Lord of the Rings

Title- Lord of the Rings

Author- J.R.R. Tolkien

ISBN-0618640150 (there are multiple editions both as one text and three)

Publication Information- Mariner Books, 2005

 

Plot Summary
Lord of the Rings was intended to be one book but the publishers decided it was best to divide it into three, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and Return of the King. However, since the author considered it one story, so shall I. The story is predicated on The Hobbit, written years earlier. Bilbo has taken in an orphaned family member, Frodo. When Bilbo turns 111, he realizes that he wants to leave and go back to see the Elves of Rivendell. He leaves his belongings including the ring he found in the Misty Mountains (in The Hobbit). Frodo inherits the ring but quickly learns that it is "the one ring" that belongs to Sauron, who is bent on destroying the world of Middle Earth. His servants, the Nazgul are searching for it and Frodo is in grave danger. Both he and his good friend Samwise Gamgee leave their home to find a safe place for the ring. Along the way to meet the wizard Gandalf, they come across Merry and Pippen, two other hobbits, and Strider. Strider takes them to Rivendell where they discover the only solution is to destroy the ring in Mordor. They acquire Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, and Gandalf to go on the quest. At this point, this is half-way through book 1. Needless to say, they encounter lots of bad guys, some good guy, and they get split up. Strider/Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas face their own quest; Merry and Pippin find different encounters that are closely related, and Frodo and Sam continue to attempt to destroy the ring.

Critical Evaluation- Students either love or hate this book, and picking it based on the Peter Jackson film is a terrible choice. The read is much slower and the book is filled with poetry, songs, and interactions that don't appear in the film. However, students who really like fantasy love this story. It is epic in nature, and a true classic. Students who study fantasy should really know this book since it is the real beginning of the genre in the modern age. Virtually everyone who writes in the genre steals some element from this novel. The characters and themes are timeless. Unfortunately, students who are not excellent readers or who do not have a lot of patience are unlikely to get through this story. For them, I recommend the movie that cuts the more artistic sections and slow points out entirely in favor of the raw action and emotion of the story. Regardless you see the character development and theme.

Reader's Annotation- One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pki6jbSbXIY

Author Information The British newspaper, The Times, ranks Tolkien sixth on their list of the greatest British writers of all time. Given the extensive list of amazing British writers, that is saying a great deal indeed. Tolkien was a veteran of World War I, having seen some of the worst violence there and his son fought in World War II. Both of these experiences, critics argue, influenced his novel although he vehemently denied writing an allegory. After his wartime experience, he became a professor at Oxford where he edited the Oxford English Dictionary. He is also known to have created all the languages of the novel, various forms of Elvish, Dwarvish, and runic languages are studied in classes at more than a few universities.

He was a devout Catholic who, at the behest of his priest, refused to see the woman he loved for three years. He later married her after she converted to Catholicism and they remained married their long lives. He died 21 months after her.

Curricular Ties Mythology, English

Genre -Fantasy

Book talking ideas- How do each of the parties follow Joseph Campbell's hero's journey? What is Tolkien's message/theme for us?

Challenge issues- Fantasy objections

    My actual first point for this is referencing C.S. Lewis, author, Christian apologist, and great personal friend of Tolkien. Tolkien, in fact, converted Lewis to Christianity and was a devout Catholic himself. Usually, I don't have complaints after that.

1. Re-read the text to familiarize myself with the story
   
2. Ask parents for their specific objections (they are required to file that with our school district)
   
3. Review approved books list from California Department of Education for similar materials
   
4. Review approaches from ALA
   

Interest Age- 15- adult

Why I selected this piece – I LOVE Aragorn, LOVE the novel, LOVE the movie (did I mention love?).