Yeah! I'm moving right along through the LOTR series! Three books down, I'm counting The Hobbit, and one to go!!!! Yahoo! In a few weeks I will finally be able to honestly say that I've read the WHOLE Lord of the Rings series! And that I've seen all the movies!!!! What a relief! My students often choose to do something from Tolkien in my British Lit classes, so it's a good idea if the teacher has read the series herself if she plans on teaching it!!!
At the end of The Fellowship, the Fellowship has broken up. As The Two Towers opens, we learn some of the details that broke up the Fellowship and we also follow the various members of the Fellowship through their separate journeys. My favorite part is the story of Merry and Pippin. These two Hobbits who seemed so unimportant through The Fellowship become vital to the story as a whole, suprisingly! And their story is FUN to read about! I love these two unlikely heroes!!! It's wonderful how it's not just Frodo and Samwise who heroically continue on the journey to destroy the Ring--on their own (without the heroic warriors who guarded them, I mean)--but also Merry and Pippin who prove to be more valuable to the story than merely props!!!
The oddest part of The Two Towers is how Gimli and Legolas keep count of the number of Orcs they've killed and compare--as a real contest between the two of them! I get that it is all part of the odd relationship between the two unlikely friends, a dwarf and an elf--"frienimies"--but it's still one of those parts of the story where I found myself scratchingI my head and wondering "What in the world are they doing comparing numbers like that in the middle of a major battle where their warrior friends are dying all around them?" Of course, by the end of the battle, Gimli and Legolas' friendship is cemented--and is a part of the story I want to see more of.
The other aspect of The Two Towers I found worthy of note is how both Samwise and Gollum (Smeagle) consider Frodo their "Master." Why is Samwise Frodo's servant rather than just his friend? I thought the friendship between Samwise and Frodo (and the rest of the Fellowship) was a central theme to the story as a whole. To me, it takes away from the meaning of friendship if Frodo is Sam's "Master." Being a servant can certainly create a special relationship between two people, but at the same time, it is a different kind of relationshp than the bond of friendship I thought was so important to the story between Samwise and Frodo.
I don't like that Samwise calls and considers Frodo "Master." (BTW: my favorite line from The Fellowship--I can't remember if it's in the book, but it's in the movie for sure--is when Samwise runs out into the water after Frodo when Frodo is trying to leave the Fellowship and go to Mordor alone. Frodo yells at Samwise that he's going to Mordor alone, and Samwise yells back, "I know you are! And I'm coming with you!" I LOVE that!!!) As Gollum begins to refer to Frodo the same way as Samwise, it takes away from the friendship between Frodo and Samwise. Gollum is supposed to be their guide as well as the one who is only looking out for himself and how he can get back his "Precious." He is definitely in the role of servant within the story for Samwise and Frodo. But Samwise is supposed to be Frodo's closest Friend.....not servant.
All in all, I'm enjoying the series. I plan on reading more of the third and final book today while I have some time to myself. Once school starts on Monday, it'll be harder to read often. I consider the summer to be over by the end of August, so if I want to achieve my goal of reading the whole series this summer, I have to finish the last book by the end of August! The way things have been going for me in reading this series, it will be all of that before I finally finish the last book!!!!!
Great Books
To read or not to read?....that is a silly question!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Finished FELLOWSHIP, Part 2
OK. Now a little about the actual story The Fellowship of the Ring....
If you have read any of my previous posts about TLOTR, you know that I had quite a bit of trepidation about reading this series even though I was determined to read it this summer. It has taken me a lot longer to read this whole series (or each individual book) than it normally does for me to read something. (I finished the WHOLE Harry Potter series, all 7 books, in less than a month and then turned around re-read the whole series again within 2 more weeks!)
One of the reasons it is taking me so long to read each book is the fact that each book is so incredibly full of information, details, and characters. It is very challenging to wade through all of it and still remember what I need to remember as I go through the story. Worst of all is the fact that many of the characters have more than one name!!!! Gandalf, for example, is introduced as Gandalf the Grey. He later (in The Two Towers) is Gandalf the White. By the end of The Two Towers, he's called Mithrandir!!!! And I think there's another one in there somewhere I might be forgetting!!!
How am I supposed to keep up with the story when so many names change from one page to the next?!
And SO MUCH happens!!! Good grief! Frodo and Company travel for a little while and it's just the 4 of them, then they get Rider (Aragorn, as well as other names he's referred to), and eventually, the Company, or Fellowship as they come to be known as, are a total of 9: Frodo, Samwise (I prefer that version of his name), Merry, Pippin, Gimli the Dwarf, Legolas the Elf, Aragorn/Rider, Boromir, and Gandalf. At first, I couldn't figure out who was who!!! Why the need for 4 Hobbits? Why such a large Fellowship? And that's when the story gets REALLY confusing!
The Fellowship starts at the Elf home of Rivendell which is ruled by King Elrond (or is he just Lord Elrond?), they travel through the dwarf-made mines of Moria, and end up in ANOTHER country of Elves ruled by a Queen of Elves, Galadriel--mother of Arywen (sp?)--who is in love with Aragorn!!!! Yet, the love story is so far down the line as far as importance to the story that it's only hinted at in Fellowship!!!
(If it hadn't been for the movie version of the story, I wouldn't have KNOWN of the love story between Aragorn and Arywen! Which I guess is a fun twist, but for someone who loves romance woven into adventure stories, it might have helped me enjoy the WHOLE series more if Tolkien had shared more of the romance between the "young" lovers throughout the series!!! I got more of Theoden's attraction for Aragorn, which he definitely notices, than I did about Aragorn's true love relationship with Arywen!!!)
So anyway....I did like the book, even though it took me a lot longer to read the book than usual. What I found truly surprising was when I actually watched the movie version of The Fellowship of the Ring. Of course there are some differences between the book and the movie regardless of the fact that Peter Jackson did a great job making a movie of such a "dense" book (as it's referred to in the behind-the-scenes featurettes on the movie). Most of the differences don't ruin or take away from the story in any way. I think that the details that are different are simply the best way to get the necessary information to an audience via film.
The one scene that my reaction to surprised me the most is the one when Boromir dies. When I read the book, I found that to be a very powerful, potent scene. But I didn't really CARE about Boromir enough to FEEL true sorrow when he falls to the Orcs in the book. When I saw the movie, though, the scene when Boromir continues to fight--and kill--Orcs even after he's been shot several times with the giant arrows moved me to TRUE sorrowful tears! I mean, seriously, I SOBBED like a little baby!!! It is such a beautiful scene and shows the true man--hero--that Boromir is and that he was truly worthy to be one of the Fellowship--traveling with Frodo to guard and protect the Ring.
The Fellowship was definitely worth the read. In spite of the fact that I wish the series as a whole had more romance woven into the Adventure story, it is a series that is worthy of the mass of followers who love it....some to the point of putting LOTR artwork on their bodies!!!
If you have read any of my previous posts about TLOTR, you know that I had quite a bit of trepidation about reading this series even though I was determined to read it this summer. It has taken me a lot longer to read this whole series (or each individual book) than it normally does for me to read something. (I finished the WHOLE Harry Potter series, all 7 books, in less than a month and then turned around re-read the whole series again within 2 more weeks!)
One of the reasons it is taking me so long to read each book is the fact that each book is so incredibly full of information, details, and characters. It is very challenging to wade through all of it and still remember what I need to remember as I go through the story. Worst of all is the fact that many of the characters have more than one name!!!! Gandalf, for example, is introduced as Gandalf the Grey. He later (in The Two Towers) is Gandalf the White. By the end of The Two Towers, he's called Mithrandir!!!! And I think there's another one in there somewhere I might be forgetting!!!
How am I supposed to keep up with the story when so many names change from one page to the next?!
And SO MUCH happens!!! Good grief! Frodo and Company travel for a little while and it's just the 4 of them, then they get Rider (Aragorn, as well as other names he's referred to), and eventually, the Company, or Fellowship as they come to be known as, are a total of 9: Frodo, Samwise (I prefer that version of his name), Merry, Pippin, Gimli the Dwarf, Legolas the Elf, Aragorn/Rider, Boromir, and Gandalf. At first, I couldn't figure out who was who!!! Why the need for 4 Hobbits? Why such a large Fellowship? And that's when the story gets REALLY confusing!
The Fellowship starts at the Elf home of Rivendell which is ruled by King Elrond (or is he just Lord Elrond?), they travel through the dwarf-made mines of Moria, and end up in ANOTHER country of Elves ruled by a Queen of Elves, Galadriel--mother of Arywen (sp?)--who is in love with Aragorn!!!! Yet, the love story is so far down the line as far as importance to the story that it's only hinted at in Fellowship!!!
(If it hadn't been for the movie version of the story, I wouldn't have KNOWN of the love story between Aragorn and Arywen! Which I guess is a fun twist, but for someone who loves romance woven into adventure stories, it might have helped me enjoy the WHOLE series more if Tolkien had shared more of the romance between the "young" lovers throughout the series!!! I got more of Theoden's attraction for Aragorn, which he definitely notices, than I did about Aragorn's true love relationship with Arywen!!!)
So anyway....I did like the book, even though it took me a lot longer to read the book than usual. What I found truly surprising was when I actually watched the movie version of The Fellowship of the Ring. Of course there are some differences between the book and the movie regardless of the fact that Peter Jackson did a great job making a movie of such a "dense" book (as it's referred to in the behind-the-scenes featurettes on the movie). Most of the differences don't ruin or take away from the story in any way. I think that the details that are different are simply the best way to get the necessary information to an audience via film.
The one scene that my reaction to surprised me the most is the one when Boromir dies. When I read the book, I found that to be a very powerful, potent scene. But I didn't really CARE about Boromir enough to FEEL true sorrow when he falls to the Orcs in the book. When I saw the movie, though, the scene when Boromir continues to fight--and kill--Orcs even after he's been shot several times with the giant arrows moved me to TRUE sorrowful tears! I mean, seriously, I SOBBED like a little baby!!! It is such a beautiful scene and shows the true man--hero--that Boromir is and that he was truly worthy to be one of the Fellowship--traveling with Frodo to guard and protect the Ring.
The Fellowship was definitely worth the read. In spite of the fact that I wish the series as a whole had more romance woven into the Adventure story, it is a series that is worthy of the mass of followers who love it....some to the point of putting LOTR artwork on their bodies!!!
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
"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."
I guess this quote from TLOTR series is familiar to everyone who has read the series. It certainly sums up the point of the story and what to expect from them. I have recently become a major fan of the tv show Big Bang Theory; they did an episode where the guys get a replica of the Ring from the movies and they go crazy over the "Precious." Of course, I didn't see this episode until I was well into reading the series, so it made the episode that more more interesting, and funny, for me!
One of the things that has stood out to me the most in reading this series is the Forward written by Tolkien himself. For as long as I can remember, I have been told (and believed it to be utterly true) that TLOTR series is a modern-day allegory and that Tolkien and C. S. Lewis challenged each other write true, modern-day allegories--which we've believed became, for Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings (the whole series), and for Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia series.
But, according to Tolkien himself, TLOTR is in no way an allegory: "As for any inner meaning or 'message', it has in the intention of the author none. It is neither allegorical nor topical. As the story grew it put down roots (into the past) and threw out unexpected branches: but its main theme was settled from the outset by the inevitable choice of the Ring as the link between it and The Hobbit. . . I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history, true or feigned, with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers. I think that many confuse 'applicability' with 'allegory'" but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the purposed domination of the author" (10-11). I must admit that reading these words straight from Tolkien himself were somewhat of a shock.
As a teacher, I pride myself on teaching my students true and factual information as much as possible as far as literature is concerned. As even Tolkien himself notes, readers take rich and varied nuances from their own readings and thus their interpretations of their readings are as rich and varied as the readers themselves----which is why Reader Response Criticism has become an acceptable way of looking at and interpreting literature regardless of how the true critic of literature feel about it. The point I am trying to get at is that for years, I have taught that TLOTR is a purposeful allegory, but now, upon reading the series for myself (finally), I learn that I have been teaching incorrect information!!!
It just goes to show that no matter who tells us something that is believed to be truth, we must research and learn for ourselves the real truth. It's the reason why students should always read the literature for themselves rather than simply trusting the teacher and/or classmates' discussions to determine what a story is truly about.
I am reminded of the fallacies so many people believe regarding Frankenstein. Only those of us who have read this wonderful book by Mary Shelley know of the richness of story as well as the fact that the Creature is never named. While the public has called the Creature "Frankenstein" for as long as I can remember, that name belongs to the CreatOR, not the creatURE. We've also always called him "Dr." Victor Frankenstein, when in all reality, Victor never was a "doctor" of any kind. The way the story reads, it is doubtful that Victor even finished his college education!
It is important for readers to read the material for themselves and not simply trust what others say about certain works. That goes for so-called facts about the stories as well as for opinions about the stories. What one person finds awful, the worst thing ever, another may find to be life-changing. It has always been that way for me as far as reading is concerned (and for movies, too). I have found that I absolutely LOVE books/stories that friends, critics, the general public, etc. find absolutely horrid and that I wonder how some of books considered great by these same people ever were even published!!!
Read the story for yourself!!! Find out for yourself the truths of the story....the facts.....the details. Don't believe everything you hear without the facts (reading the story for yourself) to back up your information!!!!
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."
I guess this quote from TLOTR series is familiar to everyone who has read the series. It certainly sums up the point of the story and what to expect from them. I have recently become a major fan of the tv show Big Bang Theory; they did an episode where the guys get a replica of the Ring from the movies and they go crazy over the "Precious." Of course, I didn't see this episode until I was well into reading the series, so it made the episode that more more interesting, and funny, for me!
One of the things that has stood out to me the most in reading this series is the Forward written by Tolkien himself. For as long as I can remember, I have been told (and believed it to be utterly true) that TLOTR series is a modern-day allegory and that Tolkien and C. S. Lewis challenged each other write true, modern-day allegories--which we've believed became, for Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings (the whole series), and for Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia series.
But, according to Tolkien himself, TLOTR is in no way an allegory: "As for any inner meaning or 'message', it has in the intention of the author none. It is neither allegorical nor topical. As the story grew it put down roots (into the past) and threw out unexpected branches: but its main theme was settled from the outset by the inevitable choice of the Ring as the link between it and The Hobbit. . . I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history, true or feigned, with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers. I think that many confuse 'applicability' with 'allegory'" but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the purposed domination of the author" (10-11). I must admit that reading these words straight from Tolkien himself were somewhat of a shock.
As a teacher, I pride myself on teaching my students true and factual information as much as possible as far as literature is concerned. As even Tolkien himself notes, readers take rich and varied nuances from their own readings and thus their interpretations of their readings are as rich and varied as the readers themselves----which is why Reader Response Criticism has become an acceptable way of looking at and interpreting literature regardless of how the true critic of literature feel about it. The point I am trying to get at is that for years, I have taught that TLOTR is a purposeful allegory, but now, upon reading the series for myself (finally), I learn that I have been teaching incorrect information!!!
It just goes to show that no matter who tells us something that is believed to be truth, we must research and learn for ourselves the real truth. It's the reason why students should always read the literature for themselves rather than simply trusting the teacher and/or classmates' discussions to determine what a story is truly about.
I am reminded of the fallacies so many people believe regarding Frankenstein. Only those of us who have read this wonderful book by Mary Shelley know of the richness of story as well as the fact that the Creature is never named. While the public has called the Creature "Frankenstein" for as long as I can remember, that name belongs to the CreatOR, not the creatURE. We've also always called him "Dr." Victor Frankenstein, when in all reality, Victor never was a "doctor" of any kind. The way the story reads, it is doubtful that Victor even finished his college education!
It is important for readers to read the material for themselves and not simply trust what others say about certain works. That goes for so-called facts about the stories as well as for opinions about the stories. What one person finds awful, the worst thing ever, another may find to be life-changing. It has always been that way for me as far as reading is concerned (and for movies, too). I have found that I absolutely LOVE books/stories that friends, critics, the general public, etc. find absolutely horrid and that I wonder how some of books considered great by these same people ever were even published!!!
Read the story for yourself!!! Find out for yourself the truths of the story....the facts.....the details. Don't believe everything you hear without the facts (reading the story for yourself) to back up your information!!!!
Work Cited
Tolkien, J. R. R. Foreward. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. New York: Ballantine Books, 1955. 8-12. Print.
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