James Leonard's JRR Tolkien Project

Slide 1: 

J. R. R. Tolkien Great Author of the 20th Century By James Leonard

J. R. R. Tolkien: Contents : 

J. R. R. Tolkien: Contents Title Page: slide 1 Contents: slide 2 Biography: slide 3-5 Thesis: slide 6 Works of note: slide 7 Structure: slide 8 Style: slide 9 Themes: slide 10-13 Symbolism: slide 14 Bibliography: slide 15-16 Closing Page: slide 17

J. R. R. Tolkien: Biography : 

J. R. R. Tolkien: Biography John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born June 3rd, 1892. His father died when he was four years old. His mother died when he was twelve. Because he was orphaned, he was placed under the care of Father Morgan until he was 21. During this time he met an orphan girl, Edith, who later became his wife. Tolkien was naturally drawn to language. He studied Latin, Greek, French, Finnish, Anglo-Saxon, Middle English, and Welsh. He also studied Norse Mythology and later translated some Norse works. He began to create his own languages at a very young age. He would later perfect these, and give them each a system of grammar and syntax. These languages would inspire him to create stories and peoples to complement them. His studies of Norse Mythology would also affect his writings. When Tolkien finished his education at Oxford he began to train for the English Army. In 1916 he married Edith and then set out to fight in WWI. Five months after he left to fight, he returned with Trench Fever. During this time he began to jot down notes about Middle Earth. These notes would later be called the Silmarillion. And thus his career began.

J. R. R. Tolkien: Biography : 

J. R. R. Tolkien: Biography Tolkien had four children, three boys and one girl. The youngest boy, Christopher J. R. Tolkien, helped him edit and publish many of his works. Christopher has been in charge of Tolkien’s works since the death of the great author. J. R. R. T. wrote The Silmarillion, The Lord of the Rings (trilogy), and The hobbit in regard to Middle Earth, the mythical land that was the setting of his greatest works. He also wrote two children’s books: Farmer Giles of Ham, and Roverandom. He also wrote other works pertaining to Middle Earth, but these are mostly collections of manuscripts published after his death. He also wrote a few minor works that I will not list here.

J. R. R. TolkienTimeline of literary career : 

Completes The Lord of the Rings Completes The Hobbit J. R. R. TolkienTimeline of literary career Tolkien born Begins The Simarillion Tolkien dies at 81 1892 1916 1936 1949 1973 1977 Christopher edits and publishes The Simarillion

J. R. R. Tolkien : 

J. R. R. Tolkien Tolkien’s works contain characteristics of artistry that make his work unique and noteworthy.

Slide 7: 

Works of Note The Lord of the Rings is Tolkien’s most well known work. The story is about a small creature called a Hobbit that has to carry an evil object to the place of it’s creation in order to be destroyed. The token of evil is a ring called The Ring of Power. It’s will is the same as it’s evil master, that it longs to return to. It corrupts all those that it is near, tempting them to claim it as their own, so it can dominate their wills. The hobbit is named Frodo, and the lord of the ring is Sauron. The Silmarillion is a collection of stories ranging from the creation of the world, Arda and Middle Earth within it, to the destruction of the Ring and the elves leaving the world to go to a heaven like place. The book gets its name from three jewels that are so beautiful that greed compels the beholder to do drastic things. These jewels help to shape the world, through their influence. The Simarillion is Tolkien’s life’s work. It brought to life his views of life and his beliefs, through creating a mythical world of wonder. The Children of Hurin is a posthumous work published by Tolkien’s son. It was constructed by compiling the story of Turin from The Simarillion and unpublished manuscripts. It is a tragedy where the main Turin, the main character, unknowingly brings destruction to all those around him. He has a powerful will, but is unable to escape the doom placed on him. His life falls apart, and kingdoms that called him friend also fall. This is the longest story of Middle Earth besides LOTR.

Structure : 

The Silmarillion Lord of the Rings Children of Hurin Structure Begins with the creation of the world, and perfection. A powerful being is corrupted and begins to corrupt the world. Some elves are deceived into leaving Valinor (heaven). Collection of tales that connect to shape the course of the world. Eventually, after much has been ruined, the enemy is defeated and Elves grow weary of the world. Begins with quiet life in a seemingly perfect place. A small ring is discovered to be a great evil token, and danger enters the peaceful town. Frodo (main character) has to take the ring to its source and destroy it, while being careful not to be corrupted by its ill-will. Ends with victory over evil, and elves and others leaving the world. Begins with the threat of peril to consume Hurin’s land. Hurin is captured in battle, and Turin is sent away to save him from slavery. The Dark Lord curses Turin in order to torture the father. Father forced to watch Turin’s life unable to help. Turin is a great warrior and a good man, but his life falls apart. Such is his doom. Ends with parents lamenting his death.

Style : 

Style Tolkien’s unique style of writing reflects his unique skills and interests. His love for language inspired him to create worlds and peoples to speak his made up languages. In this way, the peoples he created were as fair as the languages they spoke. By creating complete languages, maps, genealogies, and histories for his stories, Tolkien succeeded in creating a vast and detailed world where readers could feel it was real. It acts as the perfect setting to illustrate his interpretation of life and it’s meanings. Tolkien also loved mythology. His studies of Norse Mythology greatly shaped his own works of myth and tale. Many characters, names, and ideas, contained in his books, came from myths he translated, such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. J. R. R. T. was a devout Catholic, and it shows through his works. He inserted many themes and symbols into his works, reflecting his beliefs. Many critics say that The Silmarillion is written in Biblical prose. Much of the dialogue is also said to sound Biblical.

Themes : 

Themes We all have a part to play in the ‘Big Picture’ Man and self destruction It’s all about ‘The Fall’

Themes: The Fall : 

Themes: The Fall Morgoth, Sauron, and Sauruman are like Fallen angels. Many men are deceived and are corrupted. Evil is expressed as separation from Eru’s will. “’There cannot be any ‘story’ without a fall – all stories are ultimately about the fall – at least not for human minds as we know them and have them’ (The Letters of JRR Tolkien, No. 131)” – Tolkien Tolkien’s works contain themes relating to The Fall . Many times throughout his works, we see a great man (or other being) fall from their place of glory, and become either corrupted or deprived. His characters often express remorse for how the world has been warped from it’s original state and plan.

Themes: Self Destruction : 

Themes: Self Destruction The Noldor almost completely destroyed themselves to get the Silmarils. Isildur is destroyed because he kept the ring. Saruman brings about his own destruction by trying to rule Middle Earth. “...it is apparent that the Ruling Ring and the destruction of the natural world that flows from the desire for its power are a reflection of Tolkien's concern for humanity's ability to destroy both itself and the earth.” – Napierkowski A major theme of Tolkien’s works is that, in a quest for power, we often bring about our own destruction. This is shown largely through characters’ interaction with the Ring of Power. These instances of self destruction are always either in a situation where the character is trying to use the power for good, or is trying to help themselves in some way. Many of the characters are tempted, but realize how they would destroy themselves and those around them if they pursue this power.

Themes: The Big Picture : 

Themes: The Big Picture Tolkien’s works pertaining to middle earth combine to become a history of the world, not just one small story. Most of the major characters are distant relations to each other. Everything is connected. The goal of the Vala is not to defeat evil, or any individual goal, but is to make the outcome of the world be as it was foretold. “…while Tolkien's stories take place against a background of measureless depth. Frodo moves in a landscape where others have moved before him through long, busy millennia; he comes at the end of a process that began before the sun and moon were sent aloft; he is a part, small but essential, in a timeless war between the forces of order and disorder, and whether he understands it or not—whether the reader understands it or not—that background is ever-present in the creator's mind and it gives Frodo and company a three-dimensional reality that is seldom found in this kind of writing.” – Washington Post A major theme, appearing throughout Tolkien’s works, is that we are all part of a large and intricate plan, where we all have a part to play. The Lord of the Rings is best seen as one event out of a much larger history of the world.

Slide 14: 

Symbolism Fire almost always symbolizes power or “the powers”. Eru made the world by giving it the Secret Fire. All life is made when The Flame Imperishable is placed in them. When Gandalf fights a Balrog, he refers to himself as a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of The Flame of Anor, and the Balrog as Flame of Udun. He says “the dark fire will not avail you. The two powers meet and fight. The central symbol of The Silmarillion is music (at first) then it becomes light, for the same purposes. The world is sung into existence, then, once it has been given the Flame Imperishable, light represents life and creation. The Ring of Power usually symbolizes power, and the temptations and corruption that flow from such power. Other times, it represents temptation and our sin nature itself.

J. R. R. Tolkien: Bibliography : 

J. R. R. Tolkien: Bibliography Clyde Curry Smith. "Tolkien." Masterplots II: Juvenile and Young Adult Biography Series. Salem Press, 1993. eNotes.com. 2006. 30 Jan, 2010 Anne Sienkewicz. "The Silmarillion." Masterplots II: British and Commonwealth Fiction Series. Salem Press, 1987. eNotes.com. 2006. 30 Jan, 2010 "Lord of the Rings: Introduction." Epics for Students. Ed. Marie Rose Napierkowski. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 1998. eNotes.com. January 2006. 30 January 2010. "Tolkien, J(ohn) R(onald) R(euel) (Vol. 2) - Tolkien, J(ohn) R(onald) R(euel) 1892–1973." Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Carolyn Riley. Vol. 2. Gale Cengage, 1974. eNotes.com. 2006. 30 Jan, 2010 Gardner, John. "The World of Tolkien". The New York Times. n.d. January 30, 2010. Croft, Janet Brennan. ""The young perish and the old linger, withering": J.R.R. Tolkien on World War II.". The Free Library. n.d. January 30, 2010. Liukkonen, Petri. "John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973)". Books and Writers. n.d. January 30, 2010 "Tolkien’s Sources". Tolkien-Online.com. n.d. January 30, 2010. "J. R. R. Tolkien". Talking About Tolkien.com. n.d. January 30, 2010. "J. R. R. Tolkien". Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. n.d. January 30, 2010. Web:

J. R. R. Tolkien: Bibliography : 

J. R. R. Tolkien: Bibliography Tolkien, J. R. R.. The Children of Hurin. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007. Tolkien, J. R. R.. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. New York: Random House Publishing Group, 1954. Tolkien, J. R. R.. The Lord of the Rings:The Two Towers. New York: Ballantine Books, 1954. Tolkien, J. R. R.. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. New York: Random House Publishing Group, 1955. Tolkien, J. R. R.. The Silmarillion. New York: Del Rey Books, 1977. “JRRT/1911”. Portrait. J.R.R. Tolkien Fact Sheet. January 28, 2010 <http://www.arwen-undomiel.com/tolkien/fact_sheet.html> Green, Stephanie. “Tolkien Smokes Pipe”. Photo. Strange Horizons. January 31, 2010 <http://strangehorizons.com/2008/20080211/green-a.shtml> “Silmarillion” Book Cover. DMV . 10 Jan. 2010 <http://dmvega.wordpress.com/2007/07/17/el-silmarillion-jrr-tolkien/silmarillion/> Tolkien, J. R. R. “Tolkien Logo”. Logo. Mysterious World. January 30, 2010 <http://www.mysteriousworld.com/Journal/2008/Spring/LOTR_Cipher/> Tolkien, J. R. R. “Signature”. Signature. Wikipedia. 30 Jan, 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jrr_tolkien_signature.svg> Books: Pictures:

Slide 17: 

J. R. R. Tolkien Named the “Father of Fantasy” because he brought it back into style. That’s All Folks! The Times ranked him sixth on a list of “The 50 greatest British writers since 1955.” Appointed Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth the 2nd.