J. R.R. Tolkien & The Lord of the Rings:
The man behind the book
Who was J.R.R. Tolkien?
Ø John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein (South Africa), on January 3, 1892. He was a Professor of the Anglo-Saxon language in Oxford University, a philologist and the author of various books. He died on September 2, 1973 and was buried alongside his wife in the Catholic cemetery at Wolvercote, a few miles outside Oxford.
The events of Tolkien’s life that prompted him to write The Lord of the Rings:
Ø Tolkien’s Catholic religion (in the book symbolised by the forces of light and the forces of darkness);
Ø His experience of the 1914-18 World War (with Samwise Gamgee representing the English soldier);
Ø The nature of Oxford academic life and society (with the Fellowship of the Ring representing the Inklings, for example);
Ø His romance with Edith Bratt (represented in the book by the story of Aragorn and Arwen);
Ø His experience as a father of four children (which explains the origin of the hobbits and their mythology);
Ø His childhood country side living in Sarehole (which explains the origin of the Shire).
Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne,
In the land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them,
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
(Tolkien, 2008: IV)
Curiosities:
Ø Tolkien considered himself to be a hobbit (in all but size): he loved gardens, trees and unmechanized farmlands; he smoked the pipe and liked to wear ornamental waistcoats; he liked to eat good plain food and was fond of mushrooms (out of a field); he had a very simple sense of humour; he liked going to bed late and getting up late; and he didn’t travel much (Pearce, 1999).
Ø The Fellowship of the Ring was published in August 1954;
Ø The Two Towers was published in November 1954;
Ø The Return of the King was published in October 1955;
Ø In 1997, The Lord of the Rings was voted ‘greatest book of the century’ in a poll of more than 25.000 people throughout Britain (Pearce, 1999).
The man behind the book
Who was J.R.R. Tolkien?
Ø John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein (South Africa), on January 3, 1892. He was a Professor of the Anglo-Saxon language in Oxford University, a philologist and the author of various books. He died on September 2, 1973 and was buried alongside his wife in the Catholic cemetery at Wolvercote, a few miles outside Oxford.
The events of Tolkien’s life that prompted him to write The Lord of the Rings:
Ø Tolkien’s Catholic religion (in the book symbolised by the forces of light and the forces of darkness);
Ø His experience of the 1914-18 World War (with Samwise Gamgee representing the English soldier);
Ø The nature of Oxford academic life and society (with the Fellowship of the Ring representing the Inklings, for example);
Ø His romance with Edith Bratt (represented in the book by the story of Aragorn and Arwen);
Ø His experience as a father of four children (which explains the origin of the hobbits and their mythology);
Ø His childhood country side living in Sarehole (which explains the origin of the Shire).
Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne,
In the land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them,
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
(Tolkien, 2008: IV)
Curiosities:
Ø Tolkien considered himself to be a hobbit (in all but size): he loved gardens, trees and unmechanized farmlands; he smoked the pipe and liked to wear ornamental waistcoats; he liked to eat good plain food and was fond of mushrooms (out of a field); he had a very simple sense of humour; he liked going to bed late and getting up late; and he didn’t travel much (Pearce, 1999).
Ø The Fellowship of the Ring was published in August 1954;
Ø The Two Towers was published in November 1954;
Ø The Return of the King was published in October 1955;
Ø In 1997, The Lord of the Rings was voted ‘greatest book of the century’ in a poll of more than 25.000 people throughout Britain (Pearce, 1999).
Some works by J.R.R. Tolkien:
Ø The Hobbit
Ø The Lord of the Rings
Ø Leaf by Niggle
Ø On Fairy Stories
Ø Smith of Wootton Major
Works cited:
Pearce, J. (1999): Tolkien: Man and Myth. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers [1st ed: 1998].
TOLKIEN, J.R.R. (2008): The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring. London: Harper Collins Publishers [1st ed. 2004].
by: Ana Sofia Piteira
Marta Teixeira Pinto
Paulo Valeiro Pereira
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário