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MEANDERINGS
By Josh M. Shepherd
Column Reprinted from The Oracle
Various aspects of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings will be examined in this series of essays, Meanderings. What follows is a disclaimer to all writings in the series: To those more 'serious' Tolkien fans, I admit to simplifying some of the great Oxford writer's work: it is the only way a non-academic like myself can understand it.
Fantasy is for strange folk. Used correctly, the style takes an actual thing (say a ring) and gives it some peculiar power that it never could never realistically have. Or perhaps the writer makes up, with much intricacy, millennia of olden times that seem to culminate in a single moment. One might indignantly say fantasy is "A load of 'what ifs' on the same level with Mary Poppins!" Yes, and no. Tolkien's work does depend on bending reality, using his mind for sheer enjoyment. Brilliance shines, however, in how the professor's beliefs play out in the story (something P.L. Travers and Walt Disney can't say about Ms. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious). Questions are raised in the subplots and asides. Suddenly one finds himself considering the present state of mind and spirit-as in, "How do I respond to temptation?" or "Is my destiny far from me?" to reiterate the examples of a ring and absurdly involved histories. Muddle through the details of The Lord of the Rings and one will see lofty ideas made flesh and bone - or at least enjoy the birthday parties and sword fights.
MIDDLE-EARTH LOOKS SURPRISINGLY FAMILIAR
PONDER THE HOBBIT, ENDURANCE AND GOD'S WILL
ELVES AND EGO
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