Essay 2
Choose one of the following topics:
-
Discuss Tolkien’s depiction of either
(a) evil or (b) leadership in The Lord of the Rings.
Does Tolkien provide a coherent or sophisticated analysis of
this phenomenon? If so, what does he say about it? If not, why
not?
-
The Lord of the Rings can be said to
be as derivative of ancient texts as The Silmarillion,
but does it do a better job of making them relevant for readers
today? Does it make a case for the continued relevancy of ancient
texts by using them to generate ideas of interest to modern
readers? Or is the popularity of The Lord of the Rings
amongst twentieth-century (and now twenty-first century) audiences
a response to other features of the text, in spite of its derivative
qualities?
-
In the preface to The Lord of the Rings
Tolkien discusses how a work of literature cannot remain uninfluenced
by the historical events of the time in which it is written
but also argues for the work’s applicability to different
historical situations. Discuss the extent to which the twenty-first
century film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings demonstrate
the story’s continued applicability to our own times and
the extent to which they transform the story in order to suit
contemporary concerns.
Essays should be approximately 4-5 pages in length. They must
be typed and proofread for spelling, grammar, and format. Essays
deficient in these areas will be penalised substantially in proportion
to how distracting and/or time-consuming I find the errors. You
should include a bibliography if outside material is used. For
further tips on formatting see my advice about Essay
Formatting.
Due date: May 26 by 5 pm. Note: This is not a class
meeting, so please slip your essay under my door (Sierra Tower 803).
Oral Presentation Assignment
Choose one of the following topics:
-
Whilst Tolkien was working on Book II of The
Lord of the Rings, he was also engaged in a translation
of the Middle English poems Pearl, Sir Orfeo,
and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, later published
posthumously by his son. Read Tolkien’s translation of
Pearl and Sir Orfeo (available in bookstores
or from the library (PR1203.G38 1975)), describe
the poems to the class, and discuss how Tolkien’s engagement
with these texts influenced the composition of Book II of The
Lord of the Rings.
-
Research the origins of Tolkien’s orcs
and ents and discuss how Tolkien has transformed his
sources in The Lord of the Rings. Speculate about how
this transformation serves the themes of the books.
-
Read the Old English poem The
Battle of Maldon (in translation) and Tolkien’s
‘sequel’, the dramatic poem called The
Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, Beorhthelm’s Son (both
available online from the handouts page). Describe these works
for the class, discuss the theme(s) Tolkien saw in the Old English
poem, and what he thought of it/them. Then, using examples from
Book III (and Book IV, if desired), describe how Tolkien’s
views towards the theme(s) of The Battle of Maldon
appear in The Lord of the Rings. It is probably best
for two people to divide this topic between them. Extra Resources:
The
Old English text of the poem | Images
from the battle site
You may find useful information by looking up the
origins (etymologies) of some of the words Tolkien uses by going
to the Oxford English Dictionary. This is available online at http://library.csun.edu/databases.html#O.
Note: you will need your library card if you are trying to access
the dictionary off campus.
Essay 1
Choose one of the following topics:
- The Silmarillion defies modern novelistic conventions
of style, genre, and characterisation in ways that challenge
the reader to find meaning in the text. Is it a literary failure,
or does its unconventionality achieve a purpose?
- Tolkien claimed that The Silmarillion was not 'anthropocentric',
that 'its centre of view and interest is not Men but "Elves"'.
Given this deferral of human perspective, how does the text
nevertheless engage human nature, problems, or concerns?
- In The Silmarillion characters repeatedly find themselves
in circumstances not of their making which determine the course
of their actions. Discuss some of the important determiners
of action in book and the dilemmas they create for characters.
To what extent do characters bear responsibility for their actions
in The Silmarillion?
For all these topics you will need to think about
what the major themes of The Silmarillion are: what sorts
of social, philosophical, or artistic issues it addresses.
Essays should be approximately 4-5 pages in length.
They must be typed and proofread for spelling, grammar, and format.
Essays deficient in these areas will be penalised substantially
in proportion to how distracting and/or time-consuming I find the
errors. You should include a bibliography if outside material is
used. For further tips on formatting see my advice about Essay
Formatting.
Due date: March 28. Note: This is not a class meeting,
so please slip your essay under my door (Sierra Tower 803).
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