The thesis examines how the positions of Boethius and Aquinas, combined with Tolkien’s reflections on fairy stories, sub-creation, and his Catholic worldview, converge in "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" through selected character pairs. First, the concepts of ‘fate,’ ‘providence,’ and ‘free will’ are defined, followed by an analysis of how Boethius and Aquinas reconcile these seemingly conflicting ideas in their writings. The study then turns to Tolkien’s philosophy of storytelling, beginning with a brief overview of his life, since “An author cannot of course remain wholly unaffected by his experience”. Building on this, the central points of the essay On Fairy Stories are examined, in which Tolkien outlines his views on the virtues and purpose of fairy stories. Furthermore, the reasons why Tolkien created an inherently Christian world that remains devoid of explicit Christian elements are discussed.
In the third section, character pairs from "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are analyzed as examples of both the interplay of fate, providence, and free will, as well as Tolkien’s concepts of dyscatastrophe and eucatastrophe. An exception is made for the Hobbits, where not just two but three figures—Bilbo, Frodo, and Gollum—are considered. Each is bound to the Ring, bearing it for an extended period of time and thus, to varying degrees, subjected to its power, which shapes their capacity to exercise free will. Among men, the focus is placed on King Théoden of Rohan and Denethor II, Steward of Gondor. As rulers of the two western kingdoms, their (in)ability to act proves decisive in the outcome of the War of the Ring. This is followed by a comparison of Denethor’s sons, whose life paths mirror those of their father and Théoden. While Boromir falls but ultimately finds redemption, Faramir resists the temptation of evil and attains an almost saint-like quality of wisdom and goodness.
The thesis concludes with a summary of the findings and results, along with suggestions for future research.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Theoretical Background
- 2.1 Divine providence and free will in Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy
- 2.2 Providence in Aquin's Summa Theologica
- 2.3 On Fairy Stories and the author as a “sub-creator”
- 3 Tolkien's life and Catholic Identity
- 3.1 Early life
- 3.2 Father Francis and Edith
- 3.3 Life at Oxford, Marriage and War
- 3.4 Later life
- 4 Case studies of parallel characters
- 4.1 Bilbo
- 4.2 Frodo and Gollum
- 4.3 Théoden and Denethor
- 4.3.1 Théoden
- 4.3.2 Denethor II
- 4.3.3 Crossing paths at the Pelennor?
- 4.4 Boromir and Faramir
- 4.4.1 Boromir
- 4.4.2 Faramir
Objectives and Key Themes
This master's thesis examines the interplay of divine providence and free will in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, using Boethian and Thomistic philosophical frameworks. The work aims to analyze how Tolkien, informed by his Catholic faith, portrays these concepts through the actions and choices of his characters.
- Divine Providence in Tolkien's Works
- Free Will vs. Divine Plan in Middle-earth
- Tolkien's Catholic Faith and its Influence on his Writings
- Character Analysis and the Theme of Choice
- Comparison of Characters and their Moral Choices
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This chapter likely introduces the central research question concerning the balance between divine providence and free will within Tolkien's legendarium and outlines the methodology employed in the analysis. It probably establishes the relevance of the chosen philosophical frameworks (Boethius and Aquinas) and sets the stage for subsequent chapters.
2 Theoretical Background: This chapter provides the philosophical foundation for the thesis, exploring the concepts of divine providence and free will as understood by Boethius and Aquinas. It likely delves into their respective philosophical works, examining their arguments and interpretations of the relationship between God's foreknowledge and human agency. This lays the groundwork for applying these frameworks to Tolkien's narratives.
3 Tolkien's life and Catholic Identity: This chapter examines Tolkien's personal life and his strong Catholic faith, exploring how his beliefs influenced his creative work. It probably traces his religious development, discussing relevant biographical details and illustrating the connection between his faith and his portrayal of theological themes in his writings. This chapter helps contextualize the theological underpinnings of the analysis.
4 Case studies of parallel characters: This chapter uses several pairs of characters from Tolkien's works as case studies to analyze how free will and divine providence interact. It probably examines the decisions made by these characters, exploring how their choices align with or diverge from what might be considered a divinely ordained path. Each character pairing likely exemplifies a distinct aspect of the thesis's central argument.
Keywords
Divine Providence, Free Will, J.R.R. Tolkien, Middle-earth, Boethius, Aquinas, Catholic Theology, Character Analysis, Sub-creation, Moral Choice.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Theoretical Background
- 2.1 Divine providence and free will in Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy
- 2.2 Providence in Aquin's Summa Theologica
- 2.3 On Fairy Stories and the author as a “sub-creator”
- 3 Tolkien's life and Catholic Identity
- 3.1 Early life
- 3.2 Father Francis and Edith
- 3.3 Life at Oxford, Marriage and War
- 3.4 Later life
- 4 Case studies of parallel characters
- 4.1 Bilbo
- 4.2 Frodo and Gollum
- 4.3 Théoden and Denethor
- 4.3.1 Théoden
- 4.3.2 Denethor II
- 4.3.3 Crossing paths at the Pelennor?
- 4.4 Boromir and Faramir
- 4.4.1 Boromir
- 4.4.2 Faramir
Objectives and Key Themes
This master's thesis examines the interplay of divine providence and free will in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, using Boethian and Thomistic philosophical frameworks. The work aims to analyze how Tolkien, informed by his Catholic faith, portrays these concepts through the actions and choices of his characters.
- Divine Providence in Tolkien's Works
- Free Will vs. Divine Plan in Middle-earth
- Tolkien's Catholic Faith and its Influence on his Writings
- Character Analysis and the Theme of Choice
- Comparison of Characters and their Moral Choices
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This chapter likely introduces the central research question concerning the balance between divine providence and free will within Tolkien's legendarium and outlines the methodology employed in the analysis. It probably establishes the relevance of the chosen philosophical frameworks (Boethius and Aquinas) and sets the stage for subsequent chapters.
2 Theoretical Background: This chapter provides the philosophical foundation for the thesis, exploring the concepts of divine providence and free will as understood by Boethius and Aquinas. It likely delves into their respective philosophical works, examining their arguments and interpretations of the relationship between God's foreknowledge and human agency. This lays the groundwork for applying these frameworks to Tolkien's narratives.
3 Tolkien's life and Catholic Identity: This chapter examines Tolkien's personal life and his strong Catholic faith, exploring how his beliefs influenced his creative work. It probably traces his religious development, discussing relevant biographical details and illustrating the connection between his faith and his portrayal of theological themes in his writings. This chapter helps contextualize the theological underpinnings of the analysis.
4 Case studies of parallel characters: This chapter uses several pairs of characters from Tolkien's works as case studies to analyze how free will and divine providence interact. It probably examines the decisions made by these characters, exploring how their choices align with or diverge from what might be considered a divinely ordained path. Each character pairing likely exemplifies a distinct aspect of the thesis's central argument.
Keywords
Divine Providence, Free Will, J.R.R. Tolkien, Middle-earth, Boethius, Aquinas, Catholic Theology, Character Analysis, Sub-creation, Moral Choice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main topic of this master's thesis?
This master's thesis explores the interplay between divine providence and free will in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. It uses Boethian and Thomistic philosophical frameworks to analyze how Tolkien's Catholic faith is reflected in his portrayal of these concepts through the actions and choices of his characters.
What are the key themes explored in the thesis?
The key themes include divine providence in Tolkien's works, the conflict between free will and divine plan in Middle-earth, the influence of Tolkien's Catholic faith on his writing, character analysis focusing on choice, and a comparison of characters based on their moral choices.
Which philosophers are used as a theoretical background?
The thesis utilizes the philosophical works of Boethius and Aquinas as a theoretical background, focusing on their understanding of divine providence and free will.
How does Tolkien's life and Catholic identity relate to the thesis?
The thesis examines Tolkien's personal life and his Catholic faith to understand how his beliefs influenced his creative work. It discusses relevant biographical details and the connection between his faith and the theological themes in his writings, contextualizing the analysis.
What is the chapter "Case studies of parallel characters" about?
This chapter analyzes pairs of characters from Tolkien's works as case studies to understand the interaction between free will and divine providence. It examines their decisions and how they align or diverge from a potentially divinely ordained path.
Which characters are analyzed in the case studies?
The case studies include Bilbo, Frodo and Gollum, Théoden and Denethor, and Boromir and Faramir.
What keywords are associated with the thesis?
The keywords include Divine Providence, Free Will, J.R.R. Tolkien, Middle-earth, Boethius, Aquinas, Catholic Theology, Character Analysis, Sub-creation, and Moral Choice.
What is the "Introduction" chapter about?
The introduction likely presents the core research question concerning the balance between divine providence and free will within Tolkien's world. It also explains the methodology used and the importance of the chosen philosophical frameworks.
What is the "Theoretical Background" chapter about?
The theoretical background chapter lays the philosophical groundwork for the thesis. It explores the ideas of divine providence and free will as explained by Boethius and Aquinas. The chapter looks into their respective philosophical writings, examining how they argued for or against the relationship between God's knowledge of the future and human choice. This is done to set up the framework for analyzing Tolkien's stories.
What is the "Tolkien's Life and Catholic Identity" chapter about?
This chapter looks at Tolkien's personal history and his strong Catholic faith, exploring how his beliefs shaped his creative work. It likely traces his religious development and mentions important details about his life, showing the connection between his faith and his portrayal of theological themes in his writing. This chapter provides context for the theological basis of the analysis.
- Quote paper
- Anonymous (Author), 2025, The Music of the Ainur and Free Will. Boethian and Thomistic Reflections on Providence in Middle-earth, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1617306
