
The World of the Rings
Language, Religion, and Adventure in Tolkien
Jared C. Lobdell(Author)
Open Court Publishing Co ,U.S.
Will be published approx. on 8. July 2004
Book
Paperback/Softback
160 pages
978-0-8126-9569-4 (ISBN)
Description
Jared Lobdell examines Tolkien's methods and his worldview by following the thread of three influences: 1. the Edwardian adventure story; 2. the science of philology, or comparative languages; and 3. Roman Catholic theology. The "Edwardian mode" of adventure story (King Solomon's Mines, The Lost World) is one in which a small group of Englishmen make an expedition to foreign parts and find supernatural terrors awaiting them, finally returning home, mission accomplished. The architecture and narrative style of these adventure stories is followed completely in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien's towering erudition in ancient Germanic and Celtic languages helps to explain his successful use of a mixture of period styles in his story-telling, as well as his amazing facility coining memorable names. Although Tolkien's stories betray a strong Christian conception of virtue and suffering, his Catholic background raises difficult problems for understanding the tales, with their heroes who are basically irreligious. Are these stories before the Fall of Man, or is there some other explaination for the absense of Christ? Lobdell pursues many subtle clues to arrive at a balanced answer.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Chicago, IL
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 231 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
231 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8126-9569-4 (9780812695694)
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Schweitzer Classification