DOCSLIB.ORG

The History of Middle-Earth: from a Mythology for England to a Recovery of the Real Earth Christopher Garbowski

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The History of Middle-Earth: from a Mythology for England to a Recovery of the Real Earth Christopher Garbowski Analysis The History of Middle-earth: from a Mythology for England to a Recovery of the Real Earth Christopher Garbowski ne of J.R.R. Tolkien's great Parallels with the pro­ joined with the fortunes and mis­ Oambitions was to have The fortunes of the elves, in their Lord of the Rings and The Silmar- cess of myth creation combined struggle with Sauron, illion published together. This in found in the work of for the remainder of the Second fact delayed the publication of the contemporary philoso­ Age. After their costly self- former, since Allen & Unwin, satisfaction with apparent victory, who had originally instigated the phers the struggle resumes for the full trilogy and were willing to risk extent of the Third Age, wherein the publication of this unusual are set The Hobbit and The Lord book, were not surprisingly un­ conflagration with Morgoth are o f the Rings. The former was prepared for the additional publi­ rewarded with an Eden-like is­ independently conceived, but cation of what seemed to be an land residence set between the turned out to be essential in the altogether obscure work. In an “uttermost West” - Valinor, the history of Middle-earth: undated letter (probably from late residence of the Valar - and As the high Legends o f the begin­ 1951) to Milton Waldman, a dif­ Middle-earth, while the elves ning are supposed to look at ferent potential publisher, the au­ who do not leave Middle-earth things through Elvish minds, so thor presented a vision of his exercise a kind of ‘antiquarian the middle tale o f the Hobbits mythology. custodian function’ in the lands takes a virtually human point o f Tolkien starts by stating his orig­ they control. Meanwhile the for­ view - and the last tale binds inal motivation of creating a large mer vassal of Morgoth, Sauron, them. 3 mythology dedicated to England, grows in power, finding ways of The vision Tolkien cogently set which he felt to be missing in the undermining first the strength of out in the letter is basically the tradition of his beloved country. the elves in Middle-earth and fi­ story that readers of The Silmaril­ The cosmogonical myth, he con­ nally the nearly invincible men of lion, The Hobbit and the trilogy tinues, introduces God and the the West. Tempting them with will recognize. For those who Valar, the latter as “beings of the immortality Sauron convinces the take this as the whole story, there same order of beauty, power and Numenoreans to break the ban of is a major flaw: the former was majesty as the ‘gods’ of higher the Valar and the latter tragically and remained to the end of the mythology.”1 The cycle then pro­ assault Valinor, the forbidden author’s life a great, unfulfilled ceeds to the history of the elves, realm. Numenor is destroyed by project. As is fairly well known. “or The Silmarillion proper,” and direct intervention of Iluvatar, the The Silmarillion as it was pub­ the latter’s great accomplish­ one God (aside from the original lished constituted an edited com­ ments and travails. Slowly men creation of the world and the sub­ pilation from different versions of arc introduced in the First Age of sequent creation of his children, the myths of the ‘Elder Days’ (as the Sun, wherein ‘history’, as the Elves and Humans, this is the they came to be known upon the such, or a regular chronology be­ only such miracle in the mythol­ publication of LOTR. Moreover, gins, and together through the ogy) who changes the shape of the letter gives the false impres­ agency of Earendil, who repre­ the world to a globe and sion that each phase has been sents both ‘races’, they induce the “(thereafter there is no visible given equal treatment in the leg- assistance of the Valar to cast out dwelling of the divine or immor­ endarium. the fallen Vala Morgoth, the per­ tal on earth. Valinor (i.e. par­ Following the publication of The petrator of the major woes of both adise) and even Eressea are re­ History o f Middle-earth series by races, into the Void. moved, remaining only in the Christopher Tolkien, we have a The next cycle, or ‘Second Age,’ memory of the earth.”2 A few detailed record of the creative deals with the history of the castaway Numenoreans make process by which this mythical ‘Atlantis’ isle of Numenore their way to Middle-earth, setting world arose. Since there is no where the men who helped in the up kingdoms, and their history is definitive version of the mythol­ 21 Mallorn XXXVII ogy of Middle-earth, in a sense respondingly - were never actu­ ‘foresaw’ was that a person each part belongs to the corpus, ally completed and fizzle out to­ would achieve nothing upon with all its strengths and weak­ ward an earlier poetic core. gaining, access to Aman since his nesses. It might also be argued Around 1931 a major narrative own mortality would not be that for many the sum is worth change took place in the Silmaril- changed, indeed more than the total of the literary lion mythology. While ‘Tales’, he would become filled with envy, merit of its parts. Especially if we are oral, ‘Quenta Noldoriwa’ - deeming himself a victim, denied look at the question from a the only complete version of the the graces given to all other Franklian perspective. According Silmarillion mythology - is rather things. (...) He would not escape to Viktor E. Frank!4, “each man is like a medieval chronicle. As an the fear and sorrow o f his swift questioned by life; and he can immediate consequence, the mortality that is his lot upon only answer to life, by answering mythology acquires the elf- Earth, in Arda Marred, but would for his own life.” centred perspective Tolkien be burdened by it unbearably to A major part of the artist’s re­ refers to, as opposed to tales re­ the loss o f all delight.1 sponse to life is his creativity. counted to a human listener con- Hardly the best place for Frodo The passion with which Tolkien tempory with Arthur. Conceptu­ and eventually Sam, who make responded to his creative need ally, this is a move away from - their way there at the conclusion and the perfection he demanded though not a complete sundering of the trilogy, to have gained a of himself demonstrates to what with ‘a mythology for England.’ rest from their psychological bur­ a great extent he “answered for Jósef Lichanski suggests it is not dens as Ring bearers. his life” through his art. Indeed, a coincidence that the author had Out of the welter of texts - often the author5 claimed of his major more or less simultaneously com- fragmentary and of very mixed effort The Lord o f the Rings, “[i]t literary worth - arises at once an is written in my life-blood, such alternative world and one that is as it is, thick or thin; and I can no '... for many the sum is very much our own. A new or other.” worth more than the total o f revised geography and imaginary The earlest version of the Silmar- the literary merit o f its history grows with practically each version. Over the years illion mythology - started shortly parts. ’ after the author’s experiences in Middle-earth undergoes a growth the trenches of the First World in almost all fields of human War arose from a number of ker­ pleted the first version of thought and perception: geo­ nel stories which were originally Mythopceia, Tolkien's philosophi­ graphical, historical, philosophi­ loosely sutured together. The ear­ cal poem concerning the “sub- cal and aesthetic At the very least, liest component story itself per­ creative” urge of humanity. In with the number of genres that mitted such a construction; a other words, the author becomes are explored to convey it (novel, mortal sailor named Eriol - more interested in the cosmologi­ verse, fictional essay, etc., with a roughly from Beowulfian times - cal aspect of his mythology;6 ap­ children's story to boot!), to the reaches an enchanted island of proximately a movement from the chagrin of the traditional literary elves (which in one of the au­ particular (national), to the uni­ critic, this world has broken out thor's conceptions is eventually versal. of the convention of the closed to become England), where Almost at the very end of his text. through a succession of tales re­ creative life, Tolkien wrote fic­ Lichanski gives the writing of counted to him he learns the com­ tional essays that in theory were Mythopoeia as the turning point plicated history of Middle-earth. to help him rewrite the entire in the development of Silmaril­ Thus the history, eventually pub­ opus. Sometimes these reflections lion mythology. A serious exami­ lished in two volumes as The if taken seriously change the nation of Middle-earth must in­ Book of Lost Tales grows out of sense of completed works. Con­ clude a look at the author’s con­ an oral tradition which naturally sider the nature of Aman (the cept of myth. Maria Kuteeva ob­ enough focuses on certain high geographical location of Valinor) serves of Tolkien’s thinking as to points, or ‘tales’. The Tales, how­ where the immortal Valar and the origin of myth, that “he gener­ ever, although worked upon ex­ Eldar, or high elves, live: Tolkien ally relates it to the origins of tensively, as each new tale re­ reflected on what a mortal would language and the human mind,” quired some integration into the feel if he happened to live in this which brings him into line with whole and affected the latter cor­ blessed realm.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Roots of Middle-Earth: William Morris's Influence Upon J. R. R. Tolkien
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 12-2007 The Roots of Middle-Earth: William Morris's Influence upon J. R. R. Tolkien Kelvin Lee Massey University of Tennessee - Knoxville Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss Part of the Literature in English, British Isles Commons Recommended Citation Massey, Kelvin Lee, "The Roots of Middle-Earth: William Morris's Influence upon J. R. R. olkien.T " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2007. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/238 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Kelvin Lee Massey entitled "The Roots of Middle-Earth: William Morris's Influence upon J. R. R. olkien.T " I have examined the final electronic copy of this dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in English. David F. Goslee, Major Professor We have read this dissertation and recommend its acceptance: Thomas Heffernan, Michael Lofaro, Robert Bast Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Kelvin Lee Massey entitled “The Roots of Middle-earth: William Morris’s Influence upon J.
    [Show full text]
  • Health & Safety Handout for Education Abroad Programs
    Health & Safety Handout for Education Abroad Programs Program Name: There and Back Again: Experiencing the Cultural and Political Environment of Middle Earth Countries/Cities to be visited during program (overnight stays): Middle Earth Westlands (overnight stays in bold): - Gondor (including Minas Tirith and Osgiliath); - Rohan (including Helms Deep and Edoras) - Eriador (including The Shire, Bree, Rivendell, Moria) The EAO encourages students to take responsibility for their own safety and security by carefully reading the information, advice, and resources provided, including the following websites: CDC Website (Health Information for Travelers): Gondor: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/gondor Eriador: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/eriador Rohan: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/rohan State Department Website (International Travel Information): Gondor: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/gondor.html Eriador: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/eriador.html Rohan: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/rohan.html Students Abroad: http://studentsabroad.state.gov/smarttravel.php Traveling with Disabilities: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/disabilities.html LGBT Travel Information: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/lgbt.html You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Some additional vaccines may also be required for travel. Routine vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus- pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. The CDC may also recommend additional vaccines or medications depending on where and when you are traveling. Please consult with your doctor/medical professional if you have questions or concerns regarding which vaccines/medicines are right for you.
    [Show full text]
  • Why Is the Only Good Orc a Dead Orc Anderson Rearick Mount Vernon Nazarene University
    Inklings Forever Volume 4 A Collection of Essays Presented at the Fourth Frances White Ewbank Colloquium on C.S. Article 10 Lewis & Friends 3-2004 Why Is the Only Good Orc a Dead Orc Anderson Rearick Mount Vernon Nazarene University Follow this and additional works at: https://pillars.taylor.edu/inklings_forever Part of the English Language and Literature Commons, History Commons, Philosophy Commons, and the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Rearick, Anderson (2004) "Why Is the Only Good Orc a Dead Orc," Inklings Forever: Vol. 4 , Article 10. Available at: https://pillars.taylor.edu/inklings_forever/vol4/iss1/10 This Essay is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for the Study of C.S. Lewis & Friends at Pillars at Taylor University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Inklings Forever by an authorized editor of Pillars at Taylor University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INKLINGS FOREVER, Volume IV A Collection of Essays Presented at The Fourth FRANCES WHITE EWBANK COLLOQUIUM ON C.S. LEWIS & FRIENDS Taylor University 2004 Upland, Indiana Why Is the Only Good Orc a Dead Orc? Anderson Rearick, III Mount Vernon Nazarene University Rearick, Anderson. “Why Is the Only Good Orc a Dead Orc?” Inklings Forever 4 (2004) www.taylor.edu/cslewis 1 Why is the Only Good Orc a Dead Orc? Anderson M. Rearick, III The Dark Face of Racism Examined in Tolkien’s themselves out of sync with most of their peers, thus World1 underscoring the fact that Tolkien’s work has up until recently been the private domain of a select audience, In Jonathan Coe’s novel, The Rotters’ Club, a an audience who by their very nature may have confrontation takes place between two characters over inhibited serious critical examinations of Tolkien’s what one sees as racist elements in Tolkien’s Lord of work.
    [Show full text]
  • What Is the One Ring That Rules Them All?
    Physics and Culture November 2019 What is the One Ring that Rules them all? by Anthony Rizzi One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to thinking enthusiasm and/or compassion is find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the sufficient substitute for understanding. darkness bind them. Like Faramir’s skepticism of Frodo, you There is in our world a ring that rules cannot fathom that someone might have all other dark powers in our world, but few profound truth and a mission essentially know that it exists or what it is. I speak for the relevant to your life that might call you to a life‐ Institute for Advanced Physics which, in this changing decision. telling, is represented by the hobbits: Frodo and Indeed, like Faramir, you are skeptical Sam. You, the good reader, will be represented of all travelers in the dark regions and are under by noble Faramir at the time of his intercepting orders to suspect all you see. Though, unlike the hobbits on their way to Mordor. Like Faramir, you are largely unaware of those Faramir, you are (hopefully) aware that a deep orders, given as they are deep in your darkness is upon the land of our fathers, these education. Nonetheless, it makes no difference, United States of America and our world. Indeed, as you naturally suspect everything claiming to if you are very aware you will know, like be too smart and too good anyway. The ring Faramir, that the battle appears to be has begun to bind you more than you know.
    [Show full text]
  • Rulesheet-The-Blood-Of-Gondor.Pdf
    TM Difficulty Level = 6 fallen face and sat for a moment. He rose slowly, In a great victory for Gondor, the city of Osgiliath has carefully eying the road and surrounding terrain. No been retaken and the river Anduin is once more under the enemy had been seen since the evening before, a fact Steward’s control. Alongside the Lords Boromir, Faramir, that troubled him. Above, grey clouds pressed close, and Alcaron, the heroes fought bravely to recapture the and a light rain had begun to fall. In the late afternoon ancient city. light, the forest seemed to have lost its color; ashen and sullen it seemed to watch their every movement in the With the defeated forces of orcs and evil men retreating exposed space. eastward, Lord Alcaron had urged Boromir to pursue the scattered enemy. “Don’t let a single one of them return to Then a look of decision crossed Faramir’s face, and foul the Pelennor again!” Alcaron pleaded. “We should he thoughtfully returned to the company. “We’ve taken hunt them. Pursue them until their black bones break on this folly far enough,” he said. “There is an unkind the mountains.” Flush with the confidence of victory change in the forest.” He paused a moment, glancing and swayed by the nobleman’s passion, Boromir agreed into the trees. “The lands so near to the Morgul Valley and asked his brother to take on this endeavor with his have been under His sway for too long. It’s unsafe to rangers. Faramir reluctantly consented. proceed.” Alcaron moved to protest, but Faramir would not abide.
    [Show full text]
  • Med20 Character Creation Rules
    MIDDLE -EARTH D20 CHARACTER CREATION RULES To create characters for this campaign, o +4 racial bonus on any Craft skill of the players will use 25 points to purchase abilities player's choice — it should be noted that according to the Purchase rules on pages 15-16 Ñoldor were legendary for their work with of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core precious metals and jewelry. Rulebook . Then, character creation proceeds as o +2 racial bonus on any Perform (Sing) described in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game checks. Core Rulebook . Additionally, players will create o +2 racial bonus on saves vs. fire. a 2 nd -level character, but the 1 st -level must be a o +2 racial bonus on saves vs. poison. basic NPC class ! Players may use the Pathfinder o Immune to Aging: Ñoldor Elves are Roleplaying Game Advanced Player’s Guide , immortal unless killed. Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Ultimate Combat , o Ñoldor Elves do not sleep, meditating and Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Ultimate Magic instead for about three hours every day. to create their characters. For all sources, use o Immune to natural cold. the following rules modifications. In addition, o Immune to disease, mundane or magical. the Variant Rules for Armor as Damage o Immune to scarring. Reduction, Called Shots, Piecemeal Armor, o Movement unimpeded by snow or wooded and Wounds and Vigor from Pathfinder terrain. Roleplaying Game Ultimate Combat (pp. 191-207) o Immune to any fear effects caused by are being utilized. Please note that these rules undead. are subject to change at any time without prior o Cannot be turned into undead.
    [Show full text]
  • Clashing Perspectives of World Order in JRR Tolkien's Middle-Earth
    ABSTRACT Fate, Providence, and Free Will: Clashing Perspectives of World Order in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth Helen Theresa Lasseter Mentor: Ralph C. Wood, Ph.D. Through the medium of a fictional world, Tolkien returns his modern audience to the ancient yet extremely relevant conflict between fate, providence, and the person’s freedom before them. Tolkien’s expression of a providential world order to Middle-earth incorporates the Northern Germanic cultures’ literary depiction of a fated world, while also reflecting the Anglo-Saxon poets’ insight that a single concept, wyrd, could signify both fate and providence. This dissertation asserts that Tolkien, while acknowledging as correct the Northern Germanic conception of humanity’s final powerlessness before the greater strength of wyrd as fate, uses the person’s ultimate weakness before wyrd as the means for the vindication of providence. Tolkien’s unique presentation of world order pays tribute to the pagan view of fate while transforming it into a Catholic understanding of providence. The first section of the dissertation shows how the conflict between fate and providence in The Silmarillion results from the elvish narrator’s perspective on temporal events. Chapter One examines the friction between fate and free will within The Silmarillion and within Tolkien’s Northern sources, specifically the Norse Eddas, the Anglo-Saxon Beowulf, and the Finnish The Kalevala. Chapter Two shows that Tolkien, following Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy, presents Middle-earth’s providential order as including fated elements but still allowing for human freedom. The second section shows how The Lord of the Rings reflects but resolves the conflict in The Silmarillion between fate, providence, and free will.
    [Show full text]
  • Tolkien's Monsters: Concept and Function in the Lord of the Rings (Part 1) the Balrog of Khazad-Dum
    Volume 16 Number 1 Article 5 Fall 10-15-1989 Tolkien's Monsters: Concept and Function in The Lord of the Rings (Part 1) The Balrog of Khazad-dum Joe Abbott Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore Part of the Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons Recommended Citation Abbott, Joe (1989) "Tolkien's Monsters: Concept and Function in The Lord of the Rings (Part 1) The Balrog of Khazad-dum," Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: Vol. 16 : No. 1 , Article 5. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol16/iss1/5 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Mythopoeic Society at SWOSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature by an authorized editor of SWOSU Digital Commons. An ADA compliant document is available upon request. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To join the Mythopoeic Society go to: http://www.mythsoc.org/join.htm Mythcon 51: A VIRTUAL “HALFLING” MYTHCON July 31 - August 1, 2021 (Saturday and Sunday) http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-51.htm Mythcon 52: The Mythic, the Fantastic, and the Alien Albuquerque, New Mexico; July 29 - August 1, 2022 http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-52.htm Abstract Three-part examination of “how Tolkien’s theory of the centrality of the monsters in Beowulf influenced his own concept of ‘monster’ and what function that concept should fulfill within” The Lord of the Rings.
    [Show full text]
  • The Lord of the Rings
    The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien TheBestNotes Study Guide by TheBestNotes Staff TheBestNotes.com Copyright © 2003, All Rights Reserved Distribution without the written consent of TheBestNotes.com is strictly prohibited. LITERARY ELEMENTS SETTING The Lord of the Rings is set in Middle-earth, a fictional world created by Tolkien. Mystical creatures such as hobbits, orcs, trolls, ents, elves, wangs, wizards, dragons, dwarves and men inhabit middle-earth. Middle-earth is a magical world in which imagination rules, but it exists very much like "real" society, with political and economic problems and power struggles. Each of the races that inhabit this world have their own territories and are distinct from one another. Part I is set in the Shire, a community of mostly hobbits. Bag End is in the Shire and is the home of Frodo, the hero. At the end of Part I, a group of travelling adventurers including Frodo leaves for Rivendell, an elf refuge. Part II takes place beyond the Shire in the rough worlds between Bag End and the citadel of Sarumon, the tower Orthanc at Isengard. It also takes place in the Tower of Sorcery, Minas Morgul, where the evil Sauron rules. Part III takes place in Mordor, a mountain range containing the volcano Orodruin. It also takes place on the road between Mordor and Bag End. The novel concludes just where it began, at Bag End. LIST OF CHARACTERS Major Characters Frodo Baggins The adopted heir of Bilbo Baggins. Frodo is chosen to destroy the Ring, and in the course of this mission, he proves to be a brave and intelligent leader.
    [Show full text]
  • Treasures of Middle Earth
    T M TREASURES OF MIDDLE-EARTH CONTENTS FOREWORD 5.0 CREATORS..............................................................................105 5.1 Eru and the Ainur.............................................................. 105 PART ONE 5.11 The Valar.....................................................................105 1.0 INTRODUCTION........................................................................ 2 5.12 The Maiar....................................................................106 2.0 USING TREASURES OF MIDDLE EARTH............................ 2 5.13 The Istari .....................................................................106 5.2 The Free Peoples ...............................................................107 3.0 GUIDELINES................................................................................ 3 5.21 Dwarves ...................................................................... 107 3.1 Abbreviations........................................................................ 3 5.22 Elves ............................................................................ 109 3.2 Definitions.............................................................................. 3 5.23 Ents .............................................................................. 111 3.3 Converting Statistics ............................................................ 4 5.24 Hobbits........................................................................ 111 3.31 Converting Hits and Bonuses...................................... 4 5.25
    [Show full text]
  • The Journal of the Tolkien Society
    Issue 50 • Autumn 2010 MallornThe Journal of the Tolkien Society Mallorn The Journal of the Tolkien Society Issue 50 • Autumn 2010 Editor: Henry Gee editorial Production & 4 Marcel Bülles looks to the future of Tolkien fandom design: Colin Sullivan letters Cover art: Lorenzo Daniele 7 Alex Lewis & Elizabeth Curie go back to the source Inside pages: Ruth Lacon (p. 2), Jef Murray (pp. 6, 7, reviews 25, 39, 48, 50, 52), Phyllis 8 Lynn Forest-Hill on Elves in Anglo-Saxon England Berka (p. 10), John Gilbey 9 Mike Foster on The Inheritance (pp. 14, 40, 44, 46), Colin 11 Chad Chisholm on Up Williams (p. 20), Teresa 13 Roberto Arduini & Claudio Testi on Tolkien and Philosophy Kirkpatrick (p. 47), Lorenzo Daniele (p. 51) commentary 15 Charles E Noad The Tolkien Society — the early days 26 Maggie Burns ‘… A local habitation and a name …’ Mallorn © The Tolkien 31 Simon Barrow The magic of fantasy: the traditional, the original and the Society. Printed and wonderful distributed by The Printed 34 Chad Chisholm The wizard and the rhetor: rhetoric and the ethos of Word, 7–9 Newhouse Middle-earth in The Hobbit Business Centre, Old 37 Vanessa Phillips-Zur-Linden Arwen and Edward: redemption and the fairy Crawley Road, Horsham bride/groom in the literary fairytale RH12 4RU, UK. interview 42 Mike Foster talks to Simon Tolkien poetry 46 Lynn Forest-Hill The Long Watch 46 Anne Forbes The Path To The Sea 46 Anne Forbes The End Of The Summer 47 Teresa Kirkpatrick Tuor And Ulmo fiction 48 Julia Fenton Blasphemy well, I’m back 50 Paul H Vigor takes a closer look at Thror’s map Mallorn is the Journal of the Tolkien Society, and appears twice a year, in the Spring (copy deadline 25 December) and Autumn (21 June).
    [Show full text]
  • Saruman of Many Colors
    University of Iceland School of Humanities Departement of English Saruman of Many Colors A Hero of Liberal Pragmatism B.A. Essay Elfar Andri Aðalsteinsson Kt.: 1508922369 Supervisor: Matthew Whelpton May 2017 ABSTRACT This essay explores the role of the wizard Saruman the White in The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, and challenges the common conception that Saruman is a villain, instead arguing that Saruman is a hero espousing the values of liberal pragmatism. The policy goals and implicit values of Saruman are contested with his peer and ultimately opponent, Gandalf the Grey, later the White. Both wizards attempt to defeat Sauron but, where Saruman considers new methods, such as recruting the orcs, Gandalf is stuck in old methods and prejudices, as he is unwilling look for new races to recruit. Both wizards construct alliances to accomplish their goals but the racial composition of these alliances can be used to see the wizards in a new light. While Gandalf offers a conventional alliance of “the free” races of Middle Earth (Elves Dwarves, Men. Hobbits and Ents), Saruman can be seen as uniting the marginalised and down-trodden people and races, under a common banner with a common goal. In particular, Saruman brings enemies together into a strong functioning whole, showing that orcs and men can work and prosper together. Gandalf’s blinkered conservatism and Saruman’s pragmatic embrace of diversity are reflected symbolically in the symbolism of white and the rainbow of many colors. After examining all these points it becomes clear that Saruman the White is not the villain that he is assumed to be by Gandalf the Grey, later the White, and his followers in Middle Earth.
    [Show full text]