18 research outputs found
Objects of Desire: Mimetic Theory in Middle-earth
No full textTwentieth century author J. R. R. Tolkien permanently impacted the world of fantasy with his work in Middle-earth. Countless aspects of his legendarium have been examined by readers, scholars, and critics, who view them through widely-varying lenses of literary theory and criticism in an attempt to interpret the ideas central to Tolkien’s universe. However, few scholars have explored the relationship between Tolkien’s works and literary theorist René Girard’s concepts of mimetic desire and scapegoating, leaving this relatively untraversed field ripe for study. Girard’s mimetic theory offers insight into Tolkien’s understanding and portrayal of power by providing a method of interpreting his use of objects of power to demonstrate the corruptive nature of such items and the rivalry they incite. This research examines Girard’s theories, applying his ideas of triangular, imitative desire for an Object to the texts of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
Zum Wesen der Possessivpronomina in Quenya und Sindarin. Eine einleitende Analyse ihrer Verwendung und Bedeutung aufgrund des literarischen Schaffens von J. R. R. Tolkien
No full textThe Nature of the Possessive Pronouns in Quenya and Sindarin.
An Introductory Analysis of their Use and Meaning due to the Literary Work
of J.R.R. Tolkien
The two best-known languages used by British author J. R. R. Tolkien in his novels about the Middle-earth world are Quenya and Sindarin. In my contribution I deal with the possessive pronouns which occur in Elvish languages. In this regard, I try to compare their formation and use, and I use that analysis to determine
which of the two languages is more analytical and which more synthetic.Die zwei bekanntesten Sprachen, die der britische Autor J. R. R. Tolkien in seinen Erzählungen über die von ihm erdachte Welt Mittelerde verwendet, sind Quenya und Sindarin. In meinem Beitrag befasse ich mich mit den in Elbensprachen vorkommenden Possessivpronomina. In Bezug darauf unternehme ich den Versuch, ihre Bildung und Verwendung miteinander zu vergleichen und anhand dieser Analyse stelle ich fest, welche von den beiden Sprachen als mehr analytisch und welche als mehr synthetisch zu bezeichnen ist
Simbología del mal en la Tierra Media de Tolkien
No full textThis article explores examples that describe elements in the identification of evil in Middle-earth, found mainly in The Lord of the Rings as well as in some sections of The Silmarillion by the British author J. R. R. Tolkien. Middle-earth as a location, meaning as a cartographic element, becomes a character itself that comprises examples to deepen Tolkien’s conceptualization of evil, mainly in The Two Towers and Mount Doom. Additionally, the evil essence can be perceived more evidently in key characters such as Melkor, Saruman, the Nazgûl, and Denethor, as they develop both hopelessness and a tendency to emptiness, although it also influences Frodo and Sam by allowing in both the eucatastrophic and beneficent resolution of the play. Therefore, the aim is a non-exhaustive approach that proposes a more detailed investigation.El presente artículo explora instancias que describen elementos de la identifica ción de la maldad en la Tierra Media, observados principalmente en El Señor de los Anillos, y en algunas secciones de El Silmarilion del autor británico J. R. R. Tolkien. La Tierra Media como elemento físico, es decir cartográfico, se convierte en un personaje en sí mismo que engloba ejemplificaciones de maldad especial mente a través de las Dos Torres y el Monte del Destino, que brindan profundidad al concepto que Tolkien percibe como Maldad. De forma adicional, la esencia de la maldad se distingue de mayor manera en personajes clave de estas obras, como Melkor, Saruman, los Nazgûl y Denethor al desarrollar tanto la desesperanza como la tendencia a la vacuidad, aunque también ejerce influencia en Frodo y Sam, al permitir en dos últimos, la resolución eucatastrófica y benéfica de la obra. Así, se pretende un acercamiento no exhaustivo, que propone una investigación más detallada
“Peace and Quiet and Good Tilled Earth:” Mimesis in Tolkien’s Shire
No full textTwentieth century author J. R. R. Tolkien permanently impacted the world of fantasy with his work about Middle-earth. Countless aspects of his legendarium have been examined through various lenses of literary theory and criticism; however, few scholars have explored the relationship between Tolkien’s works and literary theorist René Girard’s concepts of mimetic desire and scapegoating, leaving this relatively untraversed field ripe for study. Girard’s mimetic theory offers insight into Tolkien’s understanding and portrayal of power by providing a method of interpreting his use of objects of power to demonstrate the corruptive nature of such items and the rivalry they incite. In addition to this, however, Tolkien’s work extends Girard’s theories by offering examples of a positive branch of mimetic desire which Girard does not himself elaborate on. The lives of Tolkien’s hobbits illustrate a unique, living example of this positive desire, and demonstrate a firm resistance to the negative desire fostered by objects such as the One Ring. Girard’s theories supply a new way of understanding Tolkien’s hobbits as less susceptible to the power of objects of negative mimesis due to their living in an environment of positive desire, rather than to some inherent magic or feature of character that hobbits may possess. Similarly, Tolkien’s Shire illustrates Girard’s concept of positive desire, and offers a tangible example of a society that thrives on this receptive, rather than acquisitive, mimesis. This research examines Girard’s theories, applying his ideas of mimesis to Tolkien’s Shire and expanding upon them by seeking out examples of hobbit life that illustrate the positive desire that is so vital to the health of the hobbit community
J. R. R. Tolkien. A Marxist Reading
No full textJ. R. R. Tolkien is a world renowned writer that is credited with the revival of the fantasy genre with his hobbit driven epics. His works have sold in the hundreds of millions and his novels have been transposed to films and comics which have been successful in their own right. With such exposure it is inevitable for his works to exert an influence on its audience. To criticize Tolkien’s work with the aim of getting a fuller understanding of both the author J. R. R. Tolkien and his works calls for well-defined form of literary criticism. Fortunately there is a school of literary criticism that promises to do just that.
Marxist literary criticism is a form of criticism that is founded in the theories of Karl Marx and can be applied to any literary text. The aim of Marxist literary criticism is to expose the underlying social and political leanings of the author as well as his works. It is a literary criticism that does not only analyse the literary work but also the author himself in order to get a deeper understanding of both. Marxist literary criticism revolves around the idea that the input of an author affects his output, i.e. the condition, environment, education, religion and historical reality of the author affects his writing and the views expressed there within.
Applying Marxist literary criticism to Tolkien and his work, in this case The Hobbit, will clarify the political leanings of both the author and the novel. It will bring to the surface political leanings of the author that are infused into his work. The political message of such a beloved novel, with such a huge audience is inevitably of interest to those who have the twin interests of both politics and J. R. R. Tolkien
