lothlorien has its own JETIRAG06073 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org 345 © 2019 JETIR March 2019, Volume 6, Issue 3 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162) secret history. It’s a magical place that inspires love, unlike the Old Forest that inspires wickedness. Legolas tells the history of Lothlorien. “… many of the Elves of Nimrodel’s kindred left their dwellings and departed, and she was lost far in the south, in the passes of the White Mountain; and she came not to the ship where Amroth her lover waited for her.
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